Which Skills Do You Gain From Red Hat Certified in Containers?

Table of Contents

• Overview of the Certification
• Skill 1: Container Creation and Management
• Skill 2: Container Image Management
• Skill 3: Configuring Container Storage
• Skill 4: Container Networking
• Skill 5: Troubleshooting Container Issues
• Skill 6: Securing Containers
• Applying Skills in Real-World Roles
• Skills Summary Table
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Overview of the Certification

The Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers (EX180/EX188) is a performance-based certification that validates your ability to manage containers using Red Hat’s container tools. Containers are lightweight, portable units that package applications and their dependencies, ensuring consistency across development, testing, and production environments. Unlike traditional virtual machines, containers share the host operating system’s kernel, making them faster and more efficient.

The EX180/EX188 exam focuses on practical tasks, testing your ability to work with tools like Podman (a daemonless container engine), Buildah (for building container images), and Skopeo (for managing container images). By earning this certification, you gain skills that are directly applicable to roles like DevOps engineer, system administrator, or cloud architect, particularly in organizations using Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) or other containerized environments.

Skill 1: Container Creation and Management

One of the core skills you gain is the ability to create and manage containers using Podman. Podman is Red Hat’s alternative to Docker, designed to run containers without a central daemon, which enhances security and flexibility.

What you learn:

• Creating containers from existing images using commands like podman run.
• Managing container lifecycles, including starting, stopping, and removing containers.
• Working with containerized applications, such as web servers or databases, to ensure they run smoothly.
• Using Podman to inspect container properties, like ports, volumes, and environment variables.

Why it matters: These skills allow you to deploy applications quickly and reliably, a critical requirement in modern DevOps workflows where speed and consistency are paramount.

Skill 2: Container Image Management

Container images are the blueprints for containers, containing the application, its dependencies, and configuration. The EX180/EX188 teaches you how to create, modify, and manage these images using Buildah and Skopeo.

What you learn:

• Building custom container images from scratch with Buildah, using Dockerfiles or scripts.
• Modifying images to include specific software or configurations.
• Pushing and pulling images to and from registries like Quay.io or Docker Hub using Skopeo.
• Inspecting and verifying image contents to ensure they meet requirements.

Why it matters: Custom images are essential for tailoring applications to specific needs, ensuring portability, and maintaining consistency across environments.

Skill 3: Configuring Container Storage

Containers often need to store data, whether for temporary operations or persistent application needs. The certification equips you with skills to configure and manage container storage effectively.

What you learn:

• Setting up temporary storage for containers, which is deleted when the container stops.
• Configuring persistent storage using volumes or bind mounts to retain data across container restarts.
• Managing storage backends, such as overlay or devicemapper, to optimize performance.
• Ensuring data integrity and accessibility for containerized applications.

Why it matters: Proper storage configuration ensures applications like databases or file servers function reliably, a key requirement for production environments.

Skill 4: Container Networking

Containers need to communicate with each other and external systems, making networking a critical skill. The EX180/EX188 teaches you how to configure container networking for seamless connectivity.

What you learn:

• Setting up container networks using Podman’s network commands, like podman network create.
• Configuring port mappings to expose container services, such as a web server on port 80.
• Managing network modes, like bridge or host, to control container communication.
• Troubleshooting network issues, such as connectivity failures or port conflicts.

Why it matters: Networking skills ensure containers can interact with users, services, or other containers, which is essential for microservices architectures.

Skill 5: Troubleshooting Container Issues

Troubleshooting is a vital skill for any IT professional, and the EX180/EX188 hones your ability to diagnose and resolve container-related problems.

What you learn:

• Identifying common issues, like container crashes, misconfigured images, or resource constraints.
• Using Podman commands like podman logs and podman inspect to diagnose problems.
• Analyzing system logs and resource usage to pinpoint performance bottlenecks.
• Resolving issues like missing dependencies, incorrect permissions, or network misconfigurations.

Why it matters: Quick and effective troubleshooting minimizes downtime and ensures applications run smoothly in production.

Skill 6: Securing Containers

Security is a top priority in containerized environments. The certification teaches you how to secure containers to protect applications and infrastructure.

What you learn:

• Running containers as non-root users to reduce the risk of privilege escalation.
• Configuring SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) to enforce mandatory access controls.
• Managing container permissions and isolating workloads to prevent unauthorized access.
• Scanning container images for vulnerabilities using tools like Skopeo or third-party scanners.

Why it matters: Secure containers protect sensitive data and systems, making this skill critical for compliance and enterprise environments.

Applying Skills in Real-World Roles

The skills gained from the EX180/EX188 are directly applicable to various IT roles, including:

• DevOps Engineer: Deploying and managing containerized applications in CI/CD pipelines.
• System Administrator: Managing container infrastructure on RHEL or other Linux systems.
• Cloud Architect: Designing scalable, container-based solutions for cloud environments.
• Application Developer: Building and testing applications in consistent container environments.

These skills are in high demand as organizations adopt cloud-native technologies, making the certification a valuable asset for career growth.

Skills Summary Table

Conclusion

The Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers (EX180/EX188) certification equips you with a robust set of skills to manage containers in modern IT environments. From creating and managing containers with Podman to securing workloads and troubleshooting issues, these skills are directly applicable to roles like DevOps engineer, system administrator, and cloud architect. By mastering tools like Buildah and Skopeo, you’ll be prepared to build, deploy, and maintain containerized applications with confidence. In a world where cloud-native technologies are driving innovation, this certification positions you as a valuable asset in the job market. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance your career, the skills gained from this certification are a stepping stone to success in the containerized future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Containers?

It’s a certification that validates skills in managing containers using Red Hat tools like Podman, Buildah, and Skopeo.

What tools do you learn in the EX180/EX188?

You learn Podman for container management, Buildah for building images, and Skopeo for managing images.

Who benefits from this certification?

System administrators, developers, and DevOps engineers working with containerized applications.

Does the certification cover Kubernetes?

No, EX180/EX188 focuses on container management, not Kubernetes orchestration.

What is Podman?

Podman is a daemonless container engine for running and managing containers, similar to Docker.

What is Buildah?

Buildah is a tool for building and modifying container images without a daemon.

What is Skopeo?

Skopeo is a tool for inspecting, copying, and managing container images between registries.

How does this certification help DevOps engineers?

It teaches skills for deploying and managing containerized applications in CI/CD pipelines.

Can beginners pursue the EX180/EX188?

Yes, with basic Linux knowledge and dedicated study, beginners can succeed.

How do I practice container management?

Set up a RHEL or Fedora lab and practice with Podman, Buildah, and Skopeo.

Why is container storage important?

It ensures data persistence for applications like databases, critical for production environments.

How does the certification teach networking?

You learn to configure container networks, port mappings, and troubleshoot connectivity.

What security skills do you gain?

You learn to run containers as non-root users, configure SELinux, and manage permissions.

How long does it take to prepare?

2-3 months of consistent study and hands-on practice, depending on experience.

Is the certification recognized by employers?

Yes, especially in organizations using Red Hat solutions or container technologies.

How does EX180/EX188 compare to Docker certifications?

EX180/EX188 focuses on Red Hat tools and is more enterprise-oriented than Docker certifications.

Can I use these skills in cloud environments?

Yes, container skills are essential for cloud-native architectures and platforms like AWS or Azure.

What roles benefit from these skills?

DevOps engineer, system administrator, cloud architect, and application developer roles.

Does the certification include troubleshooting?

Yes, you learn to diagnose and fix container issues using logs and inspection tools.

Where can I learn more about the certification?

Visit Red Hat’s website for exam objectives and training courses like DO180.