Mirantis Certification Path: Prepare for Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Exams

Mirantis is a leader in providing open-source cloud solutions with a strong focus on Kubernetes and container orchestration. The company offers certifications designed to validate skills and knowledge related to cloud-native infrastructure, Kubernetes operations, and container management. These certifications are valuable for professionals aiming to demonstrate their expertise in deploying, managing, and troubleshooting Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (MKE) and other Mirantis technologies.

Why Pursue Mirantis Certifications?

With the surge in demand for cloud-native skills and container orchestration expertise, Mirantis certifications offer career-advancing opportunities. These certifications are recognized in the industry as proof of technical proficiency with Kubernetes, OpenStack, and related cloud technologies. Earning Mirantis certifications can help IT professionals gain credibility, access better job roles, and command higher salaries. For organizations, certified professionals ensure efficient deployment and maintenance of cloud infrastructure, minimizing downtime and improving scalability.

Overview of the Mirantis Certification Path

Mirantis certifications are structured to accommodate professionals at different stages of their cloud journey—from beginners to advanced practitioners. The certification path includes multiple levels and specialized areas, focusing mainly on Kubernetes administration and Mirantis-specific solutions. Each certification exam tests candidates on real-world skills, aligning with industry standards.

The primary certifications under the Mirantis umbrella include:

• Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Administrator (MCKA)
  
  

• Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Engineer (MCKE)
  
  

• Mirantis Certified OpenStack Administrator (MCOA)
  
  

• Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Specialist (MCKS)
  
  

Each certification corresponds to a specific exam, identified by unique exam codes. The certifications are designed to build upon each other, guiding candidates from foundational knowledge to advanced operational and engineering skills.

Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Administrator (MCKA)

The MCKA certification targets professionals who want to validate their skills in Kubernetes cluster administration. The exam tests candidates on installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance of Kubernetes clusters in a Mirantis environment. This certification ensures that candidates can effectively manage containerized workloads and Kubernetes resources.

• Exam Code: MCKA-101
  
  

• Exam Duration: 2 hours
  
  

• Format: Performance-based practical exam
  
  

• Prerequisites: Basic understanding of Linux, Docker, and container orchestration
  
  

• Skills Tested: Cluster installation, networking, storage management, security, and cluster maintenance
  
  

Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Engineer (MCKE)

The MCKE certification is designed for Kubernetes professionals focused on engineering and developing Kubernetes solutions. It covers advanced Kubernetes features, including application lifecycle management, scaling, and performance optimization.

• Exam Code: MCKE-201
  
  

• Exam Duration: 2.5 hours
  
  

• Format: Performance-based and scenario-driven
  
  

• Prerequisites: MCKA certification or equivalent experience
  
  

• Skills Tested: Advanced networking, storage provisioning, custom resource definitions, and troubleshooting complex Kubernetes environments
  
  

Mirantis Certified OpenStack Administrator (MCOA)

For professionals working with cloud infrastructure beyond Kubernetes, the MCOA certification focuses on OpenStack administration. Mirantis has extensive expertise in OpenStack solutions, and this certification validates the ability to deploy and operate OpenStack clouds.

• Exam Code: MCOA-301
  
  

• Exam Duration: 3 hours
  
  

• Format: Hands-on lab exam
  
  

• Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of Linux, networking, and cloud concepts
  
  

• Skills Tested: OpenStack installation, configuration, compute, networking, storage, and troubleshooting
  
  

Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Specialist (MCKS)

The MCKS certification is a specialized track focusing on niche areas within Kubernetes such as security, monitoring, and advanced networking. It is intended for those who want to deepen their expertise in specific Kubernetes operational domains.

• Exam Code: MCKS-401
  
  

• Exam Duration: 2 hours
  
  

• Format: Scenario-based practical exam
  
  

• Prerequisites: MCKE or equivalent experience
  
  

• Skills Tested: Kubernetes security policies, monitoring tools, advanced networking configurations, and troubleshooting complex issues
  
  

Exam and Certification Details

Each Mirantis certification exam is performance-based, requiring candidates to complete tasks on live Kubernetes or OpenStack clusters. This hands-on approach ensures that certified professionals can apply their knowledge in practical scenarios rather than just theoretical concepts. The exams are timed, typically ranging from two to three hours depending on the certification level.

Candidates receive certification upon passing the exam, which is valid for two years. Recertification can be achieved by retaking the current exam or by earning a higher-level certification within the Mirantis path.

Benefits of Mirantis Certification to Employers and Candidates

Employers benefit from Mirantis-certified staff by gaining access to professionals with validated skills in cloud-native technologies, which improves operational efficiency and reduces deployment errors. For candidates, these certifications provide a competitive edge in the job market, increased salary potential, and opportunities for career advancement in DevOps, cloud architecture, and Kubernetes engineering.

Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Administrator (MCKA) Certification Overview

The Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Administrator (MCKA) certification is designed for professionals who want to validate their skills in Kubernetes cluster administration. This certification focuses on the practical knowledge required to install, configure, and manage Kubernetes clusters effectively. The MCKA exam evaluates candidates on their ability to perform real-world tasks such as cluster setup, maintenance, networking, security, and troubleshooting. Achieving the MCKA certification demonstrates that a professional can manage containerized workloads and services in a production environment using Mirantis Kubernetes Engine.

The MCKA exam is performance-based, requiring hands-on completion of tasks on live Kubernetes clusters. It lasts approximately two hours and tests a broad range of skills necessary for Kubernetes administration. This certification is ideal for systems administrators, cloud engineers, and DevOps professionals who work with Kubernetes on a daily basis or aspire to do so.

Exam Details and Format

The exam code for the Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Administrator is MCKA-101. Candidates have two hours to complete the exam, which is conducted in a practical, hands-on format. Instead of multiple-choice questions, candidates must complete real-world tasks within a Kubernetes cluster environment. These tasks include deploying applications, configuring cluster components, setting up networking, and troubleshooting issues.

Candidates need to perform efficiently under time pressure, as the exam covers multiple domains of Kubernetes administration. The test environment simulates a production setup where candidates must demonstrate their ability to use command-line tools, understand Kubernetes resources, and apply best practices.

There are no formal prerequisites for taking the MCKA exam, but candidates should have a solid understanding of Linux, containerization concepts, and Kubernetes fundamentals before attempting it. Experience working with Kubernetes clusters in production or development environments is highly recommended.

Skills and Domains Covered in the MCKA Exam

The MCKA exam evaluates a wide range of skills essential for managing Kubernetes clusters. The skills are grouped into key domains that represent different areas of Kubernetes administration. Each domain carries a weighted percentage of the total exam score, reflecting its importance.

Cluster Architecture, Installation, and Configuration constitutes approximately 25 percent of the exam. This domain covers setting up Kubernetes clusters, configuring nodes, and ensuring cluster components are functioning correctly. Candidates must understand kubeadm initialization, cluster networking configuration, and role-based access control setup.

Workloads and Scheduling account for around 15 percent of the exam. This domain tests the ability to deploy and manage containerized applications using Kubernetes workloads such as Pods, Deployments, DaemonSets, and StatefulSets. Candidates need to configure resource requests and limits, scheduling constraints, and perform rolling updates or rollbacks.

Networking is a critical part of the exam, comprising about 20 percent of the questions. Candidates should be familiar with Kubernetes networking concepts including Services, Ingress controllers, NetworkPolicies, and DNS management within clusters.

Storage management covers approximately 10 percent of the exam and involves working with PersistentVolumes, PersistentVolumeClaims, and StorageClasses. Candidates need to demonstrate knowledge of dynamic provisioning and managing volume access modes.

Security represents 15 percent of the exam focus. This includes implementing authentication and authorization mechanisms, configuring Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), managing secrets, and securing Kubernetes API access.

Maintenance tasks make up the remaining 15 percent. Candidates are tested on how to monitor cluster health, upgrade Kubernetes components, troubleshoot cluster issues, and perform backups and restores.

Detailed Breakdown of Exam Domains

Cluster Architecture, Installation, and Configuration

This domain requires candidates to understand the core components that make up a Kubernetes cluster and how they interact. Candidates should be able to use kubeadm to bootstrap clusters, configure the kubelet, and set up cluster networking using tools like Calico or Flannel. Understanding cluster certificates and how to renew or revoke them is essential. Candidates also need to configure cluster DNS and use ConfigMaps to manage cluster-wide configuration.

The installation process includes setting up control plane nodes and worker nodes, configuring the API server, scheduler, and controller manager. Candidates should be able to join additional nodes to the cluster and configure high availability if required.

Workloads and Scheduling

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to create and manage various Kubernetes workload resources. Deployments are fundamental to managing stateless applications, and candidates should know how to scale deployments up or down and perform rolling updates without downtime. StatefulSets are used for stateful applications, requiring an understanding of persistent storage attachment and stable network identities.

Pod scheduling is another important aspect. Candidates must apply node selectors, taints, tolerations, and affinity rules to control where pods are scheduled within a cluster. Understanding how to use resource requests and limits ensures efficient cluster resource utilization and avoids resource contention.

Networking

Kubernetes networking is complex and essential for cluster functionality. Candidates must configure Services to expose applications internally or externally, understanding the differences between ClusterIP, NodePort, and LoadBalancer service types. Ingress controllers allow HTTP routing into the cluster, and candidates should know how to create and configure Ingress resources.

