Last updated: October 2026. Written by Eric Mugerwa, who completed the Linux Foundation’s Advanced Cloud Engineer Bootcamp (graduate badge issued 18 July 2021). Facts re-checked and updated by Josh Hutcheson on 14 October 2026 against the Linux Foundation’s own pages. See our review methodology. Some links on this page may earn us a commission; the Linux Foundation links do not.
Update, October 2026: this bootcamp is retired
The Linux Foundation no longer sells the Cloud Engineer Bootcamp or the Advanced Cloud Engineer Bootcamp. The old bootcamp page now redirects to a “course inactive” notice that says the product is no longer available, and a search of the Linux Foundation’s catalog returns no bootcamps. You cannot enroll.
We kept this review because it is a first-hand account from a graduate, and the courses at its core are still sold separately. The sections after the conclusion explain how to put the same path together today and what it costs.
A graduate’s account of a retired bootcamp
This Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp review is a first-hand account by Eric Mugerwa, who took the Advanced Cloud Engineer Bootcamp, the version the Linux Foundation built for experienced IT professionals, and passed its Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam in 2021. Below is what the program was like from the inside, with notes on what has changed since.
Quick verdict
- What it was: a six-month, self-paced bundle of Linux Foundation courses plus certification exams, with instructor office hours.
- What Eric thought: a good deal even at $1,200, with strong labs and a fair CKA exam; the weak point was losing access after 12 months.
- Can you buy it now? No. It was retired.
- Closest path today: Kubernetes Fundamentals (LFS258) plus the CKA exam for $645, or a $360-a-year THRIVE-ONE subscription plus a discounted exam.
My motivation to enroll in Linux Foundation’s Cloud Engineer Bootcamp
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My name is Eric Mugerwa from Kampala, Uganda. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering and have worked in the Telecom industry for the past 15 years mainly focusing on IT infrastructure and networking.
In 2017, I joined a Telecom greenfield operator whose goal was to launch a mobile virtual network enabler/operator in Uganda using mainly cloud technology as well as sell cloud Infrastructure as a service in Uganda. Unfortunately, this did not work out, but the following year I partnered with a Dutch gentleman to launch a local cloud service provider in Uganda and as the technical lead I had to become competent in cloud computing technologies in the shortest time possible to help our clients with cloud migrations.
I started looking for affordable training and certification in cloud computing and came across Coursera which offered several Google Cloud courses. Later on, I discovered Cloud Guru and also Linux academy which I used to gain certification in Amazon Web Services.
Along the way, Kubernetes’ popularity exploded and my partner sent me a link to Linux Foundation training suggesting that training in Kubernetes would broaden my skills and when Linux Foundation advertised a highly discounted bundled Advanced Cloud Engineer Bootcamp it was impossible to resist. I promptly enrolled in this course which covered key areas of interest and offered a free certification exam.
My main motivation for starting and finishing this course was to broaden my skills and enable me to support our clients in their cloud migration journeys. I found the training to be very good and covered both theoretical and practical aspects of Kubernetes though I supplemented it with some training on Udemy and A cloud Guru. It also covered some technologies like Fluentd that can’t be found elsewhere.
My thoughts on course pricing
Now come to the pricing of this Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp review.
The bundled offer was at a reasonable amount ($1000 if I recall correctly) but for developing countries and in particular, Uganda where a typical IT engineer earns somewhere between 300 and 1000 USD equivalent a month, this can be quite high and one has to save for a few months amidst competing priorities for this kind of training.
For training, I usually look out for yearly subscription plans that offer huge discounts Coursera (Coursera plus – $399), ACloudGuru ($299). I also buy Udemy courses when they are on promotion (10 – 13 USD). Once in a while when I need a specialty course that I can splurge on one just as in the case of the Linux Foundation Advanced Cloud Engineer.
Editor’s note, October 2026
The Linux Foundation launched the beginner Cloud Engineer Bootcamp in June 2020 at a standard $999, with a $599 introductory price (ZDNet, June 2020), and announced the Advanced version on 21 July 2020. By 2021 the sales page above showed $1,200, and a later r/devops thread also quoted $1,200, adding that the Linux Foundation ran frequent sales, with the best ones on Cyber Monday.
Some of Eric’s comparison prices have moved too: A Cloud Guru is now Pluralsight’s Cloud+ plan ($24.50 a month billed yearly), and Coursera Plus is still $399 a year. For what the Linux Foundation’s individual courses and exams cost now, see Linux Foundation certification cost in 2026 below.
