RedHat 135 course (Week 2)

MrAgent

So much like week 1, the day started with intros and just general talk about Linux experiences. Most of the people from this class were also in the week 1 class I attended 2 weeks ago. A lot of the other students seem to be having a hard time grasping concepts.

Day 1
So far, I have learned more than I did in week 1. A lot of command line tasks to complete. Most of the Linux experience I have is all through using ssh and the CLI. So this really isnt that difficult for me so far. We covered 4 chapters on day 1. I will break them down here.

Chapter 1 - Automated Installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux

• Create a kickstart file with system-config-kickstart
• Make the kickstart file available to installers
• Create boot media
• Point installer to a kick start file
• Modify a kickstart file

Chapter 2 - Accessing the command line

• Accessing the command line locally
• Accessing the command line using ssh

Chapter 3 - Intermediate command line tools

• Using hard links
• Archives and compression
• Intro to vim
• Basic vim workflow

Chapter 4 - Regular expressions, pipelines, and I/O redirection

• Basic regular expressions
• Using grep
• Pipelines and redirection

I had a little bit of a hard time with the IO redirection as there are SO many options. I hope there isnt much of that on the test, as it seems to be a weak point for me. More to come later.


Day 2

Day 2 went in depth in a few things. I feel like I learned some more as well as really solidified the concepts and objectives that are to be covered on the exam.

Chapter 5 - Network Configuration and troubleshooting

• Network configuration files
• Basic troubleshooting process
• Network troubleshooting tool kit

Chapter 6 - Managing simple partitions and file systems

• Adding file system space
• Encrypting partitions
• Adding swap space

Chapter 7 - Managing flexible storage with logical volume manager

• Review LVM concepts
• Implement LVM storage
• Grow a file system
• Add a disk
• Snapshot as backup

We only covered the 3 chapters on day 2, but it feels like so much was thrown at us. I feel that I am able to remember the tasks given to us, and feel that I will be able to conquor the EX200 exam on Friday.

Day 3

Chapter 8 - Accessing Network File Sharing Services.

• Mounting network shares
• Automount network shares
• NFS
• CIFS
• Using /net
• autofs

Chapter 9 - Managing User Accounts

• User definition
• Manage local users
• Password expiration
• Password policies
• /ect/passwd file

This seemed to be a pretty easy and straight forward chapter. Creating and managing users is a pretty simple concept, and I would imagine that anyone with any linux experience has done it.

Chapter 10 - Network Users Accounts with LDAP

• LDAP Client configuration
• Automounter metacharacters
• getent command
• Network mounting home directories
• autofs

Chapter 11 - Controlling access to files

• Managing groups
• Access control lists
• getfacl command
• setfacl command
• default acl's
• collaborative directory permissions

Chapter 12 - Managing SELinux

• Review basic SELinux concepts
• Displaying and setting SELinux modes
• Displaying and setting SELinux file contexts
• Tuning policy behavior with SELinux booleans
• Monitoring SELinux policy variations

The instructor quickly went over this chapter and flat out told us that this wasnt going to be on the exam. This was also the last topic of the day.

YuckTheFankees

Nice review so far and I agree with the IO redirection material..that's one of my weak areas as well.

MrAgent

Day 2 added

YuckTheFankees

The more info you give about the class, the more I want to take because I have the funds now...but I'm wondering if I should save the money and just self study for the exam.

MrAgent

I wouldnt be able to take this class if my company hadnt paid for it. I would recommend it if your company is willing to send you. Im getting a lot of out of this class. Hopefully I pass the exam on Friday, if not I will be self studying for the retake.

YuckTheFankees

I don't know if I've asked this question already, but how much Linux experience or knowledge did you have before starting the Red Hat courses?

MrAgent

I have some normal experience as far as a user. Meaning, I have compiled binaries... recompiled the kernel etc, but a lot of the normal administrator tasks they are giving us, I have never done. For instance, I havent ever had to setup volumes after the inital setup nor have I ever setup persistent mounts to a CIFS share. This is the kind of stuff I am learning. The stuff that an administrator should know.

