C1000-130 IBM Cloud Pak for Integration V2021.2 Administration Questions and Answers

The given YAML configuration is for ClusterLogging in an OpenShift environment, which is used for centralized logging. The key part of the specification that determines the behavior of Elasticsearch is:

logStore:

type: "elasticsearch"

elasticsearch:

nodeCount: 1

storage: {}

redundancyPolicy: ZeroRedundancy

nodeCount: 1

This means the Elasticsearch cluster will consist of only one node (single-node deployment).

storage: {}

The empty storage field implies no persistent storage is configured.

This means that if the pod is deleted or restarted, all stored logs will be lost.

redundancyPolicy: ZeroRedundancy

ZeroRedundancy means there is no data replication, making the system vulnerable to data loss if the pod crashes.

In contrast, a redundancy policy like MultiRedundancy ensures high availability by replicating data across multiple nodes, but that is not the case here.

Analysis of Key Fields:

Evaluating Answer Choices:Option

Explanation

Correct?

A. A single node ElasticSearch cluster with default persistent storage.

Incorrect, because storage: {} means no persistent storage is configured.

❌

B. A single infrastructure node with persisted ElasticSearch.

Incorrect, as this is not configuring an infrastructure node, and storage is not persistent.

❌

C. A single node ElasticSearch cluster which auto scales when redundancyPolicy is set to MultiRedundancy.

Incorrect, because setting MultiRedundancy does not automatically enable auto-scaling. Scaling needs manual intervention or Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA).

❌

D. A single node ElasticSearch cluster with no persistent storage.

Correct, because nodeCount: 1 creates a single node, and storage: {} ensures no persistent storage.

✅

Final Answer:✅ D. A single node ElasticSearch cluster with no persistent storage.

IBM CP4I Logging and Monitoring Documentation

Red Hat OpenShift Logging Documentation

Elasticsearch Redundancy Policies in OpenShift Logging

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

Upgrading the operator

If asked, approve the install plan

Upgrading the operand

Upgrading the traced integration capabilities

1️⃣ Upgrade operator using Operator Lifecycle Manager.

The Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM) manages the upgrade of the Operations Dashboard operator in OpenShift.

This ensures that the latest version is available for managing operands.

2️⃣ If asked, approve the Install Plan.

Some installations require manual approval of the Install Plan to proceed with the operator upgrade.

If configured for automatic updates, this step may not be required.

3️⃣ Upgrade the operand.

Once the operator is upgraded, the operand (Operations Dashboard instance) needs to be updated to the latest version.

This step ensures that the upgraded operator manages the most recent operand version.

4️⃣ Upgrade traced integration capabilities.

Finally, upgrade any traced integration capabilities that depend on the Operations Dashboard.

This step ensures compatibility and full functionality with the updated components.

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, the Operations Dashboard provides tracing and monitoring for integration capabilities. The correct upgrade sequence ensures a smooth transition with minimal downtime:

Upgrade the Operator using OLM – The Operator manages operands and must be upgraded first.

Approve the Install Plan (if required) – Some operator updates require manual approval before proceeding.

Upgrade the Operand – The actual Operations Dashboard component is upgraded after the operator.

Upgrade Traced Integration Capabilities – Ensures all monitored services are compatible with the new Operations Dashboard version.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

Upgrading Operators using Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM)

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Operations Dashboard

Best Practices for Upgrading CP4I Components

To add the IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) CatalogSource objects to an OpenShift cluster that has internet access, there are two primary methods:

Using oc apply -f filename (Option A)

The CatalogSource resource definition can be written in a YAML file and applied using the OpenShift CLI.

This method ensures that the cluster is correctly set up with the required catalog sources for CP4I.

Example command:

sh

CopyEdit

oc apply -f cp4i-catalogsource.yaml

This is a widely used approach for configuring OpenShift resources.

Using the OpenShift Admin Web Console (Option E)

Administrators can manually paste the CatalogSource YAML definition into the OpenShift Admin Web Console.

Navigate to Administrator → Operators → OperatorHub → Create CatalogSource, paste the YAML, and click Create.

This provides a UI-based alternative to using the CLI.

B (Incorrect): There is no valid icr-io/cp4int:2.4 catalog project import method for adding a CatalogSource. IBM’s container images are hosted on IBM Cloud Container Registry (ICR), but this method is not used for adding a CatalogSource.

C (Incorrect): Red Hat OpenShift Application Runtimes (RHOAR) is unrelated to the CatalogSource object creation for CP4I.

