Exam
CKS
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CKS · Cluster Setup
Upgrade a Worker Node by One Patch Version
The worker node is running an older kubelet patch version (v1.30.0) and must be upgraded to v1.30.1. Access The upgrade is performed on the worker node itself.
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The task
Task
The worker node is running an older kubelet patch version (v1.30.0) and must be upgraded to v1.30.1.
Access
The upgrade is performed on the worker node itself. SSH access is enabled — connect from this node with:
ssh root@<worker-node> # password: Kd7wA3fXThe target kubelet binary (v1.30.1) is already staged on the worker at /usr/local/bin/kubelet-1.30.1.
Requirements
- Identify the worker node name with
kubectl get nodes - Drain the worker node
- SSH to the worker, replace the kubelet binary with the staged
v1.30.1binary, and restart the kubelet - Uncordon the node
Verify that the worker node is Ready and running v1.30.1.
> Note: After restarting the kubelet, the node may take up to 60 seconds to report the new version and return to Ready.
What this tests
Lock down network access, the kubelet, API authentication, and ingress TLS, and run CIS benchmark checks. On the CKS exam, Cluster Setup tasks are graded purely on what you build in the cluster — not multiple choice — so the only way to get faster is to do them on a real cluster against a clock.
Practice it for real
prepium.sh drops you into your own isolated Kubernetes cluster in the browser — no install, no credit card. You solve the task in a real terminal, hit validate, and a programmatic checker scores exactly what you got right and wrong (with partial credit). The canonical solution unlocks after you attempt it, so you learn the fast, exam-ready way to do it.