For those planning a career in DevOps and cloud computing, learning about Red Hat OpenShift could prove very beneficial. OpenShift is an infrastructure that is used in developing, deploying, managing, and scaling applications. Of course, it is natural to question whether this technology is hard to learn.
It is true that OpenShift might appear hard to learn, especially if you fail to have an organized learning strategy. There are many things to learn and understand, but there is no need to know everything. Starting off with the basics of Linux, learning about containers and Kubernetes, and being consistent with practice will go a long way towards making your task easier. With the right strategy, OpenShift training for beginners could serve you well in acquiring the knowledge you need to become good with the technology.
Training for Novices: What to Know about OpenShift
This platform is based on Kubernetes and provides you with the set of tools for deployment and management of containerized applications. It is helpful in the management of applications, security, automation and resource management. When you are learning this platform for the first time, then you are likely to encounter with such concepts as pods, deployments, services, routes, projects and clusters.
These concepts have their own meaning. Pods host containers of your application, deployments manage the instances of your application, services connect components of your application. Projects help you to organize related resources. You do not have to remember all these definitions at once. You should just give some time to the study of the architecture of this platform. Once you will understand the lifecycle of your application in this platform, then all these definitions will be clear for you.
Step One: Learn Linux
It is good to be aware of Linux before you start using OpenShift platform because administrative tasks imply the working with command line interface. Start with performing of the basic tasks in Linux such as navigation of the directory tree, file management and management of users' accounts and their permissions, management of processes, packages, services, storage and networking.
You do not have to become the senior Linux administrator in order to continue your learning process. You should only know how to inspect the system and how to detect some basic problems. If you are the novice system administrator, then RHCSA Online Course will be helpful for you.
Step Two: Learn Containers and Kubernetes
After Linux, you can continue your learning process with learning containers. Containers are technologies which package your application with required components and ensure the same behavior in different environments. Learn the definition of container images, starting of containers and the interaction of applications with other services.
Next, you should learn basics of Kubernetes. Learn pods, nodes, clusters, deployments and services in order to understand the coordination of container workload. Once you will understand these basics, then you will understand the work of OpenShift platform better.
Step Three: Explore OpenShift Platform
After you will cover the basics, then you can start learning of the OpenShift platform. Try to learn how to work with the console and command line interface (CLI) of OpenShift platform. Learn how to create projects, deploy applications, analyze the status of pods, configure services and expose applications via routes. Also, you can start the gradual exploration of the image management, application building and resource allocation.
Try to perform these actions via console and CLI. It will help you to understand the relationship between the visual interface and commands which are used by administrators. Good OpenShift training does not mean memorization of long command lines. It means understanding of what each command does, why this or that resource is needed and how all parts of application interact with each other.
Step Four: Perform Hands-On Projects
Guides and videos can give you the understanding of the platform, but practice is the best way to gain useful skills. Prepare your learning environment and start with deployment of the small application. Deploy this application, analyze its pods, configure its services and manage resources of this application.
Once you will become familiar with these actions, then you can continue with more complicated tasks. Practice the work with persistent storage, user permissions, security options and failed deployments. For example, try to find the reason of failure of a pod or inability of an application to connect to a service. Analyze logs and information about resources before making any changes. Mistakes are the natural part of the process, however, the ability to analyze the reasons of mistakes is the good administrative skill.
Step Five: Find the Best Structured Learning Program
It is possible to learn this technology by yourself, but moving from tutorial to tutorial can lead to the gaps in your knowledge. The planned course will help you to cover the material in the proper sequence and to spend enough time on exercises. In order to choose the best OpenShift online training among existing ones, pay attention to the platform architecture, cluster administration, application deployment, networking, storage, security and troubleshooting.
You can prefer the courses which include the practical labs and the opportunity to repeat the exercises independently. The assistance of a trainer can be helpful in case of encountering with difficulties, but you should also have enough time to solve exercises by yourself. The goal of this training is the understanding of how to use each concept in practice, not just completion of lessons.
Step Six: Preparing for Certification
After gaining enough practical experience, you will be able to prove your knowledge by means of Red Hat certification. EX280 exam relates to Red Hat Certified OpenShift Administrator certification and checks your practical administration skills. The process of preparation should consist of working with resources, application configuration and handling administrative cases.
The OpenShift certification course will be very helpful for covering exam objectives, practicing the tasks and identifying weak spots in your knowledge. Make sure you can perform key tasks in the lab independently before signing up for the exam. Gaining the OpenShift certification will be beneficial for your CV, and your practical skills will be useful in daily work.
How Long Does It Take to Learn OpenShift?
It depends on your experience and how often you practice. The experienced Linux, networking and Kubernetes administrator will understand this technology quicker than the beginner in these fields. With regular practice, you will get the idea of this platform in a couple of weeks, but it will take more time to become the skilled administrator.
Consider OpenShift training and certification as the process of learning, not as the race to the exam. Set reasonable goals, come back to difficult topics and practice regularly in the lab. You will be able to evaluate the progress when you will be able to perform tasks independently and explain your decisions.
Conclusion
Is OpenShift hard to learn? Initially, this topic may seem complicated because it includes Linux, containers, Kubernetes and application management. However, this topic is becoming simpler when you divide the learning process into steps. Start with the learning of Linux, then learn containers and Kubernetes, investigate the interface of OpenShift and practice administrative tasks.
It is not necessary to know everything from the start. Be curious, provide enough time to regular practice and consider mistakes as the chance to develop your troubleshooting skills. With regular learning routine, beginners can learn OpenShift technology.
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