The path to RHCE...

S

shadow_man

Executive Member
Joined
May 27, 2005
Messages
7,025
Reaction score
1,745
Location
Cape Town
Today I started studying towards my RHCE.

I put it off recently in order to gain my LPIC2 - which I've now done.

Exam dates in CPT seem to be rare, thus I opted to do the LPIC2 while I was waiting for an RHCE exam date.

I've now got a date of February the 9th - so i've got to start with some revision.

I guess i'm making this thread to:

a) keep myself accountable
b) share the experience with others
c) bug people with questions
 
 
Last edited:
Exam objectives (points I need to focus on / don't get daily exposure to bolded):


System configuration and management

Use network teaming or bonding to configure aggregated network links between two Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems.
Configure IPv6 addresses and perform basic IPv6 troubleshooting.
Route IP traffic and create static routes.
Use firewalld and associated mechanisms such as rich rules, zones and custom rules, to implement packet filtering and configure network address translation (NAT).
Configure a system to authenticate using Kerberos.
Configure a system as either an iSCSI target or initiator that persistently mounts an iSCSI target.
Produce and deliver reports on system utilization (processor, memory, disk, and network).
Use shell scripting to automate system maintenance tasks.

Network Services

Network services are an important subset of the exam objectives. RHCE candidates should be capable of meeting the following objectives for each of the network services listed below:

Install the packages needed to provide the service.
Configure SELinux to support the service.
Use SELinux port labelling to allow services to use non-standard ports.
Configure the service to start when the system is booted.
Configure the service for basic operation.
Configure host-based and user-based security for the service.

HTTP/HTTPS

Configure a virtual host.
Configure access restrictions on directories.
Deploy a basic CGI application.
Configure group-managed content.
Configure TLS security.

DNS

Configure a caching-only name server.
Troubleshoot DNS client issues.

NFS

Provide network shares to specific clients.
Provide network shares suitable for group collaboration.
Use Kerberos to control access to NFS network shares.

SMB

Provide network shares to specific clients.
Provide network shares suitable for group collaboration.

SMTP

Configure a system to forward all email to a central mail server.

SSH

Configure key-based authentication.
Configure additional options described in documentation.

NTP

Synchronize time using other NTP peers.

Database Services

Install and configure MariaDB.
Backup and restore a database.
Create a simple database schema.
Perform simple SQL queries against a database.

https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/ex300-red-hat-certified-engineer-rhce-exam
 
Last edited:
First hiccup.

I've got 2x server (Server 1 and 2)

* Server 2 has ipa-server installed and is setup for IDM
* I can use kinit admin and confirm all is working

* Server 1 connects to Server 2.
* Server 1 setup to connect to Server 2 via authconfig-tui.
* Server 1 CAN connect to server 2. I can see this when I do a kinit admin or kinit testuser as I can auth as these users.

BUT

If I try and do a su - testuser on server 1 I get told user doesn't exist, despite confirming that it does via kinit.

I'm guessing i'm doing something wrong - just need to figure out what.
 
Last edited:
Figured it out. I was missing a package on server 1 (the client side):

I can now query a test user I created on server 2.

Code: 
[root@server1 ~]# yum install -y ipa-client

[root@server1 ~]# ipa-client-install --enable-dns-updates

[root@server1 ~]# getent passwd lisa
lisa:*:1014400001:1014400001:lisa jones:/home/lisa:/bin/sh

[root@server1 ~]# su - lisa
-sh-4.2$ exit
 
Last edited:
I haven't posted in a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy - so I figured i'd update my progress:

I'm about 40%-50% done with Sander Van Vugt's video series:

https://www.safaribooksonline.com/library/view/learning-path-red/9780134664057/

I should hopefully finish it next week and then i'll have 2 months to lab the work / reference other material.

Nothing is terribly challenging - its just going to come down to TIME / knowing the exact syntax off the top of my head or knowing where to find it without wasting time.

