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Exam Information
Official specifications published by Red Hat
Exam Format
240 min
Not disclosed (performance-based tasks on live RHEL systems)
210 out of 300 (70%)
Specialist
Registration
$500 USD
Red Hat Remote Exam (USB boot environment), Individual Exam Session (testing center kiosk), Classroom exam, On-site exam, or online proctoring
Validity
3 years
Retake the EX358 exam; Earn a higher-level certification that includes this competency area
EX358 Exam Topics and Domains
EX358 is organized into 15 weighted domains. Expect to work with mariadb, NetworkManager, firewalld, httpd, and more.
1
Manage Network Services
5%
Configure Network Clients
Dynamic and Static Address AssignmentIPv4 and IPv6 Networking
- Configure network clients to use either a dynamically or statically assigned address
- Work with both IPv4 and IPv6
2
Manage Firewall Services
5%
Configure System Firewalls
Firewalld Service and Port Management
Configure system firewalls to allow access to specific services or ports
3
Manage SELinux
5%
SELinux Booleans and Contexts
SELinux Booleans for ServicesSELinux File and Directory Contexts
- Configure SELinux booleans for a given service
- Configure a file or directory's SELinux context
4
Manage System Processes
4%
Systemd Service Management
Enable and Disable Services at Boot
- Configure system processes to start on boot
- Prevent a system process from starting
5
Manage Link Aggregation
7%
Network Bond Interfaces
Create Network Bond InterfacesBond Persistence and Address AssignmentBonding Runners
- Create a network bond interface consisting of two network interfaces
- Make a network bond interface persistent across boots
- Assign a network address to a network bond interface
- Configure a bonding runner
6
Manage DNS
9%
Caching Nameserver Configuration
Configure Unbound as Caching DNS
Configure a caching nameserver
Authoritative Nameserver Configuration
Configure BIND9 as Authoritative DNSForward and Reverse DNS Lookups
- Configure an authoritative nameserver using a partially completed zone file
- Configure forward and reverse lookups for both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
7
Manage DHCP
7%
DHCP Server Configuration
Dynamic Address Range AssignmentStatic Host ReservationsDHCPv6 and IPv6 Address Assignment
- Configure address assignment within a specified address range
- Configure a specific address assignment to a designated host
- Configure address assignments for both IPv4 and IPv6
8
Manage Printers
4%
Printer Queue Management
Network Printer Queue Configuration
- Create and manage a printer queue for a network printer
- Manage existing printer queues
9
Manage Email Services
5%
Email Server Configuration
Postfix Outbound Relay ConfigurationMail Client Usage
- Configure an email server to forward email to an outbound mail relay
- Use mail clients to read or send email
10
Manage a MariaDB Database Server
11%
MariaDB Installation and Configuration
Install and Configure MariaDBNetwork Access Restrictions
- Install and configure a basic MariaDB service
- Restrict access to a MariaDB server to specific network addresses
MariaDB Database and User Management
Database and User OperationsSQL Data OperationsMariaDB Backup and Restore
- Create a MariaDB database
- Manage MariaDB database users and access rights
- Add records to an existing MariaDB database
- Issue simple SQL queries against a MariaDB database
- Create a MariaDB backup
- Import a MariaDB database from a backup
11
Manage HTTPD Web Access
13%
Apache HTTP Server
Apache Installation and ConfigurationApache Name-Based Virtual HostsApache HTTPS/TLS Configuration
- Install and configure Apache
- Configure an alternate document root
- Configure an alternate web access port
- Configure name-based virtual hosts
- Configure a secure web server (HTTPS)
Nginx Web Server
Nginx Installation and Configuration
Install and configure NGINX
Web Caching and Load Balancing
Static Cache ConfigurationHAProxy Load BalancerHTTPS Termination
- Provide a static cache to speed up HTTP response time
- Configure an HTTP HAProxy load balancer
- Terminate HTTPS connections
12
Manage iSCSI
7%
iSCSI Target and Initiator Configuration
iSCSI Target ConfigurationiSCSI Initiator ConfigurationiSCSI Access Restrictions
- Provide and configure iSCSI targets
- Configure iSCSI initiators to connect persistently to iSCSI targets
- Restrict access to iSCSI services to specific clients and networks
13
Manage NFS
6%
NFS Server and Client Configuration
NFS Export ConfigurationNFS Client ConfigurationNFS Access Restrictions
- Configure persistent NFS exports
- Configure an NFS client to mount an NFS export persistently
- Restrict access to NFS exports to specific clients and networks
14
Manage SMB
7%
SMB Server and Client Configuration
SMB Share ConfigurationSMB User ManagementSMB Client and Multiuser Mounting
- Configure SMB shares
- Create and manage SMB users
- Create SMB only users
- Restrict access to SMB shares
- Mount a SMB share
- Perform a multiuser SMB mount
15
Use Ansible to Configure Standard Services
5%
Ansible Automation for Services
Playbook Creation and ModificationInventory and VariablesRHEL System Roles
- Create and modify playbooks
- Understand and utilize inventory files
- Use variables in playbooks
- Work with RHEL System Roles
How do I earn this certification?
Passing EX358 earns the Red Hat Certified Specialist in Services Management and Automation certification. It sits in the Red Hat Enterprise Linux - System Administration track.
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for EX358 is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2025-03-25
Updates
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 EX358 exam environment updated to RHEL 9.4. Key changes include NetworkManager improvements, updated MariaDB version, and changes to some default service configurations compared to RHEL 8. • Release date: 2024-05-01
- Ansible Automation Platform 2.4 EX358 uses Ansible Automation Platform 2.4. Candidates should be familiar with ansible-core 2.15+ and the latest RHEL System Roles collection. • Release date: 2023-11-01
- RHEL System Roles Latest in RHEL 9.4 System Roles are a direct exam topic (Domain 15). The collection continues to expand with roles for network, firewall, selinux, certificate, postfix, and more. • Release date: 2024-05-01
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by System administrators responsible for managing large enterprise environments and System administrators responsible for managing network services.
Be a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), or have comparable work experience and skills
Candidates should be capable of RHCE-level tasks, as some of these skills may be required to meet the EX358 objectives
- RHCSA-level skills with Linux system administration
- Working knowledge of Ansible (RH294 or equivalent skills and experience)
- Attending Red Hat Services Management and Automation (RH358) course is recommended but not required