D (Incorrect): Downloading the CP4I driver and using oc new-project is not the correct approach for adding a CatalogSource. The oc new-project command is used to create OpenShift projects but does not deploy catalog sources.

Explanation of Incorrect Options:IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Documentation: Managing Operator Lifecycle with OperatorHub

OpenShift Docs: Creating a CatalogSource

IBM Knowledge Center: Installing IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

In an air-gapped environment, the OpenShift cluster does not have direct internet access, which means that new software images, such as IBM API Connect, must be manually mirrored from an external source.

The correct approach for installing a new API Connect capability in an air-gapped OpenShift environment is to:

Use a laptop or a bastion host that does have internet access to pull required container images from IBM’s entitled software registry.

Leverage Container Application Software for Enterprises (CASE) files to download and transfer images to the private OpenShift registry.

Mirror images into the OpenShift cluster by using OpenShift’s built-in image mirror utilities (oc mirror).

This method ensures that all required container images are available locally within the air-gapped environment.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?Option

Explanation

Correct?

B. An OVA form-factor of the Cloud Pak for Integration is recommended for high-security deployments.

❌ Incorrect – IBM Cloud Pak for Integration does not provide an OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) format for API Connect deployments. It is containerized and runs on OpenShift.

❌

C. A pass-through route must be configured in the OpenShift Container Platform to connect to the online image registry.

❌ Incorrect – Air-gapped environments have no internet connectivity, so this approach would not work.

❌

D. Use secure FTP to mirror software images in the OpenShift Container Platform cluster nodes.

❌ Incorrect – OpenShift does not use FTP for image mirroring; it relies on oc mirror and image registries for air-gapped deployments.

❌

Final Answer:✅ A. Configure a laptop or bastion host to use Container Application Software for Enterprises files to mirror images.

IBM API Connect Air-Gapped Installation Guide

IBM Container Application Software for Enterprises (CASE) Documentation

Red Hat OpenShift - Mirroring Images for Disconnected Environments

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

Open Tracing in IBM API Connect allows for distributed tracing of API calls across the system, helping administrators analyze performance bottlenecks and troubleshoot issues. However, this capability is specifically designed to work with APIs that utilize the API Gateway.

Option A (Correct Answer): IBM API Connect integrates with OpenTracing for API Gateway, allowing the tracing of API requests in the Operations Dashboard. This provides deep visibility into request flows and latencies.

Option B (Incorrect): API debug data is not directly made available in OpenShift cluster logging. Instead, API tracing data is captured using OpenTracing-compatible tools.

Option C (Incorrect): OpenTracing is available for all deployment profiles, including production, not just non-production environments.

Option D (Incorrect): Trace data is not directly visible in Analytics dashboards but rather in the Operations Dashboard where administrators can inspect API request traces.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM API Connect Documentation – OpenTracing

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration - API Gateway Tracing

IBM API Connect Operations Dashboard Guide

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, profiles define the resource allocation and configuration settings for deployed services. When creating a second medium-size profile, the system will allocate the resources according to the medium-size specifications, without affecting the first profile.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration supports multiple profiles, each with its own resource allocation.

When a second medium-size profile is created, it is independently assigned the medium-size configuration without modifying the existing profiles.

This allows multiple services to run with similar resource constraints but remain separately managed.

Why Option B is Correct:

A. The first profile will be replaced by the second profile. → ❌ Incorrect

Creating a new profile does not replace an existing profile; each profile is independent.

C. The first profile will be re-configured with a medium size. → ❌ Incorrect

The first profile remains unchanged. A second profile does not modify or reconfigure an existing one.

D. The second profile will be configured with a large size. → ❌ Incorrect

The second profile will retain the specified medium size and will not be automatically upgraded to a large size.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Sizing and Profiles

Managing Profiles in IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

OpenShift Resource Allocation for CP4I

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

The command:

oc extract secret/platform-auth-idp-credentials --to=-

is used to retrieve and display the admin user credentials stored in the platform-auth-idp-credentials secret within an OpenShift-based IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) deployment.

In IBM Cloud Pak Foundational Services, the platform-auth-idp-credentials secret contains the admin username and password used to authenticate with OpenShift and Cloud Pak services.

The oc extract command decodes the secret and displays its contents in plaintext in the terminal.

The --to=- flag directs the output to standard output (STDOUT), ensuring that the credentials are immediately visible instead of being written to a file.

This command is commonly used for recovering lost admin credentials or retrieving them for automated processes.

