#Hawkstack

[qcsdclabs]

Understanding the Boot Process in Linux

                    Six Stages of Linux Boot Process

Press the power button on your system, and after few moments you see the Linux login prompt.

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes from the time you press the power button until the Linux login prompt appears?

The following are the 6 high level stages of a typical Linux boot process.

                             BIOS        Basic Input/Output System

                             MBR        Master Boot Record executes GRUB

                             GRUB      Grand Unified Boot Loader Executes Kernel

                             Kernel      Kernel executes /sbin/init

                             Init            init executes runlevel programs

                             Runlevel   Runlevel programs are executed from /etc/rc.d/rc*.d/

1. BIOS

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System

Performs some system integrity checks

Searches, loads, and executes the boot loader program.

It looks for boot loader in floppy, cd-rom, or hard drive. You can press a key (typically F12 of F2, but it depends on your system) during the BIOS startup to change the boot sequence.

Once the boot loader program is detected and loaded into the memory, BIOS gives the control to it.

So, in simple terms BIOS loads and executes the MBR boot loader.

2. MBR

MBR stands for Master Boot Record.

It is located in the 1st sector of the bootable disk. Typically /dev/hda, or /dev/sda

MBR is less than 512 bytes in size. This has three components 1) primary boot loader info in 1st 446 bytes 2) partition table info in next 64 bytes 3) mbr validation check in last 2 bytes.

It contains information about GRUB (or LILO in old systems).

So, in simple terms MBR loads and executes the GRUB boot loader.

3. GRUB

GRUB stands for Grand Unified Bootloader.

If you have multiple kernel images installed on your system, you can choose which one to be executed.

GRUB displays a splash screen, waits for few seconds, if you don’t enter anything, it loads the default kernel image as specified in the grub configuration file.

GRUB has the knowledge of the filesystem (the older Linux loader LILO didn’t understand filesystem).

Grub configuration file is /boot/grub/grub.conf (/etc/grub.conf is a link to this). The following is sample grub.conf of CentOS.

#boot=/dev/sda

default=0

timeout=5

splashimage=(hd0,0)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz

hiddenmenu

title CentOS (2.6.18-194.el5PAE)

          root (hd0,0)

          kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-194.el5PAE ro root=LABEL=/

          initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.18-194.el5PAE.img

As you notice from the above info, it contains kernel and initrd image.

So, in simple terms GRUB just loads and executes Kernel and initrd images.

4. Kernel

Mounts the root file system as specified in the “root=” in grub.conf

Kernel executes the /sbin/init program

Since init was the 1st program to be executed by Linux Kernel, it has the process id (PID) of 1. Do a ‘ps -ef | grep init’ and check the pid.

initrd stands for Initial RAM Disk.

initrd is used by kernel as temporary root file system until kernel is booted and the real root file system is mounted. It also contains necessary drivers compiled inside, which helps it to access the hard drive partitions, and other hardware.

5. Init

Looks at the /etc/inittab file to decide the Linux run level.

Following are the available run levels

0 – halt

1 – Single user mode

2 – Multiuser, without NFS

3 – Full multiuser mode

4 – unused

5 – X11

6 – reboot

Init identifies the default initlevel from /etc/inittab and uses that to load all appropriate program.

Execute ‘grep initdefault /etc/inittab’ on your system to identify the default run level

If you want to get into trouble, you can set the default run level to 0 or 6. Since you know what 0 and 6 means, probably you might not do that.

Typically you would set the default run level to either 3 or 5.

6. Runlevel programs

When the Linux system is booting up, you might see various services getting started. For example, it might say “starting sendmail …. OK”. Those are the runlevel programs, executed from the run level directory as defined by your run level.

Depending on your default init level setting, the system will execute the programs from one of the following directories.

Run level 0 – /etc/rc.d/rc0.d/

Run level 1 – /etc/rc.d/rc1.d/

Run level 2 – /etc/rc.d/rc2.d/

Run level 3 – /etc/rc.d/rc3.d/

Run level 4 – /etc/rc.d/rc4.d/

Run level 5 – /etc/rc.d/rc5.d/

Run level 6 – /etc/rc.d/rc6.d/

Please note that there are also symbolic links available for these directory under /etc directly. So, /etc/rc0.d is linked to /etc/rc.d/rc0.d.

Under the /etc/rc.d/rc*.d/ directories, you would see programs that start with S and K.

Programs starts with S are used during startup. S for startup.

Programs starts with K are used during shutdown. K for kill.

There are numbers right next to S and K in the program names. Those are the sequence number in which the programs should be started or killed.

For example, S12syslog is to start the syslog deamon, which has the sequence number of 12. S80sendmail is to start the sendmail daemon, which has the sequence number of 80. So, syslog program will be started before sendmail.

There you have it. That is what happens during the Linux boot process.

for more details visit www.qcsdclabs.com

[hawkstack]

Enterprise Kubernetes Storage with Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation (DO370)

In today's enterprise IT landscape, the shift toward containerized applications and microservices has accelerated the need for robust, scalable, and persistent storage solutions. Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation (ODF), formerly known as OpenShift Container Storage, emerges as a powerful solution that addresses these modern storage challenges in Kubernetes environments.

What Is OpenShift Data Foundation?

Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation is an integrated software-defined storage solution that provides scalable, resilient, and unified storage for containers. Built on Ceph and powered by Rook, ODF seamlessly integrates with OpenShift to deliver persistent storage, data protection, and multi-cloud capabilities.

Whether you're dealing with traditional workloads or cloud-native applications, ODF ensures that your data is always available, protected, and accessible across your hybrid cloud environment.

