This document answers the most frequently asked questions in the KodeKloud Slack channels. We will be adding to this list periodically.
- Buying the Exam
- Exam Environment
- Students' own notes on the Exam Environment
- Can I use an external monitor?
- Can I use multiple monitors?
- Can I use an external webcam?
- Does my microphone need to work?
- Do my speakers need to work?
- Can I use a headset?
- Can I use a corporate device?
- Can I use my own bookmarks?
- Can I open multiple terminal sessions?
- Can I paste settings for vi, aliases etc from my notepad?
- How do I remove the nag dialog when pasting into the terminal application?
- How many killer.sh sessions do I get?
- How does killer.sh compare to the real thing?
- Can I request a break?
- What are the system requirements for taking the exam?
- What ID is required?
- What does the environment look like?
- How do I prepare for exam day?
↗️ - Issues with launching the exam
- If I fail, how soon can I schedule a retake?
- Kubernetes CKA/CKAD
- Other
- YAML Syntax
- See the dedicated YAML FAQ
- Useful Links
To buy any exam run by The Linux Foundation, you need to first sign up with The Linux Foundation. Once you have an account, known as an LFID, then you can go to their training portal to purchase the exam. For Kubernetes exams, you get two killer.sh sessions included in the purchase. More on this further down this document.
With most of these exams, you have one year from the date of purchase to take the exam and this time includes scheduling any free retake that may be offered.
DO NOT LEAVE IT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO SIT THE EXAM!!!
If you do that, and you have only days remaining before the validity expires, what are you going to do if there are issues with the exam environment (these are not infrequent) which means that you fail to complete, or even start the exam? You should appear for your first attempt at least one month before the expiry in case of issues like this. If your exam is credited back to you due to issues like this, then you still have to do this and the free retake if you require it within the one year period.
Probably the most asked questions!
This pertains to the new PSI Bridge Proctoring Platform that went live for the Kubernetes exams on 25 June 2022. This provides a Linux XFCE desktop VDI for the exam environment. You may use any of the applications it provides in any way you see fit, however the only useful ones are Terminal, Firefox and Mousepad (for note taking). Firewalls prevent you from browsing anything other than allowed documentation. The terminal application connects to a remote host, thus the File Manager app is of no use, and for the same reason, Mousepad can't be used to edit exam files unless you edit them there, then paste into vi (not recommended).
Many people also ask "Can I use external webcam?", "Can I use bluetooth mouse?" etc. From the point of view of the system check, the PSI software will simply query the operating system. It will expect to find the following devices, and it doesn't matter how they are connected (built-in, wired, RF wireless, bluetooth, USB, via docking station, etc., etc.):
- One active monitor
- Mouse
- Keyboard
- Microphone
- Camera
In addition to the Q&A below, you can also watch our video on this subject.
Download this PDF of curated student experiences taken from our Slack channels.
Yes
...but read the next question too.
No
You are permitted to use one active monitor. All other monitors must be disabled, and the PSI Secure software will check your display settings to confirm only one monitor is active.
This can be the laptop display, or an externally connected display. If using an external monitor connected to laptop, the laptop display must be disabled:
- Windows - This can be done from Display Settings (Windows key + P)
- Mac - You must set it up in clamshell mode, but this will require external camera, keyboard, mouse and possibly microphone too, if the external camera is not fitted with one already - test the mic first!
If using an Intel chipset Mac (pre-M1 versions), beware of cooling issues!
If using a desktop computer with multiple monitors, disable or disconnect all but your best one.
TIP: You are strongly advised not to rely on a small laptop screen (like 13 or 14 inch). Your workspace will be extremely tiny, worse if you rely on scaling the font size up. A monitor of higher than HD resolution running at 100% scale and large enough that you can read the text is highly recommended. Anything less than full HD is seriously disadvantageous! See the image further down this page.
The Linux Foundation recommends 15 inch or greater display.
Yes
If you are working with laptop lid closed, then this is your only option. It doesn't have to be mega-expensive, it should be full HD and work.
Due to the nature of the check-in process for the exam, it's actually easier to use an external webcam, since you have to move it around a lot to cover everything that the proctor requires you to video - including 360 of room, all of desk area (left, right, up, down), all around your head and wrists too.
Note that you should practice getting a clear shot of your ID using the webcam you intend to use in the exam well before exam day using your operating system's camera app. Even consider building something to hold the ID card steady using your kids Lego or something 😃. See here for an example that has been used successfully in an exam check-in process.
Yes
Proctor needs to be able to hear if anybody is talking to you from outside the camera's view.
No
Proctor will only communicate with you via webchat built into the PSI software.