NetworkPolicies enable security by controlling traffic flow between pods. Candidates need to create policies that restrict or allow traffic based on pod selectors and namespace rules. Managing the cluster DNS service (typically CoreDNS) is also critical for service discovery and name resolution within the cluster.

Storage

Storage in Kubernetes revolves around PersistentVolumes and PersistentVolumeClaims, which abstract physical storage from pods. Candidates must understand how to configure storage classes for dynamic provisioning of volumes, enabling on-demand allocation of storage resources.

Managing access modes (ReadWriteOnce, ReadOnlyMany, ReadWriteMany) and reclaim policies is vital for maintaining storage reliability and performance. Candidates should also be familiar with different types of storage backends, such as local storage, networked storage (NFS), or cloud provider storage solutions.

Security

Security is a foundational aspect of Kubernetes administration. Candidates must implement authentication methods such as client certificates, tokens, and service accounts. Authorization controls are enforced using RBAC, which defines roles and binds them to users or service accounts with specific permissions.

Managing Kubernetes secrets securely is critical, and candidates should be proficient in creating, updating, and mounting secrets into pods. Securing the Kubernetes API server with TLS and setting up audit logging are also part of this domain.

Maintenance

Ongoing cluster maintenance is essential for ensuring uptime and reliability. Candidates must monitor cluster components and workloads using tools like kubectl, logs, and metrics APIs. Performing cluster upgrades without downtime is a key skill, requiring knowledge of version compatibility and upgrade procedures.

Troubleshooting skills include identifying node failures, pod crashes, network issues, and resolving them promptly. Backup and restore strategies, particularly for etcd (the Kubernetes key-value store), ensure data resilience in case of cluster failure.

Preparing for the MCKA Exam

Successful preparation for the MCKA exam requires hands-on experience, study of Kubernetes concepts, and familiarity with Mirantis Kubernetes Engine tools. Candidates should start with fundamental Linux skills and Docker containerization concepts. A thorough understanding of Kubernetes architecture and components is necessary before moving on to practical lab exercises.

Using official Kubernetes documentation as a study resource is recommended for up-to-date and authoritative information. Practical experience setting up Kubernetes clusters with kubeadm and deploying applications will build confidence in performing exam tasks.

Creating a personal Kubernetes lab environment, either locally using virtual machines or in cloud environments, allows candidates to practice tasks under exam-like conditions. Familiarity with common troubleshooting scenarios and commands can save valuable time during the test.

Practice exams and simulation tests can help candidates assess their readiness. Time management during the exam is crucial, so candidates should practice completing tasks efficiently while maintaining accuracy.

Common Challenges and Tips for Exam Day

The hands-on nature of the MCKA exam can be intimidating for many candidates. Common challenges include managing time effectively, handling unexpected errors in the cluster, and ensuring commands are executed correctly.

It is advisable to read each task carefully and plan the approach before executing commands. If a task is unclear or taking too long, it may be better to move on and return to it later if time permits.

Maintaining calm and methodical troubleshooting can help resolve issues faster. Familiarity with kubectl commands and the ability to interpret logs quickly can save time.

Since the exam environment is remote, candidates should ensure they have a reliable internet connection and a quiet workspace free from distractions.

Career Impact of the MCKA Certification

Achieving the MCKA certification opens numerous career opportunities in cloud engineering, DevOps, and Kubernetes administration roles. Many organizations adopt Kubernetes as a standard for container orchestration, creating demand for certified administrators.

Certified professionals often see improved job prospects, salary increases, and chances to work on cutting-edge cloud-native projects. The MCKA certification also serves as a stepping stone to more advanced certifications and specialized Kubernetes roles.

Employers value the proven ability to manage Kubernetes clusters effectively, which helps improve operational stability and scalability in their infrastructure.

Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Engineer (MCKE) Certification Overview

The Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Engineer (MCKE) certification is designed for professionals who want to advance beyond basic Kubernetes administration to mastering the engineering and development of Kubernetes solutions. This certification focuses on the skills needed to design, implement, and optimize Kubernetes environments, including advanced features such as custom resource definitions, application lifecycle management, and cluster scaling. The MCKE certification validates an individual’s ability to manage complex Kubernetes workloads, configure advanced networking and storage options, and troubleshoot intricate cluster issues.

The MCKE exam builds on foundational knowledge and experience in Kubernetes administration, often requiring candidates to have already obtained the Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Administrator (MCKA) certification or possess equivalent experience. This certification is ideal for cloud engineers, DevOps professionals, and developers responsible for architecting Kubernetes-based applications and infrastructure.