Why Storage Matters in Kubernetes

While Kubernetes offers robust tools for managing containerized applications, its native storage capabilities are limited. For production-grade deployments, enterprises need features like:

Persistent volumes for stateful applications

High availability and fault tolerance

Backup and disaster recovery

Data encryption and security

Monitoring and performance tuning

This is where Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation shines — filling the gaps and elevating Kubernetes into a true enterprise-ready platform.

About DO370: Red Hat's Official Training

The DO370 – Enterprise Kubernetes Storage with Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation course is designed to equip IT professionals with the skills needed to deploy and manage storage for containerized applications in OpenShift.

Key Topics Covered:

Introduction to software-defined storage and Ceph fundamentals

Deploying and configuring ODF on OpenShift clusters

Managing persistent volumes and storage classes

Setting up replication, data resiliency, and disaster recovery

Monitoring, troubleshooting, and tuning storage performance

Securing data with encryption and access controls

Who Should Enroll?

This course is ideal for:

System administrators and storage administrators

DevOps engineers and platform engineers

Architects managing OpenShift at scale

Professionals looking to become Red Hat Certified Specialists

Real-World Benefits

By integrating ODF with OpenShift, organizations gain:

Unified storage for containers and VMs

Hybrid cloud portability with S3-compatible object storage

Simplified operations using Kubernetes-native tools

Enhanced security and compliance with end-to-end encryption

Lower TCO by eliminating the need for external storage solutions

Certification Path

Completing DO370 is a step toward becoming a Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Data Foundation — a valuable credential for IT professionals working in cloud-native environments.

Final Thoughts

As Kubernetes continues to redefine modern IT infrastructure, storage can no longer be an afterthought. Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation ensures your data architecture evolves with your application stack — secure, scalable, and production-ready.

If you're looking to future-proof your OpenShift deployments with enterprise-grade storage, DO370 is the training you need.

For more details www.hawkstack.com 

[hawskstack]

🌐 Mastering Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Strategy: The Future of Scalable IT

In today’s fast-paced digital ecosystem, one cloud is rarely enough. Enterprises demand agility, resilience, and innovation at scale — all while maintaining cost-efficiency and regulatory compliance. That’s where a Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Strategy becomes essential.

But what does it mean, and how can organizations implement it effectively?

Let’s dive into the world of hybrid and multi-cloud computing, understand its importance, and explore how platforms like Red Hat OpenShift make this vision a practical reality.

🧭 What Is a Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Strategy?

Hybrid Cloud: Combines on-premises infrastructure (private cloud or data center) with public cloud services, enabling workloads to move seamlessly between environments.

Multi-Cloud: Involves using multiple public cloud providers (like AWS, Azure, GCP) to avoid vendor lock-in, optimize performance, and reduce risk.

Together, they create a flexible and resilient IT model that balances performance, control, and innovation.

💡 Why Enterprises Choose Hybrid & Multi-Cloud

✅ 1. Avoid Vendor Lock-In

Using more than one cloud vendor allows businesses to negotiate better deals and avoid being tied to one ecosystem.

✅ 2. Resilience & Redundancy

Workloads can shift between clouds or on-prem based on outages, latency, or business needs.

✅ 3. Cost Optimization

Run predictable workloads on cheaper on-prem hardware and burst to the cloud only when needed.

✅ 4. Compliance & Data Sovereignty

Keep sensitive data on-prem or in-country while leveraging public cloud for scale.

🚀 Real-World Use Cases

Retail: Use on-prem for POS systems and cloud for seasonal campaign scalability.

Healthcare: Host patient data in a private cloud and analytics models in the public cloud.

Finance: Perform high-frequency trading on public cloud compute clusters, but store records securely in on-prem data lakes.

🛠️ How OpenShift Simplifies Hybrid & Multi-Cloud

Red Hat OpenShift is designed with portability and consistency in mind. Here's how it empowers your strategy:

🔄 Unified Platform Everywhere

Whether deployed on AWS, Azure, GCP, bare metal, or VMware, OpenShift provides the same developer experience and tooling everywhere.

🔁 Seamless Workload Portability

Containerized applications can move effortlessly across environments with Kubernetes-native orchestration.

📡 Advanced Cluster Management (ACM)

With Red Hat ACM, enterprises can:

Manage multiple clusters across environments

Apply governance policies consistently

Deploy apps across clusters using GitOps

🛡️ Built-in Security & Compliance

Leverage features like:

Integrated service mesh

Image scanning and policy enforcement

Centralized observability

⚠️ Challenges to Consider

Complexity in Management: Without centralized control, managing multiple clouds can become chaotic.

Data Transfer Costs: Moving data between clouds isn't free — plan carefully.

Latency & Network Reliability: Ensure your architecture supports distributed workloads efficiently.

Skill Gap: Cloud-native skills are essential; upskilling your team is a must.

📘 Best Practices for Success

Start with the workload — Map your applications to the best-fit environment.

Adopt containerization and microservices �� For portability and resilience.

Use Infrastructure as Code — Automate deployments and configurations.

Enforce centralized policy and monitoring — For governance and visibility.

Train your teams — Invest in certifications like Red Hat DO480, DO280, and EX280.

🎯 Conclusion

A hybrid & multi-cloud strategy isn’t just a trend — it’s becoming a competitive necessity. With the right platform like Red Hat OpenShift Platform Plus, enterprises can bridge the gap between agility and control, enabling innovation without compromise.

Ready to future-proof your infrastructure? Hybrid cloud is the way forward — and OpenShift is the bridge.

For more info, Kindly follow: Hawkstack Technologies

[qcs01]

Red Hat Insights: Proactively Managing and Optimizing Your IT Environment

In today's fast-paced IT landscape, managing complex infrastructures can be challenging. IT teams face issues ranging from performance bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities to inefficient resource utilization. Red Hat Insights offers a proactive, intelligent solution to address these challenges, helping enterprises maintain a secure, compliant, and optimized IT environment.