No
Proctor needs to see your ears to ensure that you are not getting some kind of external communication that could help you. Since speakers are not required, this also rules out headsets.
Unwise
Use of corporate devices or laptops is not recommended, unless you have an account on it with full local administrator rights. There may be many programs and services mandated by company policy running on the device which are incompatible with PSI software and must be stopped. Bear in mind that stopping these programs may in violation of such policies.
Connecting via a corporate network is also not recommended as company firewall policy may block ports that are required by the exam software.
No
Because you cannot run your own browser. The only software that may be running on your desktop at exam time is the PSI software. Each question has several relevant links into the Kubernetes documentation. Clicking these links opens tabs in Firefox within the exam environment. You can visit any of the allowed documentation using the provided Firefox.
You may open multiple tabs in Firefox, however a question may state that you can only open one additional tab on a particular topic.
Yes
Either multiple instances of the terminal emulator app, multiple tabs within the terminal emulator, or both. We would encourage you to do so. This is useful when editing manifests. Have the manifest open in vi in one terminal, and a command prompt in the other. Edit the YAML and save without exiting (:w). In the other terminal, apply. Repeat until the bugs in the YAML are out.
No
The only software that may be running is the PSI software, therefore you must memorize such things and enter them up manually at the beginning of the exam.
2
Please see killer.sh FAQ page.
Very closely
Please see killer.sh FAQ page.
Yes
Press the "Request Break" button at top left of the PSI application, if you need to leave the keyboard for any reason. It can be seen in the image below.
This is not recommended as the countdown timer does not stop! Ensure you've done what you need to do before beginning the exam 😉.
In the terminal application, select Edit -> Preferences. Uncheck Show unsafe paste dialog.
You can practice this in killer.sh before the exam.
IMPORTANT
- Linux is not supported except for Ubuntu 18.04 or 20.04.
Mac M1 is supported.
Please see PSI Bridge Requirements and Exam System Requirements (Linux Foundation)
The PSI document states a minimum screen resolution of 1368x769, but we really would not recommend that. See the section on monitors above.
See also this detailed write-up on events for exam day.
Any national or state government issued photo ID where the name exactly matches the name you gave when registering for the exam. If your primary ID is in a language that uses non-Latin characters (e.g. Arabic, Greek, Russian etc.), then you must provide an additional form of ID that has your name as written in English.
Please carefully read Exam ID requirements.
[Image: The Linux Foundation]
Please read the PSI Bridge FAQ BEFORE you appear for the exam so you know what kind of setup issues you may face.
Immediately
For exams with an included free retake, you may log into the training portal and schedule your retake as soon as you know you have failed.
Remember that the retake must also fall within the one year period since the date of exam purchase.
See the dedicated etcd FAQ
See the dedicated etcd FAQ
You will not be expected to memorize download locations for third party tools you may have downloaded in course labs. If you are required to install any software or 3rd party Kubernetes applications, then the question will tell you where to obtain the files/packages you need.
Note that for e.g. cluster upgrades, then apt package manager should work exactly as you have practiced in labs.
As you most likely know, the Dockershim layer is removed in Kubernetes 1.24. This means that the docker command is also likely not installed.
For examining and working with containers at that level, you should find that one, other or both of crictl and podman will be present, depending on the exam requirements.
podmancan be used for creating containers from Dockerfiles. It has the same arguments asdocker, and fully supports Dockerfile syntax. It should be able to do most, if not all of what thedockercommand can. On newer versions of CentOS,podmanis installed by default if you doyum install docker, and it places a shell script for thedockercommand which invokespodman.crictlcan be used for controlling containers, like listing running containers and getting logs. It too has the same arguments as the correspondingdockercommands.
Find out which of these are installed by running these commands in the terminal
which docker
which crictl
which podmanSee the Crashed API Server page.
Some of our courses use a browser embedded version of VSCode, e.g. Terraform and some of the programming courses. Getting copy and paste to work can be challenging!
Please see this guide.
For this and other vi tips, see vi-101
- Exam System Requirements (Linux Foundation)
- PSI Bridge Requirements
- Exam Workspace Requirements
- Exam ID requirements
- Exam Desktop
- Detailed write-up on exam procedure by Alistair Mackay (KodeKloud)
- Video presentation on the new exam environment
- Specific Questions About Exam. Login here with your Linux Foundation credentials. You can raise a ticket to ask questions about anything to do with the exam. The answers you receive here are the ultimate source of truth and trump anything you may read on this page or in any public discussion forums. Expect 2-3 days for a response.
Should a response from Linux Foundation contradict anything on this page, please reach out to a member of the support team in Slack. Thanks!
KodeKloud Team.