Red Hat Certified Architect — RHCA

The RHCA is the most senior system administration credential and is designed for technical leaders working in demanding enterprise environments.

A Red Hat® Certified Engineer (RHCE®) who earns an RHCA certification brings an exceptional breadth and depth of knowledge to the biggest IT challenges. RHCA certification incorporates the skills and knowledge of a Red Hat Certified Datacenter Specialist (RHCDS) plus advanced networking services security, system monitoring, and performance tuning.

Prerequisites

To become certified, an RHCA will have demonstrated knowledge and skills in a number of areas beyond RHCE, such as those related to systems deployment, systems management, clustering, and storage management.

However, the RHCA certification offers the flexibility to demonstrate additional skills in either directory services and authentication or in managing virtualized systems. Consequently, an RHCA will have many, but not necessarily all, of the following skills:

  • Installing and configuring a Red Hat Network Satellite server

  • Configuring users, groups, administrators, and activation keys on a Satellite

  • Creating base and child channels on a Satellite

  • Using Cobbler and Satellite to install, configure, and manage systems

  • Managing data using logical volumes and snapshots

  • Configuring high-availability clusters using physical or virtual systems

  • Configuring a GFS file system to meet performance, size, and quota objectives

  • Configuring iSCSI targets and initiators

  • Configuring a Kerberos realm

  • Configuring Red Hat Directory Server to provide a centralized directory with access control

  • Configuring Red Hat Enterprise Linux® clients to authenticate using various mechanisms, including Kerberos, LDAP, and Microsoft Active Directory

  • Configuring and managing hypervisors and virtual hosts using Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization

  • Analyzing system performance and behavior using tools such as vmstat, iostat, mpstat, and sar

  • Configuring systems to provide information using SNMP

  • Configuring runtime kernel parameters

  • Analyzing system and application behavior using ps, strace, top, Oprofile, and Valgrind

  • Configuring disk subsystems and scheduling algorithms and network buffers for optimal performance for specific requirements

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Certification program requirements:

  • Only a current RHCE is eligible to earn an RHCA credential.

  • To be awarded an RHCA credential, a current RHCE must pass the following expertise exams:

    • Red Hat Enterprise Security: Network Services Expertise Exam (EX333)

    • Red Hat Enterprise Deployment and Systems Management Expertise Exam (EX401)

    • Red Hat Enterprise Clustering and Storage Management Expertise Exam (EX436)

    • Red Hat Enterprise System Monitoring and Performance Tuning Expertise Exam (EX442)

    • Red Hat Enterprise Directory Services and Authentication Expertise Exam (EX423)
      or Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization (RHCVA) Exam (EX318)

  • All expertise exams are performance-based, meaning that candidates must perform tasks on a live system, rather than answering questions about how one might perform those tasks.

  • The hands-on nature of these expertise exams make real-world experience a critical facet of preparation.

  • See recertification policies for more information regarding current window for all credentials.

AUDIENCE

The RHCA certification is designed for:

  • The most senior system administration technical leaders working in demanding enterprise environments.

BENEFITS

Benefits to earning a Red Hat certification:

  • Recognition in the industry

  • Increased customer confidence

  • Proof of knowledge and skills

  • Certification verification tool for employers

  • Use of the certification logo on business cards

  • Ability to access multiple Red Hat Certificated Professional online communities (like Facebook and LinkedIn)

  • Access to Red Hat Certification Central website

    • Download certification logo

    • Purchase Red Hat Certification gear

    • Red Hat Certified Professionals forum

    • On-line profile listed under your certification number

    • Red Hat Certified Professional job search

  • Special offers on training and events

RECOMMENDED TRAINING

In preparation to earn an RHCA, Red Hat recommends the following training courses:

[To achieve certification, students must pass these Exams]

Red Hat Enterprise Security: Network Services Expertise Exam (EX333)
Performance-based expertise exam that tests the knowledge and skill regarding enterprise security network services.

Red Hat Enterprise Deployment and Systems Management Expertise Exam (EX401)
Performance-based expertise exam that tests the knowledge and skill regarding enterprise deployment and systems management.

Red Hat Enterprise Clustering and Storage Management Expertise Exam (EX436)
Performance-based expertise exam that tests the knowledge and skill regarding enterprise clustering and storage management.

Red Hat Enterprise System Monitoring and Performance Tuning Expertise Exam (EX442)
Performance-based expertise exam that tests the knowledge and skill regarding system monitoring and performance tuning.

(Alt. 1) Red Hat Enterprise Directory Services and Authentication Expertise Exam (EX423)
Performance-based expertise exam that tests the knowledge and skill regarding enterprise directory services and authentication.

(Alt. 2) Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization (RHCVA) Exam (EX318)
Performance-based expertise exam that tests the knowledge and skill regarding implementation and management of Red Hat virtualization.