What is Red Hat Insights?

Red Hat Insights is a predictive analytics tool that provides continuous, real-time monitoring of your IT infrastructure. It identifies potential issues before they become critical, offering actionable insights and remediation steps. With Insights, IT teams can focus on strategic tasks while reducing downtime and risk.

Key features include:

Proactive Issue Detection: Red Hat Insights leverages advanced analytics to detect potential issues, including security vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and performance bottlenecks.

Automated Remediation: Once an issue is detected, Insights provides detailed remediation steps and even offers automated playbooks that can be executed via Ansible.

Security and Compliance: Stay compliant with industry standards by continuously monitoring your environment against security baselines and best practices.

Performance Optimization: Identify inefficiencies in your IT environment and receive recommendations on how to optimize performance and reduce resource waste.

Integration with Red Hat Ecosystem: Red Hat Insights seamlessly integrates with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), OpenShift, and Ansible Automation Platform, providing a unified approach to IT management.

How Red Hat Insights Works

Data Collection: Insights collects metadata and logs from your systems. This data is lightweight and focuses on system health and configuration details, ensuring minimal performance impact.

Analysis: The collected data is analyzed using Red Hat’s vast knowledge base, which includes decades of experience and input from thousands of customer environments.

Recommendations: Based on the analysis, Insights generates tailored recommendations for your IT environment. These recommendations include detailed descriptions of issues, their potential impact, and suggested remediation actions.

Action: IT teams can take corrective action directly from the Insights dashboard or use Ansible Automation Platform to apply fixes at scale.

Use Cases for Red Hat Insights

Security Management: Ensure your IT environment is protected from known vulnerabilities by receiving timely alerts and recommended fixes.

Patch Management: Simplify the patch management process by identifying critical patches and automating their deployment.

Configuration Drift: Avoid configuration drift by monitoring system configurations and ensuring they remain consistent with defined policies.

Resource Optimization: Improve resource utilization by identifying underused or misconfigured systems.

Compliance Auditing: Maintain compliance with regulatory requirements through continuous monitoring and reporting.

Benefits of Using Red Hat Insights

Reduced Downtime: Proactively address issues before they impact your operations.

Improved Security: Minimize security risks by keeping your systems updated and compliant.

Operational Efficiency: Automate routine tasks and focus on high-value initiatives.

Cost Savings: Optimize resource utilization and reduce unnecessary expenditures.

Scalability: Manage large, distributed environments with ease using automated tools and centralized dashboards.

Getting Started with Red Hat Insights

Enable Insights on RHEL: Red Hat Insights is included with your RHEL subscription. To enable it, register your systems with Red Hat Subscription Management and install the Insights client.

Access the Insights Dashboard: Once enabled, you can access the Insights dashboard through the Red Hat Hybrid Cloud Console. The dashboard provides an overview of detected issues, recommendations, and actions.

Integrate with Ansible: Enhance your remediation process by integrating Insights with Ansible Automation Platform. This allows you to execute playbooks directly from the Insights interface.

Conclusion

Red Hat Insights empowers IT teams to proactively manage and optimize their environments, reducing risks and improving operational efficiency. By leveraging predictive analytics, automation, and integration with Red Hat’s ecosystem, enterprises can ensure their IT infrastructure remains resilient and agile in the face of evolving challenges.

Whether you're managing a small infrastructure or a large, complex environment, Red Hat Insights provides the tools and intelligence needed to stay ahead of issues and maintain peak performance.

Start your journey towards a smarter, more proactive IT management approach with Red Hat Insights today.

For more details www.hawkstack.com

[qcsdslabs]

Top DevOps Practices for 2024: Insights from HawkStack Experts

As the technology landscape evolves, DevOps remains pivotal in driving efficient, reliable, and scalable software delivery. HawkStack Technologies brings you the top DevOps practices for 2024 to keep your team ahead in this competitive domain.

1. Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Simplified Scalability

In 2024, IaC tools like Terraform and Ansible continue to dominate. By defining infrastructure through code, organizations achieve consistent environments across development, testing, and production. This eliminates manual errors and ensures rapid scalability. Example: Use Terraform modules to manage multi-cloud deployments seamlessly.

2. Shift-Left Security: Integrate Early

Security is no longer an afterthought. Teams are embedding security practices earlier in the software development lifecycle. By integrating tools like Snyk and SonarQube during development, vulnerabilities are detected and mitigated before deployment.

3. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Faster Delivery

CI/CD pipelines are more sophisticated than ever, emphasizing automated testing, secure builds, and quick rollbacks. Example: Use Jenkins or GitHub Actions to automate the deployment pipeline while maintaining quality gates.

4. Containerization and Kubernetes

Containers, orchestrated by platforms like Kubernetes, remain essential for scaling microservices-based applications. Kubernetes Operators and Service Mesh add advanced capabilities, like automated updates and enhanced observability.

5. DevOps + AI/ML: Intelligent Automation

AI-driven insights are revolutionizing DevOps practices. Predictive analytics enhance monitoring, while AI tools optimize CI/CD pipelines. Example: Implement AI tools like Dynatrace or New Relic for intelligent system monitoring.

6. Enhanced Observability: Metrics That Matter

Modern DevOps prioritizes observability to ensure performance and reliability. Tools like Prometheus and Grafana offer actionable insights by tracking key metrics and trends.

Conclusion

Adopting these cutting-edge practices will empower teams to deliver exceptional results in 2024. At HawkStack Technologies, we provide hands-on training and expert guidance to help organizations excel in the DevOps ecosystem. Stay ahead by embracing these strategies today!

For More Information visit: www.hawkstack.com

[twogargs]

HAWKSTACK!