So far I've tackled:

------------------------------------------------
Module 1: Advanced System Management
VIDEO'S: 002 - 010
------------------------------------------------

COMMENTS: Doesn't look like ipa-server setup will be done in the RHCE exam.

------------------------------------------------------
Module 2: Configuring iSCSI Target and Initiator
VIDEO'S: 011 - 018
------------------------------------------------------

COMMENTS: Looks like this will definitely be a big task in the exam. I need to get memorize it better.

-----------------------------------------------
Module 3: System Performance Reporting
VIDEO'S: 019 - 028
-----------------------------------------------

COMMENTS: No issues - looks like its just iostat / top / vmstat / sar. Nothing new here.

-------------------------------------------
Module 4: System Optimization Basics
VIDEO'S: 029 - 039
-------------------------------------------

COMMENTS: Using proc / sysctl to customize system. Nothing new here.

-------------------------------------
Module 5: Configuring Logging
VIDEO'S: 040 - 046
-------------------------------------

Comments: Use journald / rsyslogd to log centrally. Nothing new here.

--------------------------------------------------
Module 6: Configuring Advanced Networking
VIDEO'S: 047 - 059
--------------------------------------------------

Comments: Use of bonding / teaming - lots of commands to memorize! Nmcli is pretty damn verbose on input.

--------------------------------------------------
Module 7: Managing Linux-Based Firewalls
VIDEO'S: 060 - 070
--------------------------------------------------

Comments: Need to adjust to firewalld over iptables. In RHCE you MAY NOT make use of iptables and will fail if you do.

--------------------------------------------------
Module 8: Configuring Apache Virtual Hosts
VIDEO'S: 071 - 080
--------------------------------------------------

Comments: Normal Apache - nothing new here - not sure if they'll let you use an alternative like NGINX in the exam.
 
morkhans said:
Thanks for sharing, may get round to doing this one day :p
Click to expand...

I've been putting it off long enough so I figured i'd give it a go! :D It's not all that hard, just damn time consuming.

So far i've made it about 75% of the way through the video series. I should finish it and start labbing by next week. I can then get about 2 months of labbing in before I write, which should be more than sufficient.

The real issue after RHCE is the 5 exams it takes to get to architect. Not only does it become pricey (need to travel - flights, food, accommodation etc), it also time consuming - you basically need to get all 5 within 3 years, or some of them lapse and you need to restart the process...
 
I've been studying all day and finally I finished Sander's video series on RHCE.

Some thoughts on the remaining chapters:

------------------------------------------------------
Module 9: Managing Advanced Apache Features
VIDEO'S: 081 - 089
------------------------------------------------------

htpasswd stuff
python / php / perl / db configs

Easy enough - just need to remember syntax

-------------------------------------------------------
Module 10: Configuring a Cache Only DNS Server
VIDEO'S: 090 - 100
-------------------------------------------------------

Easy - caching only server.
Bind or Unbound only.

----------------------------------------------
Module 11: Configuring NFS File Sharing
VIDEO'S: 101 - 112
----------------------------------------------

NFS - easy, gets a bit tricky when you need to start adding in Kerberos.

-------------------------------------------
Module 12: Managing SMB File Sharing
VIDEO'S: 113 - 124
-------------------------------------------

Easy - lots of sample default config to re-use.
Only issue is adding in SELinux.

-------------------------------------------
Module 13: Setting up an SMTP Server
VIDEO'S: 125 - 135
-------------------------------------------

Easy - relay mail server / null client only.

-------------------------------------------
Module 14: Managing SSH
VIDEO'S: 136 - 145
-------------------------------------------

Easy - usage of SSH keys / some forwarding and some sshd config items like X11 forwarding

-------------------------------------------
Module 15: Managing MariaDB
VIDEO'S: 146 - 154
-------------------------------------------

Easy - Installation / db creation - need to be able to create a basic db and fill it with sample info. Logical backup / restore via mysqldump.

