Questions about getting ready for your Red Hat remote exam?

[Deanna]

This thread is dedicated to connect you with Red Hat subject matter experts who can help answer your questions regarding Red Hat remote exams. Please see the following resources for Red Hat Remote Exams below:

• Remote Exams Announcement
• Technical Documentation for "Getting ready for your Red Hat remote exam"
• Remote Exams FAQ

For questions on scheduling or redeeming your exams,  please use the Red Hat Certification team comment form here. 

**Our subject matters experts in the Red Hat Learning Community will not be assisting with tasks related to scheduling exams. 

[JS_Learning]

Hi @George_Koshy ,

Some devices are not well compatible with Linux, including some MacBook Pro.

Since the Remote Exam live usb is based on Fedora 32, it's sometime happening.

Best to choose another computer to attend the Remote Exam (or go in a live testing center, that option still exists).

I read very briefly, for example there are some hardware component not well supported:

Some Mac uses a T2 chip, not (yet) supported by kernel.

Also:  Linux kernel do not have the necessary drivers to be able to use the Keyboard or Trackpad since those items are no longer considered USB devices.

Source:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251087440 

Actually I have no idea how well Apple is working/collaborating with upstream projects, Kernel, etc... I hope they all contribute well and that it will be compatible soon. 

Edit: I found this bug, which is not promising:

https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=202567#c1 

I'm going to close this one. It's not NVMe compliant, hence it won't work with the in-kernel NVMe driver. This is not a Linux bug, it's Apple doing their usual thing. If someone wants to work on this, be my guest.

It seems unfortunately, that Apple is not complying with some standards with some specific hardware, especially due to the T2 chip, and therefore it's..not supported. Everyone is welcomed to contribute and fix that, in an open-source way. Reading the quoted comment and not knowing anything about the context, I have the impression Apple is not helping in that effort. Interesting topic, no time to investigate more.

Cheers,

[George_Koshy]

Thanks for the update @JS_Learning. I have to find an alternate laptop for exam :) 

[mjperrins]

Hi, quick quesiton and apologies if this has been raised before , I am an IBMer with an IBM issued Mac Book Pro , we have a security policy that blocks the use of the USB port , is there another model for configuring the Certification ISO ? can we build a Virtual Box instance ? or does it require the OS boot to be native on the laptop ?

Thanks

Matt Perrins

[JS_Learning]

Hi @mjperrins ,

The only accepted method is to boot from the secured live usb environment for the Remote Exams.

There is still the possibility to go to a training center and use the Kiosk environment...

In your case, if you intend to do the Remote Exam live usb, then you need to choose another computer. Preferrably not a professional one which can have additional security restrictions preventing you to boot on USB :)

Cheers,

[mjperrins]

Thanks for the clarification, I have since found out there is an exception process in IBM which I am testing out. Will post this link if other IBMers are asking the same question, worst case scenario will boot this up on my Sons gaming PC :-) 

https://w3.ibm.com/help/#/article/usb_drive_risk_reduction/udrr_ae?requestedTopicId=udrr_ae

Thanks again

Matt Perrins

[jredman]

Is the 90 degree field of view still a requirement or is it just an external webcam with 1m cable?  What resolution is required, if any?

I have a Logitech QuickCam Communicate STX that is a bit older and is failing the hardware test on the iso. I've tried increasing the lighting in the room, creating some motion for the camera, etc. with no joy on passing this section of the hardware test. 

Amazon shows this as being 480p and 42 degrees:

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-961464-0403-QuickCam-Communicate-STX/dp/B000GP845M

[shefeeqyr]

Hello @jredman,

The requirement is simplified now and hence only one external webcam with about a meter of cable length is expected. Nevertheless, lack of clarity and field of vision can be a limiting factor. If you are using this with a desktop computer and monitor as the only source of video feeds, then 480p with a narrow field of vision may hamper the Proctor's ability to monitor the exam.

Would you be using this Webcam along with a laptop that already has an integrated webcam instead?

If the answer is yes, then try running the remote exam compatibility test and ensure that both integrated webcam and external webcam are sending feeds. Seeing a video feed from both cameras during the test is important as the compatibility test looks for the presence of only one webcam and it can throw a false success message by detecting the integrated webcam.

In the above setup where If both your integrated webcam and one external webcam are sending feeds, then that can be used to compensate for the reduced field of vision of the external webcam. It's a matter of positioning the laptop screen and webcam in a way that let's the Proctor cover an acceptable view of your surroundings.

Another important factor: The Proctor should be able to read the text in your ID card for initial verification. We have noticed that some external webcams and laptop's integrated webcams fail to adjust their focus automatically to make ID card texts readable. A practical way to test this would be to use the webcam in your laptop's operating system, open a camera application or webconferencing client, turn on self-view, hold the id card close to the camera and check if you can read the contents. In the case of both integrated and external cameras detected in the compatibility test, a clear view of your ID from either of the cameras will be acceptable.

Hope these suggestions help. 

Regards,

Shefeeq

[jredman]

Hi, yes the external camera will be used in conjunction with a T580 with a built-in webcam.  

Thank you for the quick reply.

[Sam_Akpan]

Hello Everyone,

I have been studying and preparing for the RedHat EX200 Based on Rhel 7 and about 3 weeks ago scheduled to take the remote exam when it was made available because all the testing centers around me were all closed and not available for in center testing. 

So on the day of my remote exam i logged in 5 minutes early and did all the required checks with the proctor and the exam started but about 30mins into the exam there was a power outage due to the fires in California and lost my network. The power later came back on but i didnt want to take the chance so i asked to reschedule and i was able to reschedule.

The second attempt at remote exam and this time my network kept flunctuating and being unstable even though everything passed during the compatibility test. Again, thankfully the Redhat team were really helpful with helping me reschedule.

So with all my experience with remote testing i decided to see if the centers are not accepting in person exams and waaalaaaaaah! i found an appointment but its not till October 6th. My only concern is that on the RedHat website it says that Exams based on Redhat 7 will be available until October 1, 2020.

Now i am concerned i will have to learn Rhel8. Will the objectives change as well?

Will i still be able to take the Exam based on Rhel 7 since that is what i scheduled?

Please help with any information.

Thanks

[vishals]

Hi @Sam_Akpan ,

The date mentioned in the website refers to the last date the EX200 REHL 7 exam will be available for purchase. If you have already purchased the exam and have an exam voucher, it is valid for one year from the date of purchase and can be scheduled and taken at any point prior to its expiration.

Hope that helps.

Best Regards,