Exam Details and Format

The exam code for the Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Engineer is MCKE-201. Candidates have approximately two and a half hours to complete the exam, which is performance-based and scenario-driven. Rather than answering multiple-choice questions, candidates perform tasks on live Kubernetes clusters under timed conditions. The exam tests the candidate’s ability to handle real-world Kubernetes challenges, including deploying complex applications, configuring custom resources, and troubleshooting issues in multi-node clusters.

The MCKE exam demands deep technical knowledge combined with practical experience. Candidates should be comfortable using Kubernetes APIs, writing YAML manifests, and leveraging Kubernetes tools to optimize cluster performance. The exam environment mirrors production setups, and candidates must demonstrate skill and efficiency in completing tasks.

Skills and Domains Covered in the MCKE Exam

The MCKE exam assesses a broad range of advanced Kubernetes skills divided into specific domains. These domains include workload and application management, cluster maintenance and troubleshooting, networking and security, storage and volume management, and Kubernetes extensibility.

Workloads and application management form a significant part of the exam. Candidates are expected to manage complex applications using Deployments, StatefulSets, DaemonSets, and Jobs. They must also demonstrate proficiency with application lifecycle operations such as rollouts, rollbacks, and scaling. Managing application configurations using ConfigMaps and Secrets, as well as performing health checks with readiness and liveness probes, are key skills.

Cluster maintenance and troubleshooting skills are critical. Candidates need to diagnose and resolve issues related to node failures, pod evictions, and network disruptions. They must understand Kubernetes logs, events, and monitoring tools to maintain cluster health.

Networking and security require knowledge of advanced concepts such as network policies, service meshes, and secure communication between components. Candidates must configure network segmentation, enforce security policies, and secure cluster communication channels.

Storage and volume management includes advanced volume provisioning, persistent volume management, and data backup strategies. Candidates should understand dynamic provisioning with storage classes, volume expansion, and access modes.

Kubernetes extensibility focuses on custom resource definitions (CRDs), operators, and API aggregation. Candidates need to demonstrate the ability to extend Kubernetes functionality to meet specialized application requirements.

Detailed Breakdown of Exam Domains

Workloads and Application Management

In this domain, candidates demonstrate mastery in deploying and managing complex Kubernetes workloads. Deployments are central to managing stateless applications, and candidates should be able to perform advanced operations like rolling updates and rollbacks. StatefulSets manage stateful applications requiring stable network identities and persistent storage. Candidates must configure storage appropriately to maintain data consistency.

DaemonSets ensure that certain pods run on all or selected nodes. Managing Jobs and CronJobs to run batch or scheduled tasks is also tested. Candidates should configure probes to monitor pod health and readiness, ensuring applications are running as expected.

Managing ConfigMaps and Secrets is essential to separate configuration from code and to secure sensitive data. Candidates need to create, update, and mount these resources within pods properly.

Cluster Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Maintaining a healthy Kubernetes cluster is a core responsibility of an engineer. Candidates must be able to interpret cluster and node status, identify causes of pod failures, and resolve resource conflicts. Knowledge of node lifecycle management, including cordoning, draining, and rebooting nodes, is necessary.

Using Kubernetes logs, metrics, and events is vital for troubleshooting. Candidates should understand how to access logs from pods, control plane components, and system services. Familiarity with monitoring tools that integrate with Kubernetes is beneficial.

Performing cluster upgrades without downtime requires understanding Kubernetes version compatibility and upgrade sequencing. Candidates must know how to backup and restore critical components like etcd to ensure data integrity.

Networking and Security

Networking in Kubernetes goes beyond basic connectivity and involves securing communication channels and controlling traffic flow. Candidates must configure NetworkPolicies to enforce security boundaries between pods and namespaces. Knowledge of service meshes and their role in managing microservice communication is helpful.

Candidates are expected to secure cluster components using TLS encryption and manage authentication and authorization policies. Using Kubernetes RBAC to assign fine-grained permissions ensures only authorized users and services can access sensitive resources.

Configuring Ingress controllers and LoadBalancers to expose applications securely to external users is part of this domain. Understanding DNS and service discovery mechanisms within Kubernetes clusters is also important.

Storage and Volume Management

Storage management is critical for running stateful applications on Kubernetes. Candidates must understand how PersistentVolumes and PersistentVolumeClaims work, including their lifecycle and binding mechanisms. Dynamic provisioning using StorageClasses enables automated volume creation, which candidates need to configure correctly.

Candidates should demonstrate volume expansion capabilities to increase storage without downtime. They must understand volume access modes and configure them based on application needs. Managing snapshots and backups to safeguard data is a valuable skill.

Understanding different storage backends such as NFS, iSCSI, or cloud provider volumes provides flexibility in designing storage solutions for Kubernetes workloads.

