Yesterday I took the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate Exam (KCNA) exam, and this morning I got the results that I passed, yey! While some may consider it a beginner-level exam, it does require a solid foundation and practical experience with Kubernetes and related projects to successfully pass.
The KCNA exam is conducted online and costs $250, which includes one free retake. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you have the opportunity to take the exam again within one year of your initial purchase.
I've compiled a list of 15 options to build a Kubernetes playground and I highly encourage you to get hands-on experience by playing with any of the tools mentioned in my blog post. Familiarizing yourself with the kubectl command line is crucial and the practical, hands-on approach solidifies your understanding of Kubernetes and allows you to internalize the concepts more effectively.
Now, let's delve into the key domains covered in the KCNA exam:
Key Domains
Kubernetes Fundamentals (46%)
To excel in this domain, you need to have a deep understanding of:
The problem Kubernetes solves
The architecture of Kubernetes and the roles of its components
The hierarchy of Kubernetes components, from Cluster to Node to Pod to Container
Concepts such as services, deployments, replicasets, daemonsets, statefulsets, configmaps, secrets, network policies, RBAC, service discovery, manifests, autoscaling, and load balancing
The required elements in a Kubernetes manifest
The usage of kubectl and common Kubernetes commands
Knowledge of YAML and JSON
The ability to extend the Kubernetes API
Container Orchestration (22%)
Understand the problems that Container Orchestration resolves
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You must have an overview of the different types of Open Standards:
- Container Runtime Interface (CRI) and different runtimes available
- Container Network Interface (CNI)
- Container Storage Interface (CSI)
- Service Mesh Interface (SMI)
What Namespaces and Cgroups are
Cloud Native Architecture (16%)
How the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) is structured
Serverless tools for Kubernetes
Helm and Helm charts
Cloud Native Observability (8%)
You must be able to define observability and know the difference between logs, metrics and traces
What is Prometheus and Grafana
Common kubectl commands to view logs of pods, specifications, dry-run etc
Cloud Native Application Delivery (8%)
You need to define and understand various tools and concepts related to application delivery in a Cloud Native environment. This includes:
DevOps
GitOps
CI/CD
What an SRE does
Resources to study
To further enhance your understanding and preparation for the KCNA exam, here are some recommended resources:
The official Kubernetes documentation, although dense, is a valuable resource to study
The Cloud Native Computing Foundation Landscape provides an overview of all CNCF projects and technologies
James Spurin's course, Dive Into Cloud Native, Containers, Kubernetes and the KCNA Exam is highly recommended. The course offers a 90% discount if you purchase it now!
The book Becoming KCNA Certified by Dmitry Galkin
Tips for taking the KCNA exam
Sign into your exam at least 30-15 minutes before the start time. The proctor needs this time to check your ID and review your workspace via your webcam.
Since the KCNA exam is conducted from home, it's important to have a clean and non-cluttered space available to you. Make sure to prepare your workspace the day before the exam. Remember, you must be alone in the room during the exam, so plan accordingly.
Keep in mind that you need to have your webcam and audio on throughout the exam. As this can drain your battery, remember to have your laptop charger handy.
GOOD LUCK, YOU'VE GOT THIS!
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Top comments (3)
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