Update: This page was completely updated in January 2016. Links were fixed, and new links were added.

Scope and overview

Inspired by Don Jones‘ excellent “Don’t Get Stuck in Your Job” blog post, I’ve taken some time to compile a bunch of online IT training to help people diversify their IT knowledge, for free.

This post covers a selection of free IT training that I’ve found on my travels. Topics are diverse, and include areas like: Virtualization and Cloud, Networking, Security, Linux, Storage systems, PowerShell, to Programming and Database fundamentals.

I believe that as IT Professionals, the more aspects of IT that we understand and appreciate, the better we’re able to meet the needs of business. I’d really like this to evolve into a community resource for anyone who wants to diversify their IT knowledge. If you’ve found other free IT training or resources that aren’t mentioned here, please feel free to mention it in the comments and I’ll endeavour to add it (I’m particularly interested in official training from vendors).

If you’re left wondering where on earth you’re going to get time to study all this, remember that it only takes about 20 hours to pick up a subject/skill, and that’s merely a month of Lunch-times!

Virtualization and Cloud

VMware

• Data Center Virtualization (vSphere 6)
• Software-Defined Storage (aka VSAN)
• VMware Cloud Fundamentals
• VMware Data Center Virtualization Fundamentals (vSphere 5.5)

Full list of Free self-paced learning from VMware

EMC

• EMC Hybrid Cloud with VMware Fundamentals e-Learning (EMC, via Christopher Kusek)

Hyper-V

• Introduction to Hyper-V (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
• Virtualizing Your Data Center with Hyper-V and System Center (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
• System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
• Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals Jump Start (Microsoft Virtual Academy)

OpenStack

• OpenStack Basics – Overview (YouTube)
• OpenStack Training Guides (from OpenStack)
• Couch to OpenStack: Main page (from Cody Bunch, Trevor Roberts Jr, Scott Lowe, and Eric Wright)
• Couch to OpenStack: Compiled list of sessions (thanks to Nick Marshall for compiling)

Multi-technology Virtualization

• vBrownBag (another awesome resource started by Cody Bunch!)

Docker (Containers)

• Docker Self-paced training

PowerShell

• Getting Started with PowerShell (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
• Advanced Tools and Scripting with PowerShell (Microsoft Virtual Academy)

Linux

• Introduction to Linux (from eDX.)
  • Linux Foundation Training (from the Linux Foundation) </ul>

    Programming and Databases

  General Programming

  • Software Development Fundamentals (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
    • Fundamentals of Lean Software Delivery (Microsoft Virtual Academy)</ul>

      Python

    • Python for Beginners (Codecademy)

      Databases

    • Database Fundamentals (Microsoft Virtual Academy)

      DevOps

    • DevOps: an IT Pro Guide (Microsoft Virtual Academy

      Configuration Management/Automation

    Very useful for keeping IT systems configuration in sync with internal standards, as well as automation of routine tasks/etc.

    Puppet

    • Puppet Workshop Course Library (Puppet Labs)

      Networking

    General

    • Networking Fundamentals [~8 hours] (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
      • Understanding TCP/IP (Cisco Learning Network) </ul>

        Cisco

      • Cisco IT Training Videos (Cisco Learning Network)
        • #vBrownBag Cisco Certification Track (#vBrownbag)
          • Free Short Course: Cisco CCNA (itmasters.edu.au) </ul>

            Security

          • Free Short Course: CISSP Security Certification (itmasters.edu.au)
            • Security Fundamentals (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
              • Free Short Course: Network Security Administrator Certification (itmasters.edu.au)</ul>

                Storage Systems/Arrays

              NetApp

              NetApp have an incredible range of Web-Based courses available for free, but you will need to register for an account (Choose a Guest account if you’re not a customer). Also, be careful with “free email addresses”. NetApp seem to verify your account and if it comes from a hotmail or gmail account, will not allow it access. I find this a slight aberration, as they allow access for Guests who don’t have NetApp systems, who could be future paying customers. I had success with an @outlook.com account, but your mileage may vary.
              

              • Full range of NetApp Web-Based courses

              Some highlights:

              • Storage Fundamentals (NetApp)
                • Introduction to NetApp Products (NetApp)
                  • Clustered Data ONTAP Fundamentals (NetApp)
                    • Data ONTAP 7-Mode Fundamentals (NetApp)
                      • Performance Analysis on Data ONTAP Fundamentals (NetApp)</ul>

                        EMC

                      Full list here. But some of these are only available to customers and partners! Anything I list below is available to anyone (i.e. non-customers) for free.</p>

                      </span> </p>
                      • Isilon Fundamentals
                      • XtremeIO Fundamentals
                      • ViPR Fundamentals
                      </ul>

                      Backup and Recovery

                      • Backup and Recovery Fundamentals (from EMC, but not EMC-specific)
                        

                      Microsoft Client, Server and Office

                      Server 2012

                      • Windows Server 2012 Technical Overview (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
                      • Free Short Course: Windows Server 2012 (itmasters.edu.au)
                      • Upgrading Skills from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2012 Jump Start (Microsoft Virtual Academy)
                      </ul>

                      Windows 8

                      • Preparing for the Windows 8.1 MCSA (Microsoft Virtual Academy)

                      System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012

                      • System Center 2012: Configuration Manager (Microsoft Virtual Academy)

                      Active Directory

                      • Understanding Active Directory (Microsoft Virtual Academy)

                      OneNote

                      • Organising and Sharing with OneNote Jump Start (Microsoft Virtual Academy)

                      Want more?

                      • Eric Wright has a list of learning resources here: http://discoposse.com/links/
                      • Class Central – Computer Science courses
                      </ul>

                      Update log

                      2016-01-18: Added a link to Docker training, via  @aaronbuley
                      2016-01-14: Added a link to EMC Isilon training. Fixed some more broken links, everything should be fully up to date now.
                      2016-01-04: Fixed a bunch of broken VMware links; Added a link to Eric’s site, and to Class-Central (thanks to @cody_bunch)
                      2014-10-23: Added EMC Hybrid Cloud with VMware Fundamentals e-Learning, with thanks to Christopher Kusek
                      2014-07-31: Added Puppet Workshop Course Library, and a new section for Configuration Management/Automation, with thanks to Brian Trainor.
                      2014-07-26: Added a note about signing up for a NetApp account
                      2014-07-20: Added: Understanding TCP/IP from Cisco Learning to Networking section. SCCM 2012, Active directory, and upskill from Server 2008 to 2012 courses to Microsoft section.
                      2014-07-16: Added a link to a compiled list of Couch to OpenStack sessions, thanks to Nick Marshall for compiling!
                      2014-07-14: Added Security, Networking and Windows Server courses by itmaster.edu.au. Added Linux resources: Introduction to Linux Course, by eDX and some videos from the Linux Foundation.