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The journey to becoming proficient in Progress Chef requires theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. In that context, I decided to equip myself with the Executive Chef Certification.
The Executive Chef Certification is an advanced certification provided under the Learn Chef Certify program. As a prerequisite, you must have deep and extensive experience with Chef in architecting, operations, writing cookbook pipelines, Chef InSpec and troubleshooting.
Chef provides various training programs designed to suit the candidate's understanding and experience. You can read about all the training programs here.
With this article, I hope to give you a glimpse of my journey to becoming a ‘Certified Chef Architect,’ what it entails, and what kind of preparation you need.
The certification process was divided into three distinct stages, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for growth. The first step was to prepare for the certification.
Preparing for the Certification
I started by exploring Learn Chef Tutorials, a comprehensive platform offering courses covering everything from basic scripting fundamentals to in-depth knowledge of Chef and its components.
Additionally, the official Chef documentation serves as a rich resource, providing detailed information on the architecture and usage of Chef, along with insights into other associated components. Furthermore, Chef's YouTube channel offers a wealth of video content, ranging from tutorials to discussions on best practices, providing learners with an engaging and dynamic learning experience.
Also, Chef assigns a mentor to candidates who enroll for the certification. My mentor was always available to answer my queries and provide guidance whenever needed.
Phase 1 - Multiple Choice Exam: The Test of Knowledge
The journey commenced with a comprehensive examination of 50 multiple-choice questions, 85% of which had to be answered correctly. I had one hour to attempt this examination. In my experience, the time was sufficient and I could answer all the questions in around half an hour.
This stage evaluates the understanding of core concepts, principles and best practices related to different components of Chef, like Chef Infra Server, Chef Automate and Chef InSpec. The questions covered a broad spectrum of topics essential for effective configuration management.
Navigating through this stage requires a solid grasp of theoretical concepts and the ability to apply them in real-world scenarios. Each question demanded careful consideration and a deep understanding of the underlying principles and only those with a thorough understanding of the subject matter progressed to the next stage.
Phase 2 - Hands-on Lab Exercise: Putting Theory into Practice
Upon successfully clearing the first stage, I progressed to the hands-on phase of the certification process. Here, I was tasked with setting up a virtual environment comprising of different virtual machines, each representing a component of the infrastructure. From configuring servers to deploying applications, this stage challenged me to translate theoretical knowledge into practical implementation.
Setting up the environment was just the beginning. The real test came in developing cookbooks to automate the deployment and configuration processes of a 3-Tier application that adhered to industry best practices.
Phase 3 – Troubleshooting: Root Cause Analysis
The final stage of the certification process presented a unique challenge – troubleshooting environment failure. In this scenario, the environment was intentionally disrupted and it was my responsibility to identify the root cause of the issue and implement a solution promptly.
This stage tests the candidates' technical skills and ability to think critically under pressure. I embarked on a systematic investigation to pinpoint the underlying issue using diagnostic tools, log analysis and debugging techniques.
Conclusion: A Journey of Growth and Mastery
Earning the Executive Chef Certification in DevOps tool for configuration management was more than just a validation of skills. It was a transformative journey of growth and mastery. From mastering theoretical concepts to honing practical skills and navigating real-world challenges, each stage of the certification process equipped me with the knowledge, skills and confidence to excel in the dynamic field of DevOps.
Furthermore, obtaining this certificate enhances my job profile significantly, particularly in configuration management. I feel that it is a true validation of my expertise and demonstrates my proficiency in effectively managing and automating infrastructure for employers and peers alike. Ultimately, it strengthens my role and makes me a valuable resource in any DevOps team.
How Can You Learn More?
Progress also offers Learn Chef Premium, an on-demand, self-paced Education-as-a-Service (EaaS) platform that provides digitized formats of all the 'currently-offered live Chef training.' In addition to the classes, you will have year-round access to a virtual lab environment provisioned with the required Chef software.
