Indeed, according to Microsoft's Lutz Ziob, over 100,000 Windows Server 2008 certifications have been earned already. And that tally is expected to grow rapidly when the Windows 7 exams go live.

In other Microsoft news, don't forget that both the Second-Shot and Career Assist programs are scheduled to end soon, on June 30.

Red Hat Exams Shortened
Early this month, Red Hat changed the format of the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) and the Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) certification exams and shortened both. Previously, the RHCE exam consisted of two sections that were each two and 3.5 hours long. Now, they've been combined into a single section that's 3.5 hours long.

Likewise, the RHCT exam was changed from two sections (one and two hours long) to a single section that's two hours long.

Red Hat gives this explanation for the change: "Taking a certification exam is like a visit to the doctor: it should take as long as is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, but should not take any longer than necessary. A shorter exam makes better use of candidates' time."

LPI/Ubuntu Certification Special Offer
To become Ubuntu-certified, a candidate must pass a total of three exams through the Linux Professional Institute (LPI). The three exams are the two required for LPIC-1 certification (exams 101 and 102) as well as the Ubuntu-specific exam (exam 199).

Normally, these are priced at $160 each, but Canonical and LPI are now offering a voucher bundle for the three that brings the price down to $120 each.

Book of the Week: 'Windows Vista Inside Out'
Most of us know that when it comes to certain things, we'd be lost without a good reference source to rely on. We've all felt the sweat form on our brows as we try to figure out how to do a ten-second thing that's now going into its tenth minute, and the only thing that's keeping our anxiety in check is that one book we know is on the shelf.

More and more in the past few months, that reference source for me has been Windows Vista Inside Out by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert and Craig Stinson. While I have no idea what the title is really supposed to mean -- I have difficulty conjuring up how the "inside out" part is put into action -- I know that I can rely on it time and time again.

The transition to Vista has been one that I, like many others, have undertaken reluctantly. I'm not doing it so much because I think XP is lacking anything; I'm doing it because I don't want to be left behind. I honestly can't wait for Windows 7 to replace what's there now, but in the meantime I take comfort in knowing that I can find a way to do in Vista anything that I want to do with the aid of this book.

There are over 30 chapters in this 1,100-page tome divided into five parts: Setup and Startup, Security and Networking, Digital Media, System Maintenance and Management, and Advanced System Management. While the book is going on two years old (and is thus missing the discussion of service packs), it stands as the most accessible, readable and worthwhile book on the Vista OS that I've been able to find.