Focused Study Plan For The LFCS Exam
Getting ready for the LFCS (Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator) exam? Whether you’re new to Linux or brushing up your sysadmin skills, having a focused study plan can make all the difference between passing confidently—and missing the mark.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through a week-by-week LFCS study plan designed to help you pass on your first attempt. This is your roadmap to staying on track, building real hands-on experience, and showing up exam-ready.
Why You Need a Study Plan for the LFCS Exam
The LFCS isn’t like other IT certifications. It’s 100% hands-on, performance-based, and tests your ability to complete real-world admin tasks in a live Linux environment.
This means:
- No memorization tricks
- No multiple-choice questions
- No shortcuts
You need to be comfortable using the command line, editing config files, managing users, services, and networking on the fly.
✅ With a plan, you’ll cover everything you need without getting overwhelmed.
What You’ll Be Tested On (LFCS Domains)
The exam is broken down into the following major topic areas:
- Essential Commands
- User and Group Management
- Networking
- Storage Management
- System Services
- Security
📄 View the official domains & competencies PDF
LFCS Study Plan (8-Week Timeline)
Use this plan as a baseline. You can condense or expand it depending on your available study time. The goal is consistency.
Week 1: Environment Setup + Shell Commands
- Install VirtualBox or set up a cloud VM
- Choose your preferred distro (Ubuntu or CentOS)
- Learn basic shell navigation
- Practice:
ls,cd,cp,mv,find,grep,tar,df,du,man,chmod,chown
Week 2: Users, Groups & Permissions
- Add/remove users & groups
- Set and update passwords
- Configure sudo access
- Explore permissions: read, write, execute
- Practice setting sticky bits, SUID, SGID
Week 3: Networking
- View & configure network interfaces
- Use
ip,ifconfig,netstat,ss - Edit
/etc/hostsand DNS configs - Practice firewall basics with
ufworfirewalld
Week 4: Storage and Filesystems
- Create/format/mount partitions
- Understand LVM basics
- Work with swap space
- Configure auto-mounts with
/etc/fstab
Week 5: Processes & System Services
- Manage services with
systemctl - Create/disable/start services
- Manage runlevels/targets
- Kill or renice processes
Week 6: Logs, Boot & Security
- Read system logs with
journalctland/var/log/ - Configure SSH settings
- Create cron jobs and timers
- Understand file integrity and backups
Week 7: Practice Tasks + Self-Testing
- Simulate exam-style tasks
- Time yourself (10–15 mins per task)
- Troubleshoot common errors
- Note your weak spots
Week 8: Review & Final Prep
- Revisit difficult topics
- Take a full-length practice exam
- Run through your command cheat sheet
- Prep your system and environment
Study Resources (Free & Paid)
Free:
Paid:
Tools for Practicing
- VirtualBox + Ubuntu Server ISO
- AWS Free Tier or Google Cloud Free VM
- CLI-based playgrounds (Katacoda, Codecademy)
- Shell scripting notebooks
Exam Tips to Maximize Your Score
- Flag difficult tasks and return to them
- Use
manpages during the exam - Double-check your file paths and typos
- Save time with aliases and keyboard shortcuts
- Keep calm and move steadily—time is your friend if you stay focused
Bonus: Downloadable LFCS Cheat Sheet
📝 Coming soon: Our free 1-page LFCS command cheat sheet to keep on hand during practice!
Internal Links
External Links
Final Thoughts
With this study plan, you’ll go from Linux beginner to confident admin—ready to pass the LFCS exam on your first try. Break your goals into small, achievable steps. Practice daily. Simulate real exam tasks. And most importantly, enjoy the learning journey.
Call to Action:
🎯 Start your official LFCS prep today with Linux Foundation Training
