Course: Infrastructure Support Engineer to CloudOps Engineer - Part 1: Infrastructure Support Engineer

Most organisations have a mix of legacy and advanced systems. In this course, you'll explore how you can avoid the trap of legacy system architecture with DevOps and CloudOps. You'll learn the strategies, best practices, and benefits of modernizing or migrating legacy system architectures to multi-cloud architecture. Next, you'll look at different types of failover that can be adopted to manage system failures and the organizational structure that can be adopted to support mature multi-cloud deployments. You'll move on to learn about the elements of support systems and tools that enable robust technical and operational support systems. Finally, you'll examine how to use Git for issue tracking and Freshdesk for implementing a support ticketing system.

Support engineers commonly leverage cloud services like AWS, Azure, and GCP to manage resource configuration. In this course, you'll explore cloud infrastructure components, common cloud service models, and the technologies behind cloud computing. You'll learn about the logical architecture of AWS and critical services provided by Azure and Google Cloud Platform. Next, you'll examine a comparison of services provided by IBM, VMware, and Kamatera cloud. You'll then move on to look at tools that can be used to manage multi-cloud environments and the concepts of automation and configuration management in CloudOps. Next, you'll learn about the support levels provided by cloud service providers used to enable the shared responsibility support model. Finally, you'll learn to work with new EC2 runtime commands to manage remote EC2 instances, as well as common Azure and Google Cloud Platform commands to manage Azure and Google Cloud Platform resource configuration.

In this lab, you will configure and deploy a highly available and secure website by using Amazon Web Services (AWS). First, you will configure network security for your environment, and then you will create and configure an Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) bucket to store static assets. Next, you will create a fleet of EC2 instances by using an Auto Scaling group. Finally, you will integrate an Application Load Balancer into the Auto Scaling group. Note: Once you begin the challenge lab, you will not be able to pause, save, or exit and then return to your challenge lab. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge lab before you start.

In this lab, you will configure an Amazon Web Services environment. First, you will create an Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) bucket to host a publicly accessible website. Next, you will build a custom Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) that will support public and private workloads. Finally, you will create a re-usable Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) solution by using a custom AMI and a launch template. Note: Once you begin the challenge lab, you will not be able to pause, save, or exit and then return to your challenge lab. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge lab before you start.

In this challenge, you will control costs related to Azure resources. First, you will review the options on the Subscriptions page in the Azure portal. Next, you will review the Azure cost management options. Finally, you will create a cost management budget and alert. Note: Once you begin a challenge you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress. Please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

There are key DevOps practices that the support engineer may adopt to enable end-to-end DevOps management, including best practices, patterns, and workflows. In this course, you'll explore the role of metrics, monitoring, and alerting in managing the state of infrastructures and systems. You'll learn about the best practices for monitoring systems and infrastructures, as well as deployment patterns for building reusable applications and services. Next, you'll examine the benefits of automating configuration management and the continuous integration deployment workflow for DevOps workflows management. Finally, you'll learn to configure GitLab to implement continuous integration.

There are a range of DevOps tools available to implement end-to-end DevOps processes and principles. In this course, you'll explore the products and tools that can be used to manage code versioning, builds, configuration management, integration, and monitoring. You'll learn about containerization, actions that can be performed during downtime, and considerations for creating downtime. Next, you'll look at how to work with prominent DevOps tools like Git, Gradle, Jenkins, Kubernetes, Chef, New Relic, and Raygun, including how they can be used to enable and implement end-to-end DevOps processes and principles in the software development lifecycle.

Learn how to adopt the automation first mindset and transition from a task-oriented support engineer to a more design and automation-oriented mindset. In this course, you'll explore the concept of an automation mindset and the benefits that enterprises can realize by adopting an automation first mindset. You'll examine the pros and cons of automation and the principles for adopting an automation first approach. Next, you'll learn the process for instilling an automation mindset, the role of design thinking in deriving and enabling an effective automation mindset and digital transformation, and how to apply the automation mindset to automate projects. You'll explore the operational KPIs for tracking and implementing continuous improvement, IT tasks that can be automated, and the evolution of software in Automated Production Systems, and the process of deriving Automated Production Systems. Finally, you'll learn about the "Who will do it" and "How can we get this done most efficiently" approaches and the best practices for building productive DevOps CI/CD automation pipelines.

There is a range of automation technologies available to the support engineer. In this course, you'll explore the features of key scripting languages, common DevOps automation tools, platform automation tool features, and the key areas that system management tools should address. You'll learn about the features of Foreman and how to use Bash, Python, Ruby, and Shell scripts to automate interactions with infrastructures that are hosted on AWS and Azure. Finally, you'll see how to work with Puppet and Chef, create Ansible Playbooks and Salt formulas to automate creating resources and installing web servers, install Foreman, and work with Foreman UI features.

