The Red Hat EX294 exam, officially known as “Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat Ansible Automation,” is a certification exam offered by Red Hat, a leading provider of open-source software solutions and enterprise Linux distributions. This exam is part of Red Hat’s certification program. The EX294 exam will focus on the automation of Linux system administration tasks using Red Hat Ansible Automation and shell scripting. By passing this exam, you become a Red Hat Certified Engineer. Current Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification is required to earn RHCE certification. If you want to continue your learning journey beyond RHCE, you can go for the highest level of certification: Red Hat Certified Architect.
Red hat OpenStack Platform
OpenStack is an open-source platform that uses pooled virtual resources to build and manage private and public clouds. It is a comprehensive, enterprise-grade solution for organizations looking to deploy Infrastructure as a Service and Platform as a Service capabilities in their data centers or the cloud.
Audience for Red Hat EX294 exam
- Experienced Red Hat Enterprise Linux system administrators seeking validation of their skills.
- Systems administrators who want to demonstrate competency in managing multiple systems.
- Student who wants to become a Red Hat Certified Engineer.
- DevOps Engineers
Prerequisites for Red Hat EX294 exam
- Earn the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification.
- Have taken Red Hat System Administration III: Linux Automation with Ansible (RH294).
- Have either taken both Red Hat System Administration I (RH124) and Red Hat System Administration II (RH134) or RHCSA Rapid Track Course (RH199).
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Preparation
Preparing for the Red Hat EX294 exam, which is the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) exam for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, requires a combination of study, hands-on practice, and familiarity with the exam objectives. Red Hat encourages you to consider taking Red Hat System Administration I (RH124), Red Hat System Administration II (RH134), and Red Hat System Administration III: Linux Automation with Ansible (RH294) to help prepare. Attendance in these classes is not required; students can choose to take just the exam. Use official Red Hat training materials and documentation as primary study resources. Develop a strong command-line proficiency. The exam involves working extensively with the command line, so practice common Linux commands and understand their usage. Ansible automation is a significant part of the EX294 exam. Study Ansible thoroughly, including playbook creation and automation of system tasks. Red Hat provides Ansible-related documentation and courses that can be beneficial.
Exam Objectives
Be able to perform all tasks expected of a Red Hat Certified System Administrator
1. Understand and use essential tools
- Operate running systems.
- Configure local storage.
- Create and configure file systems.
- Deploy, configure, and maintain systems.
- Manage users and groups.
- Manage security.
2. Understand the core components of Ansible
- Inventories
- Modules
- Variables
- Facts
- Loops
- Conditional tasks
- Plays
- Handling task failure
- Playbooks
- Configuration files
- Roles
- Use the provided documentation to look up specific information about Ansible modules and commands.
3. Use roles and Ansible Content Collections
- Create and work with roles.
- Install roles and use them in playbooks.
- Install Content Collections and use them in playbooks.
- Obtain a set of related roles, supplementary modules, and other content from content collections, and use them in a playbook.
4. Install and configure an Ansible control node
- Install required packages.
- Create a static host inventory file.
- Create a configuration file.
- Create and use static inventories to define groups of hosts.
5. Configure Ansible managed nodes
- Create and distribute SSH keys to managed nodes.
- Configure privilege escalation on managed nodes.
- Deploy files to managed nodes.
- Be able to analyze simple shell scripts and convert them to playbooks.
6. Network Configuration
- Configure network settings, including hostname resolution.
- Configure network teaming or bonding.
- Configure network bridges.
- Troubleshoot network issues.
