DevOps is Evolving, Are You?
DevOps is evolving by the day, and so are the tools, methods, and technologies that admins and developers are using.
And as hard as you try, keeping up with all the changes isn’t going so well, even with you keeping a journal.
ThisĀ problem is especially real if you work in a hybrid environmentĀ that has Apps all over the place; in the cloud and on-premise (IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS all mixed together).
Then to make things harder for you, it also seems like a new tool gets added to the DevOps toolchain weekly, which is another challenge everyone, including beginners, has to deal with all the time.
Step By Step System for Adding New Skills
Things are about to change because I’m about to show you my system to target the most relevant skills for you to learn. But that’s now all, I’m also going to show you where to get the best online DevOps training videos with step-by-step teaching by experienced DevOps Engineers.
The first thing I want to say is this – if you’ve failed at DevOps training in the past, it’s not your fault…
I mean it!
There are a lot of DevOps training videos on the net, and it’s confusing deciding which ones provide the right instruction.
Many times information overload keeps you from success – there are just too many training choices because DevOps is evolving daily, and so are the tools!
And this is why if you’ve been feeling you can’t succeed with DevOps, I want you to put those feelings to rest.
You can learn DevOps. You just need the right person to explain step by step to you.
DevOps Certificates vs Experience
Ignorant people want you to think you need a lot of certificates or an expensive college degree to be successful with DevOps tools such as Ansible, Puppet, Jenkins, Chef, or any other new automation or configuration management tools.
I’m here to tell you they’re wrong because I’ve seen successful DevOps engineers emerge from Linux admins who learned new skills on their own time using step-by-step training videos…
But we know vendors have their reasons for wanting you to think you need expensive training, it’s not true.
The difference here is I care about your success and genuinely want you to succeed as a DevOps Engineer.
Read the comments that visitors have left me below and you’ll see for years my goal on VMinstall has been to help people like you see the big picture and learn what matters.
What matters to me is teaching you to see the big picture!
I know you have goals to be different and I want to show you how to make that happen right now.
Listen:
VMinstall gets 100s of visits per month from people looking for information about DevOps.
- What is DevOps?
- How to learn DevOps?
- What are the top DevOps tools?
And a hundred other questions about DevOps that bring people to my guides about the best DevOps skillsĀ or the best DevOps strategyĀ that works.
It’s humbling, but they come because they find my guides trustworthy!
I enjoy what I do and have been helping people learn DevOps skills since 2010. And over the years, I’ve watched the tech industry evolve from legacy data center operations supported by small decentralized teams of a network, storage, and server admins into modern, fast-paced, centralized teams of highly skilled DevOps gurus.
The Phoenix Project was a novel about DevOps, but most IT managers who read it don’t begin to understand what it takes to build a DevOps culture which is why in most cases DevOps failsĀ to make a difference.
Let’s forget about DevOps for now and focus on you…
Become Indispensable!
“If you’re not indispensable (yet) it’s because you haven’t made that choice.”Ā
That’s a quote from one of my favorite books, Linchpin, by Seth Godin.
Look:
I set out to write another guide but then while I was researching the data, I realized how much opportunity is waiting for the right people that the right skills…
The opportunity I’m referring to is pent-up and ready to burst open because businesses need DevOps engineers, NOW!
So instead of a guide, my message needed to be an URGENT call to action about the best online DevOps training…
The demand for IT operations staff with development skills is flooding the job market.
Are you getting what I am saying?
Can you do the work that will get you noticed?
As a manager who has beenĀ hiring IT staff for years, I can say with total honesty that just being an average infrastructure admin is not enough to get my attention.
Even a VCP certification combined with a CIS or CE degree won’t get you to the top of my list anymore because everyone has CERTS and Degrees. I want skills that will get my servers and Apps built faster, and without human error!
With your current skills, do you fail to fill these job requirements?
- More and more businesses are getting bolder and need exceptional talent who can get them to the cloud faster. Do you have Google, AWS, or Azure cloud skills?
- And they need help getting their products to the market sooner. Do you have experience with the current DevOps toolchain?
- Managers are looking for SysAdmins who can script and automate! Do you have experience writing scripts that access an API?
I said unique talent (indispensable talent) because there are not many SysAdmins with OPS, DEV, and Cloud experience who can handle the 3 needs I just listed.
Opportunity is knocking, time to act…
In another recent post, I published called, How To Become A DevOps Engineer: Q&A Interview with Bobby Lopez, I go step by step through what it takes to be a DevOps Engineer.
Now I’m giving you the next step…
In this lesson, we’ll cover which skills to target now, and where to get the training online today.
