Kubernetes Certification Tips from a Kubernetes Certified Administrator

To help devopscube readers, we have interviewed Pradeep Pandey, a certified kubernetes administrator and developer for tips & tricks to ace kubernetes certification exam. He is also a blogger at syshunt

Kubernetes Certification Exam Overview

Before getting into the certification tips, let’s have a look at the exam overview.

1. Exam Type: Hands-on Lab, no theoretical questions.
2. Duration: 3 hrs
3. Total Questions: 24
4. Can appear for the exam from anywhere using the browser terminal.
5. Can have two browser tabs open during the exam. One exam terminal and another official Kubernetes documentation.

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2. What skillsets you had when you started preparing for the certification?

I was primarily working on Linux, Cloud, Automation, Jenkins, Networking, Security & Kubernetes.

3. How long did it take for you to prepare for CKA certification?

I worked on Kubernetes for more than 2 years before appearing for the certifiation exam mostly on the cluster administration, cluster components troubleshooting, cluster networking and application deployments using kubernetes objects.

Even though, I had previous experience I had to fully dedicate 1 week for preparing the certificion exam. As there are many kubernetes componets and concepts that I was not using in my day to day work. One such thing would be cluster setup. As this is a one time task.

4. What are the key areas one should focus on?

Linux:

1. Linux knowledge – Regex, filtering, searching, editing using sed (replacing texts etc)
2. Should be good at any one of the Linux command line editors. (vi/vim, nano) editor. Editor shortcuts knowledge is must have if you want to save time in the examination.
3. Understanding of Systemd service file configurations

Certificates:

1. Understanding on CA, root CA (certificate chain)
2. Generation of client and server certificate (OpenSSL).
3. Should have an understanding of all the information required for the certificates. For example, Kubernetes cluster etcd SSL configuration
   

Kubernetes:

1. Kubectl: You should be comfortable using all kubectl commands as it will be used to create, edit and manager all kubernetes resources.
2. Custer Administration
3. Cluster Networking
4. Kubernetes Functionalities: Very good understanding of kubernetes YAML specification of all Kubernetes objects. Very good understanding on deploying all the Kubernetes objects using YAML (pods, deployment, service, etc)

5. What are the best resources for CKA preparation?

I used the official kubernetes documentation as it covers all the kubernetes concepts with examples. I have the following suggestions if you a beginner to kubernetes.

1. Kubernetes the hard way
2. Kubernetes Linux foundation training.

6. What is your advise for kubernetes beginners?

If you are an absolute beginner, following resources will help you get started.

1. katacoda
2. Start with kubeadm for learning kubernetes setup
3. kubernetes official documentation

Practice very well with hands on labs before you appear for the exam.