1.
Understanding Kubernetes Cluster Architecture
— Master node components: API server, etcd, scheduler, controller manager.
— Worker node components: kubelet, kube-proxy, container runtime.
2. Kubernetes Objects and Workloads
— Pods, Deployments, StatefulSets, DaemonSets, Jobs, CronJobs.
— Understand how to create, update, and maintain these workloads.
3. Networking in Kubernetes
— Pod networking concepts, CNI.
— Services and their types (ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer, ExternalName).
— Ingress controllers and Ingress resources.
4. Storage in Kubernetes
— Understand Persistent Volumes (PV), Persistent Volume Claims (PVC),
StorageClasses.
— ConfigMaps, Secrets for configuration and sensitive data.
5. Security in Kubernetes
— RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) — Roles, ClusterRoles, RoleBindings,
ClusterRoleBindings.
— Network Policies.
— Pod Security Policies.
6. Cluster Maintenance
— Cluster upgrade process.
— Backup and restore methodologies for Kubernetes and etcd.
7. Monitoring and Logging
— Basics of cluster-level logging and monitoring.
— Familiarize with tools like Prometheus and Grafana, ELK stack.
8. Troubleshooting
— Troubleshoot application failure.
— Troubleshoot control plane failure.
— Troubleshoot worker node failure.
— Troubleshoot networking.
Key kubectl Commands:
•`kubectl get pods/deployments/services -n namespace` — List
resources in a namespace.
- `kubectl describe pod/deployment — Get detailed info about a
resource.
- `kubectl create -f config.yaml` — Create resource from a YAML file.
- `kubectl apply -f config.yaml` — Apply changes from a YAML file.
- `kubectl delete pod/deployment — Delete a resource.
- `kubectl exec -it — Execute an interactive bash shell in the pod.
- `kubectl logs — Get logs from a pod.
- `kubectl port-forward pod/ 8080:80` — Port forward a local port to a
pod.
- `kubectl drain — Prepare a node for maintenance.
- `kubectl cordon/uncordon — Mark node as unschedulable/schedulable.
- `kubectl top node/pod` — Display resource (CPU/Memory) usage.
Kubernetes Commands and Syntax for CKA Exam
General Management
•kubectl get [resource]: List resources. For example, kubectl get pods.
•kubectl describe [resource] [name]: Show detailed information about a resource. For
example, kubectl describe pod my-pod.
Creating and Managing Resources
•kubectl create -f [file.yaml]: Create a resource from a YAML file.
•kubectl apply -f [file.yaml]: Apply a configuration to a resource from a YAML file.
•kubectl delete [resource] [name]: Delete a resource. For example, kubectl delete pod my-
pod.
•kubectl edit [resource] [name]: Edit the configuration of a resource.
Namespaces
•kubectl get namespaces: List all namespaces.
•kubectl create namespace [name]: Create a new namespace.
Pods
•kubectl run [name] --image=[image]: Run a pod with a specific image.
•kubectl exec -it [pod-name] -- [command]: Execute a command in a running pod.
Deployments and Replicas
•kubectl scale deployment [deployment-name] --replicas=[number]: Scale a deployment to
the specified number of replicas.
•kubectl rollout status deployment/[deployment-name]: Get the rollout status of a
deployment.
•kubectl rollout undo deployment/[deployment-name]: Rollback to the previous
deployment.
Services
•kubectl expose deployment [deployment-name] --type=[type] --port=[port]: Expose a
deployment as a new Kubernetes service.
Logs and Debugging
•kubectl logs [pod-name]: Fetch the logs of a pod.
•kubectl logs -f [pod-name]: Stream the logs of a pod.
Node Management
•kubectl get nodes: List all nodes in the cluster.
•kubectl cordon [node-name]: Mark node as unschedulable.
•kubectl drain [node-name]: Drain node in preparation for maintenance.
Resource Inspection
•kubectl top pod: Display metrics for pods.
•kubectl top node: Display metrics for nodes.
Configuration
•kubectl config view: View Kubernetes configuration.
•kubectl config use-context [context-name]: Switch to a different cluster context.
kubectl Cheat Sheet
•Kubernetes has an official kubectl cheat sheet which is an invaluable
resource: https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/cheatsheet/
Tips for Using kubectl Commands
•Understand Contexts: Know how to switch contexts if you’re working with
multiple clusters.
•Use YAML Files for Complex Configurations: While imperative commands are
useful, declarative configurations using YAML are more consistent and
repeatable.
•Explore kubectl Autocomplete: It can significantly speed up command entry.
•Remember Selectors: They are powerful for filtering results, especially
with get commands.
Exam Tips
- Read and understand the exam curriculum thoroughly.
- Practice with hands-on labs and real-world scenarios.
- Time management is crucial during the exam.
- Familiarize yourself with the Kubernetes documentation, which is
accessible during the exam.