Script automation involves the use of automation software to leverage the current scripts within your framework. In this course, you'll explore the benefits of Infrastructure as a Code and Configuration as a Code, the role of Python in configuring AWS resources, and the automation capabilities of Azure. You'll learn about the differences between PowerShell runbooks and PowerShell Workflow runbooks, how to install Python for AWS to manage AWS S3 buckets, and write Python code to retrieve AWS EC2 information and manage AWS S3 buckets. Next, you'll examine how to set up automated deployments in AWS and create an Azure Automation account. Finally, you'll learn how to create and publish PowerShell runbooks, create Python runbooks to start Azure VMs, execute scripts using Bash Interpreter in Chef, and use Chef Recipes to run scripts and handle configuration changes in AWS.

In this challenge, you will automate administration tasks by using bash shell scripts. First, you will create a shell script that displays the day of the week, and then you will create a shell script search utility to locate files. Note: Once you begin the challenge, you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

In this challenge, you will automate the configuration of a web app on a new server. First, you will create a storage account, and then you will create a Windows virtual machine. Next, you will create the configuration files. Finally, you will apply a PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) extension, and then you will verify that the web app loads. Note: Once you begin the challenge, you will not be able to pause, save, or exit and then return to your challenge. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

In this challenge, you will use PowerShell to write a script that displays the Top 10 processes by Working Set. Note: Once you begin a challenge you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress. Please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

In this course, you'll explore the competitive advantage of cloud computing, the features of various types of virtualization implemented in the cloud, and the hypervisors that are used by popular public cloud providers. You'll examine how to choose the right cloud service model and the SaaS Enablement Framework components that can be used to build, manage, and deliver SaaS solutions. Next, you'll learn how to select the right cloud deployment model, create AWS HVM Linux AMIs, and manage custom deployment configuration on AWS. Finally, you'll look at how to deploy applications to Azure VMs, configure resource deployments with GCP Deployment Manager, and create Network File Systems on public clouds.

In this course, you'll explore IT support levels that can be structured to provide appropriate technical support and the skills required by traditional Support Engineers to play the role of a Cloud Support Engineer. Next, you'll look at the phases of the Cloud Adoption Framework that you need to follow to manage support services for Cloud. You'll learn about the Cloud Decision Support Framework, which you can adopt to define application migration processes, as well as the concept of Cloud Affinity Assessment. You'll move on to explore how to evaluate drivers and inhibitors of cloud adoption and the metrics that you can use to score potential solution candidate. You'll examine multi-cloud use cases that need to be considered to define support strategy and support levels and the Technical Support Services Guidelines for managing support for GCP resources. Finally, you'll learn how to create a support case, select the severity for AWS resources, and create new support requests from the Azure Portal.

In this challenge, you will deploy a web app with configure Continuous Deployment using GIT and Deployment Slots. Note: Before you begin, please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete this challenge as you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress.

In this challenge, you will develop an Azure web app by using deployment slots. First, you will create a web app, and then you will create an Azure SQL database and a database connection string for the web app. Next, you will create a staging deployment slot, and then you will deploy and test code by using the staging deployment slot. Finally, you will swap the code to the production deployment slot, and then you will test the web app in production. Note: Once you begin a challenge you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress. Please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

Identifying the job roles, workflows, and processes that can support and manintain DevOps performance is essential for any enterprise. In this course, you'll explore core support roles and responsibilities. You'll also define the best DevOps team pattern to debug key components, identify an effective value stream for observing delivery across multiple systems for debugging, and establish a troubleshooting workflow to ensure continuous delivery and deployment. Next, you'll examine the processes of logical, systematic, and effective DevOps troubleshooting. You'll identify troubleshooting tasks to resolve common DevOps deployment challenges, and the concept, working mechanism, and benefits of reverse debugging. You'll move on to outline approaches to debugging cloud deployment solutions, define techniques for resolving DevOps performance issues, and distinguish the pros and cons of incremental and full deployment processes. Finally, you'll identify troubleshooting approaches for application distribution in multi-cloud and the role of the error monitoring and logging integrated approach. You'll also explore orchestrated service deployment, maintenance, and debugging processes in IaaS clouds.

Knowing how to maintain a healthy DevOps environment in all scenarios is a fundamental skill of the Support Engineer. In this course, you'll explore how to establish a performance test strategy for microservice-oriented applications, the different types of routers for connecting internal networks with external networks, and the features and issues associated with edge routers. Next, you'll identify how to troubleshoot slow connection and timeout issues when accessing AWS EC2 instances. You'll examine how to use CloudWatch metrics, tune the performance of web servers that host applications deployed using DevOps pipelines, benchmark network throughput among Amazon EC2 Linux instances, and configure firewall rules. You'll move on to learn to use the AWS Trusted Advisor and install, configure, and use JMeter to conduct performance, functional, and load testing. Finally, you'll see how to use iPerf and JPerf and configure GoReplay to record live traffic and load test for potential issues impacting performance.