My thoughts on course timeline
Course time was very generous, actually too generous which made me relax and pursue other certifications and wait till the end to complete the course. In the year I did this course, I got 5 AWS certifications (2 associate level and 2 professional levels), TOEFL, VMware, Huawei (HCIA). I prioritized the others courses, always thinking I had enough time to complete the Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp course. I almost ran out of time.
Editor’s note, October 2026
Access lasted 12 months. The Linux Foundation planned the beginner bootcamp at 15 to 20 hours a week for six months and the Advanced bootcamp at about 10 hours a week for six months. Eric’s experience is the common trap with self-paced programs: a long window invites procrastination. If you buy a Linux Foundation course or exam today, the exam eligibility window is also 12 months, so book a date early.
Can I get a job with Linux Foundation?
This did not cross my mind or I was not aware that support actually exists. My focus at the moment is upskilling. Job hunting can be a whole job on its own and after all this training I still have impostor syndrome. So my current focus is to practice what I have learned, build a portfolio, and maybe next year I will start job hunting.
Editor’s note, October 2026
The bootcamp did not include job placement. The 2021 sales page listed daily instructor office hours, a dedicated discussion forum and access to a mentor, plus the certification exams. The career value came from the certifications themselves: the CKA and the bootcamp badge can be verified by employers online. Eric took the Advanced version, whose announcement framed it as a way for experienced IT professionals to move into cloud roles.
My thoughts on the syllabus: Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp review
Let’s talk about the syllabus of this Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp review.
The syllabus was quite complete. It covered all the main areas of interest – containers, container orchestration (Kubernetes), monitoring, logging, networking, and package management. It was wholesome and the labs I found to be very engaging and challenged me enough to learn.
Most of all I learned how to use containers to build microservices and also Kubernetes to do container orchestration. I am now building 3 applications using the knowledge I learned from this course, a Fintech App to offer Micro Loans, Property Management App, and Fresh Foods Export App.
Editor’s note, October 2026
Which bootcamp is the list below? The week-by-week schedule is the beginner Cloud Engineer Bootcamp: LFS201, LFS211, the LFCS exam, LFS253, LFS261, LFS258 and the CKA exam. Eric took the Advanced version, which skipped the Linux administration courses and the LFCS (marked “not included”) and instead added Service Mesh Fundamentals (LFS243), Prometheus monitoring (LFS241), Fluentd logging (LFS242) and Helm (LFS244), according to the Linux Foundation’s announcement. That is why he mentions Fluentd and monitoring.
Two of the courses he took are still sold on their own: Containers Fundamentals (LFS253), $299 with about 40 hours of material, and Kubernetes Fundamentals (LFS258), $299 with about 35 hours and 12 months of access.
WEEK 1-4; Essentials of Linux System Administration (LFS201)
This was not included.
WEEK 5-9; Linux Networking and Administration (LFS211)
This was not included.
WEEK 10; Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator Exam (LFCS)
This was not included.
WEEK 11-14; Containers Fundamentals (LFS253)
This course gave me a strong foundation on containers and helped me understand how they work and how to use them.
WEEK 15-18; DevOps and SRE Fundamentals (LFS261)
This was not included.
WEEK 19-23; Kubernetes Fundamentals (LFS258)
This course covered Kubernetes giving a good introduction to its setup and usage. The labs were hands-on allowing you to apply knowledge learned in the course and I found it quite sufficient for passing the CKA exam.
WEEK 24; Certified Kubernetes Administrator Exam (CKA)
I could easily say it was one of the best exam experiences I have ever had. I have done over 10 online proctored exams in the last year or so. I Liked the exam format, proctoring experience, and the interface was fluid. I did not encounter any problems. I think the exam tested my knowledge adequately and the pass mark was fair.
Check this out -> Udacity Cloud DevOps Engineer Nanodegree Review
Specialization: Linux foundation
This course provided a good well-rounded introduction to containers and the container ecosystem and covered critical areas like orchestration, networking, monitoring and logging, and also image building. For application developers looking at building apps using microservices and container technology this course provides adequate introduction to this. Possible areas of improvement would be to include more security topics as well as CI/CD integrations for deploying containerized applications.
My project experience
The projects were challenging yet engaging. They were also well laid out giving you adequate guidance at the same time stretching you to fill in the blanks to make it work.
Thoughts on some Linux features like
Live chat with instructors
I did not get a chance to use this feature. I always try things out and do searches before I ask. I did not find the need to ask.