Why Option C (Displays the credentials of the admin user) is Correct:

A. Writes the OpenShift Container Platform credentials to the current directory. → Incorrect

The --to=- option displays the credentials, but it does not write them to a file in the directory.

To save the credentials to a file, the command would need a filename, e.g., --to=admin-creds.txt.

B. Generates Base64 decoded secrets for all Cloud Pak for Integration users. → Incorrect

The command only extracts one specific secret (platform-auth-idp-credentials), which contains the admin credentials only.

It does not generate or decode secrets for all users.

D. Distributes credentials throughout the Cloud Pak for Integration platform. → Incorrect

The command extracts and displays credentials, but it does not distribute or propagate them.

Credentials distribution in Cloud Pak for Integration is handled through Identity and Access Management (IAM) configurations.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak Foundational Services - Retrieving Admin Credentials

OpenShift CLI (oc extract) Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Identity and Access Management

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

The IBM Storage Suite for Cloud Paks provides storage licensing for various IBM Cloud Pak solutions, including Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I). It supports multiple storage options, such as IBM Spectrum Scale, IBM Spectrum Virtualize, IBM Spectrum Discover, IBM Spectrum Protect Plus, and OpenShift Container Storage (OCS).

IBM licenses CP4I based on Virtual Processor Cores (VPCs).

Storage Suite for Cloud Paks uses a conversion factor:

1 VPC of CP4I provides 25GB of OCS storage entitlement.

To calculate how much CP4I VPC is required for 8TB (8000GB) of OCS:

Understanding Licensing Conversion:8000GB25GB per VPC=320 VPCs\frac{8000GB}{25GB \text{ per VPC}} = 320 \text{ VPCs}25GB per VPC8000GB​=320 VPCs

Since the administrator only has 200 VPCs of CP4I, they do not have enough entitlement to cover the full 8TB of OCS storage. They would need an additional 120 VPCs to fully meet the requirement.

A. The Storage Suite entitlement covers the administrator's license needs only if the OpenShift cluster is running on IBM Cloud or AWS.

Incorrect, because Storage Suite for Cloud Paks can be used on any OpenShift deployment, including on-premises, IBM Cloud, AWS, or other cloud providers.

C. The Storage Suite entitlement already covers the administrator's license needs.

Incorrect, because 200 VPCs of CP4I only provide 5TB (200 × 25GB) of OCS storage, but the administrator needs 8TB.

D. The Storage Suite entitlement only covers IBM Spectrum products, but the licenses can be converted to OCS.

Incorrect, because Storage Suite already includes OpenShift Container Storage (OCS) as part of its licensing model without requiring any conversion.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Storage Suite for Cloud Paks Licensing Guide

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Licensing Information

OpenShift Container Storage Entitlement

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, workloads requiring authentication with Identity and Access Management (IAM) need an OAuth secret for secure access. One way to obtain this secret and register a workload is through the OperandConfig API file.

OperandConfig API is used in Cloud Pak for Integration to configure operands (software components).

It provides a mechanism to retrieve secrets, including the OAuth secret necessary for authentication with IBM IAM.

The OAuth secret is stored in a Kubernetes secret, and OperandConfig API helps configure and retrieve it dynamically for a registered workload.

Why Option D is Correct:

A. Extracting the ibm-entitlement-key secret. → Incorrect

The ibm-entitlement-key is used for entitlement verification when pulling IBM container images from IBM Container Registry.

It is not related to OAuth authentication or IAM registration.

B. Through the Red Hat Marketplace. → Incorrect

The Red Hat Marketplace is for purchasing and deploying OpenShift-based applications but does not provide OAuth secrets for IAM authentication in Cloud Pak for Integration.

C. Using a Custom Resource Definition (CRD) file. → Incorrect

CRDs define Kubernetes API extensions, but they do not directly handle OAuth secret retrieval for IAM registration.

The OperandConfig API is specifically designed for managing operand configurations, including authentication details.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Identity and Access Management

IBM OperandConfig API Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Security Configuration

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, the Automation Assets (formerly known as Asset Repository) is managed through the IBM Automation Foundation Assets Operator. When manually upgrading Automation Assets, you need to update the Custom Resource (CR) associated with the Asset Repository.

The correct approach to manually upgrading the Automation Assets CR is to:

Navigate to the OpenShift Web Console.

Go to Operators → Installed Operators.

Find and select IBM Automation Foundation Assets Operator.

Locate the Asset Repository operand managed by this operator.

Edit the YAML definition of the Asset Repository CR to reflect the new version or required configuration changes.

