Last Updated on July 15, 2025 by Rajeev Bagra
Whether you’re an aspiring system administrator, DevOps engineer, or just curious about how servers run behind the scenes, understanding Linux and its relationship with Red Hat is essential. In this post, we’ll cover:
- The connection between Linux and Red Hat
- Why both are crucial in today’s tech landscape
- RHEL vs Ubuntu vs Fedora comparison
- Paths to Linux certifications (RHCSA, LFCS, etc.)
- Free and low-cost resources to help you learn
What Is Linux?
Linux is a free, open-source kernel developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. While it’s not a full operating system by itself, the Linux kernel serves as the foundation for many Linux distributions (distros) like:
- Ubuntu
- Fedora
- Debian
- Arch
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
These distributions package the Linux kernel with user-space tools to form complete operating systems for desktop, server, cloud, and embedded use.
What Is Red Hat?
Red Hat, Inc. is a company founded in 1993 that specializes in enterprise open-source software. It is best known for:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) – A commercial Linux distro for businesses
- Ansible – Popular automation tool
- OpenShift – Kubernetes-based cloud application platform
- CentOS Stream – A midstream version of RHEL
- Fedora – A community-supported Linux distro upstream to RHEL
In 2019, IBM acquired Red Hat for $34 billion, emphasizing how central open-source has become to enterprise IT.
How Are Linux and Red Hat Related?
| Element | Linux | Red Hat |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Kernel (core OS) | Company/distributor |
| Focus | Free and open-source | Enterprise-grade OS |
| Contribution | Community and organizations | Top contributor to Linux kernel |
| Product | Base for all Linux distros | Builds and maintains RHEL, Fedora, etc. |
Why Are Linux and Red Hat Relevant Today?
- Security & Stability: Linux powers 96.5% of the top 1 million web servers. RHEL is certified for enterprise use and provides long-term support.
- Cloud & DevOps: Major cloud providers offer Linux-based VMs. Red Hat’s OpenShift and Ansible are popular for automation and orchestration.
- Developer Ecosystem: Fedora and CentOS Stream provide innovation pipelines and pre-enterprise previews.
RHEL vs Ubuntu vs Fedora
| Feature | RHEL | Ubuntu | Fedora |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintained By | Red Hat (IBM) | Canonical | Red Hat community |
| Audience | Enterprise | General-purpose/devs | Developers, testers |
| Cost | Paid support | Free + optional support | Free |
| Release Cycle | 10+ year support | 2-year LTS | 6-months |
| Certifications | RHCSA, RHCE | Ubuntu Pro | None officially |
Fedora → upstream RHEL → enterprise-hardened CentOS Stream → rolling preview of next RHEL
Linux Certification Paths
Red Hat Certifications
- RHCSA: Basic sysadmin, users, storage, SELinux
- RHCE: Intermediate + automation (Ansible)
- RHCA: Advanced topics (cloud, clustering, security)
Other Linux Certifications
- LFCS: From Linux Foundation – vendor-neutral
- LPIC-1/2/3: Broad certification track
- Linux+ (CompTIA): Entry-level alternative
Free & Affordable Learning Resources
Free Courses & Video Playlists
- Linux for Beginners (freeCodeCamp – YouTube)
- RHCSA Training by Sander van Vugt
- Intro to Linux (Linux Foundation / edX)
Books
- RHCSA/RHCE Red Hat Study Guide – by Michael Jang or Sander van Vugt
- How Linux Works – by Brian Ward
- Linux Pocket Guide – by Daniel Barrett
Practice Labs
- VirtualBox + Fedora/Ubuntu ISO – Create your own lab
- Katacoda or Play With Docker – Browser-based CLI practice
- GitHub Codespaces – Cloud-based Linux coding
- AWS Free Tier – Host Linux servers free for 12 months
Suggested 4-Week Study Plan (RHCSA or LFCS)
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Linux CLI basics: ls, cd, chmod, users |
| Week 2 | Boot process, services, networking, firewalls |
| Week 3 | Disk partitions, LVM, SELinux, software |
| Week 4 | Bash scripting, container basics, practice exams |
Final Thoughts
Linux is the invisible backbone of the internet, and Red Hat helps scale it for the enterprise. Whether you’re managing cloud infrastructure, automating deployments, or breaking into cybersecurity, Linux skills are essential.
Start small with Fedora or Ubuntu, then move toward certification like RHCSA or LFCS to prove your skills in the industry. With free courses and open-source tools, you can get started today at zero cost!
