Getting Kubernetes Certified: The (for the most part) Free Way

Open Source Guide to Passing the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Exam 

What is CKA and Why Get Certified? 



The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) test is an online test created by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). There are presently two Kubernetes affirmations accessible: CKA and CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer). While there is some cover between the two tests, as the name proposes, CKA zeros in additional on group managerial assignments, for example, bunch support and security instead of case plan on CKAD. 

https://www.cncf.io/certification/cka/

https://www.cncf.io/

Dissimilar to many cloud affirmation tests that are fundamentally numerous decision, the CKA test requests that the applicants investigate, settle, and achieve certain Kubernetes assignments on far off groups in three hours. The CKA climate comprises of six Kubernetes bunches with changing number of units, namespaces, and different related modules (for example organizing). 

CNCF likewise holds a Kubernetes Certified Service Provider (KCSP) program to authoritatively confirm Kubernetes Providers if an organization utilizes at any rate three CKAs. By and by, I had no business related motivation to take the CKA, yet since I have been working with Kubernetes for more than three years, I needed to approve my insight with all the freshly discovered extra energy during this isolate.

https://www.cncf.io/certification/kcsp


Open Source Study Guide 

The accompanying aide gives (generally) free materials to help get ready for the test. On the off chance that you like to follow a guided exercise design and study basic Kubernetes parts, there's a superb course with training tests on Udemy. This open-source study control accepts that you have an essential comprehension of Docker, Kubernetes, and kubectl to communicate with bunches. 

Peruse the Official Curriculum 

The principal thing you ought to do is to peruse the authority CNCF educational plan for the test. The educational plan separates every one of the themes tried on the test, yet more critically, it mentions to you what pages to bookmark on the authority Kubernetes site (CKA test permits you to have a tab open to reference any page on the Kubernetes site). 

https://kubernetes.io/

I coordinated my bookmarks into organizers comparing to every educational plan point:

The most useful tabs for me were:

https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/cheatsheet/#kubectl-context-and-configuration

https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/administer-cluster/configure-upgrade-etcd/#built-in-snapshot

https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/services-networking/network-policies/#networkpolicy-resource

Bootstrap a Cluster (Optional) 

Since I for the most part work with oversaw Kubernetes contributions (for example GKE, EKS), I didn't have any experience introducing Kubernetes through kubeadm. You can make a free GCP account with $300 credit and follow Kelsey Hightower's well known Kubernetes the Hard Way, do the identical on AWS following this guide, or locally utilizing Vagrant. 

https://cloud.google.com/free/docs/gcp-free-tier

https://github.com/kelseyhightower/kubernetes-the-hard-way

https://github.com/Praqma/LearnKubernetes/blob/master/kamran/Kubernetes-The-Hard-Way-on-AWS.md

https://github.com/mmumshad/kubernetes-the-hard-way


Other blog entries I read preceding taking the test recommended going through this activity on various occasions, however for me, the significant parts were understanding how kubeadm and overseen bunches are doing you in the background. With respect to the test, practice what's covered on the educational program, to be specific: 

Introduce a systems administration module 

Introduce and use kubeadm 

Make and oversee TLS testaments 

Go through Kubernetes updates 

Go through reinforcement and reestablish utilizing etcd preview 

Different investigating works out (realize how to get logs, troubleshoot normal disappointments like wrong certs, and discover where certs are put away) 

Practice with Free Online Labs 

Utilizing your recently fabricated bunch, stroll through the lab practices on David-VTUK's CKA-StudyGuide. This Github repo has answers to every one of the activities also so you can approve your work. 

I just utilized that repo to get ready, however there are huge loads of different assets on the web in the event that you wish to rehearse more:

https://github.com/walidshaari/Kubernetes-Certified-Administrator

(CKAD but has some good CKA-related questions as well) 

https://github.com/dgkanatsios/CKAD-exercises

https://github.com/David-VTUK/CKA-StudyGuide


Exercise Mock Test Environment 

To ensure you're not astounded by how the genuine test climate functions, you can turn up a Docker picture to ridicule the program settings utilizing this apparatus:

https://github.com/arush-sal/cka-practice-environment

The Not Free Part 

Sadly, the actual test isn't free, so you actually need to pay the $300 expense to take the test. You can look around for some markdown codes from Kubernetes course suppliers and writes or go to occasions facilitated by the Linux Foundation or CNCF for limits. 

In general, it took me around one month to get ready and I passed on my first attempt. Having the bookmarked pages truly assisted me with saving time that I had the option to complete the test early. I trust this guide assists you with finishing the CKA test!


Dexter Rengaw

Experienced Founder with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. Skilled in Entrepreneurship, Start-up Consulting, Investment Valuation, Seed Capital, and Board of Directors. Strong business development professional with a Postgraduate Diploma focused in International Business from the University of Cambridge. linkedin

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