STEL - SKILL TRAININGCOMPLETED
Skills first, certs optional

Skill Training Completed

One home lab and fourteen sprints covering Windows Server, Azure, Linux, cloud and security. Each sprint ends with something you built and someone else can check. Certifications are optional gates along the way.

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How it works

01

Skills first

You learn each skill once, and it counts toward every certification that tests it. That overlap saves time.

02

One lab

A VMware Workstation lab with two Windows domain controllers, a file server, a Linux router and two Linux servers. Build it in sprint S0 and keep it for every later sprint.

03

Prove it

Each sprint ends with a deliverable and a peer review. Book an exam once you meet the readiness gate.

Pick a track

All five tracks use the same sprints. Your pick sets which ones you do and whether you sit exams. Week counts assume about 8 hours a week.

Track A

Skills only

All fourteen sprints with no exam gates. You get the skills without the certificates.

44 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Learning without exams
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Track B

Microsoft

Windows Server and Azure, ending in AZ-802 and AZ-104.

29 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Windows and Microsoft 365 administration
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Track C

Linux

Linux+, then LPIC-1, 2 and 3, with the Linux lane as the main lab.

38 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Linux server administration
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Track D

Security

Hardening, monitoring and security operations, ending in Security+.

26 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Security or compliance
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Track E

Everyone

The full path: all fourteen sprints and every exam gate.

54 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: A mix, or growing into a senior generalist
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The fourteen sprints

The plan starts with Windows and Azure so the AZ-802 gate lands early, and each sprint adds a short Linux lane.

S0Lab and foundations2 weeksA working, snapshotted lab, and comfort with the command line on both operating systems.
S1Networking and name resolution3 weeksDesign and troubleshoot addressing, DNS and DHCP on both platforms.
S2Identity and directory services4 weeksBuild and run an Active Directory environment and apply policy at scale.
S3Hybrid identity and governance3 weeksConnect on-premises identity to the cloud and control access and cost there.
S4Compute and virtualization3 weeksDeploy and manage servers on-premises and in Azure and explain the tradeoffs.
S5Storage and file services3 weeksProvide and protect storage for users and workloads on-premises and in Azure.
S6Security and hardening3 weeksMeasure a server against a baseline and fix the gaps.
S7Monitoring, backup and troubleshooting3 weeksWatch systems, restore them, and trace faults step by step.
S8Automation and infrastructure as code3 weeksBuild repeatable environments from code instead of by hand.
S9Cloud architecture and operations3 weeksPick the right cloud design and explain cost, risk and migration.
S10Linux services and advanced administration4 weeksRun the core network services and manage boot, kernel and capacity on Linux.
S11Security operations, governance and risk3 weeksDetect and respond to incidents and explain security in business terms.
S12Containers, virtualization and high availability4 weeksRun and secure containers and design for availability.
S13Capstone3 weeksOne integrated environment that proves the whole skill set.

Certifications covered

Microsoft AZ-802Microsoft AZ-104CompTIA Cloud+CompTIA Security+CompTIA Linux+LPIC-1LPIC-2LPIC-3

Exam versions and retirement dates change. Re-check the official Microsoft, CompTIA and LPI pages before booking. Security+ V8 should arrive in late 2026, so study its objectives.

Take it with you

The whole study kit is free to download: sprint plan, track guide, lab layout, skill map, assessment rubric and a progress template.

Get the kit on GitHubOpen the calendar

Use it with your own Claude

  1. Download the files from the repo.
  2. Add them to a Claude Project as knowledge.
  3. Ask Claude to coach you through one sprint at a time and check your deliverables.