This document answers the most frequently asked questions in the KodeKloud Slack channels. We will be adding to this list periodically.

• 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 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?
  • 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 does killer.sh compare to the real thing?
  • How do I prepare for exam day? ↗️
  • Issues with launching the exam
• Kubernetes CKA/CKAD
  • How do I backup etcd?
  • How do I restore etcd?
  • How do I install a CNI (or anything else)?
  • How do I run Docker commands when Docker is removed?
  • How do I diagnose a crashed API Server?
• Other
  • How do I copy/paste in VSCode integrated terminal window?
• YAML Syntax
  • See the dedicated YAML FAQ
• Useful Links
  • Pre-Exam
  • All Exams
  • CKA/CKAD
  • CKS
  • Other

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 😃

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

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.

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

The exam fee includes one free retake and two killer sessions. If you use both killer sessions and then subsequently fail on your first attempt, you do not get additional killer sessions for the retake. You need to purchase them separately. If you pass your exam without having used both killer sessions, the remaining session(s) remain valid until one year after the date you purchased the exam.

Should you fail twice, you have to purchase a new exam. You will then get two more free sessions included.

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]

Very closely

The interface is a very close simulation of what you see in the image above. However, don't be fooled by the responsiveness of the interface. Many students report the real exam as being more laggy. What you should do in killer is to practice all the keyboard shortcuts, and practice entering up any customization you intend to use (vi settings, aliases etc) from memory.

Questions in killer are considered harder than real exam questions. Use your sessions wisely and be sure to be able to complete it in under 2 hours with a score of more than 100. Reset the environment as many times as you need in the time you have.

There is also a free version of the killer UI (with no questions to answer) here. Note that this is only the desktop VDI - it does not have the sidebar/top bar etc. You can also use this to practice keyboard shortcuts and customizing your environment.

Please read the PSI Bridge FAQ BEFORE you appear for the exam so you know what kind of setup issues you may face.

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.

• podman can be used for creating containers from Dockerfiles. It has the same arguments as docker, and fully supports Dockerfile syntax. It should be able to do most, if not all of what the docker command can. On newer versions of CentOS, podman is installed by default if you do yum install docker, and it places a shell script for the docker command which invokes podman.
• crictl can be used for controlling containers, like listing running containers and getting logs. It too has the same arguments as the corresponding docker commands.

Find out which of these are installed by running these commands in the terminal

which docker
which crictl
which podman

See 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.

• 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

• Exam Environment
• Allowed Documentation

• Exam Environment
• Allowed Documentation

• vim Cheat Sheet
• tmux Cheat Sheet

• 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.