Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Important things to be kept in mind while attending the CKA exam

 1) create as many alias as needed for your understanding 

 I have created below alias 

 alias k = kubectl - very important and needed alias

 alias kc = 'kubectl create -f'

 alias kr = 'kubectl run'

 alias kg = 'kubectl get'

 alias kd = 'kubectl describe'

 alias ke = 'kubectl explain'

 you practice the above alias in your lab practice as well.

 2) 4% 7% and 13% - We will have three different categories of tasks on the marks weightage

 Start the tough or the length one which is 13%

 Then complete all the 4%

 Finally concentrate on 7%

 Notepad is allowed during the exam,

 Always keep the track of marks answered on the notepad

 3)Always stick to copy pasting from task given in the exam

 4)Important things used in the exam 

 kubectl which is given alias as k

 kubeadm

 systemctl & journalctl 

 vim 

 4) there will be a kubectl config command setting the correct context for your answer. 

 Make sure you run this command every time you open a new question

 5) Create YAML with question number so that you can review easily.

I passed my CKA exam recently and had a great time preparing for it.  I cleared the CKAD a week before.  In September, the CKA is getting an update. It totally depends on you which one you want to take. You are going to be awarded the same certificate.

Timeline:

• Started with Mumshad's course on CKA in mid-April.
• I finished the course in 3 weeks then started studying for CKAD. Many topics in CKAD overlapped with CKAD so I managed to finish it in about a week.
• Booked the CKAD for 2 weeks from the day I finished the course
• Practiced for 2 weeks using Mumshad's practice test and Labs, Linux Academy practice test, also found some useful free labs on the Kubernetes.io website with KataKoda playground.
• I also used KodeKloud's game of pods for improving my Kubernetes concepts.

Exam Info:

• Time: 180 minutes ~ 3 hours
• Price: $300
• Total no of Questions: 24

Tips for Exam:

1. Use alias and autocomplete for alias

alias k=kubectl

complete -F __start_kubectl k

You can also make custom aliases for your ease. I made aliases for common commands that I knew I will be using a lot definitely.

 These were,

  alias kg='kubectl get pod'

  alias kga='kubectl get pod --all-namespaces'

  alias kc='kubectl create -f'

  alias kd='kubectl delete -f'

NOTE: if you ssh into another node, these aliases won't work

2. Use documentation effectively. This is where solving problems from the mock tests will help you. The answer to your questions are given in the documentation, you just need to know where.

3. Use the --dry-run command. This command is used to check whether your command is correct and if it is you can use -o yaml flag to get the yaml code for the component and store it in a YAML file.

4. The exam uses the latest version so better if you read the latest documentation as the courses I have mentioned use bit old versions of Kubernetes.

5. In the exam, there will be multiple clusters like k8s,n8s,d8s. There will be commands to change clusters. First, read the question and see which cluster it is working on and if it is different then copy and paste the command from the question to set the cluster. A precautionary method will be to copy-paste the command for every question if you don't know which cluster you are on.

6. Try to use imperative commands to create resources. Practice will help you in knowing what can be done through commands and what cannot be done.

7. I suggest attempting the troubleshoot and managing clusters in the end after you are done with other questions as they take a lot of time.

8. When you ssh into a worker node, Kubectl may not work. So use docker commands to see if the containers are up.

9. Practice troubleshooting well and remember that in the exam the changes made during troubleshooting and installation are permanent and you cannot revert back to the state it was before you attempted the question.

10. In case you need to delete and recreate any Kubernetes resources, store a backup in case you mess up you can revert the changes.

For preparation you need to know about docker and fundamentals of containerization. If you don't know much don't worry you can go through Mumshad Mannambeth's absolute beginers course for kubernetes get comfortable with it and then start with CKA udemy course.

For exam you need to keep in mind following: 

• You need to get handy with imperative commands so that you don't have to write yaml files every now and then 
• You need to practice how to read through the kubernetes.io document, yes in this exam you have access to this website but you need to know how to search faster.
• Speed is the key, you need to mark all the questions which you find indulging for the end.
• Exam is currently taken on v1.18.
• There will be a live protractor monitoring you and if you get some doubt you can ask him/her. (Not the exam question, general doubts).
• Lastly, don't panic at all. Just learn to manage your time.

The CKA is a hard exam, though it's definitely doable if you get enough practical knowledge. I recommend these sources:

• CKA knowledge
  • these CKA series with scenarios on Medium. You setup your own cluster environment on your local machine, filled with challenges to solve
  • imagine and create your own scenarios to solve
  • know advanced scheduling: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/scheduling/kube-scheduler
  • CKA simulator on https://killer.sh
  • Use a large screen so you have more space. Read about the browser terminal
  • Udemy course if you can get it for a reduced price around ~10$
• CKAD knowledge is very helpful as fell because the CKA is almost 50% CKAD knowledge
  • maybe 2–3 times https://github.com/dgkanatsios/CKAD-exercises
  • the CKAD series with scenarios on Medium 
    
    

To be upfront, I'm the creator of https://killer.sh where we offer a completely simulated CKA Simulator environment. You'll get a very close replica of the CKA environment and similar challenges to solve. Once you register you can also see free example challenges which might already be helpful.

This is how I actually studied and succeeded in the exam, I created my own challenges and environments to get practical knowledge. Because many people liked my shared content I created a simulator around it.

Happy learning and good luck for your certifications!

Kim

I am writing this as i have successfully passed the CKA exam in february 2020. I thought I would write up this to help others in the preparation. 

To start with, as you can read anywhere on internet, CKA is tough exam as its a pratical exam rather than a MCA based exam. You have to solve a list of problems on the live unix 

terminal. There will be 24 questions with mix of both easy, medium and hard questions. 