Do you want to boost your salary 20, 30, 40, or even 50K per year? Donāt get me wrong, you will earn every dollar of it but the opportunity (truly) is knocking for the right people!
Below is a list of DevOps skills I Screen for in applicants, do you have them?
- Web Services: APIs, REST, SOAP, JSON
- Cloud Services: Amazon, Google, Azure
- GIT: GITHUB, Version Control, Source Code Management
- Coding: Ruby, PERL, Python, Java, JavaScript
- LAMP: Linux, Apache, MySQL, Php
- Windows DevOps: PowerShell, Hyper-V, SQL
Now, letās begin with a few training course samples that interest me.
Best DevOps Training Videos that will Change Your Life
Web Services & APIs
First, letās look at a sample from the Foundations of Programming: Web Services course.
This video series is fascinating because it goes deep into APIs which are used in most web services but also used in appliances such as load-balancers, storage, and even VMware.
All these infrastructure services have web services built into them and allow tools like Chef to access them via an API.
OpenStack is another hot one that leverages APIs.
Web Service Testing using RestAssured & Apache HttpClient
As I said, these training videos are in-depth.
Hereās a list of topics this course includes:
- Basic of RestFul Services
- Using Postman for Testing
- Deep Dive into Code
- Advanced Implementation
- HTTP Client with SSL
- HTTP Async Client
- Query Parameter
- Exporting the framework
- Source Code
- Introduction to RestAssured
- HTTP GET method using RestAssured
- HTTP POST method using RestAssured
- HTTP PUT and DELETE method using RestAssured
- Authentication using RestAssured
- SSL with RestAssured
- Handling the OAuth access token
Wow, 97 Lectures (10:30:44)
Lots of Examples!
Letās keep going.
Complete Python Bootcamp: Go from Zero to Hero in Python
Hereās another video series I know is useful, Python 3 Essentials.
Why Python?
Because Python is a universal language used by configuration management tools and web service APIs.
Many Linux admins can script in BASH, but higher languages such as Python, Ruby, and PERL have more use.
The Python course is loaded with examples of what can be done with Python. Combine this power with Chef or Puppet, and you have something to add to your resume.
Complete Python Bootcamp Sample Video
The full Python course covers all these topics:
- Python Setup
- Python Object and Data Structure Basics
- Python Comparison Operators
- Python Statements
- Methods and Functions
- Milestone Project – 1
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Errors and Exceptions Handling
- Milestone Project – 2
- Modules and Packages
- Built-in Functions
- Python Decorators
- Python Generators
- Final Capstone Python Project
- Advanced Python Modules
- Advanced Python Objects and Data Structures
- Bonus Material – Introduction to GUIs
AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Now letās get to the excellent stuff.
Cloud training on Amazon AWS Cloud.
I’m going to show you 2 more sample videos.
Each training course dives deep into using cloud and DevOps tools.
And there’s even training on Udemy for Azure.
The full Amazon course covers all these cloud topics:
- AWS – 10,000 Feet Overview
- Identity Access Management (IAM)
- AWS Object Storage and CDN – S3, Glacier, and CloudFront
- EC2 – The Backbone of AWS
- Route53
- Databases on AWS
- VPC
- Application Services
- Kinesis
Wow, 113 Lectures (19:46:30)
The Complete DevOps Engineer Course 2.0 – Java & Kubernetes
This is a fantastic video course if your environment uses Docker.
Java & Kubernetes Sample Video
The full course covers all these topics:
- HTML and CSS
- Introduction to Java Programming
- Introduction to Java Conditionals
- Introduction to Java Arrays
- Programming Core Java
- Working With Strings in Java
- Working With Child Classes and Wildcards
- Java Conclusion
- Building Scalable Web Applications
- What is Docker?
- What is Google Cloud Shell and Kubernetes
- Working with Kubernetes and Google Container Engine
- Clustering With Kubernetes – Project WordPress
- Deep Dive Kubernetes – Project Guestbook Using PHP
- Kubernetes – Conclusion
Wow, 117 Lectures (14:09:21)
Plenty more video courses for you to add skills!
These are only a few samples of the fantastic videos available; there are plenty more.
On Udemy there are hundreds of videos and project files you can use to tailor your DevOps training perfectly to match any job requirements.
I found this gold mine while researching another guide I published about the best VMware training for beginners.
How much does DevOps Training cost?
Here’s what is so special about these DevOps training videos.
First off, I know there are more expensive sites dedicated to offering DevOps training if that’s what you want…
…but what I found interesting was Udemy.com has all you need and if you watch for the discounts, you can pay $10 per course.
