Certified Linux System Administrator – Red Hat Platform

Certified Linux System Administrator – Red Hat Platform

Domain 1: Core System Operation, Configuration, and Troubleshooting

• Objective: Validate the ability to operate, configure, and troubleshoot foundational system services and user environments on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
• Key Competencies:
  • Managing the boot process, system states, and services using systemd and systemctl.
  • Administering users, groups, and advanced file permissions (including setgid and setuid).
  • Managing software packages, repositories, and modular AppStreams using dnf and RPM.
  • Analyzing system logs through journalctl and configuring time services (NTP/Chrony).

Domain 2: Enterprise Storage Management and File Systems

• Objective: Evaluate proficiency in designing, deploying, and maintaining local and network-attached storage architectures.
• Key Competencies:
  • Configuring and managing the Logical Volume Manager (LVM), including creating, extending, and reducing volume groups and logical volumes.
  • Deploying and maintaining standard file systems (XFS, ext4) and advanced storage features like Stratis and Virtual Data Optimizer (VDO) for deduplication and compression.
  • Mounting and configuring persistent network storage using NFS and SMB/CIFS, including the use of autofs.
  • Implementing and managing Access Control Lists (ACLs) for granular file sharing permissions.

Domain 3: Network Configuration, Security, and SELinux

• Objective: Assess the skills required to secure the RHEL platform, enforce access controls, and manage network connectivity.
• Key Competencies:
  • Configuring IPv4/IPv6 networking, static routes, and network bonding/teaming using NetworkManager and nmcli.
  • Securing network traffic and managing port access using firewalld (zones, services, and rich rules).
  • Administering Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) in enforcing mode, managing file contexts, adjusting booleans, and troubleshooting policy violations.
  • Securing remote administration via SSH, including key-based authentication and restricted configurations.

Domain 4: Containerization and Infrastructure Automation

• Objective: Test the capability to modernize workloads by managing local containers and automating repetitive administrative tasks using standard Red Hat toolsets.
• Key Competencies:
  • Deploying and managing rootless and root-privileged containers and images using podman, buildah, and skopeo.
  • Configuring containers to start automatically as systemd services.
  • Writing and executing foundational shell scripts (bash) to automate routine system health checks and configuration tasks.
  • Understanding the basics of Ansible Automation within RHEL, including executing ad-hoc commands and running fundamental playbooks to manage system state.