You guys, YOU GUYS! Hawkstone Draws has a Substack--did you know? Didja? It's called "Hawkstack." D'aww! Go introduce yourself to my good buddy here: https://open.substack.com/pub/hawkstonedraws/p/hi-there?r=1gepv9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

[hawkstack]

Developing and Deploying AI/ML Applications on Red Hat OpenShift AI (AI268)

As artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) become integral to digital transformation strategies, organizations are looking for scalable platforms that can streamline the development, deployment, and lifecycle management of intelligent applications. Red Hat OpenShift AI (formerly Red Hat OpenShift Data Science) is designed to meet this exact need—providing a powerful foundation for operationalizing AI/ML workloads in hybrid cloud environments.

The AI268 course from Red Hat offers a hands-on, practitioner-level learning experience that empowers data scientists, developers, and DevOps engineers to work collaboratively on AI/ML solutions using Red Hat OpenShift AI.

🎯 Course Overview: What is AI268?

Developing and Deploying AI/ML Applications on Red Hat OpenShift AI (AI268) is an intermediate-level training course that teaches participants how to:

Develop machine learning models in collaborative environments using tools like Jupyter Notebooks.

Train, test, and refine models using OpenShift-native resources.

Automate ML workflows using pipelines and GitOps.

Deploy models into production using model serving frameworks like KFServing or OpenVINO.

Monitor model performance and retrain based on new data.

🔧 Key Learning Outcomes

✅ Familiarity with OpenShift AI Tools Get hands-on experience with integrated tools like JupyterHub, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, PyTorch, and Seldon.

✅ Building End-to-End Pipelines Learn to create CI/CD-style pipelines tailored to machine learning, supporting repeatable and scalable workflows.

✅ Model Deployment Strategies Understand how to deploy ML models as microservices using OpenShift AI’s built-in serving capabilities and expose them via APIs.

✅ Version Control and Collaboration Use Git and GitOps to track code, data, and model changes for collaborative, production-grade AI development.

✅ Monitoring & Governance Explore tools for observability, drift detection, and automated retraining, enabling responsible AI practices.

🧑‍💻 Who Should Take AI268?

This course is ideal for:

Data Scientists looking to move their models into production environments.

Machine Learning Engineers working with Kubernetes and OpenShift.

DevOps/SRE Teams supporting AI/ML workloads in hybrid or cloud-native infrastructures.

AI Developers seeking to learn how to build scalable ML applications with modern MLOps practices.

🏗️ Why Choose Red Hat OpenShift AI?

OpenShift AI blends the flexibility of Kubernetes with the power of AI/ML toolchains. With built-in support for GPU acceleration, data versioning, and reproducibility, it empowers teams to:

Shorten the path from experimentation to production.

Manage lifecycle and compliance for ML models.

Collaborate across teams with secure, role-based access.

Whether you're building recommendation systems, computer vision models, or NLP pipelines—OpenShift AI gives you the enterprise tools to deploy and scale.

🧠 Final Thoughts

AI/ML in production is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. Red Hat OpenShift AI, backed by Red Hat’s enterprise-grade OpenShift platform, is a powerful toolset for organizations that want to scale AI responsibly. By enrolling in AI268, you gain the practical skills and confidence to deliver intelligent solutions that perform reliably in real-world environments.

🔗 Ready to take your AI/ML skills to the next level? Explore Red Hat AI268 training and become an integral part of the enterprise AI revolution.

For more details www.hawkstack.com 

[hawkstack]

Mastering OpenShift at Scale: Why DO380 is a Must for Cluster Admins

In today’s cloud-native world, container orchestration isn’t just a trend—it’s the backbone of enterprise IT. Red Hat OpenShift has become a platform of choice for building, deploying, and managing containerized applications at scale. But as your cluster grows in size and complexity, basic knowledge isn’t enough.

That’s where Red Hat OpenShift Administration III (DO380) comes into play.

🔍 What is DO380?

DO380 is an advanced training course designed for experienced OpenShift administrators who want to master the skills needed to manage large-scale OpenShift container platforms. Whether you're handling production clusters or multi-cluster environments, this course equips you with the automation, security, and scaling expertise essential for enterprise operations.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✅ Automate Day 2 operations using Ansible and OpenShift APIs ✅ Manage multi-tenant clusters with greater control and security ✅ Implement GitOps workflows for consistent configuration management ✅ Configure and monitor advanced networking features ✅ Scale OpenShift across hybrid cloud environments ✅ Troubleshoot effectively using cluster diagnostics and performance metrics

🎓 Who Should Take DO380?

This course is ideal for:

Red Hat Certified System Administrators (RHCSA) or RHCEs managing OpenShift

DevOps and Platform Engineers

Site Reliability Engineers (SREs)

Anyone responsible for enterprise-grade OpenShift operations

🛠️ Prerequisites

Before enrolling, you should be comfortable with:

Kubernetes concepts and OpenShift fundamentals

Administering OpenShift clusters (typically via DO180 and DO280)

💼 Real-World Impact

With DO380, you're not just learning commands—you’re gaining production-ready insights to:

Improve cluster reliability

Reduce downtime

Automate repetitive tasks

Increase team efficiency

It’s the difference between managing OpenShift and mastering it.

📢 Final Thoughts

In a world where downtime means lost revenue, having the skills to operate and scale OpenShift clusters effectively is non-negotiable. The DO380 course is a strategic investment in your career and your organization’s container strategy.

Ready to scale your OpenShift expertise? Explore DO380 and take your cluster management to the next level.

For more details www.hawkstack.com  

[hawkstack]

Red Hat OpenStack Administration I (CL110): Core Operations for Domain Operators

In today’s cloud-first world, Red Hat OpenStack Platform is a powerful foundation for building and managing private or hybrid clouds. To empower IT professionals in harnessing the full potential of OpenStack, Red Hat offers CL110 – Red Hat OpenStack Administration I, a comprehensive course tailored for domain operators and administrators.