My goal on VMinstall.com is to help Go-Getters get ahead, and this is a great deal while it lasts and you can cancel anytime you want and keep the courses you already purchased. You won’t find that benefit anywhere else.
You can go ahead and spend $1000s, but Iām telling you the courses I showed above are perfect for anyone getting started.
This is a tremendous opportunity that will help anyone develop into a DevOps or Cloud Engineer…
…and that’s where the excitement and rewards are!
Let’s Recap:
I created this guide because there is a huge need for people with DevOps skills.
The old way of building servers and deploying code one task at a time just doesn’t keep up with the speed of today’s global marketplace.
Go down the list of online training courses that can prepare you for a DevOps Engineer job.
Cloud Services:
- Up and Running with Amazon Web Services
- Amazon Web Services Data Services
- Fundamentals of Cloud Data Storage
- Amazon Web Services Essential Training
- Up and Running on Google Cloud Platform
- Google Cloud Storage and Data Essential Training
- Google Cloud Compute Engine Essential Training
- Understanding Microsoft Azure Core Functionalities
- Up and Running with Azure Mobile Services
- Up and Running with Azure
- Using Windows Azure with Windows Store Apps
Linux and Web Services:
- Up and Running with Linux for PHP Developers
- Up and Running with Ubuntu Desktop Linux
- Installing Apache, MySQL, and PHP
- Building Web Services with Java EE
- Foundations of Programming: Web Services
- ASP.NET MVC 4 Essential Training
- Connecting Android Apps to RESTful Web Services
- Up and Running with PHP: PEAR, PECL, and Composer
Github:
- GitHub for Web Designers
- Up and Running with Git and GitHub
- Version Control for Everyone
Coding:
- Java, CodeIgniter, JavaScript, MySQL, PHP, jQuery, Python, and more…
I enjoyed your article. I am now even more convinced that becoming a devops is more than being a kind of developer. Your article will help to convince also other persons š
Thanks Gemma!
Hi Joe, thanks for setting up this blog. At some point could you do a post outlining a more complete self-study plan using lynda.com? Maybe with a scope and sequence of recommended courses that you would suggest for a starter DevOps education? Thanks again!
Drew, Gannett Operations
Hi Drew – thanks for the suggestion.
I revised the post and included quite a few training courses that would be perfect as DevOps training course building blocks.
This is important because unlike just learning a specific technology like Windows Server 2012, DevOps really is unique to the company and their systems and processes.
My suggestion to those students wanting to learn is that they tailor their training to the needs of the business and not just watch a list of video courses like what many online training sites are offering.
Joe
Hi Joe,
I stumbled at this website and really enjoyed reading the articles about DevOps. This is one area that i would like to get into one day.
Thanks,
Terri
Hi Terri – Glad you stumbled by.
Right now DevOps jobs are hot so don’t wait too long.
Here’s a link to DevOps jobs: https://www.vminstall.com/new-job-opportunities/vmware-engineer-jobs/a/jobs/list/q-devops
Good Luck!
Joe
Hi Joe
I have been taking online courses for a while now even though they are helpful. Can companies hire someone with the only experience they have is taking courses and setting up virtual environments?
Hi Dan,
Very good question.
The short answer is “yes”.
Here are 3 reasons why online learning is good.
1. Not all managers want to hire experienced people. Some want to mold them the way they want so their methods or processes are followed. This is true, especially if they already have well defined systems that work. This is why a lot of companies will hire junior SysAdmins from within who are from the help desk or tech support. Which is a good reason for junior techs to keep learning new skills. Being able to say you are taking online training on your own time is a big plus in my book. Another one is having your own lab.
2. Some job markets are very competitive, and most of the experienced applicants are either already taken or want too much $$$. When this happens managers will revert to option ‘B’, what are my options. Being able to show online training on your resume will give it a second look. And if you are interviewed, it will help to communicate with context. For example, if you have a lab at AWS and you are taking an online training on the cloud, then you can explain it like you know it because you have done it. This is far better than nothing.
3. Some managers are looking for junior staff to do day to day admin tasks so their senior staff can do the heavy lifting. Most senior staff would prefer to work with a junior who knows a little, than one who doesn’t know anything. Here’s what will happen if the newbie doesn’t know anything. The senior admin will tell the manager it takes longer to train the newbie than to just do it themselves. But if you already understand the basics, they will mentor you, especially if you are an eager fast learner.
I hope this helps, Dan?
Here are some suggestions for anyone just beginning.
