Learn, prepare, and practice for Red Hat RHCE 8 EX294 exam success with this Cert Guide from Pearson IT Certification, a leader in IT certification learning. * Master RHCE 8 EX294 exam topics * Assess your knowledge with chapter-ending quizzes * Review key concepts with step-by-step exercises, code examples, and complete labs after every chapter, designed to closely resemble the exam * Practice with realistic exam questions from four full practice exams: two printed in the book and two more on the companion website * Supplement your learning with an hour of video mentoring Red Hat RHCE 8 (EX294) Cert Guide is the authoritative exam study guide. Leading Red Hat and Linux consultant, trainer, and author Sander van Vugt walks you through the RHCE EX 294 objectives so you have a full study resource. He shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding, retention of exam topics, and hands-on practice so you can feel ready to take the exam. The book presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending Exam Preparation Tasks help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly. Review questions help you assess your knowledge, and a final preparation chapter guides you through tools and resources to help you craft your final study plan. The end of chapter labs are an essential part of learning each topic and cover each chapter's key concepts so you can test yourself and put your knowledge to work. The companion website contains two additional practice exams, flashcards that test you on the glossary terms in the book, an hour of video mentoring from the author, and study resources. Well regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this study guide helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time. The study guide helps you master all the topics on the RHCE 8 exam, including * Understanding configuration management * Installing Ansible and setting up managed environments * Using ad hoc commands * Getting started with playbooks * Working with variables and facts * Using task control * Deploying files * Using Ansible roles * Using Ansible in large environments * Troubleshooting Ansible * Managing software with Ansible * Managing users, processes, tasks, and storage

Table of Contents:
Introduction xxii Part I: Introduction to Ansible Chapter 1 Understanding Configuration Management 3 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 3 Foundation Topics 6 Understanding Automation 6     What Is Automation? 6     Understanding the DevOps Way of Working 7     Understanding Infrastructure as Code 8     Other Automation Solutions 8 Understanding Ansible Essential Components 9     Ansible Is Python 9     Ansible Architecture 9     Understanding Ansible Tower 10     Understanding the Ansible Way 11 Understanding Ansible Use Cases 11     Using Ansible for Configuration Management 11     Using Ansible for Provisioning 12     Using Ansible for Continuous Delivery 12 Summary 12 Exam Preparation Tasks 12 Review All Key Topics 12 Define Key Terms 13 Chapter 2 Installing Ansible 15 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 15 Foundation Topics 18 Understanding an Ansible Environment 18 Understanding Controller Host Requirements 20 Understanding Installation Methods 20     Installing Ansible on RHEL 8 21     Installing Ansible on CentOS 8 21     Using python-pip to Install Ansible 21 Configuring Managed Hosts 22 Configuring the Ansible User 23     Setting Up SSH for the Ansible User 23     Configuring sudo for the Ansible User 25 Summary 26 Exam Preparation Tasks 26 Review All Key Topics 26 Memory Tables 27 Define Key Terms 27 Review Questions 27 End-of-Chapter Lab 28 Chapter 3 Setting Up an Ansible Managed Environment 31 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 31 Foundation Topics 34 Understanding Projects 34 Configuring Static Inventory 35     Listing Hosts 35     Inventory Host Groups 36     Using Inventory in Commands 37     Specifying Host Variables 38 Working with Dynamic Inventory 39     Working with Community-Provided Dynamic Inventory Scripts 39     Writing Your Own Inventory Scripts 40     Using Multiple Inventory Files 42 Managing Settings in ansible.cfg 42 Summary 44 Exam Preparation Tasks 44 Review All Key Topics 44 Memory Tables 44 Define Key Terms 44 Review Questions 45 End-of-Chapter Lab 45 Chapter 4 Using Ad Hoc Commands 47 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 47 Foundation Topics 50 Understanding Ad Hoc Commands 50 Working with Modules 53     Exploring Essential Modules 54         command 54         shell 55         raw 55         copy 55         yum 56         service 56         ping 56     Browsing Available Modules 58 