Whether you’re planning to build your OpenStack skills from the ground up or seeking to reinforce your operational capabilities within a cloud infrastructure, this course is your gateway to real-world, hands-on OpenStack experience.

🔍 What is CL110?

CL110 stands for Red Hat OpenStack Administration I: Core Operations for Domain Operators. It is the entry-level course in Red Hat’s OpenStack learning path, designed to introduce system administrators to the core services and daily operations of the OpenStack Platform.

It’s also the first step toward becoming a Red Hat Certified OpenStack Administrator (RHOCP).

🎯 Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for:

System administrators and cloud operators responsible for daily management of cloud infrastructure

IT professionals planning to shift toward cloud-native environments

Anyone preparing for the Red Hat Certified OpenStack Administrator (EX210) exam

🧠 What You'll Learn

The course covers the core operational tasks for managing an OpenStack environment, including:

✅ Navigating and using the Horizon dashboard ✅ Managing projects, users, roles, and quotas ✅ Creating and managing instances (VMs) ✅ Configuring networking and security groups ✅ Working with block storage and object storage ✅ Monitoring and managing OpenStack services ✅ Using the OpenStack CLI and REST API

All these tasks are executed in real-time, hands-on lab environments, reflecting real-world cloud operational scenarios.

🛠️ Course Lab Environment

One of the highlights of the CL110 course is its lab-driven approach. Participants interact directly with Red Hat OpenStack instances, perform administrative tasks, troubleshoot configurations, and simulate daily operations — all in a controlled learning environment.

🎓 Certification Path: RHOCP

After completing CL110, learners are well-prepared to take the EX210 exam and earn the Red Hat Certified OpenStack Administrator (RHOCP) credential. This certification validates your ability to deploy, configure, and manage an OpenStack environment, boosting your credibility as a cloud infrastructure expert.

🧩 Prerequisites

To make the most out of CL110, it’s recommended to have:

RHCSA-level Linux skills

Basic understanding of virtualization and networking concepts

💼 Why Learn OpenStack with Red Hat?

Red Hat is the leading enterprise OpenStack contributor, and its OpenStack platform is widely adopted in telecom, government, and large enterprise environments. Learning OpenStack through Red Hat means you get vendor-backed training, labs designed by experts, and a direct pathway to high-value certifications.

📅 Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're looking to enhance your cloud operations career, upskill your IT team, or become a Red Hat Certified OpenStack Administrator, the CL110 course is your launchpad into the OpenStack ecosystem.

🌐 At HawkStack Technologies, we deliver Red Hat CL110 training through certified instructors, hands-on labs, and guided learning sessions. Join our next batch and master OpenStack administration the right way!

For more details www.hawkstack.com

[hawkstack]

Master the Core of Cloud Operations with Red Hat OpenStack Administration I (CL110)

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations demand robust, scalable, and open infrastructure solutions to power their workloads. Red Hat OpenStack Platform is a proven IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) solution designed for enterprise-scale deployments. But to manage and operate this powerful platform effectively, skilled domain operators are essential.

That’s where Red Hat OpenStack Administration I (CL110) comes in.

🚀 Why Learn OpenStack?

OpenStack is the foundation of private cloud for thousands of enterprises worldwide. It enables organizations to manage compute, storage, and networking resources through a unified dashboard and powerful APIs.

Whether you're a cloud administrator, system engineer, or IT professional seeking to upskill, CL110 offers you the operational expertise required to succeed in OpenStack-based environments.

📘 What You’ll Learn in CL110

Red Hat OpenStack Administration I focuses on core operations necessary for domain operators managing project resources in OpenStack. This course introduces you to both command-line tools and the Horizon web interface for efficient day-to-day cloud operations.

Key Learning Outcomes:

✅ Understanding the Red Hat OpenStack Platform architecture ✅ Managing cloud projects, users, roles, and quotas ✅ Launching and managing virtual machine instances ✅ Working with software-defined networking (SDN) in OpenStack ✅ Configuring persistent and ephemeral block storage ✅ Automating tasks using OpenStack CLI tools ✅ Managing security groups, key pairs, and cloud-init ✅ Troubleshooting common operational issues

This hands-on course is structured around real-world use cases and lab-based scenarios to make sure you're job-ready from Day 1.

🧑‍🏫 Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

System administrators working in enterprise cloud environments

Domain/project operators managing OpenStack infrastructure

DevOps engineers needing to interact with OpenStack resources

IT professionals preparing for Red Hat Certified Specialist in Cloud Infrastructure

🛠️ Why Choose HawkStack Technologies?

At HawkStack Technologies, we are a Red Hat Certified Training Partner with a proven track record of delivering enterprise-grade cloud learning. Our CL110 training includes:

🔹 Instructor-led sessions by Red Hat Certified Architects 🔹 100% hands-on lab environment 🔹 Access to RHLS for extended practice 🔹 Post-training support and mentorship 🔹 Placement assistance for eligible learners

🎓 Certification Pathway

Upon completing CL110, learners are recommended to follow up with:

➡️ CL210: Red Hat OpenStack Administration II ➡️ EX210: Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack

This puts you on the fast track to becoming a Red Hat Certified OpenStack professional.

🌐 Ready to Build and Operate the Cloud?

Whether you're modernizing your data center or building new cloud-native environments, mastering Red Hat OpenStack with CL110 is the critical first step. For more details www.hawkstack.com

[hawkstack]

Enterprise Kubernetes Storage with Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation (DO370)

In the era of cloud-native transformation, data is the fuel powering everything from mission-critical enterprise apps to real-time analytics platforms. However, as Kubernetes adoption grows, many organizations face a new set of challenges: how to manage persistent storage efficiently, reliably, and securely across distributed environments.