Kubernetes Extensibility

Kubernetes is designed to be extensible, and this domain tests candidates’ ability to customize the platform to fit unique needs. Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) allow new resource types to be added to Kubernetes, enabling specialized controllers and operators.

Candidates should be familiar with writing and deploying operators to automate complex application management tasks. Using API aggregation, Kubernetes can integrate external APIs seamlessly, and candidates should understand how to configure and secure these extensions.

This domain requires a blend of Kubernetes knowledge and software development skills to extend cluster capabilities effectively.

Preparing for the MCKE Exam

Preparation for the MCKE exam requires in-depth study and hands-on practice with Kubernetes clusters. Candidates should start by mastering the skills validated in the MCKA certification if they have not already done so. Building a strong foundation in Kubernetes administration is essential before moving to engineering topics.

Using official Kubernetes documentation and studying real-world scenarios helps candidates understand the nuances of advanced Kubernetes operations. Setting up lab environments to simulate complex Kubernetes clusters allows practical experience in deploying applications, configuring networking, and troubleshooting.

Candidates should spend time learning YAML manifest writing, as creating and editing resource definitions is a critical skill. Familiarity with command-line tools like kubectl and using Kubernetes APIs programmatically will enhance exam performance.

Practice exams and timed lab exercises help improve speed and accuracy. Candidates should focus on understanding error messages and log outputs to troubleshoot effectively during the exam.

Common Challenges and Tips for Exam Day

The MCKE exam challenges candidates with complex scenarios requiring deep understanding and quick problem-solving. One common difficulty is managing time efficiently across multiple tasks. Candidates should read each question carefully, plan the steps before executing commands, and avoid getting stuck on a single problem.

Troubleshooting requires analytical thinking and knowledge of Kubernetes internals. Candidates are advised to use logs, events, and resource descriptions to diagnose issues methodically.

Networking configuration can be intricate; understanding network policies and service exposure methods before the exam is crucial. Similarly, mastering storage concepts and dynamic provisioning saves time during related tasks.

Maintaining calm and a systematic approach during the exam helps avoid mistakes and ensures steady progress. Having a reliable workspace and internet connection reduces the risk of interruptions.

Career Benefits of the MCKE Certification

The Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Engineer certification opens doors to advanced roles in cloud architecture, DevOps, and platform engineering. Professionals with MCKE certification demonstrate expertise in designing, deploying, and managing production-grade Kubernetes environments, which are highly sought after in the technology industry.

Organizations increasingly rely on Kubernetes for container orchestration, making certified engineers valuable assets. Career progression opportunities include senior DevOps engineer, cloud architect, and Kubernetes consultant roles.

Certified engineers often enjoy higher salaries and greater responsibilities. The MCKE certification also positions candidates well for leadership roles in cloud-native technology projects and provides a foundation for pursuing further specialization in Kubernetes security, networking, or development.

Mirantis Certified OpenStack Administrator (MCOA) Certification Overview

The Mirantis Certified OpenStack Administrator (MCOA) certification is designed for IT professionals who manage and operate OpenStack cloud environments. OpenStack is a widely used open-source platform for building and managing public and private clouds. This certification validates the skills needed to deploy, configure, and troubleshoot OpenStack components in a production environment. The MCOA certification is ideal for system administrators, cloud operators, and engineers who work with cloud infrastructure and want to demonstrate expertise in OpenStack administration.

The MCOA exam focuses on hands-on tasks that cover key OpenStack services such as Nova for compute, Neutron for networking, Cinder for block storage, and Keystone for identity management. This certification ensures that professionals are capable of maintaining stable and secure OpenStack clouds, providing scalable infrastructure services to users.

Exam Details and Format

The exam code for the Mirantis Certified OpenStack Administrator is MCOA-301. The exam lasts approximately three hours and is a hands-on lab exam requiring candidates to complete practical tasks on a live OpenStack environment. Unlike multiple-choice exams, this format tests candidates’ real-world abilities to configure, troubleshoot, and manage OpenStack components.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate familiarity with command-line tools, configuration files, and OpenStack service APIs. The exam simulates operational challenges encountered in production clouds, including user management, resource provisioning, network configuration, and service troubleshooting.

There are no formal prerequisites to take the MCOA exam, but candidates should have a solid understanding of Linux system administration, networking, and basic cloud concepts before attempting it. Practical experience working with OpenStack or similar cloud platforms is highly recommended.

Skills and Domains Covered in the MCOA Exam

The MCOA exam covers a broad range of skills necessary for effective OpenStack administration. The skills are grouped into several key domains reflecting the core components of an OpenStack cloud. These include installation and configuration, compute management, networking, storage, identity and access management, and troubleshooting.

