Since the 6th edition was released, I've received a number of questions related to the physical hardware needed for people who are studying for their RHCSA/RHCE certs. Yes, in essence, there is an implied hardware requirement. To help answer those questions, I've collected relevant excerpts from my book in this post.

While the Red Hat exams don't test hardware, the RHCSA includes several objectives associated with Kernel-based Virtual Machines (KVM). To meet the RHCE objectives, you'll need to set up multiple systems (which can be on virtual machines). RHCE candidates are also expected to understand RHCSA requirements. The packages required to host KVM-based virtual machines are available only on the 64-bit releases of RHEL 6. As Scientific Linux 6 and CentOS 6 use Red Hat source code, KVM-based virtual machines are available only the the 64-bit versions of those distributions as well.

Summary: To study for the objectives associated with the RHCSA/RHCE exams --

1) You should have a 64-bit physical system with hardware virtualization enabled, preferably with multiple CPUs or a CPU with multiple cores.
2) You'll need sufficient RAM for at least two virtual machines on the host system. 4GB or more would be ideal. For study purposes, while you can use a second physical system, the objectives strongly imply that you will need to know how to handle KVM in detail.
3) While not strictly a hardware requirement, you may want to modify some hardware-related settings to extend the life of some hard drives.

If you're using RHEL 6 (or one of the rebuild distributions such as CentOS-6 or Scientific Linux 6), KVM host software is available only on the 64-bit releases.

As I've noted in the introduction to my book http://www.amazon.com/RHCSA-Linux-Ce...dp/0071765654/ ,

In the book, at the end of that paragraph, I made a mistake. 32-bit versions of Scientific Linux 6 do not include KVM host software. That will be noted in the errata. (While you may be able to use 32-bit versions of Fedora for KVM, I haven't tested that. Even if it's possible, it would bring up other problems related to the differences between Fedora and RHEL 6.)

The paragraph that follows is also important; the noted bug may also apply to some of you who are studying on desktop systems.

In Chapter 1, I supplement this discussion with the following information:

While I've looked at just a few hardware systems, published reports suggest that computers with appropriate CPUs from AMD automatically have hardware virtualization enabled. I include the following "On The Job" element that should help if you're shopping for an appropriate system:

While there's no "Live CD" of RHEL 6, there are Live CD versions of both Scientific Linux 6 and CentOS 6. For the purpose of confirming hardware-assisted virtualization, a 64-bit Live CD other current Linux distributions should also work.

Finally, if you're using a laptop system (some desktop systems may also be affected), be aware that the default Linux settings (including RHEL 6) may result in very frequent cycling of --some-- hard drives. Without changes, hard drives on some systems have been known to last only a few months. For more information, see https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=667485 and https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.ph...ibility_issues . Personally, I've included the following command as a workaround in my /etc/rc.local file:

/sbin/hdparm -B 200 /dev/sda

One common alternative is:

/sbin/hdparm -B 254 /dev/sda

Thanks for the detailed info.
To anyone looking to build a desktop lab machine, look no further than cheap AMD 3-core or quad core CPUs (Athlon II X3 or X4, or the newer A6 or A8 APUs).

Just got the new book...used version 5 for my RHCE...can't wait to get recertd with this book

Thanks for the updates

Dear custangro,

I appreciate the kind words. If you (or anyone else) have any questions as you read the 6th edition, I do plan to continue monitoring this board at least for the immediate future. FYI, I've been told that errata that I just submitted should be available within a couple of weeks.

Thank you Mike,

Just a quick note (keeping in mind that I'm only as far as chapter 7). On page 395 (re: /etc/auto.home); it is suggested to uncommnent 5 different options in the /etc/sysconfig/autofs file.

There is no mention (not even briefly) as to why we need to uncommnet these directives. On my test systems; I was able to use the automounter (the /etc/auto.home) for centralized homedirs without the need to uncommnet these directives.

If it is explained later in the book; then my apologies (as I am only on chapter 7). But is the "uncommneting" step just "best practices" or something "required"?

-C

Dear custangro,

Your point is appropriate. It's part of configuring LDAP as a client, to support networked home directories.

For more information see the Red Hat Storage Administration Guide, section 12.3.4. "Using LDAP to Store Automounter Maps". The five options noted are listed there.

It is one way (in part) to meet the following RHCSA objective:
I do explain the context briefly on p 395, in the following excerpt:
Thanks!

Another quick note

I am using RHEL 6.1 and have copied the installation DVD files to my local HD to make a "localinstall repo" which has worked beautifully.

In Chapter 15 Lab 1 you suggested to install the "samba-doc" package. There is no "samba-doc" package included in the DVD for RHEL 6.1

This might be something to note for the people (like me) who aren't using "rebuilds" to study

--Christian

1 members found this post helpful.

Dear custangro,

Point well taken. I should have noted that the samba-doc package is available from the RHEL 6 Server Optional repo. (If I'm hearing you correctly, you have a genuine version of RHEL 6, and can thus activate access to that repo via the Red Hat Network.) In addition, I see in Chapter 7 that I suggested that the Server Optional repo includes mostly desktop packages. Corrections will go into the next round of errata.

Thank you for reading so carefully!

Just a quick thank you Mr Jang

I used your study guide and it prepared me for the RH300 class that I took.

Your book and the class helped me to earn my RHCSA and my RHCE.

I am now certified in RHEL 6

-C