Lets begin point by point - 

1) Getting Prepared  

a) CKA course by Mumshad Munnambeth - this is the ultimate course to get started if you have never used the Kubernetes. It covers all the exam topics (some extra stuff too)

required for the preparation. Also best part is you have practice exercises after every topic and you can access it right on the browser. After completing this you are ready 

to move to next resource and practice. 

b) https://github.com/walidshaari/Kubernetes-Certified-Administrator  - the link contain questions on Kubernetes and really good for practicing. 

c) https://github.com/kelseyhightower/kubernetes-the-hard-way - this link contains the Kubernetes Installation the Hard Way. Its not necessary to do it only one time 

, it will help you in deep diving the kubernetes architecture. 

d) https://github.com/dgkanatsios/CKAD-exercises - this contains questions for CKAD exam but still an extra thing for practicing. 

After finishing above, you are good to book the exam. Exam is proctored one and can be taken from home with good internet connection. Book your convenient time as

its a 3 hours exam. You will be allowed to take small breaks during exam. 

2) During exam you will be allowed to browse offical documentation page of Kubernetes and all its sub-domains. 

https://kubernetes.io 

One useful link to bookmark - 

https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/cheatsheet - it will help you a lot during exam. 

3) Tips for Exam - 

a) Since its a practical exam, no need to cram up commands. If you forgot syntax of any command you can refer documentation. 

b) Dont waste time in setting up aliases, no use of them. 

c) Try to finish the easy ones first and then go to medium and hard.  

d) Don’t fight with YAML’s. Always use yaml generators. ( --dry-run -o yaml > ) 

e) Do maintain the speed and dont get stuck. If you are not able to solve a question move ahead and revisit questions later. 

   Speed requried matters in CKA. So try to finish as easy and medium questions within first 2 hours. 

g) Do practice Json Path Query , it will really help in solving 1-2 questions in exam. 

Other tips you can found here 

https://medium.com/@imarunrk/certified-kubernetes-administrator-cka-tips-and-tricks-part-1-2e98e9b31de4

That’s pretty much it for my tips and tricks for taking the CKA. I wish you all good luck on the exam. Let me know if you have more queries.

I have prepared mostly from the udemy.com course by Mumshad munnambeth, Best part of the course is that he designed the course as per the exam curriculum even though it a lengthy course (14 hours) but its worth taking the course for the exam

Here are the few exam preparation tips:

• Time management is important in the exam so if you are taking any practice test make a note that you are completing tasks on time
• During the preparation its important to know on how to get the info from kubernetes.io (documentation site)
• Try using the Imperative commands a lot such as kubectl run and kubectl expose , kubectl create commands as they will help in complete the tasks on time
• Always use this command source <(kubectl completion bash) this command will help in auto complete the kubectl command by double tab
• While preparing, always validate the tasks which you complete it.
  • eg: create a pod , ensure its running properly or killed
  • create a service, then try running curl command to ensure reachable
• kubectl logs - this command helped me in troubleshooting the logs so always try to stick to it
• Never stuck on a question that takes more than 10 mins (if you are not sure just move on to next) as the question you stuck may have less weightage in exam and you may dont have time to complete the tasks which has more weightage
• Try to have a laptop which has bigger display (dont go for 13 inch) because you have to rely on the digital notepad that takes a lot of space on your screen and you have to toggle between the terminal and notepad a lot.
• Prioritize the question based on the weightage given on top of the question. It will help to skip a question which you are not sure and move on to next quickly

Guys , I am very excited to share my Kubernetes Journey with you all.

About 6 months before, I started learning Kubernets when I was told that soon the deployment in my project will be on Kubernetes. Like any other IT enthusiast I liked the idea of learning and along with it getting certified too. Without wasting time I purchased the course and registered for the exam. It costed me 500$ in total(300 $ for the exam fees and 200 $ for the course from linux academy). It was huge cost but I was so excited that I purchased this without thinking too much. Soon then I started learning it, I found it very interesting both from concept point of view and the exercises in the course. This continued for almost two months. 

But then came the point , was I ready to give the exam? I used to wonder how will I write all these complex yamls in the exam? I certainly cant memorize them. Unlike any Cloud certificate where you will have multi options ,CKA exam is something where you will have to give practical exam for three hours and you will be judged from top to bottom both conceptually and practically. This made me so much discouraged that I thought I wasted my money for booking the exam. 

As there is a famous saying, where there is a will there is a way! One fine day I was told by my fried that there is one good course by Mumshad which has nice stuff for CKA exam. I was not moved and I replied to my fried that I already have invested so much of money on the course , now I do not want to invest more. My friend insisted and just because he was so keen I took his credentials of Kode Kloud and started learning.

Man.... as soon as I open the course , started the practicals I was moved. That night I remember I spent about 6 hours continuously after office and  did many exercises. The yamls which were too difficult to write now seemed like so easy. Thanks to the nice course by Mumshad. I started my journey all over again and with in two to two and half months I was exam ready! Btw I purchased the course too from Kode Kloud later on when the sale was on  ;)

The journey which started 6 months before and was halted in between was on the track now!  Finally the day arrived when I went to gave the exam in the early hours of 29'th December 2019 and was awarded by CNCF(Cloud Native Computing Foundation) CKA aka Certified Kubernetes Administrator with a percentage of 85.  It was like earning a badge.

The reason I wrote this blog is just to let you guys know that the Kubernetes is so wonderful and it will not be wise to not learn it. If you are keen to learn and getting certified, I would recommend Mumshad Course on Kode Kloud. 

Wishing you all a great Kubernetes Journey!

BR,

Shubhasis