Installation and configuration encompass setting up OpenStack services, configuring configuration files, and integrating services to work together seamlessly. Candidates must understand service dependencies, database connections, and message queue configurations.

Compute management focuses on the lifecycle of virtual machines and instances managed by Nova. This includes creating, resizing, migrating, and deleting instances, as well as managing flavors and quotas.

Networking, powered by Neutron, requires candidates to configure networks, subnets, routers, and security groups. Candidates should be able to create tenant networks, manage floating IPs, and enforce network policies.

Storage includes block storage management using Cinder and object storage with Swift. Candidates must configure storage backends, create and attach volumes, and manage storage quotas and backups.

Identity and access management with Keystone involves user and project creation, role assignment, and token management. Candidates need to ensure secure authentication and authorization for OpenStack services.

Troubleshooting tests candidates’ ability to diagnose and resolve issues across OpenStack components. This includes interpreting logs, restarting services, and performing recovery procedures.

Detailed Breakdown of Exam Domains

Installation and Configuration

This domain covers the foundational setup of an OpenStack cloud. Candidates must be familiar with installing core services such as Nova, Neutron, Cinder, Keystone, Glance, and Horizon. Understanding the service architecture, including how these components interact, is essential.

Candidates should be able to edit configuration files for each service, configure database connections, and set up message brokers such as RabbitMQ. Integrating identity services to enable authentication across components is a critical part of this domain.

Configuring endpoints and service catalogs ensures that OpenStack services are discoverable and accessible. Candidates should also know how to enable SSL/TLS to secure API communication.

Compute Management

Compute management revolves around controlling the lifecycle of virtual instances. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to launch instances using different images and flavors. Managing keypairs, security groups, and network interfaces attached to instances is necessary.

Performing instance operations such as pause, suspend, resize, and migrate to different hosts tests candidates’ operational skills. Understanding resource quotas prevents overconsumption of compute resources and ensures fair usage across tenants.

Candidates should also know how to configure availability zones and host aggregates to support workload distribution and high availability.

Networking

Networking is a critical and complex aspect of OpenStack administration. Candidates need to configure provider networks, tenant networks, and external networks. Setting up routers to enable connectivity between different networks and to external networks is essential.

Floating IP addresses provide public access to instances, and candidates should know how to allocate and associate them correctly. Security groups control inbound and outbound traffic to instances and must be configured to enforce security policies.

Neutron plugins and agents manage network functionality. Candidates should be familiar with the Open vSwitch plugin and be able to troubleshoot network agent failures.

Storage Management

Storage management includes both block storage with Cinder and object storage with Swift. Candidates need to configure storage backends such as LVM, NFS, or SAN for block storage. Creating, attaching, detaching, and deleting volumes are key tasks.

Managing snapshots and backups for volumes is important to ensure data protection. Candidates should understand volume types and how to configure storage quotas.

Object storage with Swift is used for scalable, durable storage of unstructured data. Candidates should be able to manage containers and objects, configure replication, and set up access policies.

Identity and Access Management

Keystone provides authentication and authorization services for OpenStack. Candidates must manage users, projects (tenants), and roles to control access to cloud resources.

Configuring authentication methods, including password, token, and federated identity, is essential. Candidates should understand how to assign roles to users and services, manage service accounts, and troubleshoot authentication failures.

Securing Keystone endpoints and tokens protects the cloud environment from unauthorized access.

Troubleshooting and Maintenance

This domain tests candidates’ ability to maintain a stable OpenStack cloud and resolve issues promptly. Candidates should be proficient in analyzing logs from various OpenStack services, identifying error patterns, and taking corrective actions.

Restarting or reconfiguring services to restore functionality is often required. Candidates must also be able to diagnose networking problems, compute node failures, and storage issues.

Backing up and restoring critical data such as databases and configuration files is vital for disaster recovery. Understanding upgrade procedures and patch management helps maintain cloud security and stability.

Preparing for the MCOA Exam

Preparation for the MCOA exam involves gaining hands-on experience with OpenStack installations and operations. Candidates should start by studying the architecture and components of OpenStack and practicing installation procedures.

Building a lab environment using virtual machines or cloud instances allows candidates to perform practical tasks such as launching instances, configuring networks, and managing storage. Working with the OpenStack command-line client and dashboard helps candidates become comfortable with different management interfaces.

Studying official documentation, release notes, and best practice guides ensures candidates are familiar with the latest features and changes in OpenStack.

Time management during the exam is critical, so practicing tasks within a time limit helps improve speed and efficiency. Joining study groups and forums can provide valuable insights and tips from other candidates and experienced administrators.

Common Challenges and Tips for Exam Day

The MCOA exam can be challenging due to its hands-on format and the complexity of OpenStack services. Candidates often face difficulties configuring networking components correctly or troubleshooting service failures under time constraints.