YuckTheFankees

Did you pass?

MrAgent

Unfortuneatly not. I got a 185. Needed a 210. I made a few mistakes when reviewing after the exam. Ill pass next time. Retaking next month. ill post the rest of my review tomorrow. Just got back home.

YuckTheFankees

Sorry to hear that, but thanks for all the information regarding the Red Hat classes. Definitely let us know when you take the exam again.

YuckTheFankees

When you have a chance can you update the rest of this course? thanks

MrAgent

Day 3 added

YuckTheFankees

After taking the RhCSA exam..what are your thoughts on it and what area's were you weak in?(was the exam everything you expected?, were there a lot of area's not covered?)

MrAgent

The exam is exactly what I expected it to be. The funny thing is the time went by so fast during the exam, before I realized it I only had 5 minutes left! I am definitely weak in autofs and permissions. I definitely need to review them before I retake the exam next month. Everything that was on the exam was definitely covered in the class.

YuckTheFankees

How were the questions worded? I'm use to multiple choice exams..so I dont know what to expect for a lab based exam.

Are the questions like... Create a file named test1.txt and make it read-only to everyone?

MrAgent

There arent any questions, its all tasks.

Itll be something like

Create user 1
Add user 1 to group 1

Or find all files and list them in this file.

Pretty easy to understand. They arent trying to trick you.

YuckTheFankees

Oh nice, that does sound pretty straightforward.

10halec

Hey, how in depth was the test when it came to creating and configuring files systems and partitions? And was there any SELinux on the test after all?

MrAgent

I really cant say how in depth it went without breaking the NDA. Our instructor told us there was nothing on SELinux, and he was right.

10halec

Understandable, but its definitely something to study for?

MrAgent

Yes it definitely is.

onesaint

10halec wrote: »

Understandable, but its definitely something to study for?

Per the RHCSA exam objectives,

[h=4]Manage security[/h]

• Configure firewall settings using system-config-firewall or iptables.
• Set enforcing and permissive modes for SELinux.
• List and identify SELinux file and process context.
• Restore default file contexts.
• Use boolean settings to modify system SELinux settings.
• Diagnose and address routine SELinux policy violations.

Configure local storage

• List, create, delete, and set partition type for primary, extended, and logical partitions.
• Create and remove physical volumes, assign physical volumes to volume groups, and create and delete logical volumes.
• Create and configure LUKS-encrypted partitions and logical volumes to prompt for password and mount a decrypted file system at boot.
• Configure systems to mount file systems at boot by Universally Unique ID (UUID) or label.
• Add new partitions and logical volumes, and swap to a system non-destructively.

So, yeah, it's on the objectives and needs to be known.

YuckTheFankees

@MrAgent, Do you know when you're going to retake the exam?

AceRimmer

onesaint wrote: »

Per the RHCSA exam objectives,

So, yeah, it's on the objectives and needs to be known.

It's needed indirectly, just like KVM.
Let's say you want to share a file via ftp or http. If you copy file to the ftp/http root dir it should automatically inherit right SE Linux context. But if you move it, you'll need to correct context manually. So it depends.
Also, there are few bugs in SE Linux policy that one should be aware off and know workarounds. I think autofs service, and root password change in single user mode are affected.

MrAgent

YuckTheFankees wrote: »

@MrAgent, Do you know when you're going to retake the exam?

Yes, I am taking it on March 30th.

onesaint

10halec wrote: »

Hey, how in depth was the test when it came to creating and configuring files systems and partitions? And was there any SELinux on the test after all?

I came across this today and thought it might be of interest regarding SELinux.

Paranoid Penguin - Introduction to SELinux | Linux Journal

AceRimmer

official "RHEL6 SE Linux user guide" is more then enough, IMHO