Guide · Open source
How to use test-your-sysadmin-skills: a Linux sysadmin Q&A guide
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
test-your-sysadmin-skills is a free, MIT-licensed collection of about 284 Linux and Unix sysadmin questions with example answers, grouped by difficulty. It suits people preparing for a sysadmin interview, junior admins checking their knowledge, students who want a structured topic list, and interviewers looking for question ideas. This guide shows how to get the repository, how to work through it, and what it can and cannot do for you.
test-your-sysadmin-skillstrimstray/test-your-sysadmin-skills · ★ 11.9k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Clone the repository. Run the git clone command from the README to download the question and answer files to your computer.
- 2Choose a starting level. Begin with Simple Questions, or with Junior Sysadmin if you already have some experience.
- 3Answer before reading. Write or say your own answer to each question before opening the example answer.
- 4Compare and follow links. Compare your answer with the example and open the further-reading links where a gap remains.
- 5Record weak topics. Note the questions you could not answer and make them your study list.
- 6Move up a level. Repeat the process with Regular, Senior or Guru Sysadmin questions as your knowledge grows.
What the project contains
The project is a Q&A list, not a practice environment. The README describes it as a set of test questions and answers that can be used to test your knowledge or during an interview or exam for a position such as Linux (*nix) System Administrator.
Questions are split into chapters: Simple Questions as a warm-up, then General Knowledge with Junior, Regular and Senior Sysadmin sections, and a Secret Knowledge chapter with Guru Sysadmin questions. The README lists question counts per chapter in its table of contents.
- Simple Questions: relaxed, conversational prompts such as what you learned this week
- Junior Sysadmin: basic knowledge, such as Linux distributions and the difference between Unix, Linux, BSD and GNU
- Regular Sysadmin: a mid-level set for people with sound knowledge
- Senior Sysadmin: harder questions and riddles
- Guru Sysadmin: very deep questions
Get a copy of the repository
The README gives one install command: clone the repository from GitHub. Cloning gives you the Markdown files so you can read them offline and search them locally. The project has no listed prerequisites beyond the ability to run git.
git clone https://github.com/trimstray/test-your-sysadmin-skillsStudy by difficulty level
Start with Simple Questions to warm up, then move up one level at a time. Try to answer each question out loud or in writing before you open the example answer. Treat the answer as a comparison point, not a script.
The answers are examples and do not cover the whole topic. Many include links to further reading, so when an answer leaves you unsure, follow those links and make your own notes.
- Answer before you read the example
- Compare your answer with the example and the linked resources
- Write down the topics you could not answer and study those first
Use it to prepare for an interview
Pick questions from the level that matches the job you want. Practise explaining your answer in a few clear sentences, since interviewers often ask follow-up questions.
Interviewers can use the same list to find question ideas. The README includes questions about how you handle non-standard situations, how you document solutions and how you work with developers.
- Practise answers aloud and time yourself
- Prepare a real example for questions about past projects or mistakes
- Note which questions are marked as unanswered and treat them as open research topics
Contribute or report gaps
The README marks some questions with an asterisk to show that the answer is missing or incomplete. The maintainers invite pull requests to add answers and fix anything that looks wrong, and ask contributors to include reasoning for their changes.
If you are studying, these marked questions are good places to practise writing a careful answer, then submit it upstream.
- Look for questions marked as incomplete
- Check the linked resources before you change an answer
- Open a pull request with a clear explanation of your change
What people use it for
- Rehearsing answers before a Linux sysadmin job interview
- Checking which Unix and Linux basics you still need to review as a junior admin
- Building a study plan from the chapter structure
- Collecting question ideas for a technical interview panel
Frequently asked questions
Is test-your-sysadmin-skills free?
Yes. The repository is licensed under the MIT License, as shown in the README badge and the LICENSE.md link. You can clone it and use it without a listed fee.
How do I install test-your-sysadmin-skills?
The README gives one command: git clone https://github.com/trimstray/test-your-sysadmin-skills. No other prerequisites are listed, and the project is meant to be read online or in your local copy.
Are the answers correct and complete?
The README says the answers are only examples and do not exhaust the whole topic. Some questions are marked as unanswered or incomplete, so check the linked resources and do not rely on the list as a full reference.
Does it include hands-on lab exercises?
No. It is a list of questions and answers, not a practice environment. If you need to practise commands on a real system, you will need to set up your own lab.
What is the difference between this and devops-interview-questions?
The README points to devops-interview-questions as a resource for further improvement and calls it interesting. The sysadmin project focuses on Linux and Unix system administration questions, grouped by difficulty, while the other project is aimed at DevOps interviews.
How many questions does it include?
The README states that the project contains 284 test questions and answers. The table of contents splits them across the Simple, Junior, Regular, Senior and Guru chapters.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
Use this project if you are preparing for a Linux or Unix sysadmin interview, want a structured list of topics, or need question ideas as an interviewer. Pick a different resource if you need an authoritative reference or hands-on lab exercises, since the README says the answers are examples only.
Install options & downloads