The document provides information and tips for preparing for the CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) exam. It outlines what to know prior to taking the exam such as it being offered by CNCF, the exam format, curriculum covered, and required equipment. It recommends practicing Linux CLI, kubectl commands, getting familiar with Kubernetes documentation, examples and APIs. Suggested study methods include using Minikube, Kube-Ansible, online courses, and YouTube videos. Registering for the exam and free learning materials are also mentioned.

1. How to Prepare for
CKA Exam?
Alfie Chen 2018/02/10

2. Solution Architect @ inwinSTACK
Host of Train.IO
(https://www.youtube.com/c/inwinSTACK)
Alfie Chen
alfie.c@inwinstack.com
alfieYFC
alfie.yfc

3. Why CKA?
• Required for KCSP
• Proof of intermediate K8Ser
• Separate milestone from CKAD

4. Things to Know Prior…
• Offered by CNCF
• $300 (1 free retake within a year)
• Online-base with a proctor
• Reservation 1~3 days prior exam
• Command line ONLY
• Currently v1.9.1
• 3~4hrs (request breaks to proctor)
• Run the Compatibility Check!!
https://www.examslocal.com/ScheduleExam/Home/CompatibilityCheck

5. Exam Requirements
• Chrome browser
• Reliable internet access
• Webcam
• Microphone
• Empty room
• Clean surface
• No food & drinks (including water)

6. Exam Panel
Terminal >
Content Panel
• Instructions
• Problem Statement
• Problem Navigation
• Hints/Tips
Toolbar/Menu (Chat, Notebook, etc.)

7. Exam Panel
Terminal >
Content Panel
• Instructions
• Problem Statement
• Problem Navigation
• Hints/Tips
Toolbar/Menu (Chat, Notebook, etc.)
Notebook Pop-up

8. Exam Curriculum
• Application Lifecycle Management 8%
• Installation, Configuration & Validation 12%
• Core Concepts 19%
• Networking 11%
• Scheduling 5%
• Security 12%
• Cluster Maintenance 11%
• Logging / Monitoring 5%
• Storage 7%
• Troubleshooting 10%
https://github.com/cncf/curriculum/blob
/master/certified_kubernetes_administra
tor_exam_v1.9.0.pdf

9. K8S Clusters in Exam (back when I took CKA v1.6)
Cluster Name Members Description
k8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 2 worker
Hk8s 3 etcd, 3 master, 1 load-balancer, 2 worker HA K8S Cluster
bk8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 1 worker
wk8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 2 worker
ek8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 2 worker
fk8s 1 etcd, 1 machine Non-Cluster
ik8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 1 machine Missing worker
tk8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 1 node
kubectl config use-context <cluster-name>

10. K8S Clusters in Exam
Cluster Name Members Description
k8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 2 worker
hk8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 2 worker calico
bk8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 1 worker
wk8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 2 worker
ek8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 2 worker
ik8s 1 etcd, 1 master, 1 machine Missing worker
kubectl config use-context <cluster-name>

11. What else should I know?
• Read the Manual!!!
https://www.cncf.io/certification/candidate-handbook

12. How to Prepare?
• Practice Linux CLI (Ubuntu 16)
• Practice kubectl commands
• Minikube (https://github.com/kubernetes/minikube)
• inwinstack/kube-ansible
(https://github.com/inwinstack/kube-ansible)
• Get familiar with kubernetes.io documentations
• Get familiar with kubernetes.io yaml examples
• Get familiar with kubernetes.io API references

13. How to Prepare?
• Get familiar with kubernetes.io documentations
(https://kubernetes.io/docs/home/?path=users&persona=app-
developer&level=foundational)

14. How to Prepare?
• Get familiar with kubernetes.io yaml examples
Here’s my advice:
DON’T JUST COPY&PASTE!!
Type your own and play
around with it.

15. How to Prepare?
• Get familiar with kubernetes.io API references
(https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/generated/kubernetes-api/v1.9/)
It’s ugly
It’s dirty
It’s really annoying
But we all desperately
need it…

16. How to Prepare?
Knowing K8S infrastructure is a PLUS+
• Kubernetes the Hard Way - Kelsey Hightower
https://github.com/kelseyhightower/kubernetes-the-hard-way
• Kubernetes v1.8.x – Kyle Bai
https://kairen.github.io/2017/10/27/kubernetes/deploy/manual-v1.8/

17. How to Prepare?
• Online course – Kubernetes Fundamentals
https://training.linuxfoundation.org/linux-courses/system-administration-
training/kubernetes-fundamentals
• Training courses from inwinSTACK (TBD)

18. FREE Learning Materials!
• Free online course – Introduction to Kubernetes
https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-kubernetes-linuxfoundationx-
lfs158x#!
• YouTube is full of free contents!
1. KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2017 – Austin (CNCF)
2. TGI Kubernetes (Heptio)
3. Kubernetes Webinar (Janakiram & Associates)
4. Train.IO (inwinSTACK)

19. Register Today!!
CKA Exam
https://www.cncf.io/certification/expert/

20. www.inwinstack.com
Thank You!