A systematic approach to exam questions helps mitigate stress. Carefully reading the task requirements, planning steps, and verifying results before moving on improves accuracy.

Familiarity with OpenStack logs and troubleshooting commands enables faster problem resolution. Candidates should avoid spending excessive time on any single task and move on if stuck, returning later if time permits.

Ensuring a stable internet connection and a quiet workspace on exam day prevents disruptions. Staying calm and focused allows candidates to perform optimally throughout the exam duration.

Career Benefits of the MCOA Certification

The Mirantis Certified OpenStack Administrator certification validates skills that are in demand as organizations adopt private and public cloud infrastructures. OpenStack remains a popular choice for enterprises seeking scalable, flexible cloud solutions.

Certified administrators enhance their employability and qualify for roles such as cloud administrator, cloud engineer, and systems architect. The certification demonstrates an ability to manage complex cloud environments, which is valuable for organizations running mission-critical applications.

The MCOA certification can lead to salary increases and career advancement opportunities. It also establishes a foundation for pursuing further specialization in cloud architecture, automation, and DevOps practices related to OpenStack.

Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Specialist (MCKS) Certification Overview

The Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Specialist (MCKS) certification is designed for IT professionals who specialize in deploying, managing, and optimizing Kubernetes clusters in production environments. This certification targets individuals who have already gained foundational Kubernetes skills and want to deepen their expertise in specific Kubernetes components and ecosystem tools. The MCKS certification validates the candidate’s ability to work with advanced Kubernetes features, integrate third-party tools, and optimize cluster performance for real-world applications.

This certification is ideal for Kubernetes administrators, DevOps engineers, and cloud-native application developers seeking to prove advanced knowledge in Kubernetes cluster management and cloud-native technologies. The MCKS certification is recognized in the industry as a mark of expertise in Kubernetes specialization.

Exam Details and Format

The exam code for the Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Specialist is MCKS-401. This exam is typically conducted online with a hands-on practical format. Candidates are required to complete tasks on live Kubernetes clusters, demonstrating skills in managing, configuring, and troubleshooting Kubernetes environments.

The duration of the exam is about two and a half hours. Candidates face scenario-based problems that reflect common challenges encountered in professional Kubernetes environments. The exam tests the ability to integrate Kubernetes with monitoring tools, storage systems, security policies, and continuous delivery pipelines.

Candidates should have practical experience working with Kubernetes clusters and be familiar with Kubernetes APIs, CLI tools, and third-party integrations. The exam format emphasizes problem-solving and hands-on execution rather than theoretical knowledge.

Skills and Domains Covered in the MCKS Exam

The MCKS exam evaluates advanced Kubernetes skills across several critical domains. These include cluster management and monitoring, security and compliance, storage and persistent volumes, application lifecycle management, and Kubernetes ecosystem integration.

Cluster management and monitoring cover configuring cluster components for high availability, scaling, and resilience. Candidates must know how to deploy and manage monitoring systems like Prometheus and Grafana and use logging tools such as Fluentd and Elasticsearch.

Security and compliance include setting up role-based access control (RBAC), network policies, and Pod Security Policies to ensure secure operation of Kubernetes workloads. Candidates are expected to manage secrets securely and configure audit logging for compliance.

Storage and persistent volume management involve configuring dynamic provisioning, volume snapshots, and backup solutions. Candidates must understand CSI drivers and storage integration for various cloud and on-premise environments.

Application lifecycle management focuses on deployment strategies, Helm charts, operators, and CI/CD pipeline integrations. Candidates demonstrate expertise in managing application updates, rollbacks, and scaling in Kubernetes.

Kubernetes ecosystem integration tests knowledge of service meshes, ingress controllers, custom controllers, and API extensions that enhance cluster capabilities.

Detailed Breakdown of Exam Domains

Cluster Management and Monitoring

Effective cluster management ensures the Kubernetes environment remains stable, scalable, and efficient. Candidates must understand the architecture of control plane components such as kube-apiserver, kube-controller-manager, and kube-scheduler, and how to monitor their health.

Monitoring tools like Prometheus are essential for gathering cluster metrics. Candidates should be able to deploy Prometheus and Grafana for visualization, configure alerting rules, and analyze cluster performance data. Logging systems that aggregate logs from containers and nodes, such as Fluentd and Elasticsearch, are also important.

Configuring high availability involves deploying redundant control plane nodes and worker nodes to minimize downtime. Scaling worker nodes to meet application demands using tools like Cluster Autoscaler is another key topic.

Security and Compliance

Security is a paramount concern in Kubernetes environments. Candidates must implement role-based access control to limit user and service permissions. Understanding Kubernetes authentication mechanisms, including service accounts and external identity providers, is necessary.