In this challenge, you will monitor virtual machine network traffic by using Network Watcher. First, you will configure Azure to support network security group (NSG) flow logs. Next, you will enable an NSG flow log. Finally, you will download and review an NSG flow log file. Note: Once you begin the challenge, you will not be able to pause, save, or exit and then return to your challenge. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

In this challenge, you will configure the firewalld service to permit specified network connections. First, you will manage the firewalld service, and then you will display the default configuration. Next, you will deploy the FTP service, and then you will configure the firewalld service to permit FTP connections by service name. Finally, you will configure the firewalld service to permit telnet connections by port number, and then you will test the connection. Note: Once you begin the challenge, you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your challenge. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

In this challenge, you will configure the Windows firewall. First, you will display the default firewall settings, and then you will configure the firewall to permit traffic. Next, you will display firewall configurations by using Windows PowerShell and then you will add the FTP service. Finally, you will configure the firewall for FTP connections, and then you will display firewall log file information. Note: Once you begin the challenge, you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your challenge. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

An automated IT delivery cycle can have a significant impact on IT management and monitoring. In this course, you'll recognize the most suitable tasks and processes for automation, examining the role of process, robotic process, and service automation in building value streams for end-to-end Enterprise IT delivery. Next, you'll identify the benefits of implementing process-aware information systems and how to enable flexible and robust business process automation for agile enterprises. You'll indicate the key considerations when setting up multiplatform automation systems, and the relationships, dependencies, and automation policies for deriving reference automation clusters. You'll move on to recognize the role of a DevOps workflow in fulfilling the digital economy's demands and the prominent tools used to facilitate automation environments. Finally, you'll learn how to set up an end-to-end automation environment for a DevOps-driven delivery mechanism.

To exploit IT automation fully, support engineers must know how to identify and use the correct processes and tools. In this course, you'll leverage design thinking in enterprise automation strategy, examining the role of scripting languages and protocols, the considerations when selecting automation tools and scripts, and the targets to configure for automated notifications and alerts. Next, you'll learn how to write batch files to automate repetitive tasks, set up automation environments for command-line tasks, and write Bash scripts to automate Git workflows. Finally, you'll practice how to automate builds with Jenkins on Ubuntu and share artifacts in the Artifactory repository. You'll learn how to automate AWS EC2 instance provisioning, configure mail servers to generate automated emails, and use cloud-based email services for automation.

DevOps pipelines are an efficient means of ensuring the continuous integration and delivery of applications, maintaining clean code, and managing and simplifying production deployment. In this course, you'll explore the key phases of DevOps pipelines, the steps and patterns involved in creating them, and the differences between DevOps pipelines and traditional approaches. Next, you'll explore the principles of continuous integration and the benefits of containerization in DevOps pipelines. You'll identify the patterns of source code management used to simplify production deployment, the code integration strategies used to manage code repositories for diversified staging deployment, and the different types of tests that can be automated when using DevOps pipelines. Finally, you'll examine how to implement continuous monitoring and observability in DevOps pipelines, create pipelines using Azure DevOps tools, and use branching strategies to facilitate collaborative development and operations.

In this challenge, you will use command line tools to manage user accounts, groups and group memberships, including the creation of an administrator account, and add a GUI tool to manage users. Note: Once you begin a challenge you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress. Please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

In this challenge, you will create a Linux backup script that creates a .tar backup archive and appends to a backup log file, and schedule the backup script using cron. Note: Once you begin a challenge you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress. Please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

In this Challenge Lab, you will monitor a virtual machine by using extensions and Azure Monitor. First, you will create a virtual machine by using a custom deployment Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template, and then you will deploy a Desired State Configuration (DSC) script extension to the virtual machine. Next, you will create an alert rule to notify you when the average CPU threshold on the virtual machine exceeds 90 percent. Finally, you will delete the existing DSC extension, and then you will create a custom script extension to configure a new web app on the virtual machine. Note: Once you begin the Challenge Lab, you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your Challenge Lab. Please ensure that you have set aside enough time to complete the Challenge Lab before you start.

In this challenge, you will deploy an Azure virtual machine by using a modified Azure Resource Manager quickstart template. Next, you will configure Azure Cloud Shell, and then you will deploy a virtual machine by using Azure PowerShell commands. Finally, you will deploy a virtual machine by using Azure CLI 2.0 commands. Note: Once you begin a challenge you will not be able to pause, save, or return to your progress. Please ensure you have set aside enough time to complete the challenge before you start.

Final Exam: Infrastructure Support Engineer will test your knowledge and application of the topics presented throughout the Infrastructure Support Engineer track of the Skillsoft Aspire Infrastructure Support Engineer to CloudOps Engineer Journey.