Consulting Module Documentation 58     Using ansible-doc 58     Using https://docs.ansible.com 62 Running Ad Hoc Commands from Shell Scripts 64 Summary 66 Exam Preparation Tasks 66 Review All Key Topics 66 Memory Tables 66 Define Key Terms 66 Review Questions 67 End-of-Chapter Lab 67 Chapter 5 Getting Started with Playbooks 69 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 69 Foundation Topics 72 Exploring Your First Playbook 72     From Ad Hoc Commands to Playbook 72     Playbook Elements 73     Running the Playbook 74     Undoing Playbook Modifications 75 Working with YAML 77     Indentation 77     Using Key-Value Pairs 78     Understanding YAML Lists 79     Using YAML Strings 79     Verifying Syntax 80     Performing a Playbook Dry Run 81 Managing Multiplay Playbooks 83     Multiplay Playbook Considerations 83     Multiplay Playbook Example 84     Increasing Output Verbosity 86 Summary 92 Exam Preparation Tasks 92 Review All Key Topics 93 Memory Tables 93 Define Key Terms 93 Review Questions 93 End-of-Chapter Lab 94 Chapter 6 Working with Variables and Facts 97 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 97 Foundation Topics 100 Understanding the Use of Variables in Ansible Playbooks 100 Working with Ansible Facts 101     Gathering Facts 102     Understanding How Facts Are Displayed 104     Managing Fact Gathering 108     Working with Custom Facts 109 Working with Variables 111     Defining Variables 112     Using Include Files 112     Managing Host and Group Variables 113     Using Multivalued Variables 115     Working with Magic Variables 117     Understanding Variable Precedence 119 Using Vault to Manage Sensitive Values 119     Understanding Vault 119     Managing Encrypted Files 120     Using Vault in Playbooks 120     Managing Files with Sensitive Variables 121 Capturing Command Output Using register 122 Summary 125 Exam Preparation Tasks 125 Review All Key Topics 125 Memory Tables 125 Define Key Terms 126 Review Questions 126 End-of-Chapter Labs 126 Part II: Common Ansible Management Tasks Chapter 7 Using Task Control 131 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 131 Foundation Topics 134 Using Loops and Items 134     Working with Loops 134     Using Loops on Variables 135     Using Loops on Multivalued Variables 136     Understanding with_items 137 Using when to Run Tasks Conditionally 139     Working with when 139     Using Conditional Test Statements 141     Testing Multiple Conditions 144     Combining loop and when 145     Combining loop and register 147 Using Handlers 149     Working with Handlers 149     Understanding Handler Execution and Exceptions 154 Dealing with Failures 156     Understanding Task Execution 156     Managing Task Errors 156     Specifying Task Failure Conditions 158     Managing Changed Status 161     Using Blocks 163     Using Blocks with rescue and always Statements 164 Summary 169 Exam Preparation Tasks 169 Review All Key Topics 169 Memory Tables 170 Define Key Terms 170 Review Questions 170 End-of-Chapter Lab 171 Chapter 8 Deploying Files 173 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 173 Foundation Topics 176 Using Modules to Manipulate Files 176     File Module Manipulation Overview 176     Managing File Attributes 176     Managing File Contents 180     Creating and Removing Files 182     Moving Files Around 183 Managing SELinux Properties 187     Managing SELinux File Context 188     Applying Generic SELinux Management Tasks 189 Using Jinja2 Templates 194     Working with Simple Templates 194     Applying Control Structures in Jinja2 Using for 197     Using Conditional Statements with if 198     Using Filters 198 Summary 200 Exam Preparation Tasks 200 Review All Key Topics 200 Memory Tables 201 Define Key Terms 201 Review Questions 201 Exercise Answers 201 End-of-Chapter Labs 202 Chapter 9 Using Ansible Roles 205 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 205 Foundation Topics 208 Using Ansible Roles 208     Understanding Ansible Roles 208     Understanding Role Location 209     Using Roles from Playbooks 210     Creating Custom Roles 210     Managing Role Dependencies 213     Understanding File Organization Best Practices 213 Using Ansible Galaxy Roles 214     Working with Galaxy 215     Using the ansible-galaxy Command 216     Managing Ansible Galaxy Roles 218 Using RHEL System Roles 219     Understanding RHEL System Roles 220     Installing RHEL System Roles 220     Using the RHEL SELinux System Role 221     Using the RHEL TimeSync System Role 224 Summary 225 Exam Preparation Tasks 225 Review All Key Topics 226 Memory Tables 226 Define Key Terms 226 Review Questions 226 End-of-Chapter Labs 227 Chapter 10 Using Ansible in