1. If you are already working somewhere see if you can get sponsored for trainings, even if it’s online.
2. If the company won’t sponsor you than do the next best thing and pay for your own training: Lynda, CBT Nuggets, PluralSight all cost about $30 a month and you can get access to 100s of good classes on anything.
3. Build a lab out of old PCs ‘and’ signup for a free AWS or Google account; they both have free options. The reason I am saying to do both (build your own and signup) is it will give you hands on experience in both worlds – connecting cables, routers, systems ‘and’ learning to spin up VMs in world class cloud services.
4. If you are a Windows admin then learn Linux and how to script like a madman. Here’s why: https://www.vminstall.com/linux-interview-questions/
5. Learn to use automation tools such as ansible, puppet or chef.
Finally, check out what jobs are available and which skills employers are looking for so you can target the right online training to spend you time on. Here’s a link to junior admin jobs: https://www.vminstall.com/new-job-opportunities/vmware-engineer-jobs/a/jobs/list/q-%22junior+system+admin%22
Good Luck!
Joe
I want to build my career as a DEvops , currently i am working as a system administrator and have knowledge in windows server/VMware vsphere /ESXI and citrix .
Iam also interested in learning Amazon cloud but currently dont have much idea on it.
Could you please suggest how should I start with ?
Hi Faizan
There are opportunities for DevOps improvements all around you. Any time you are coming up with new ideas that will improve services you are using DevOps. It’s not just about what marketers talk about to sell products and training. It’s a mindset.
Here are 2 more of my articles, read them too:
https://www.vminstall.com/devops-engineer/
https://www.vminstall.com/devops-skills/
Train yourself to look for opportunities to automate, communicate, and improve overall service delivery between yourself and those you support. This is DevOps!
Faizan, this is where you START.
Thanks,
Joe
Hi joe,
This is one of the best blog I have read about Devops. I am a Java professional,and learnt Hadoop , however, I am little confused on whether this skill set will help to enhance my career?
Hi Razi,
You bring up a very good point and hereās why.
I focus on DevOps from an Ops perspective, but coming from a Dev perspective is different. For a Developer it might seem like taking a step backwards, whereas for an Ops person itās like taking a step forward.
To answer your question, if you are a developer who loves to tinker with servers and software tools that handle software and system automation and configuration management, then maybe DevOps is something you would like.
Razi, I donāt want it is sound so cut an dry because anyone who helps to streamline the processes of improving services is also participating in DevOps, aside from the automation and processes, it really is a mindset.
Thanks!
Joe
I am a devops engineer currently, however I have more systems admin/engineering experience than dev experience. I can read and edit scripts but not so much write code. I am looking to move in this direction as I need to gain automation experience. What do you suggest?
Hi CM,
Sorry about the delayed response. Iāve been buried up to my neck with a data center move.
You bring up an interesting question that I think most Ops/Eng people have who are trying to dive into the deeper end of DevOps.
Your question is:
āI am looking to move in this direction as I need to gain automation experience. What do you suggest?ā
And my answer is āsimpleā – focus on where the need isā¦
Hereās what I mean.
Automation is obviously the cool place where most Ops people want to start. However, automate what?
Start by asking the Dev team where the problems are and chances are you will end up with a list of ideas that will help you with figuring out the skills you need and which tools to learn.
But this brings to surface another problem I often see with IT people, which is why I focus so much of my DevOps posts on communication.
The majority of IT people are terrible communicators. PERIOD!
If you canāt communicate with the people you need to connect with, you wonāt find out where the needs are.
I bet there are opportunities for automation all around you that are disguised as problems.
Soā¦Reach out and talk to the Dev team to find out if they have problems with code releases. Or with the Ops team to find out if they have problems with server deployment and configuration.
Chances are someone in a cubical near you is frustrated with a problem you can fix with automationā¦
CM, please let me know what problems you find that can be turned into automation opportunities?
Thanks,
Joe
Hi Joe,
Would you recommend DevOps to a non IT background person? I have no knowledge whatsoever of IT, I’m from science background and have been a homemaker for over 10 years now. But I’m a quick learner and have an almost eidetic memory…and really want to make it in IT
If yes, what basics do I need before I understand the core concepts?
If no, what would you suggest I go for in the IT field?
Thanks and really appreciate your help.
Hi Joe,
I am currently working as Unix Administrator (AIX/Linux). Also have some hand on Puppet and Blade logic and fair amount experience in writing scripts (Shell and Python). I want to become Devops engineer.
Please help me with the learning path and list of tools need to be work upon and get trained.