Discussion forums
A few times I looked through the discussion forums to see if someone had encountered the problem I was experiencing. I found them useful in this regard.
Projects
Projects richly complemented the training material and I found them sufficiently challenging to stretch my knowledge and make me understand the course better.
What I liked about Linux Foundation (Pros):
I liked the format, a few videos and more reading material. This works for us in countries where bandwidth is constrained. I now prefer these kinds of courses. I also find they are not as verbose as video courses. I also liked the labs and projects. They stretched me to understand the course material more.
What I didn’t liked about Linux Foundation(Cons):
I think the training material should be available indefinitely as a reference. Now and again it would be good to go back and reference the material or if it was made available as PDF slides. I usually repeat training several times to reinforce learning so not having access after course expiry affects my learning.
Conclusion: Do I recommend it to others?
I would highly recommend this course to most people as it covers all the areas of containers and microservices and includes a free exam with a retake. Even at the current price of 1200, I still consider it to be a good deal and would pay that since now I know what it contains but it may not be affordable for all.
I would also recommend that Linux Academy through its partners EDX start offering yearly subscriptions just like other training providers for their training. Exams can be paid for separately.
Editor’s note, October 2026
Eric’s suggestion has largely happened. The Linux Foundation now sells THRIVE-ONE, unlimited access to its e-learning catalog for $360 a year or $35 a month, with exams paid separately (an annual subscriber gets a 40% coupon for any certification). The bootcamp itself is retired, so his “highly recommend” now applies to the courses and exams it was built from.
See current Linux Foundation certifications →
Is the Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp Still Available?
No. On 14 October 2026 the bootcamp’s address redirected to the Linux Foundation’s “course inactive” page, which says the training or certification product is no longer available, and a search of the Linux Foundation’s training site for “bootcamp” returned only old blog posts. Neither the beginner nor the Advanced bootcamp can be bought, and the Linux Foundation has not named a successor. Its catalog now sells individual courses, certification exams, course-and-exam bundles and the THRIVE-ONE subscription.
What the Two Bootcamps Included
| Cloud Engineer Bootcamp | Advanced Cloud Engineer Bootcamp | |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | June 2020 | July 2020 |
| Aimed at | Absolute beginners | Experienced IT professionals |
| Price | $999 standard ($599 introductory); $1,200 by 2021 | Bundle price, frequently discounted |
| Courses | LFS201, LFS211, LFS253, LFS261, LFS258 | LFS253, LFS258, LFS243, LFS241, LFS242, LFS244 |
| Exams | LFCS and CKA, with a free retake | CKA |
| Pace | 15 to 20 hours a week for about 6 months | About 10 hours a week for about 6 months |
| Support | Forum, daily live office hours, mentor | Forum, live office hours five days a week |
| Access | 12 months | 12 months |
Sources: ZDNet (June 2020), the Linux Foundation announcement (July 2020) and the 2021 sales page shown above. Prices, ratings and course versions change, so check the course page before you buy.
How to Rebuild the Bootcamp Today
You can buy the core of the old program piece by piece. The prices below were read on the Linux Foundation’s site on 14 October 2026.
| Goal | What to buy | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kubernetes administration (the core of both bootcamps) | CKA exam + Kubernetes Fundamentals (LFS258) | $645 bundle |
| Linux administration (the beginner bootcamp’s first half) | LFCS exam + Linux System Administration Essentials (LFS207) | $645 bundle |
| Containers | Containers Fundamentals (LFS253) | $299 |
| Everything in the e-learning catalog | THRIVE-ONE Annual | $360 a year (certifications extra) |
| One exam plus a year of every course | Certification + THRIVE-ONE Annual bundle | $625 |
For a beginner who wants both certifications, one exam bundled with THRIVE-ONE Annual ($625) plus the second exam on its own ($445) comes to $1,070, less than two $645 course bundles ($1,290), and the subscription also covers the courses. Watch for Linux Foundation sales around Cyber Monday, which learners on r/devops described as the best time to buy.
Linux Foundation Certification Cost in 2026
| Certification | Exam only | With THRIVE-ONE Annual | With the matching course | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFCS (Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator) | $445 | $625 | $645 (LFS207) | 2-hour performance-based exam |
| CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) | $445 | $625 | $645 (LFS258) | 2-hour performance-based exam, Kubernetes v1.35 |
| KCNA (Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate) | $250 | $495 | $299 (LFS250) | 90-minute multiple-choice exam |
Each exam purchase includes one free retake and 12 months to sit the exam, and the certifications are valid for two years. LFCS and CKA buyers also get two sessions on a Killer.sh exam simulator, each open for 36 hours. These are the Linux Foundation’s own prices; we do not earn a commission on them.