To solve this, Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation (ODF) emerges as a powerful solution — and the DO370 training course is designed to equip professionals with the skills to deploy and manage this enterprise-grade storage platform.

🔍 What is Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation?

OpenShift Data Foundation is an integrated, software-defined storage solution that delivers scalable, resilient, and cloud-native storage for Kubernetes workloads. Built on Ceph and Rook, ODF supports block, file, and object storage within OpenShift, making it an ideal choice for stateful applications like databases, CI/CD systems, AI/ML pipelines, and analytics engines.

🎯 Why Learn DO370?

The DO370: Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation course is specifically designed for storage administrators, infrastructure architects, and OpenShift professionals who want to:

✅ Deploy ODF on OpenShift clusters using best practices.

✅ Understand the architecture and internal components of Ceph-based storage.

✅ Manage persistent volumes (PVs), storage classes, and dynamic provisioning.

✅ Monitor, scale, and secure Kubernetes storage environments.

✅ Troubleshoot common storage-related issues in production.

🛠️ Key Features of ODF for Enterprise Workloads

1. Unified Storage (Block, File, Object)

Eliminate silos with a single platform that supports diverse workloads.

2. High Availability & Resilience

ODF is designed for fault tolerance and self-healing, ensuring business continuity.

3. Integrated with OpenShift

Full integration with the OpenShift Console, Operators, and CLI for seamless Day 1 and Day 2 operations.

4. Dynamic Provisioning

Simplifies persistent storage allocation, reducing manual intervention.

5. Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Ready

Store and manage data across on-prem, public cloud, and edge environments.

📘 What You Will Learn in DO370

Installing and configuring ODF in an OpenShift environment.

Creating and managing storage resources using the OpenShift Console and CLI.

Implementing security and encryption for data at rest.

Monitoring ODF health with Prometheus and Grafana.

Scaling the storage cluster to meet growing demands.

🧠 Real-World Use Cases

Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB with persistent volumes.

CI/CD: Jenkins with persistent pipelines and storage for artifacts.

AI/ML: Store and manage large datasets for training models.

Kafka & Logging: High-throughput storage for real-time data ingestion.

👨‍🏫 Who Should Enroll?

This course is ideal for:

Storage Administrators

Kubernetes Engineers

DevOps & SRE teams

Enterprise Architects

OpenShift Administrators aiming to become RHCA in Infrastructure or OpenShift

🚀 Takeaway

If you’re serious about building resilient, performant, and scalable storage for your Kubernetes applications, DO370 is the must-have training. With ODF becoming a core component of modern OpenShift deployments, understanding it deeply positions you as a valuable asset in any hybrid cloud team.

🧭 Ready to transform your Kubernetes storage strategy? Enroll in DO370 and master Red Hat OpenShift Data Foundation today with HawkStack Technologies – your trusted Red Hat Certified Training Partner. For more details www.hawkstack.com

[hawkstack]

Migrating Virtual Machines to Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization with Ansible Automation Platform

As enterprises modernize their infrastructure, migrating traditional virtual machines (VMs) to container-native platforms is no longer just a trend — it’s a necessity. One of the most powerful solutions for this evolution is Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization, which allows organizations to run VMs side-by-side with containers on a unified Kubernetes platform. When combined with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, this migration can be automated, repeatable, and efficient.

In this blog, we’ll explore how enterprises can leverage Ansible to seamlessly migrate workloads from legacy virtualization platforms (like VMware or KVM) to OpenShift Virtualization.

🔍 Why OpenShift Virtualization?

OpenShift Virtualization extends OpenShift’s capabilities to include traditional VMs, enabling:

Unified management of containers and VMs

Native integration with Kubernetes networking and storage

Simplified CI/CD pipelines that include VM-based workloads

Reduction of operational overhead and licensing costs

🛠️ The Role of Ansible Automation Platform

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform is the glue that binds infrastructure automation, offering:

Agentless automation using SSH or APIs

Pre-built collections for platforms like VMware, OpenShift, KubeVirt, and more

Scalable execution environments for large-scale VM migration

Role-based access and governance through automation controller (formerly Tower)

🧭 Migration Workflow Overview

A typical migration flow using Ansible and OpenShift Virtualization involves:

1. Discovery Phase

Inventory the source VMs using Ansible VMware/KVM modules.

Collect VM configuration, network settings, and storage details.

2. Template Creation

Convert the discovered VM configurations into KubeVirt/OVIRT VM manifests.

Define OpenShift-native templates to match the workload requirements.

3. Image Conversion and Upload

Use tools like virt-v2v or Ansible roles to export VM disk images (VMDK/QCOW2).

Upload to OpenShift using Containerized Data Importer (CDI) or PVCs.

4. VM Deployment

Deploy converted VMs as KubeVirt VirtualMachines via Ansible Playbooks.

Integrate with OpenShift Networking and Storage (Multus, OCS, etc.)

5. Validation & Post-Migration

Run automated smoke tests or app-specific validation.

Integrate monitoring and alerting via Prometheus/Grafana.

- name: Deploy VM on OpenShift Virtualization

  hosts: localhost

  tasks:

    - name: Create PVC for VM disk

      k8s:

        state: present

        definition: "{{ lookup('file', 'vm-pvc.yaml') }}"

    - name: Deploy VirtualMachine

      k8s:

        state: present

        definition: "{{ lookup('file', 'vm-definition.yaml') }}"

🔐 Benefits of This Approach

✅ Consistency – Every VM migration follows the same process.

✅ Auditability – Track every step of the migration with Ansible logs.

✅ Security – Ansible integrates with enterprise IAM and RBAC policies.