Thanks & Regards,
Rahul G
Hi Rahul,
I’ve given you the how above and here’s another post with more details for you to check out. https://www.vminstall.com/devops-training-courses/
The when and where comes down to matching your skills with the right opportunity.
But you won’t know what’s needed until you start applying for DevOps jobs…
Good Luck!
Joe
Hi Insia,
Sorry for the delay in answering you…
I don’t see why not. DevOps is more of a way of thinking and if you can grasp it, and learn a few IT skills, you could definitely find a job in IT.
Here are other posts for you to read on DevOps:
https://www.vminstall.com/devops-engineer/
https://www.vminstall.com/devops-skills/
https://www.vminstall.com/devops-interview-questions/
And finally this one which is new and also includes a training on well known DevOps software tools:
https://www.vminstall.com/devops-training-courses/
Insia, there’s plenty of opportunity for people who can learn the right mindset and skills.
Good Luck to you and please let me know how it goes?
Joe
Thank you for the article. I am 47 and have been in desktop support for 18 years. It is way past time to get off my butt and greatly re invent myself, and increase my skill sets. I have been afraid of Development for some reason, its past time to get over that.
I will go back over the article and note down steps, as I will be starting from scratch with no dev experience.
Hi Brian,
Good luck and please let us know how things are going for you!
Thanks,
Joe
Hi Joe,
Thanks for an excellent write up!
I have been with messaging for 6 years now, I have a bit of hands on with Windows, AD & VMware too.
As I’m more comfortable with windows, started concentrating on Azure and Chef when it comes to CM.
Hope I’m on the right track, please share your thoughts.
Regards,
Kottees
Hello Joe, your site has amazing posts. Thanks for sharing them. I am a project manager, former DEV, BA and agile coach and I want to get into more technical stuff to have a mixture of both worlds. I have seen that DevOps is a great option and this is a good way to summarize all you need to learn. Any other book you recommend to understand the theory? Ex. the phoenix project.
Best regards from Lima, Peru.
Richard
Hi Richard,
Thanks for the comment.
Did you check out my free eBook at http://devopsebook,com yet? I also suggest a few books there, as well.
Also, for real practical use cases you can listen to DevOps CafĆ©, http://devopscafe.org with John and Damon, there’s always something new going on and they do a good job keeping up…
Finally, last week I created a new guide for Windows Admins where I review multiple use cases and job descriptions for Microsoft DevOps, it might give insight for you. https://www.vminstall.com/microsoft-devops/
I’m interested in knowing what you think and find?
Thanks again,
Joe
Hello Joe,
Blog is very helpful. I am Automation Engineer (3+ years exp) worked on Selenium with Java, Python and Javascript, Jenkins, Maven, GIt. I planed to switch career to DevOps so i started to learning Ansible and AWS. Please suggest me, is it right decision from Automation engineer to DevOps. The only reason i planned is of DevOps demand.
Hi Shantaveer,
It sounds like you are on your way there with the skills you have!
Have you read my recent lesson on the DevOps Toolchain?
Learning the right tools is a key ingredient, but also having the ability to collaborate and reach out to others is important. I find communicating difficult for SysAdmins – they mostly like to stay in their cubes and be left alone. If this is you work on social skills, too!
Another issue is making the right impression when interviewing. Seems a lot of managers want DevOps but they don’t know what skills to look for so be ready to give good clear examples of your experience with details. Your examples should include scripts if you have them. āShowā how you can do the job. Explain the problems youāve solved with automation, how you solved them (which tools did you used), and what the benefits were (speed to market, improved performance for users, less time to deploy). Donāt be afraid to boast a little about your work, as long as it was yours.
Give it a shot and see what happens!
Joe
Thank you Joe.
– Shantaveer
You’re welcome Shantaveer. Good Luck! š
Hey Joe!
First of all, i liked you article very much, and it completely convinced me that Devops is the right choise.
Could you please recommend with witch course should i start in Lynda?
there are so many courses and information that i get lost in them.
Hi Mina,
If you’re looking for training the list above covers the basic skills to get started with at Lynda. However, if you are looking for a place to begin with DevOps tools I suggest reading this post https://www.vminstall.com/devops-toolchain/ or if you want to learn more about DevOps skills then here’s another popular post https://www.vminstall.com/devops-skills/.
I also recommend focusing in on specific skills and tools used at the place you are applying to or working at. Ansible Git and Jenkins seem to be common tools for Linux and PowerShell is common for Windows. Docker is also trending.
Mina, that should get you started…
Thanks!
Joe
Hi, Thanks for sharing wonderful stuff about DevOps Training…