What is the CKA?

The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification proves you have hands-on experience managing Kubernetes clusters.

How did I learn Kubernetes?

Three years ago, I purchased a 4-day classroom Kubernetes Administration course (LFS458) from FastLane. It was not cheap, but FastLane has provided us with a good trainer. It was worth it.

After I had taken the classroom Kubernetes training, I started creating my CKA Labs blog post series. After a few years, I had created 19 of those, but I still had not covered all the topics needed for the CKA exam. Therefore, I tried to force myself to take the exam and I bought a new LFS458 course from the Linux Foundation, bundled with the CKA certification test.

Meanwhile, I know that the certification test alone would have been sufficient for me.

Recommendations

• Take a classroom training or a good online training. If you prefer to take a cheaper online course: I have seen LinkedIn statements (e.g. here) from freshly CKA-certified users, that KodeKloud might be a good alternative to the official Linux Foundation Course LFS458.
• Enroll in a CKA exam on the corresponding Linux Foundation web page.
• Prepare for the exam by going through the Killercoda web page: they are free of charge:
  • Go through these 12 Killercoda CKA scenarios
  • Accomplish these 72 CKA Mock exams by Sachin
• Plan for taking one or two Killershell sessions
  • note that two 36-hour sessions are included if you have enrolled in the CKA exam. You just need to log in with your Linux Foundation login.
  • there is a 2-hour timer, but the session will continue for another 34 hours after the timer is up. Be prepared to spend much more time. It has taken me 5 or 6 hours to get through all of the exam tasks.
  • You will be given 25 examination tasks, which are more challenging than the real exam tasks.
  • You can see your current score at any time.
  • Killershell also provides you with sample solutions in case you have failed in any of the tasks. Make use of those! You may also save them as a full webpage using your browser so you can consult them after the 36-hour session is up.
• Schedule the exam
  • Plan for your first exam attempt. Consider that your first attempt should be taken 3 days or more before the expiry of your purchase if you plan for a possible free retake of the exam. The reasons are:
    • It is not possible to schedule an exam for a date after the purchase expiry. This is also true for the retake exam. <– this has proven to be false. A friend of mine has managed to schedule a retake exam a few days after the expiry of his purchase. However, this does not seem to be documented anywhere and we do not know exactly, how long you can retake the exam.
    • You cannot schedule a retake before and 24 hours after the first attempt.
    • You need to schedule an exam a minimum of 24 hours before the desired exam date.
• Take the exam
  • and make sure you have the right hardware:
    • Use a large 4k display
      • the Linux Foundation recommends >15 inch and 1080p. I think both are way too small. I had used my in-built 1080p full HD screen, but I had problems working with the desktop provided during the exam. The secure browser has a header, the virtual desktop has a header, and the exam task pane on the left is taking space away. I had problems quickly switching between the terminal and the browser on the virtual desktop.
    • Only one screen may be active
      • If you use an external 4k screen, make sure the in-built screen of your laptop is switched off: the secure browser you need to use during the exam does not allow for two screens to be switched on. You still can use your built-in camera, if you switch off the built-in screen via software configuration
  • more recommendations are found here

Good luck…

Sorry for boasting: Killercoda and Killershell have helped me to pass the exam on my first attempt: good luck to you as well!

…and send a like and/or comment on my LinkedIn post if those instructions have helped you with learning for and hopefully passing the exam