Cassandra K8s
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Cassandra K8s exam validates the practical skills needed to run Apache Cassandra on Kubernetes using an operator-based deployment model. It is aimed at platform engineers, SREs, and database administrators who already understand containers and want to prove they can operate a distributed database safely on a dynamic scheduler. The exam covers Kubernetes primitives for stateful workloads, Cassandra architecture and data modeling, operator installation and lifecycle, rack-aware topology, persistent storage and StatefulSets, services and client connectivity, TLS and authentication, backup and disaster recovery, monitoring, and rolling scaling and upgrades. Expect scenario-driven multiple-choice and multiple-select questions that test judgment rather than memorized commands: for example, choosing a storage class that preserves data across rescheduling, or sequencing a rolling restart without losing quorum. Preparation should be hands-on. Build a local cluster with kind or minikube, install a Cassandra operator, create a multi-rack datacenter, attach persistent volumes, enable TLS and internal authentication, take and restore a backup, and wire metrics into Prometheus and Grafana. Read the operator documentation and Cassandra's own architecture guides, then break your lab on purpose and repair it. The exam is delivered in English and the official body publishes current scheduling, fee, and retake details on its website; this page does not restate those figures.
What you'll study
About Cassandra K8s preparation
What is the exam format?
The exam uses multiple-choice and multiple-select items delivered in English. Some questions are scenario based and ask you to pick the best operational action or all valid steps. The official body publishes the current item count and time limit on its site, so check there before scheduling.
How difficult is the exam?
It is intermediate to advanced. You need working knowledge of both Kubernetes and Cassandra internals, not just YAML syntax. Candidates who have only read documentation often struggle with questions about quorum, rack awareness, and volume lifecycle. Hands-on lab time is the strongest predictor of comfort with the scenarios.
Can I retake it if I fail?
Retake rules are set by the official certification body, including any waiting period and fees. The current retake policy is published on its website. Review your score report to identify weak domains, then rebuild those skills in a lab before rescheduling rather than retaking immediately.
How should I order my study?
Start with Kubernetes fundamentals for stateful workloads, then review Cassandra architecture and data modeling. Move to operator installation and lifecycle, then topology and racks. Practice persistent storage and StatefulSets next, followed by networking, security, backup and restore, monitoring, and finally scaling and rolling upgrades. This order mirrors dependencies between domains.
What are common failure modes on exam day?
Candidates lose points by confusing pod rescheduling with data durability, assuming a default StorageClass is safe for Cassandra, or forgetting that rack awareness affects replication. Others mis-sequence rolling restarts and break quorum. Multiple-select items punish partial answers, so read whether the question asks for all valid options or the single best action.
Do I need to memorize operator CRD fields?
No. The exam tests understanding of what configuration achieves, not exact field names. You should know which settings control rack placement, storage size, resource requests, TLS, and authentication, and why each matters. In real work you would consult the operator documentation for exact syntax.
Is a lab environment required for preparation?
Strongly recommended. A local kind or minikube cluster with a CSI driver lets you practice persistent volume claims, multi-rack deployments, TLS, backups, and rolling upgrades. Reading alone rarely prepares you for scenario questions about volume binding or quorum during restarts.
How current is the exam content?
The exam targets operator-based Cassandra on Kubernetes, which evolves quickly. Verify the operator version and Kubernetes version referenced by the official body before studying. This page avoids version-specific claims and points you to official documentation for current details.