Master pod-level debugging, container log analysis, kubectl exec techniques, and ephemeral containers - essential skills for resolving application issues in the CKA exam's highest-weighted troubleshooting domain.
Master systematic cluster troubleshooting for node issues, control plane debugging, certificate problems, and etcd health checks - essential skills for the CKA exam's highest-weighted domain.
Every application needs configuration—database endpoints, feature flags, API keys, TLS certificates. Kubernetes provides ConfigMaps for non-sensitive configuration data and Secrets for sensitive information like passwords and tokens. Understanding the distinction between these resources and the various consumption patterns (environment variables, volume mounts, projected volumes) is essential for the CKA exam's Storage domain (10% weight) and production Kubernetes operations.
The key insight: ConfigMaps and Secrets decouple configuration from container images, enabling the same image to run across development, staging, and production with different configurations. This pattern is fundamental to cloud-native applications and the Twelve-Factor App methodology. Modern Kubernetes (2025) adds immutability for ConfigMaps/Secrets, enhanced encryption options, and improved integration with external secret management systems.
While ConfigMaps store arbitrary key-value pairs, Secrets provide a specialized resource with base64 encoding (not encryption!), RBAC integration, and memory-backed storage options. Understanding when to use environment variables versus volume mounts, how to leverage projected volumes, and the security implications of each approach is critical for production deployments.
Extend Kubernetes functionality with CustomResourceDefinitions and the Operator pattern
CustomResourceDefinitions (CRDs) allow you to extend the Kubernetes API with custom resource types, enabling you to treat domain-specific objects as native Kubernetes resources. Operators combine CRDs with custom controllers to automate complex application management tasks using Kubernetes-native patterns. For the CKA exam, you'll need to inspect existing CRDs, understand their structure, query custom resources, and troubleshoot CRD-related issues. This guide covers CRD anatomy, version management, validation, and practical operator concepts to help you master Kubernetes extensibility.
CKA Exam Relevance: Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25% of exam weight)
Master kubectl for CKA exam success. Learn imperative commands for speed, output formats for precision, and productivity patterns that save critical exam minutes.
Deep dive into Kubernetes cluster architecture, control plane components, and the distributed systems design that powers container orchestration at scale.
Master Kubernetes DNS resolution and service discovery with CoreDNS. Learn DNS patterns, troubleshooting techniques, and advanced configuration strategies essential for the CKA exam and production Kubernetes environments.
Master Kubernetes workload controllers for production-grade application management. Learn deployment strategies, rolling updates, rollback procedures, and the complete controller hierarchy essential for CKA exam success.
Simplify application deployment with charts, releases, and templating
Helm is the de facto package manager for Kubernetes, enabling you to define, install, and upgrade complex applications using reusable packages called charts. For the CKA exam, you'll need to understand Helm's architecture, work with charts and releases, troubleshoot deployments, and use Helm commands effectively. This guide covers Helm 3 fundamentals, chart structure, templating with values, release management, and practical troubleshooting techniques to help you master Kubernetes application packaging.
CKA Exam Relevance: Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25% of exam weight)
In production Kubernetes environments, managing external access to your services is critical. While Services handle internal cluster networking, Ingress provides sophisticated HTTP/HTTPS routing from the outside world. This guide covers everything you need to know for the CKA exam and production deployments, including the modern Gateway API that's reshaping Kubernetes networking in 2025.
Imagine running 50 microservices in your cluster. Without Ingress, you'd need 50 LoadBalancer Services—each with its own expensive cloud load balancer and public IP address. That's not just costly; it's operationally nightmarish.
Ingress solves this by providing:
For the CKA exam, you'll need to demonstrate hands-on competency with Ingress resources, troubleshoot misconfigurations, and understand controller selection. In production, mastering Ingress means the difference between elegant traffic management and a tangled mess of load balancers.
The landscape is evolving. While traditional Ingress remains the standard (and what's tested on the CKA), the Gateway API represents Kubernetes networking's future—offering role-oriented design, better extensibility, and more expressive routing rules. Understanding both is essential for modern Kubernetes practitioners.