Exam description

The Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers exam (EX188) evaluates your proficiency in container fundamentals, assessing skills in finding, customizing, running, and managing containerized services in stand-alone environments. Successful completion not only awards you the title of Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers but also contributes towards achieving the prestigious Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA®) designation. Exam objectives align with the latest Red Hat product version, ensuring relevance and industry recognition. Click ‘Get started’ to explore all available exam versions for purchase.

Audience for this exam:

• 1. Container Users:
     • Administrators, architects, and software developers engaged in creating, managing, or utilizing containers.
  2. Understanding Key Concepts:
     • Individuals aiming to demonstrate comprehension of key concepts and processes in modern software containerization.
  3. Developers in Containerization:
     • Developers seeking expertise in containerizing software applications for efficient deployment.
  4. New Administrators in Containers:
     • Administrators new to container technology and container orchestration, looking to enhance their skills.
  5. Architects Exploring Containers:
     • Architects considering the integration of container technologies within software architectures.
  6. Site Reliability Engineers (SREs):
     • SREs exploring Kubernetes and Red Hat OpenShift for advanced container orchestration capabilities.

Prerequisites:

• Completion of Red Hat OpenShift Developer I: Introduction to Containers with Podman (DO188) or equivalent work experience.
• Proficiency in Linux terminal operations, including issuing OS commands and familiarity with shell scripting, is beneficial.
• While not mandatory, a Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification is recommended.
• Prior to the exam, it is advised to review the comprehensive exam objectives for optimal preparation.”
•  

Study points for the exam

1. Implementing Images with Podman
2. Grasping the FROM Instruction (Base Image Concept)
3. Navigating and Employing the RUN Instruction
4. Mastering the ADD Instruction
5. Leveraging the COPY Instruction
6. Distinguishing Between ADD and COPY Instructions
7. Effective Use of WORKDIR and USER Instructions
8. Navigating Security Considerations
9. CMD vs. ENTRYPOINT: Differences and Applicability
10. Exploring ENTRYPOINT with Parameters
11. Port Exposure Strategies in Containerfiles
12. Utilizing Environment Variables Inside Images
13. Insight into ENV Instruction
14. Comprehensive Understanding of Container Volumes
15. Mounting a Host Directory as a Data Volume
16. Security and Permissions Best Practices
17. Grasping the Lifecycle and Cleanup Requirements Associated with Container Volumes.”

Image Mastery Unleashed

1. Interoperability with Diverse Registries:
   • Seamlessly interact with a variety of registries, enhancing your container deployment flexibility.
2. Image Tag Mastery:
   • Grasp the nuances of understanding and effectively utilizing image tags for streamlined management.
3. Efficient Image Operations:
   • Perfect your ability to push and pull images, optimizing data flow between registries with precision.
4. Image Backup Strategies:
   • Differentiate between backing up an image with its layers and metadata versus capturing a container state, ensuring data integrity and recovery readiness.

Run multi-container applications with Podman

• 1. Strategic Stack Creation:
     • Proficiently craft application stacks, ensuring optimal performance and scalability.
  2. Container Dependency Management:
     • Understand and manage dependencies within containerized applications for streamlined functionality.
  3. Environment Variable Expertise:
     • Navigate and leverage environment variables effectively, enhancing configuration flexibility.
  4. Secrets Management:
     • Master the art of working with secrets, ensuring secure and confidential information handling.
  5. Volume Optimization:
     • Efficiently manage and utilize volumes for seamless data storage and retrieval within containers.
  6. Configuration Precision:
     • Fine-tune container configurations to align with performance and security requirements, ensuring a robust deployment.

Troubleshoot containerized applications

1. Resource Description Understanding:
   • Proficiently interpret descriptions of application resources for effective deployment.
2. Log Retrieval Skills:
   • Extract application logs to troubleshoot and optimize performance.
3. Real-time Application Inspection:
   • Inspect running applications for fine-tuning and problem diagnosis.
4. Container Connectivity:
   • Establish connections to running containers for interactive management.
5. Persistence Standards:
   • Ensure configurations persist post-reboot seamlessly, adhering to Red Hat’s performance-based exam standards.
6. Documentation Utilization:
   • Leverage supplied documentation for deploying pre-written applications, emphasizing configuration and deployment proficiency without modifying application code.”

In the Red Hat performance-based exams, it is crucial that configurations persist seamlessly after a system reboot without any intervention. Throughout the exam, candidates may encounter scenarios involving one or more pre-written applications. While there is no requirement to modify application code, candidates may need to effectively use supplied documentation to successfully deploy new instances of specified applications.

A hands-on, practical assessment that entails real-world tasks. No internet access is provided, and you are not allowed to bring hard copy or electronic documentation, notes, books, or any materials into the exam. While the product documentation is typically available, it’s essential to be well-prepared for an independent examination experience

Official exam scores are solely available through Red Hat Certification Central. Direct reporting of results to candidates by examiners or training partners is not authorized. Typically, scores are reported within 3 U.S. business days, presented as total scores.
Individual item performance details are not disclosed, and additional information requests are not accommodated. In case of an unsuccessful attempt, candidates qualify for one exam retake. For further information, please refer to our Training Policies page.