LPI BSD Specialist
Linux Professional Institute BSD Specialist
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Linux Professional Institute BSD Specialist is a vendor-neutral certification for administrators who work with FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD. LPI describes the certification holder as a BSD system administrator with a solid understanding of BSD architecture and the ability to manage user accounts and groups, processes, file systems, installed software and client networking configuration, using standard BSD and Unix tools on the command line. The objectives state that these skills must apply across all three operating systems. The credential is earned by passing exam 702, exam code 702-100, and LPI states there is no requirement to possess another certification. The published objectives are version 1.0.0 and are organised into five weighted topics: BSD Installation and Software Management, Storage Devices and BSD Filesystems, Basic BSD System Administration, Basic BSD Network Administration, and Basic Unix Skills. Weights indicate relative importance, so objectives with higher weights are covered with more questions. LPI warns that identically named commands and files may behave differently between the three BSDs, even when listed as common, and that the exam will state which BSD is covered where appropriate. To prepare, work through each objective's key knowledge areas on real FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD installations, paying particular attention to the tools unique to each system, such as bsdinstall and freebsd-update, sysinst, and bsd.rd. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with LPI.
What you'll study
About LPI BSD Specialist preparation
Which operating systems does the exam cover?
All three: FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD. The objectives state the certification holder is able to apply the skills on each of them. Candidates are expected to use the listed files and commands on all the BSD operating systems mentioned, and LPI notes that commands with the same name may differ in behaviour or content between them.
Do I need another certification before taking exam 702?
No. LPI states the BSD Specialist certification is awarded after passing this exam and that there is no requirement to possess another certification. Exam 702 is described as a required exam for the certification, so passing it is the route to the credential.
How is the exam structured and how are topics weighted?
The objectives are grouped into five topics, and each objective carries a weight indicating its relative importance. LPI says objectives with higher weights are covered with more questions. The heaviest individual objectives include BSD Software and Package Management, Manage File Permissions and Ownership, Manage User Accounts and Groups, Basic network configuration and Basic network troubleshooting.
How long is the exam and what score do I need to pass?
The source material does not state a duration, question count or passing score. Those details are not published in the objectives or overview pages retrieved, so check LPI's exam pricing and scheduling pages for current logistics. Plan your study around the objective weights rather than around a question count.
What should I study first?
Start with Basic Unix Skills and Storage Devices and BSD Filesystems, since shell use, file management, processes, permissions and mounting underpin everything else. Then move to system administration topics such as accounts, cron, logging and time, before tackling installation, package management and networking. Practise each objective on all three BSDs, not just one.
Where do candidates commonly lose marks?
Assuming one BSD's tools apply everywhere. Each system has its own package tools, service control and network configuration files, and the objectives list them separately for FreeBSD, NetBSD and OpenBSD. Another frequent gap is hands-on depth: knowing that a command exists is not enough; you must be able to use it to install, query, configure and troubleshoot.
Are the published objectives final?
Treat them as current but subject to change. The objectives page is marked as a draft, and a future change consideration is listed for objective 712.1, proposing to add gdisk and reconsider fdisk, disklabel and installboot. No effective date is given, so study the published version and recheck the page before booking.
How should I prepare in practice?
Build at least one virtual machine per BSD and work through the key knowledge areas directly: install with default options, upgrade, manage packages and ports, edit rc configuration, create and check file systems, configure interfaces and DNS, and write short shell scripts. Use the manpages referenced in the objectives, such as hier(7) and re_format(7), as primary references.
Is this page official LPI material?
No. This is independent study content written to help you prepare; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Linux Professional Institute. Always confirm exam code, objectives version and logistics against LPI's own published pages before you schedule or pay for an exam.