7. Create Ansible plays and playbooks
- Know how to work with commonly used Ansible modules
- Use variables to retrieve the results of running a command
- Use conditionals to control play execution
- Configure error handling
- Create playbooks to configure systems to a specified state
8. Automate standard RHCSA tasks using Ansible modules that work with:
- Software packages and repositories
- Services
- Firewall rules
- File systems
- Storage devices
- File content
- Archiving
- Task scheduling
- Security
- Users and groups
9. Run playbooks with an automated content navigator
- Know how to run playbooks with an automated content navigator
- Use the Automation content navigator to find new modules in available Ansible Content Collections and use them
- Use the Automation content navigator to create inventories and configure the Ansible environment
10. Manage content
- Create and use templates to create customized configuration files
- Use Ansible Vault in playbooks to protect sensitive data
Exam Details
This hands-on, practical exam requires you to use the Red Hat Ansible Engine to perform real-world tasks. You will be provided with multiple systems and will be required to install and configure Ansible Engine and then use it to perform standard system administration tasks similar to what you would do on the job. During this time, you are expected to complete a set of hands-on tasks related to Red Hat Enterprise Linux automation using Ansible and other relevant technologies. The EX294 exam is a practical, performance-based exam. It is conducted in a controlled environment where you are given access to a live system. You will need to perform various tasks on the system to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.
- Passing Criteria: During the exam, you will be provided a list of tasks to accomplish related to the exam objectives. The scoring is based on a point system, and you need to earn a sufficient number of points (70% means 210 out of 300 marks) to pass the exam.
- Total Marks: The exam is based on a point system, and the total number of points is 300.
- Mode of Exam: The EX294 exam typically consists of tasks that you need to perform on a live system. It is not a multiple-choice or theoretical exam. In this exam, you’ll be given a set of objectives that you must complete within a specified time frame using a real Red Hat OpenStack Platform environment.
- Duration: The EX294 exam typically had a duration of 4 hours.
Red Hat Certification and Career Benefits
Red Hat certifications are a series of professional certifications offered by Red Hat which is a prominent global provider of open-source software solutions. These certifications validate the skills and expertise of IT professionals in various Red Hat technologies, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and many more. Red Hat certifications are widely recognized by employers and organizations worldwide.
Red Hat offers certifications at different levels, ranging from entry-level to advanced.
- Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
- Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
- Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)
Red Hat also offers specialized certifications for specific technologies and solutions, such as Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack, Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat Ansible Automation, and more.
Red Hat Certification Benefits
- Red Hat certifications validate your skills and expertise in using Red Hat technologies. They demonstrate that you have the knowledge and practical experience required to work with Red Hat solutions effectively.
- Red Hat certifications can open up new career opportunities for you. Many employers prefer or require candidates to have Red Hat certifications for specific job roles.
- Certified IT professionals often earn higher salaries than their non-certified professionals.
- There is a growing demand for professionals with expertise in open-source technologies and Red Hat solutions. Red Hat certifications align with the skills that employers are seeking, increasing your employability.
- Red Hat-certified professionals gain access to Red Hat’s online resources, including knowledge bases, technical support, and updates.
- Red Hat certifications are recognized globally, making them beneficial for professionals seeking opportunities worldwide.
- Red Hat certifications align with industry trends such as cloud computing, containerization, automation, and DevOps, helping you stay relevant in a changing IT landscape.
Exam Day Tips and Best Practices
- Log in to the exam environment a bit early to ensure you have time to address any technical issues that may arise.
- Carefully read all the instructions provided at the beginning of the exam. Understanding the rules and guidelines is crucial.
- Before you start working on the tasks, take a few moments to plan your approach. Decide which tasks you’ll tackle first and in which order.
- It’s natural to feel some pressure during the exam, but try to stay calm and focused.
- If you have time left at the end of the exam, review your work. Check for any mistakes or incomplete tasks.
- You’ll have access to RHEL documentation during the exam. But don’t rely on it too heavily. Practice navigating the documentation in advance.
- Document as You Go.
Conclusion
The Red Hat EX294 exam is a practical test of your skills and knowledge in managing RHEL 8 systems and automating tasks using Ansible. Effective preparation, including hands-on practice and study of the exam objectives, is essential for success. Earning the RHCE certification can be a significant milestone in your IT career, validating your expertise in Red Hat technologies.