The Linux Foundation Certified Cloud Technician (LFCT) certification is designed for professionals seeking to demonstrate their expertise in the rapidly evolving landscape of cloud technologies. This certification validates the ability to proficiently work with a wide array of tools and technologies that form the backbone of modern cloud infrastructure.

Key Competencies

LFCT holders are recognized for their skills and abilities in the following areas:

• Linux Systems: In-depth knowledge of Linux operating systems, which are fundamental to cloud technologies.
• Virtual Machines (VMs): Ability to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot VMs across different cloud platforms.
• Containers: Expertise in managing containerized applications, using tools such as Docker and Kubernetes for orchestration.
• Git: Proficient in version control systems, with a strong emphasis on Git for tracking changes in source code during collaborative cloud projects.
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Pipelines: Skills in automating the deployment and testing of code using CI/CD pipelines, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the scope for errors.
• Orchestration Tools: Experience with orchestration tools to automate the management, scaling, and networking of containers.

Professional Development

By acquiring the LFCT certification, individuals position themselves as valuable assets within their organizations, capable of handling sophisticated cloud-based infrastructures and promoting a culture of technological advancement and efficiency.

The LFCT certification is tailored for a diverse range of professionals who are already familiar with Linux and cloud technologies and are looking to enhance their skills and credentials. The primary candidates for this certification include:

• Linux Power Users: Individuals with extensive experience in Linux who are looking to formalize and expand their skills in cloud technologies.
• Software Developers: Developers who routinely use Linux as part of their development environment and wish to deepen their understanding and proficiency in cloud-based applications.
• Existing Certified Candidates (e.g., CKA): Professionals who have already earned certifications in related fields and are looking to broaden their expertise specifically in Linux-based cloud technologies.
• Cloud Administrators: Those managing cloud infrastructures who desire a stronger foundation in the Linux underpinnings of most cloud platforms.
• LFCA-certified Candidates: Individuals who have passed the Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA) exam and seek further specialization without fully committing to a Linux System Administrator path.

This certification is ideal for those seeking to advance their careers by proving their capabilities in a highly competitive and technical field, ensuring they are better equipped for roles demanding robust Linux and cloud skills.

The Linux Foundation Certified Cloud Technician (LFCT) certification equips professionals with a profound understanding of several critical aspects of Linux and cloud operations. Key concepts include:

• Automation: Implementing processes that minimize manual intervention, increase efficiency, and reduce the potential for errors.
• Pipelines: Designing and utilizing continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to streamline development and deployment workflows.
• Change Management: Applying structured approaches to managing changes in systems and software, ensuring minimal disruption and maximized efficiency.
• Validation: Employing techniques to ensure that systems and configurations meet required specifications and function as expected.
• Troubleshooting: Systematically diagnosing and resolving issues in a Linux cloud environment, ensuring reliability and performance.

These concepts are fundamental for professionals looking to thrive in advanced cloud-based environments, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation.

This section of the syllabus, accounting for 20% of the certification, focuses on foundational command-line skills required to proficiently manage and manipulate files within a Linux environment. Candidates will demonstrate their ability to:

• Search for, Compare, and Manipulate Files and File Content: Use command-line tools to locate files and file contents. Learn to employ commands like find, grep, and sed to search, compare, and alter text within files.
• Use Pipes and Shell Input/Output Redirections: Combine multiple commands to perform complex tasks using pipes (|). Redirect input and output streams between programs and files using redirection operators (>, >>, <, etc.).
• Analyze File Content Using Regular Expressions: Apply regular expressions with tools like grep to perform sophisticated pattern matching and data retrieval operations on text data.
• Create and Work with Archives: Use commands like tar, gzip, and zip to compress, decompress, and archive files, facilitating efficient storage and transfer.
• Create and Manage Hard and Symbolic Links: Understand the differences between hard and symbolic links. Use ln command to create links, which serve as references to actual files, aiding in file management and organization without duplication.
• List, Set, and Change File Access Permissions: Manage file permissions and ownership using commands like chmod, chown, and chgrp to secure access to files according to user roles and requirements.

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be tested on their practical understanding and ability to apply these commands in real-world scenarios. Proficiency in these areas is essential for effective file system management and data manipulation in Linux environments.

