Topic 101 used to be called "Hardware & Architecture" but will now simply be known as "System Architecture." Previously, it consisted of six objectives: configuring fundamental BIOS setting (weight: 1), configuring modem and sound cards (1), setting up non-IDE devices (1), setting up different PC expansion cards (3), configuring communication devices (1), and configuring USB devices (1).

Now, it will consist of only three objectives: determining and configuring hardware settings (weight: 2), booting the system (3), and changing runlevels and shutdown or reboot system (3).

Topic 102 will keep the same name, "Linux Installation and Package Management," and will have only a few tweaks. The "Make and install programs from source" objective has been removed, and the previously named " User Red Hat Package Manager (RPM)" objective has been renamed "Use RPM and YUM package management."

Topic 103, "GNU & Unix Commands," has also kept the same name and a few tweaks have been made to the weighting. It's interesting to note that while the weighting for most of the objectives have gone down, those for basic file management and vi have gone up.

With Topic 104, "Devices, Linux Filesystem, Filesystem Hierarchy Standard," two of the objectives -- "Use file permissions to control access to files" and "Manage file ownership" -- have been combined into one, and some of the weighting has changed (for instance, the value of links has increased).

In the biggest surprise of all, Topic 110 -- the X Window System -- will be removed from this exam completely and placed in the LPIC 102 text.

This looks only at the top-level topics and weighting. Stay tuned for more information on the changes, including key knowledge areas and the files/terms/utilities to know beneath each.

CompTIA Increases Exam Pricing
On Aug. 1, CompTIA implemented a 3 percent increase across the board for all of their certification exams worldwide. All coupons and promotional codes already issued are still valid and vouchers purchased before Aug. 1 will be honored until their printed expiration date.

Here are the new prices in USD:

• CompTIA A+ $132 (member)/$168 (non-member)
• CompTIA CDIA+ $208/$258
• CompTIA Convergence $191/$239
• CompTIA CTT+ (CBT) $191/$239
• CompTIA CTT+ (VBT) $208/$258
• CEA-CompTIA DHTI+ $191/$239
• CompTIA Linux+ $191/$239
• CompTIA Network+ $191/$239
• CompTIA PDI+ $191/$239
• CompTIA Project+ $191/$239
• CompTIA Security+ $208/$258
• CompTIA Server+ $191/$239

Microsoft Offering Second Shot Again
Microsoft brought back Second Shot last week, on Aug. 5. The program offers candidates the ability to re-take a certification exam they failed a without having to pay for it. The Second Shot promotion had been made available earlier this year and ended on June 30 (with registration ending May 31).

The newest promotion will be offered worldwide until June 30, 2009. More information on the Second Shot can be found here.

Book of the Week: 'Hacking Exposed Linux'
Almost a decade ago, I read The Hot Zone by Richard Preston and become paranoid that everyone I came across was carrying Ebola and would begin to bleed out at any moment. I approached Hacking Exposed Linux, 3rd Edition with similar trepidation, fearing that after reading it I would be suspicious of every user and connection on the network.

Such was not the case, I'm pleased to say. Based on the work of the Institute for Security and Open Methodologies (ISECOM), the book is more of a guide than an exposé. The 17 chapters explain weaknesses and what you need to do in order to get rid of them (or at least minimize them as much as possible).

In addition to the standard topics, there's also a focus on Voice over IP, wireless networks and RFID. Each chapter begins with a case study to get you thinking and there are tables running throughout the book showing the risk rating of what's being discussed (in addition to the rating itself, there's a rating for popularity, simplicity and impact).

Overall, Hacking Exposed Linux, 3rd Edition is a great read and one that should be required of all administrators working with Linux systems.