Network policies are used to control traffic flow between pods, namespaces, and external endpoints. Candidates need to define and apply policies to restrict access and reduce attack surfaces.

Pod Security Policies or the newer Pod Security Admission mechanisms enforce security standards on pods, such as restricting privilege escalation and enforcing read-only file systems.

Managing sensitive data using Kubernetes Secrets requires knowledge of secret creation, storage, and mounting into pods. Audit logging tracks access and changes within the cluster to support compliance requirements.

Storage and Persistent Volumes

Storage in Kubernetes is dynamic and must support various application needs. Candidates should understand PersistentVolumes, PersistentVolumeClaims, and StorageClasses for dynamic provisioning.

The exam covers volume snapshotting, allowing backups and restores of persistent data. Candidates need to configure CSI (Container Storage Interface) drivers to support diverse storage backends such as cloud storage, NFS, and SAN.

Understanding access modes and reclaim policies helps manage storage lifecycle and usage efficiently. Candidates must also demonstrate knowledge of backup solutions and disaster recovery strategies.

Application Lifecycle Management

Managing application deployment and updates is a core Kubernetes function. Candidates should be proficient with Helm, the package manager for Kubernetes, which simplifies application deployment and version management.

Operators extend Kubernetes capabilities by automating complex application management tasks. Candidates need to understand how to deploy and operate operators for stateful and stateless applications.

CI/CD pipeline integration with Kubernetes enables automated build, test, and deployment processes. Candidates should be familiar with tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or Tekton that support Kubernetes-based workflows.

Rolling updates, blue-green deployments, and canary releases are deployment strategies tested in the exam. Candidates must manage application scaling, health checks, and rollback procedures.

Kubernetes Ecosystem Integration

Kubernetes does not operate in isolation. Candidates must be familiar with ecosystem tools that enhance cluster functionality. Service meshes such as Istio or Linkerd provide traffic management, security, and observability features.

Ingress controllers manage external access to services. Candidates should know how to deploy and configure ingress controllers to handle TLS termination, URL routing, and load balancing.

Custom controllers and API extensions allow Kubernetes to support additional resource types and custom workflows. Candidates should understand the basics of writing and deploying custom controllers or using existing ones.

Integration with external monitoring, logging, and alerting systems extends the observability of Kubernetes clusters.

Preparing for the MCKS Exam

Preparation for the MCKS exam requires hands-on experience with production-grade Kubernetes clusters and familiarity with advanced Kubernetes tools. Candidates should start by mastering foundational Kubernetes concepts and administration skills.

Setting up lab environments using cloud providers or local Kubernetes distributions enables practice with cluster management, monitoring, and security configurations. Experimenting with Helm charts and operators helps build application lifecycle management skills.

Studying official Kubernetes documentation and ecosystem tools documentation provides insights into best practices and troubleshooting techniques.

Candidates should complete timed practice exams or labs to simulate the exam environment and improve time management skills. Participating in study groups or forums can provide support and practical tips.

Common Challenges and Tips for Exam Day

The MCKS exam tests a wide range of advanced Kubernetes skills, which can be overwhelming. One common challenge is balancing time between complex tasks that require troubleshooting and those involving configuration and deployment.

Reading each question carefully and planning an approach before executing commands can prevent errors and wasted time. Candidates should focus on completing tasks fully before moving on to avoid incomplete answers.

Familiarity with kubectl commands, YAML syntax, and troubleshooting techniques reduces exam anxiety and improves efficiency.

Maintaining composure and pacing oneself during the exam is important to avoid mistakes caused by rushing or stress.

Career Benefits of the MCKS Certification

The Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Specialist certification validates advanced Kubernetes skills highly sought after in modern IT environments. Certified professionals qualify for roles such as senior DevOps engineer, Kubernetes architect, and cloud platform specialist.

With increasing adoption of Kubernetes in enterprise environments, the demand for specialists who can optimize, secure, and extend Kubernetes clusters continues to grow.

Certified specialists often command higher salaries and take on leadership roles in Kubernetes strategy and implementation projects.

The certification also positions professionals to pursue further specialization in Kubernetes security, networking, or development.

Conclusion

The Mirantis Certified Kubernetes Specialist certification represents a high level of expertise in managing complex Kubernetes environments. It covers critical areas such as cluster management, security, storage, application lifecycle, and ecosystem integrations.

Achieving this certification requires comprehensive study, hands-on experience, and familiarity with Kubernetes tools and third-party integrations.

Certified specialists are well-prepared to address the challenges of production Kubernetes clusters and contribute significantly to cloud-native initiatives within organizations.

This certification enhances career growth, professional recognition, and opens opportunities in an expanding and dynamic technology field.