Benjamin Muschko - Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Study Guide: In-Depth Guidance and Practice

by Benjamin Muschko

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Kubernetes, as a runtime and orchestration environment for microservices, is widely used among startups and large enterprises alike. As your organization ramps up on the number of applications, managing the Kubernetes clusters becomes a full-time job. Thats the role of a Kubernetes administrator. The person responsible for this job ensures that each cluster is an operational state, scales up the cluster by onboarding nodes, upgrades the Kubernetes version of the nodes to incorporate patches and new features, and is in charge of a backup strategy for crucial cluster data. To help job seekers and employers have a standard means to demonstrate and evaluate proficiency in developing with a Kubernetes environment, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) developed the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) program. To achieve this certification, you need to pass an exam.

There are two other Kubernetes certifications you can find on the CNCF web page. The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) focuses on the developer-centric application of Kubernetes. The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) was created to verify the competence on security-based topics and requires a successful pass of the CKA exam before you can register. Passing the CKAD and CKS are not mandatory for taking the CKA exam.

In this study guide, I will explore the topics covered in the CKA exam to fully prepare you to pass the certification exam. Well look at determining when and how you should apply the core concepts of Kubernetes to manage an application. Well also examine the kubectl command-line tool, a mainstay of the Kubernetes engineer. I will also offer tips to help you better prepare for the exam and share my personal experience with getting ready for all aspects of it.

The CKA is different from the typical multiple-choice format of other certifications. Its completely performance based and requires you to demonstrate deep knowledge of the tasks at hand under immense time pressure. Are you ready to pass the test on the first go?