KNZLABS :: RHCSA v9 Objectives

RHCSA v9 (EX200) — Objectives Reference

Source: Red Hat's published EX200 objective list. Original wording paraphrased

for KNZLABS internal use; no Red Hat exam content reproduced.

Domain 1 — Understand and Use Essential Tools

• Access a shell prompt; use editors; pipe + redirect; locate files; archive/compress; create/use hard + soft links; standard input/output streams; regex/grep; SSH; useful system docs (man, info, /usr/share/doc).
• **Lab:** Implicitly exercised across all labs.

Domain 2 — Create Simple Shell Scripts

• Conditional execution (if/case); loop constructs (for/while); processing CLI args; standard exit codes.
• **Lab:** Embedded in graders themselves — read them.

Domain 3 — Operate Running Systems

• Boot, reboot, shutdown; boot into different targets; interrupt boot to gain root; identify CPU/memory-bound processes; locate/read log files; access VMs/containers consoles; serve via systemd timers; configure email forwarding.
• **Lab:** lab07 (cron/timers), lab10 (boot, default target, recovery).

Domain 4 — Configure Local Storage

• List/create/delete partitions on MBR + GPT; create + delete physical volumes; assign PVs to volume groups; create + delete logical volumes; configure systems to mount file systems at boot by UUID or label; add new partitions/LVs + swap non-destructively.
• **Lab:** lab05.

Domain 5 — Create and Configure File Systems

• Create, mount, unmount, use vfat/ext4/xfs; mount/unmount network file systems with NFS; extend existing logical volumes; create + configure set-GID directories; diagnose + correct permissions; manage Stratis storage.
• **Lab:** lab05, lab06.

Domain 6 — Deploy, Configure, and Maintain Systems

• Schedule tasks (at, cron); start/stop services and configure auto-start; modify service config to start non-default; configure systems to boot to specific target automatically; install RHEL automatically with Kickstart; configure time sync; install + update packages from Red Hat / local; modify bootloader.
• **Lab:** lab03 (services), lab07 (cron/at/tuned), lab10 (target, bootloader).

Domain 7 — Manage Basic Networking

• Configure IPv4/IPv6 addresses; configure hostname resolution; restrict network access using firewalld.
• **Lab:** lab03 (firewalld), lab08 (NetworkManager, IPs, hostname).

Domain 8 — Manage Users and Groups

• Create, delete, modify local user accounts; change passwords + adjust password aging; create, delete, modify local groups + group memberships; configure superuser access.
• **Lab:** lab01.

Domain 9 — Manage Security

• Configure firewall settings using firewall-cmd/firewalld; manage default file permissions; configure key-based SSH; set + view ACLs; set enforcing/permissive modes for SELinux; list + identify file/process SELinux contexts; restore default file contexts; manage SELinux booleans; diagnose+address routine SELinux policy violations.
• **Lab:** lab02 (ACLs, default perms), lab03 (firewall), lab04 (SELinux).

Domain 10 — Manage Containers

• Find + retrieve container images from a remote registry; inspect container images; perform container management using podman; perform basic container management with skopeo + buildah; run a service inside a container; configure a container to start automatically as a systemd service; attach persistent storage to a container.
• **Lab:** lab09.

RHCSA v10 (EX200v10) — Deltas

RHEL 10 / AlmaLinux 10 introduces:

• **DNF5** replaces DNF4 (faster, cleaner output, some flag changes).
• **Cockpit** is back in some objectives.
• **Container runtime emphasis** stays podman, but `quadlet` is the assumed unit format.
• **Flatpak workflow** is highlighted (vs. RHEL 9's snap absence).
• A few SELinux policy refinements.

Use rhcsa-v10 (192.168.4.74) for hands-on with these deltas. The graded labs in this kit target v9 and run on AlmaLinux 9; the v10 node is for exploring the modern syntax + behavior.