✅ Scalability – Migrate tens or hundreds of VMs using automation workflows.

🌐 Real-World Use Case

At HawkStack Technologies, we’ve successfully helped enterprises migrate large-scale critical workloads from VMware vSphere to OpenShift Virtualization using Ansible. Our structured playbooks, coupled with Red Hat-supported tools, ensured zero data loss and minimal downtime.

🔚 Conclusion

As cloud-native adoption grows, merging the worlds of VMs and containers is no longer optional. With Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization and Ansible Automation Platform, organizations get the best of both worlds — a powerful, policy-driven, scalable infrastructure that supports modern and legacy workloads alike.

If you're planning a VM migration journey or modernizing your data center, reach out to HawkStack Technologies — Red Hat Certified Partners — to accelerate your transformation. For more details www.hawkstack.com 

[hawkstack]

Developing and Deploying AI/ML Applications on Red Hat OpenShift AI (AI268)

As AI and Machine Learning continue to reshape industries, the need for scalable, secure, and efficient platforms to build and deploy these workloads is more critical than ever. That’s where Red Hat OpenShift AI comes in—a powerful solution designed to operationalize AI/ML at scale across hybrid and multicloud environments.

With the AI268 course – Developing and Deploying AI/ML Applications on Red Hat OpenShift AI – developers, data scientists, and IT professionals can learn to build intelligent applications using enterprise-grade tools and MLOps practices on a container-based platform.

🌟 What is Red Hat OpenShift AI?

Red Hat OpenShift AI (formerly Red Hat OpenShift Data Science) is a comprehensive, Kubernetes-native platform tailored for developing, training, testing, and deploying machine learning models in a consistent and governed way. It provides tools like:

Jupyter Notebooks

TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn

Apache Spark

KServe & OpenVINO for inference

Pipelines & GitOps for MLOps

The platform ensures seamless collaboration between data scientists, ML engineers, and developers—without the overhead of managing infrastructure.

📘 Course Overview: What You’ll Learn in AI268

AI268 focuses on equipping learners with hands-on skills in designing, developing, and deploying AI/ML workloads on Red Hat OpenShift AI. Here’s a quick snapshot of the course outcomes:

✅ 1. Explore OpenShift AI Components

Understand the ecosystem—JupyterHub, Pipelines, Model Serving, GPU support, and the OperatorHub.

✅ 2. Data Science Workspaces

Set up and manage development environments using Jupyter notebooks integrated with OpenShift’s security and scalability features.

✅ 3. Training and Managing Models

Use libraries like PyTorch or Scikit-learn to train models. Learn to leverage pipelines for versioning and reproducibility.

✅ 4. MLOps Integration

Implement CI/CD for ML using OpenShift Pipelines and GitOps to manage lifecycle workflows across environments.

✅ 5. Model Deployment and Inference

Serve models using tools like KServe, automate inference pipelines, and monitor performance in real-time.

🧠 Why Take This Course?

Whether you're a data scientist looking to deploy models into production or a developer aiming to integrate AI into your apps, AI268 bridges the gap between experimentation and scalable delivery. The course is ideal for:

Data Scientists exploring enterprise deployment techniques

DevOps/MLOps Engineers automating AI pipelines

Developers integrating ML models into cloud-native applications

Architects designing AI-first enterprise solutions

🎯 Final Thoughts

AI/ML is no longer confined to research labs—it’s at the core of digital transformation across sectors. With Red Hat OpenShift AI, you get an enterprise-ready MLOps platform that lets you go from notebook to production with confidence.

If you're looking to modernize your AI/ML strategy and unlock true operational value, AI268 is your launchpad.

👉 Ready to build and deploy smarter, faster, and at scale? Join the AI268 course and start your journey into Enterprise AI with Red Hat OpenShift.

For more details www.hawkstack.com 

[hawkstack]

Master Multicluster Kubernetes with DO480: Red Hat OpenShift Platform Plus Training

In today’s enterprise landscape, managing multiple Kubernetes clusters across hybrid or multi-cloud environments is no longer optional — it’s essential. Whether you’re scaling applications globally, ensuring high availability, or meeting regulatory compliance, multicluster management is the key to consistent, secure, and efficient operations.

That’s where Red Hat OpenShift Platform Plus and the DO480 course come in.

🔍 What is DO480?

DO480: Multicluster Management with Red Hat OpenShift Platform Plus is an advanced, hands-on course designed for platform engineers, cluster admins, and DevOps teams. It teaches how to manage and secure Kubernetes clusters at scale using Red Hat’s enterprise-grade tools like:

Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management (ACM) for Kubernetes

Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security (ACS) for Kubernetes

OpenShift GitOps and Pipelines

Multi-cluster observability

📌 Why Should You Learn DO480?

As enterprises adopt hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, the complexity of managing Kubernetes clusters increases. DO480 equips you with the skills to:

✅ Deploy, govern, and automate multiple clusters ✅ Apply security policies consistently across all clusters ✅ Gain centralized visibility into workloads, security posture, and compliance ✅ Use GitOps workflows to streamline multicluster deployments ✅ Automate Day-2 operations like backup, disaster recovery, and patch management

👨‍💻 What Will You Learn?

The DO480 course covers key topics, including:

Installing and configuring Red Hat ACM

Creating and managing cluster sets, placement rules, and application lifecycle

Using OpenShift GitOps for declarative deployment

Integrating ACS for runtime and build-time security

Enforcing policies and handling compliance at scale

All these are practiced through hands-on labs in a real-world environment.

🎯 Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

Platform engineers managing multiple clusters

DevOps professionals building GitOps-based automation

Security teams enforcing policies across cloud-native environments

Anyone aiming to become a Red Hat Certified Specialist in Multicluster Management

🔒 Certification Path

Completing DO480 helps prepare you for the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Multicluster Management exam — a valuable addition to your Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) journey.