Large Environments 229 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 229 Foundation Topics 232 Advanced Inventory Usage 232     Working with Host Name Patterns 232     Configuring Dynamic Inventory 233     Using the ansible-inventory Command 235     Working with Multiple Inventory Files 236 Optimizing Ansible Processing 237     Managing Parallel Task Execution 237     Managing Serial Task Execution 238 Including and Importing Files 239     Importing Playbooks 240     Importing and Including Task Files 242     Using Variables When Importing and Including Files 243 Summary 247 Exam Preparation Tasks 247 Review All Key Topics 248 Define Key Terms 248 Review Questions 248 End-of-Chapter Lab 249 Chapter 11 Troubleshooting Ansible 251 “Do I Know this Already?” Quiz 251 Foundation Topics 254 Managing Ansible Errors and Logs 254     Using Check Mode 254     Understanding Output 256     Optimizing Command Output Error Formatting 259     Logging to Files 259     Running Task by Task 260 Using Modules for Troubleshooting and Testing 263     Using the Debug Module 263     Using the uri Module 263     Using the stat Module 265     Using the assert Module 268 Using Tags 271 Troubleshooting Common Scenarios 275     Analyzing Connectivity Issues 275     Analyzing Authentication Issues 276 Summary 277 Exam Preparation Tasks 277 Review All Key Topics 278 Memory Tables 278 Define Key Terms 278 Review Questions 278 End-of-Chapter Lab 279 Part III: Managing Systems with Ansible Chapter 12 Managing Software with Ansible 281 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 281 Foundation Topics 284 Using Modules to Manage Packages 284     Configuring Repository Access 284     Managing Software with yum 285     Managing Package Facts 287 Using Modules to Manage Repositories and Subscriptions 289     Setting Up Repositories 290     Managing GPG Keys 291     Managing RHEL Subscriptions 292 Implementing a Playbook to Manage Software 297 Summary 301 Exam Preparation Tasks 302 Review All Key Topics 302 Memory Tables 302 Define Key Terms 302 Review Questions 302 End-of-Chapter Labs 303 Chapter 13 Managing Users 305 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 305 Foundation Topics 308 Using Ansible Modules to Manage Users and Groups 308     Modules Overview 308     Managing Users and Groups 308     Managing sudo 309 Managing SSH Connections 313     Understanding SSH Connection Management Requirements 313     Using the Lookup Plug-in 314     Setting Up SSH User Keys 314 Managing Encrypted Passwords 319     Understanding Encrypted Passwords 319     Generating Encrypted Passwords 319     Using an Alternative Approach 321 Managing Users Advanced Scenario Exercise 323 Summary 329 Exam Preparation Tasks 330 Review All Key Topics 330 Memory Tables 330 Define Key Terms 330 Review Questions 330 End-of-Chapter Lab 331 Chapter 14 Managing Services and the Boot Process 333 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 333 Foundation Topics 336 Managing Services 336     Managing Systemd Services 336     Managing cron Jobs 337     Managing at Jobs 338 Managing the Boot Process 341     Managing Systemd Targets 341     Rebooting Managed Hosts 342 Managing the Boot Process and Services Advanced Exercise 344 Summary 346 Exam Preparation Tasks 346 Review All Key Topics 346 Memory Tables 347 Define Key Terms 347 Review Questions 347 End-of-Chapter Lab 348 Chapter 15 Managing Storage 351 “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 351 Foundation Topics 354 Discovering Storage-Related Facts 354     Using Storage-Related Facts 354     Using Storage-Related Facts in Conditional Statements 357 Managing Partitions and LVM 364     Creating Partitions 364     Managing Volume Groups and LVM Logical Volumes 366     Creating and Mounting File Systems 367     Configuring Swap Space 368 Configuring Storage Advanced Exercise 371 Summary 379 Exam Preparation Tasks 380 Review All Key Topics 380 Memory Tables 380 Define Key Terms 380 Review Questions 380 End-of-Chapter Lab 381 Chapter 16 Final Preparation 383 Generic Tips 383     Verifying Your Readiness 383     Registering for the Exam 384     On Exam Day 384         During the Exam 385         The Nondisclosure Agreement 386 Part IV: Practice Exams Practice Exam A 387 Practice Exam B 391 Part V: Appendixes Appendix A Answers to the “Do I Know This Already?” Quizzes and Review Questions 395 Appendix B Getting Started with Ansible Tower 415 Appendix C Red Hat RHCE 8 (EX294) Cert Guide Exam Updates 431 Glossary 433 Online Elements: Practice Exam C Practice Exam D Appendix D Memory Tables Appendix E Memory Tables Answer Key Appendix F Study Planner Glossary 9780136872436   TOC   8/25/2020