What is the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)?
The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) is a performance-based certification administered by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) in partnership with the Linux Foundation. Unlike multiple-choice exams, the CKA is a fully hands-on, command-line examination where candidates solve real-world Kubernetes cluster administration tasks within a live environment under timed conditions.
Passing the CKA demonstrates that you can install and configure Kubernetes clusters, manage workloads and scheduling, implement networking and storage, enforce security policies, perform cluster upgrades, and troubleshoot failures — all at the speed and precision required in production environments.
Our training programme is purpose-built for the current CKA curriculum. Every module is practised hands-on in multi-node Kubernetes clusters. We emphasise speed and accuracy with kubectl, because exam success depends on your ability to work efficiently at the command line — not just theoretical knowledge.
What You Will Learn
- Install and configure a multi-node Kubernetes cluster using kubeadm from scratch
- Manage Deployments, DaemonSets, StatefulSets, CronJobs, and resource limits
- Configure Pod scheduling with node affinity, taints/tolerations, and priority classes
- Implement ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer services and Ingress controllers
- Provision PersistentVolumes, PVCs, and StorageClasses for dynamic provisioning
- Enforce RBAC, NetworkPolicy, Secrets management, and Pod Security Standards
- Perform cluster upgrade procedures using kubeadm with zero downtime
- Diagnose and resolve cluster, node, and application-level failures under exam conditions
Why Choose devopssupport.in for CKA
100% Hands-On Format
Every session is conducted on live multi-node Kubernetes clusters. No slideshows without concurrent terminal practice.
Speed & Efficiency Drills
Timed kubectl speed drills, imperative command mastery, and alias training to maximise exam performance.
Mock Exam Simulator
Two full-length mock exams in an environment replicating the real CKA browser-based terminal interface.
CKA-Certified Trainers
All instructors hold active CKA / CKAD / CKS credentials with production Kubernetes experience at scale.
Free Retake Support
If you don't pass on the first attempt, we provide personalised coaching and mock retakes at no extra charge.
24/7 Lab Access
Round-the-clock Kubernetes practice labs so you can drill skills on your own schedule.
Who Should Attend & Prerequisites
The CKA is targeted at system administrators, DevOps engineers, and platform engineers who manage or plan to manage Kubernetes in production. The following background is recommended:
Linux Command-Line Proficiency
Comfortable with bash scripting, file system navigation, systemd service management, and log inspection via journalctl and /var/log.
Container Fundamentals
Understanding of Docker or containerd image management, container lifecycle, and basic container networking.
Basic Kubernetes Exposure
Familiarity with Pods, Deployments, Services, and kubectl — equivalent to 1–3 months of Kubernetes usage or a beginner course.
Networking Fundamentals
Basic TCP/IP, DNS, routing, and understanding of IP addresses and subnetting at a conceptual level.
Course Agenda
8 modules aligned to the official CKA curriculum domains, delivered entirely as hands-on lab sessions with live clusters.
- Kubernetes architecture: control plane components (API server, etcd, scheduler, controller-manager) and worker node components (kubelet, kube-proxy, container runtime)
- Installing a cluster with kubeadm: bootstrapping the control plane, joining worker nodes, configuring CNI
- etcd backup and restore procedures using etcdctl
- High-availability cluster topologies: stacked etcd and external etcd
- Kubernetes release cadence and version skew policy
- Pod lifecycle, init containers, sidecar containers, and multi-container patterns
- Deployments: rolling updates, rollbacks, and scaling strategies
- DaemonSets, StatefulSets, Jobs, and CronJobs with practical scenarios
- Resource requests and limits: CPU throttling and OOMKilled troubleshooting
- Node selectors, node affinity, pod affinity and anti-affinity rules
- Taints and tolerations, priority classes, and Pod Disruption Budgets
- Kubernetes networking model: pod-to-pod, pod-to-service, and external traffic
- ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer, and ExternalName services
- Ingress resources and Ingress controllers (nginx, Traefik)
- CoreDNS configuration and DNS troubleshooting within the cluster
- CNI plugin installation and comparison (Calico, Flannel, Weave)
- NetworkPolicy: restricting ingress and egress with label selectors
- Kubernetes storage architecture: volumes, PersistentVolumes, and PersistentVolumeClaims
- Access modes: ReadWriteOnce, ReadOnlyMany, ReadWriteMany
- Dynamic provisioning with StorageClasses and default storage classes
- ConfigMaps and Secrets as volume mounts and environment variables
- Volume types: emptyDir, hostPath, NFS, and cloud provider volumes
- StatefulSet storage patterns with volumeClaimTemplates
- Systematic cluster troubleshooting methodology under exam time pressure
- Node-level diagnostics: kubelet service failures, certificate issues, disk pressure
- Pod failures: CrashLoopBackOff, ImagePullBackOff, Pending, Evicted — root cause analysis
- Networking failures: service endpoint issues, DNS resolution problems
- Control plane component troubleshooting: static Pod manifests and log analysis
- Using kubectl describe, logs, exec, port-forward, and events effectively
- Kubernetes authentication: X.509 certificates, ServiceAccount tokens, and kubeconfig management
- RBAC: Roles, ClusterRoles, RoleBindings, ClusterRoleBindings — least-privilege design
- Secrets: creation methods, encryption at rest, and safe consumption patterns
- Pod Security Standards: restricted, baseline, and privileged profiles
- Network policies for namespace isolation and zero-trust networking
- ServiceAccount management and token projection
- Upgrading Kubernetes clusters using kubeadm: control plane first, then workers
- Node drain, cordon, and uncordon procedures for zero-downtime maintenance
- Backing up and restoring etcd to a specific snapshot
- Certificate management: checking expiry, rotating kubeadm certificates
- OS-level patching workflows with Pod Disruption Budgets in place
- Cluster add-on management: CoreDNS, metrics-server, and dashboard upgrades
- kubectl imperative commands mastery: create, run, expose, set, label, annotate
- Bash alias configuration for exam efficiency (alias k=kubectl)
- Kubernetes documentation navigation: knowing what to find quickly
- Full mock exam #1: 17 tasks, 2-hour timer, live cluster environment
- Full mock exam #2 with review and targeted weak-area drill
- Exam day logistics: remote proctor setup, PSI browser, ID requirements
CKA Exam at a Glance
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Exam Format | Performance-based — command-line tasks in live Kubernetes clusters |
| Number of Tasks | 15–20 performance-based tasks |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Passing Score | 66% |
| Exam Fee (USD) | $395 (includes one free retake) |
| Open Book | Yes — official Kubernetes documentation allowed |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Issuer | CNCF / Linux Foundation |
Domain Weightings
| Domain | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Storage | 10% |
| Troubleshooting | 30% |
| Workloads & Scheduling | 15% |
| Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration | 25% |
| Services & Networking | 20% |