This syllabus section, which makes up 15% of the certification, is designed to equip candidates with the skills necessary to perform core system configuration tasks within a Linux environment. The key areas of focus include:

• Install Software Packages: Capability to manage software installations using package managers like apt, yum, or zypper, depending on the distribution. This includes installing, updating, and removing software packages.
• Create and Maintain Filesystems: Understand different types of file systems available in Linux. Learn how to format disks, create filesystems, and mount them manually or automatically at boot using /etc/fstab.
• Administer Local User and Group Accounts: Manage user accounts and groups including creating, modifying, and deleting users and groups, and managing permissions and access to resources.
• Configure and Set System Time and Timezone: Set and maintain the system clock and timezone using tools like timedatectl and configure the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize time over the internet.
• Configure Networking and Local Hostname Resolution: Set up and configure network interfaces, manage static and dynamic IP addresses, and configure hostname resolution locally via /etc/hosts and using DNS.

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be assessed based on their proficiency in managing system settings and configurations effectively, ensuring systems are optimized, secure, and maintain robust connectivity. This includes practical applications and troubleshooting common configuration issues.

This section, accounting for 20% of the certification, focuses on critical troubleshooting skills required to maintain the reliability and efficiency of Linux systems. Candidates will demonstrate their ability to:

• Identify and Inspect Processes and Services: Use tools like ps, top, systemctl, and journalctl to monitor and diagnose issues with running processes and services.
• Health-Check and Repair Network Services: Perform diagnostics and resolve issues in network services using tools like netstat, ping, and traceroute, and understand network configuration files.
• Identify and Inspect Storage Issues: Analyze and troubleshoot storage-related problems using tools such as df, du, and fsck, focusing on disk usage and filesystem integrity.
• Troubleshoot Containers: Diagnose and resolve common issues in containerized environments using Docker or Kubernetes, including container logs, status, and network issues.

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated on their practical knowledge and problem-solving skills in addressing typical system and service-related issues. Mastery in these areas is crucial for maintaining system stability and performance under various operational scenarios.

This section, representing 20% of the certification, is dedicated to virtualization and container technologies, critical for modern IT infrastructures. Candidates will demonstrate their capability to:

• Create and Manage Local and Cloud-Hosted Virtual Machines: Skills in setting up, configuring, and maintaining virtual machines using platforms like VMware, VirtualBox, and cloud services such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Use cloud-init to Initialize Cloud-Hosted Virtual Machines: Utilize the cloud-init tool to automate the configuration of VMs upon boot-up, ensuring they are ready with custom settings, software, and security measures.
• Create and Manage Application Containers: Proficiency in container technologies such as Docker or Podman. This includes container creation, management, and deployment.
• Understand the Need for Container Orchestration: Grasp the importance and fundamental concepts of container orchestration, focusing on how tools like Kubernetes orchestrate complex container-based applications at scale.

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be assessed on their practical understanding and ability to implement these technologies effectively in real-world environments, showcasing proficiency in both virtualization and container management.

This section, comprising 25% of the certification, focuses on GitOps fundamentals, essential for modern software development and operations. Candidates will demonstrate their ability to:

• Use the Git Version Control System: Master the basic and advanced features of Git, including branching, merging, rebasing, and resolving conflicts.
• Perform Change/Code Review: Evaluate code changes through peer reviews, using platforms such as GitHub or GitLab, to ensure quality and maintainability.
• Work on Version Control and Collaboration Platforms: Utilize platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket for repository management, collaboration, issue tracking, and CI/CD integrations.
• Understand Models of Change Management: Grasp different change management models that streamline and control changes to IT systems and software development life cycles.
• Run Commands on Multiple Systems and Capture Output: Execute commands across various systems simultaneously using tools like Ansible or Bash scripting, capturing and analyzing outputs for operations and deployments.
• Automate Configuration Management: Implement automation tools such as Ansible, Chef, or Puppet to manage and provision infrastructure consistently and efficiently.

Assessment Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated on their practical knowledge and application of GitOps principles, showcasing their ability to integrate version control and automation into IT operations effectively.