🚀 Ready to Master Multicluster Kubernetes? Enroll in DO480 – Multicluster Management with Red Hat OpenShift Platform Plus and gain the skills needed to control, secure, and scale your OpenShift environment like a pro.

🔗 Talk to HawkStack today to schedule your corporate or individual training. 🌐 www.hawkstack.com

[hawkstack]

Master Advanced OpenShift Operations with Red Hat DO380

In today’s dynamic DevOps landscape, container orchestration platforms like OpenShift have become the backbone of modern enterprise applications. For professionals looking to deepen their expertise in managing OpenShift clusters at scale, Red Hat OpenShift Administration III: Scaling Deployments in the Enterprise (DO380) is a game-changing course.

🎯 What is DO380?

The DO380 course is designed for experienced OpenShift administrators and site reliability engineers (SREs) who want to extend their knowledge beyond basic operations. It focuses on day-2 administration tasks in Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 and above, including automation, performance tuning, security, and cluster scaling.

📌 Key Highlights of DO380

🔹 Advanced Cluster Management Learn how to manage large-scale OpenShift environments using tools like the OpenShift CLI (oc), the web console, and GitOps workflows.

🔹 Performance Tuning Analyze cluster performance metrics and implement tuning configurations to optimize workloads and resource utilization.

🔹 Monitoring & Logging Use the OpenShift monitoring stack and log aggregation tools to troubleshoot issues and maintain visibility into cluster health.

🔹 Security & Compliance Implement advanced security practices, including custom SCCs (Security Context Constraints), Network Policies, and OAuth integrations.

🔹 Cluster Scaling Master techniques to scale infrastructure and applications dynamically using horizontal and vertical pod autoscaling, and custom metrics.

🔹 Backup & Disaster Recovery Explore methods to back up and restore OpenShift components using tools like Velero.

🧠 Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for:

Red Hat Certified System Administrators (RHCSA) and Engineers (RHCE)

Kubernetes administrators

Platform engineers and SREs

DevOps professionals managing OpenShift clusters in production environments

📚 Prerequisites

To get the most out of DO380, learners should have completed:

Red Hat OpenShift Administration I (DO180)

Red Hat OpenShift Administration II (DO280)

Or possess equivalent knowledge and hands-on experience with OpenShift clusters

🏅 Certification Pathway

After completing DO380, you’ll be well-prepared to pursue the Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Administration and progress toward the prestigious Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) credential.

📈 Why Choose HawkStack for DO380?

At HawkStack Technologies, we offer:

✅ Certified Red Hat instructors ✅ Hands-on labs and real-world scenarios ✅ Corporate and individual learning paths ✅ Post-training mentoring & support ✅ Flexible batch timings (weekend/weekday)

🚀 Ready to Level Up?

If you're looking to scale your OpenShift expertise and manage enterprise-grade clusters with confidence, DO380 is your next step.

For more details www.hawkstack.com 

[hawkstack]

Master Linux Automation with RHCE (RH294): Red Hat Certified Engineer on RHEL 9 & Ansible 2.2

In the ever-evolving world of IT automation and DevOps, system administrators and developers are expected to manage large-scale environments with efficiency and precision. That’s where the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) certification steps in—equipping you with the skills to automate Linux tasks using Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform 2.2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (RHEL 9).

🔧 What is RHCE?

The RHCE (EX294) certification is a professional-level credential offered by Red Hat, designed for experienced Linux administrators. It focuses on real-world automation using Ansible, one of the most powerful IT automation tools in the industry.

The course behind this certification, Red Hat System Administration III: Linux Automation with Ansible (RH294), is tailored to teach practical, hands-on skills in:

Ansible installation and configuration

Writing and managing playbooks

Automating Linux system administration tasks

Orchestrating deployments and configurations across multiple systems

Using Ansible roles for consistent configuration management

Integrating automation into daily administration

🚀 Why Learn RHCE on RHEL 9 with Ansible 2.2?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 brings modern capabilities, improved performance, and enhanced security. Pairing that with Ansible Automation Platform 2.2, you gain access to powerful automation workflows, event-driven execution, and dynamic inventories—all necessary for managing enterprise-level infrastructure.

Here’s what makes RH294/RHCE a must-have:

✅ Based on the latest industry-standard platforms ✅ In-demand skillset across DevOps and SysAdmin roles ✅ Prepares you for real-world enterprise scenarios ✅ Hands-on labs to master automation workflows ✅ Career advancement with globally recognized certification

👨‍💻 Who Should Attend?

Linux System Administrators

Infrastructure Engineers

DevOps Professionals

Cloud and Automation Engineers

Anyone aiming to upgrade from RHCSA to RHCE

📘 Course Highlights (RH294)

Introduction to Ansible and YAML syntax

Managing inventories and host variables

Ansible playbooks and ad hoc commands

Creating roles and automating complex tasks

Configuring systems at scale

Troubleshooting and debugging Ansible scripts

🎯 Certification Exam: EX294

The RHCE exam tests your ability to use Ansible for system configuration and management. It’s a performance-based exam, meaning you’ll work on real systems to demonstrate your skills—not just answer multiple-choice questions.

🏁 Final Word

Whether you're aiming to become a Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) or simply want to advance your career with in-demand automation skills, RHCE (RH294) is your next step. With the combined power of RHEL 9 and Ansible 2.2, you're not just learning a tool—you're mastering a strategy to streamline IT operations.

Get Started Today with RHCE Training at HawkStack Technologies 👉 Corporate & Individual Training | Real-World Labs | Exam Prep | Career Guidance

📩 Contact us now to unlock your path to Red Hat certification success.

For more details www.hawkstack.com