EX405

Configuration Management with Puppet (EX405)

This exam is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and Red Hat Satellite 6.

According to Red Hat Training (at the time of writing), software versions used in the exam are Puppet Enterprise 3.6 and Satellite 6.1.

I passed EX405 Configuration Management with Puppet.

Study Points for the EX405 Exam

Candidates should be able to perform these tasks:

  1. Install and configure Puppet.
    1. Install Puppet servers.
    2. Install Puppet nodes.
    3. Register Puppet nodes to a Puppet server.
  2. Create and maintain Puppet manifests.
    1. Create new Puppet manifests.
    2. Debug existing Puppet manifests.
  3. Create Puppet modules.
    1. Create reusable modules.
    2. Create modules with classes, name spaces, variables, and conditionals.
    3. Create modules that install software on target nodes and deploy configuration files.
  4. Use facter to obtain system information.
    1. Create custom facts.
    2. Use facts to change Puppet behavior.
  5. Create Git repositories.
    1. Create and perform simple management of a Git repository.
    2. Add files to a Git repository.
    3. Apply changes and commit changed files to a Git repository.
  6. Implement Puppet in a Red Hat Satellite 6 environment.
    1. Create a Puppet repository on Red Hat Satellite.
    2. Install, configure, and deploy Puppet modules using Red Hat Satellite.
    3. Register Puppet clients to a Red Hat Satellite server.

As with all Red Hat performance-based exams, configurations must persist after restart without intervention.

Other Exam Related Topics

Install Katello on CentOS 7
Katello: Create Products, Repositories, Content Views, Lifecycle Environments, Activation Keys
Katello: Create a Domain, Subnet, Installation Media, OS, Provisioning Templates, Host Groups, PXE Boot
Katello: Working with Puppet Modules and Creating the Main Manifest
Katello: Separate Lifecycle for Puppet Modules

Red Hat Documents and Study Material

Red Hat Certificate of Expertise in Configuration Management with Puppet (EX405)

Red Hat Satellite 6.2 Release Notes (PDF)
Red Hat Satellite 6.2 Installation Guide (PDF) – install and configure a self-registered Satellite
Red Hat Satellite 6.2 Quick Start Guide (PDF) – configure life cycle environments, products, organisations, locations and other components
Red Hat Satellite 6.2 Provisioning Guide (PDF) – set up up a working provisioning environment
Red Hat Satellite 6.2 Puppet Guide (PDF) – build and import Puppet modules, configure Puppet agents and apply configuration

Red Hat Articles

Red Hat Satellite 6 and Puppet Enterprise Integration

Red Hat Videos

Puppetise Your Environment with Satellite 6

Other Documentation

Foreman – architecture and plugins: https://theforeman.org
Katello – installation and user guide: https://theforeman.org/plugins/katello
Puppet – module fundamentals, manifests, Hiera: https://docs.puppet.com

12 thoughts on “EX405”

    • I came up with some sample practice tasks that helped me to do labs, but all these were derived from the exam objectives really. I don’t have them published I’m afraid.

    • Nothing published on this site I’m afraid. I might compile and post my preparation material at some point, but don’t hold your breath.

      Good luck with your studies!

  3. @Tomas,
    If a person desires the RHCA , should he get all 5 exams in a 3 year window or the next exam extends the previous certificates’ validity ?

    Reply

  4. Tomas-
    Thanks for awesome contents for RHCSA/RHCE.
    Whats next for you? Are you working on getting RHCA?
    I would like to do RHCA but I am sure this is going to take atleast two years to knock out all 5 exams and very expensive cert if you are paying entire thing out of your pocket! Is RHCA worth it or going for AWS-DEV OPS better choice?!. I am in Linux/Middleware field and I thinking to do all three Associate Level AWS Cert and try to achieve AWS-DEV OPS Cert.

    Reply

    • Hi Joyal, thanks for getting in touch. I have no plans to pursue RHCA (at least for the time being), since it requires one passing 5 different exams. I’m however working on EX405 and EX436, but that’s because I use these technologies at work.

      My main focus is on OSCP, that’s something I wanted to do for a long time, but circumstances were in the way. I’ve started working on it, however, I’m not allowed to share any material, therefore no blog posts covering the studies will follow.

      Regards AWS, I took the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator course, it wasn’t anything special in my opinion, I’d suggest you take it if you need an AWS certification, or if you know nothing about AWS as it’s still somewhat useful, but probably not worth the time otherwise.

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