Is Linux Foundation Certification Worth It?
For Kubernetes, yes. The CKA is a hands-on exam that employers recognize, and Eric called it one of the best exam experiences he has had, after more than ten online proctored exams. An r/devops poster who could barely set up a Kubernetes cluster before studying said they learned a great deal and list the CKA proudly. For beginners, the KCNA ($250) is a cheaper multiple-choice first step.
The courses get a more mixed reception. Eric liked their reading-heavy format because it suits low-bandwidth connections, but several Reddit users found the same format dry. An r/linuxadmin poster who took several Linux Foundation courses said they helped but prepared them for perhaps half of the exam, and recommended KodeKloud’s interactive labs instead. For Linux administration specifically, posters there often preferred Red Hat’s RHCSA to the LFCS. The most common approach in those threads was to buy the exam, then prepare with a lab-based course.
What Other Learners Said About Linux Foundation Training
- Exams included: when the bootcamp launched, an r/devops thread confirmed with the Linux Foundation that both exam vouchers were included and valid for 12 months, and one poster who failed the CKA by a few points was glad of the free retake.
- Materials: one r/devops poster found a Linux Foundation course (CKAD) rushed, with copy-paste errors and a quiet forum; another found an expensive instructor-led course poor value.
- Value: learners generally agreed the bundled exams made the bootcamp good value, especially on sale.
- Access: like Eric, learners disliked losing course access after 12 months.
Reddit comments are individual experiences, paraphrased here; they are not a survey.
Alternatives to the Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp
- Free Linux Foundation courses on edX: Introduction to Linux and Introduction to Kubernetes, free to audit, from the same organization.
- CKA prep with labs: Mumshad Mannambeth’s Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) with Practice Tests on Udemy, rated 4.7 from 94,393 ratings and updated in September 2026, from the founder of KodeKloud. His Kubernetes for the Absolute Beginners is the gentler start.
- A cloud provider path: AWS, Azure or Google Cloud certifications; see our best cloud computing courses and best Azure courses guides.
- A mentored program: Udacity’s cloud DevOps programs include project reviews; see our Udacity Cloud DevOps review.
- Linux first: our best Linux courses guide compares beginner options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp still available?
No. The Linux Foundation retired both the Cloud Engineer Bootcamp and the Advanced Cloud Engineer Bootcamp; the old page now shows a course-inactive notice. Its courses and exams are still sold separately.
How much did the Linux Foundation Cloud Engineer Bootcamp cost?
It launched in June 2020 at $999 standard, with a $599 introductory price, and the sales page showed $1,200 by 2021. The Linux Foundation often discounted it.
What did the bootcamp include?
The beginner version bundled LFS201, LFS211, LFS253, LFS261 and LFS258 with the LFCS and CKA exams. The Advanced version bundled LFS253, LFS258, LFS243, LFS241, LFS242 and LFS244 with the CKA exam. Both gave 12 months of access and instructor office hours.
How much does Linux Foundation certification cost in 2026?
The LFCS and CKA exams cost $445 each, or $645 bundled with their matching course and $625 with a THRIVE-ONE Annual subscription. The KCNA costs $250. Each includes one retake.
Is the CKA worth it?
For Kubernetes roles, yes. It is a hands-on, performance-based exam that employers recognize, and graduates on Reddit and Eric in this review rated the exam experience highly.
What is the best alternative to the bootcamp?
Kubernetes Fundamentals (LFS258) plus the CKA exam ($645) covers the core. Add Mumshad Mannambeth’s CKA course on Udemy for lab-heavy exam prep, or start free with the Linux Foundation’s Introduction to Kubernetes on edX.
Did the bootcamp help graduates get jobs?
It did not include job placement. Its value was the certifications and the skills; Eric, for example, used it to support cloud migrations in his own company.
Related guides: best Linux courses, best cloud computing courses, best cloud DevOps courses, best Azure courses, Udacity Cloud DevOps review, best cloud certifications.
Eric Mugerwa
I am a multi-skilled IT / Electrical Engineer with experience in Telecommunication operations in the areas of IT Infrastructure (Servers, Storage, Networks, Virtualisation), Business support systems (Pre and Post Paid Billing, Business Intelligence, and Reporting, Customer Relationship Management, Contact Centre Technologies name it.