Network engineers and software engineers have different responsibilities, so aspiring IT pros should carefully evaluate each field before they decide their career paths. Automated and programmable networks that use software and code are more common, but network engineers don’t require the same level of software expertise as software engineers. Software development skills can benefit network engineers in management or automation roles, while operations and UC roles focus more on daily activities within businesses. A Linux engineer must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field. They must also have programming experience and a strong understanding of Linux, DNS, LDAP, and Java.
- Both careers require IT professionals to design, implement and maintain their systems, whether networks or software.
- Linux and coding are becoming very valuable skills for network engineers that want to expand their horizons in new areas such as SDN, network automation, and DevOps.
- While most senior linux engineers have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree.
- Network engineering involves dealing with the planning, design, and technical specification of a project.
Those with Linux skills are sought after in the industry which is why Linux jobs are currently on the rise. Being a Linux engineer allows you to fully support and improve an organization while operating and troubleshooting multiple systems. These articles take an inside look at the roles related to CompTIA certifications. Each article will include the responsibilities, qualifications, related job titles and salary range for the role. As you consider the next move in your IT career, check back with CompTIA to learn more about your job prospects and how to get there. Once prospective IT pros understand the distinctions between the two, they can choose which area of technology to pursue.
Explore linux engineer education requirements
While the field is rapidly changing, I’m going to suggest that one of the most important areas we as network engineers can focus on is Linux. First off, it’s becoming more and more apparent that most network operating systems are based on some variation of Linux. Different vendors offer varying degrees of access to the underlying Linux operating system with the trend being to give the user more and more access into system internals. One of the best paying and most stable roles within networking is that of a network engineer.
While I think this is a fair generalization, it’s also fair to say that most vendors don’t run a completely vanilla version of Linux or the Linux kernel. Along with the different education paths that both professions require, salary linux network engineer expectations are also a key difference between the two roles. The annual salary for a network administrator falls within the range of $65,000 to $100,000, while the network engineer’s annual salary is between $75,000 and $110,000.
What Is the Difference Between Network Engineer and Network Administrator?
The comparison between network engineers vs. software engineers ultimately boils down to the difference between networks and software. Networks comprise various nodes or endpoints that send and receive data, while software is a collection of data used to operate computers or devices. Networking increasingly implements software-defined concepts, and software engineers frequently come across networking concepts, but the two fields are vastly different. Linux engineers who do attend college typically earn either a computer science degree or a electrical engineering degree. Less commonly-earned degrees for linux engineers include a information technology degree or a computer engineering degree.
- If you’re wanting to pursue this career, it may be possible to be successful with a high school degree.
- Using the CLI for a given vendor meant learning that vendor’s unique syntax.
- Working closely with other key IT roles, like network administrators, these networking engineers design, build, and maintain networks for optimal performance.
- At first glance, the networking configuration of a single Linux host may seem trivial.
- These could range in size from a connection between a couple of offices to an intricate cloud infrastructure serving a multinational company.
At smaller companies, you may be responsible for both architecture and security. Working in larger companies often means specializing in one area of network engineering, such as architecture, security, or administration. IT pros interested in a more creative line of work might prefer software engineering. The process of creating software for https://remotemode.net/ enterprise use offers more flexibility than building a network. Software engineer teams can build and implement various types of software depending on the purpose of the system or application. In addition to the native Linux features, there are other projects such as Open vSwitch (OVS)that seek to extend Linux networking functionality.