-------------------------------------------
Module 16: Managing Time Services
VIDEO'S: 155 - 160
-------------------------------------------

Easy - connect to NTP server / peers and use chronyd

-------------------------------------------
Module 17: Shell Scripting
VIDEO'S: 161 - 171
-------------------------------------------

I want to spend more time on bash - my scripting isn't great

--

That's all the video's done - now to start labbing...
 
Start .....

jsheed_sa said:
I've been studying all day and finally I finished Sander's video series on RHCE.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this and taking the time and effort to put it out there ( here )

Do you perhaps have something similar for LPIC 1 -- ie just getting started
First off what you are actually meant to study and know ? ( detailed course curriculum )
What books
What sort of lab hardware
What websites

Preferably as expensive as the OS software :D
 
MidnightWizard said:
Thanks for this and taking the time and effort to put it out there ( here )

Do you perhaps have something similar for LPIC 1 -- ie just getting started
First off what you are actually meant to study and know ? ( detailed course curriculum )
What books
What sort of lab hardware
What websites

Preferably as expensive as the OS software :D
Click to expand...

Honestly, LPI sucks. It's too generic, the exams focus on things like IP addressing and printer setups instead of actual linux. The exams are multiple choice and you are supposed to know the exact command to the T and they will throw in similar ones as well. They claim oh we aren't trying to trick you in your exam, but why the hell would you put in two almost identical commands in the test?
The LPI courses are practical, but the exams aren't? What is in the book doesn't cover what the exams expect, even if it's LPI 1, I don't setup printer servers at all, a good portion of the on exam was just that??
The redhat courses are practical, the exam is practical and it's better as you get objectives to do, you don't have to do it a specific way, as long as the results are what they wanted.
 
MidnightWizard said:
Thanks for this and taking the time and effort to put it out there ( here )

Do you perhaps have something similar for LPIC 1 -- ie just getting started
First off what you are actually meant to study and know ? ( detailed course curriculum )
What books
What sort of lab hardware
What websites

Preferably as expensive as the OS software :D
Click to expand...

LPIC1 Curriculum:
---------------------

http://www.lpi.org/our-certifications/exam-101-objectives
http://www.lpi.org/our-certifications/exam-102-objectives

Books:
--------

No idea - I tend to prefer videos and then Google if I don't understand anything in the videos. I find it an easier medium to follow.

Video:
--------

I'm partial to Sander van Vugt's video's. I find them easy to follow and the material is good.

https://www.safaribooksonline.com/library/view/comptia-linux/9780134426365/

PRO TIP: you can sign up for a 7 day trial - watch videos and when it expires just rinse and repeat with a new email account.

Lab hardware:
-----------------

A pc and some form of virtualization e.g. virtualbox or vmware player / workstation - some Linux ISO's and an internet connection is all you need.

Websites:
------------

Google, Reddit, CertDepot, Lisenet, Rootnerds, Tecmint - these are just a few I make use of for Linux related studies.

===

All that being said I would give LPI a miss unless you're really new to Linux. I find Red Hat exams to offer way more value and application in the real world.
 
Last edited:
Picking this up again and hitting the labs some more.

Exam's on the 24th of Feb so I need to get some good hours in now.

A big concern is what version of RHEL they'll use in the exam 7.0 / 7.1 / 7.2? Each release has some different syntax for NFS / bonding and teaming / LDAP - so its probably going to require practicing these setups across multiple sub releases.
 
Writing on Friday - feeling a bit nervous, but so far I feel i've got most of it covered - unless they throw a curve ball anywhere ;)
 
ghostim said:
Good luck.

Have do Suse SLE soon.
Click to expand...

Good luck with that.

I'm going upgrade my SUSE CLA > SUSE CLP via the RH partnership thing SUSE have going.

They'll recognize the RHCE and grant you a SUSE CLP (if you already have the SUSE CLA and an RHCE) if you write a little bridging exam - recognition of prior learning and all that.
 
Last edited:
I did the SUSE CLA 11 a while back. Got offered a free upgrade via their partner program, so will be doing CLA 12 soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X