Save the changes, which will trigger the update process.

This approach ensures that the Automation Assets component is upgraded correctly without disrupting the overall IBM Cloud Pak for Integration environment.

B. In OpenShift web console, navigate to the OperatorHub and edit the Automation foundation assets definition.

The OperatorHub is used for installing and subscribing to operators but does not provide direct access to modify Custom Resources (CRs) related to operands.

C. Open the terminal window and run "oc upgrade ..." command.

There is no oc upgrade command in OpenShift. Upgrades in OpenShift are typically managed through CR updates or Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM).

D. Use the OpenShift web console to edit the YAML definition of the IBM Automation foundation assets operator.

Editing the operator’s YAML would affect the operator itself, not the Asset Repository operand, which is what needs to be upgraded.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Knowledge Center

IBM Automation Foundation Assets Documentation

OpenShift Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM) Guide

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, which runs on Red Hat OpenShift, the component responsible for determining the placement of workloads (pods) on worker nodes is the Scheduler.

API Server (Option A): The API Server is the front-end of the OpenShift and Kubernetes control plane, handling REST API requests, authentication, and cluster state updates. However, it does not decide where workloads should be placed.

Controller Manager (Option B): The Controller Manager ensures the desired state of the system by managing controllers (e.g., ReplicationController, NodeController). It does not handle pod placement.

Etcd (Option C): Etcd is the distributed key-value store used by OpenShift and Kubernetes to store cluster state data. It plays no role in scheduling workloads.

Scheduler (Option D - Correct Answer): The Scheduler is responsible for selecting the most suitable node to run a newly created pod based on resource availability, affinity/anti-affinity rules, and other constraints.

When a new pod is created, it initially has no assigned node.

The Scheduler evaluates all worker nodes and assigns the pod to the most appropriate node, ensuring balanced resource utilization and policy compliance.

In CP4I, efficient workload placement is crucial for maintaining performance and resilience, and the Scheduler ensures that workloads are optimally distributed across the cluster.

Explanation of OpenShift Components:Why the Scheduler is Correct?IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM CP4I Documentation – Deploying on OpenShift

Red Hat OpenShift Documentation – Understanding the Scheduler

Kubernetes Documentation – Scheduler

In an IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 deployment, certain components require ReadWriteMany (RWX) storage to allow multiple pods to read and write data concurrently.

CouchDB is used as the Asset Repository in CP4I to store configuration and metadata for IBM Automation Assets.

It requires persistent storage that can be accessed by multiple instances simultaneously.

RWX storage is necessary because multiple pods may need concurrent access to the same database storage in a distributed deployment.

Common RWX storage options in OpenShift include NFS, Portworx, or CephFS.

Why Option B (CouchDB for Asset Repository) is Correct:

A. MQ multi-instance → Incorrect

IBM MQ multi-instance queue managers require ReadWriteOnce (RWO) storage because only one active instance at a time can write to the storage.

MQ HA deployments typically use Replicated Data Queue Manager (RDQM) or Persistent Volumes with RWO access mode.

C. API Connect → Incorrect

API Connect stores most of its configurations in databases like MongoDB but does not specifically require RWX storage for its primary operation.

It uses RWO or ReadOnlyMany (ROX) storage for its internal components.

D. Event Streams → Incorrect

Event Streams (based on Apache Kafka) uses RWO storage for high-performance message persistence.

Each Kafka broker typically writes to its own dedicated storage, meaning RWX is not required.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Storage Requirements

CouchDB Asset Repository in CP4I

IBM MQ Multi-Instance Setup

OpenShift RWX Storage Options

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, which runs on OpenShift Container Platform (OCP), administrators can configure log forwarding to an external log aggregator (e.g., Elasticsearch, Splunk, or Loki).

OCP uses Fluentd as the log collector, and when log forwarding fails due to the external logging aggregator becoming unavailable, the following happens:

Fluentd buffers the logs in memory (up to a defined limit).

If the buffer reaches its maximum size, OCP follows its default log management policy:

Older logs are rotated and deleted to make space for new logs.

This prevents excessive storage consumption on the OpenShift cluster.

This behavior ensures that the logging system does not stop functioning but rather manages storage efficiently by deleting older logs once the buffer is full.

Log rotation is a default behavior in OCP when storage limits are reached.

If logs cannot be forwarded and the buffer is full, OCP deletes old logs to continue operations.

This is a standard logging mechanism to prevent resource exhaustion.

Why Answer A is Correct?

B. OCP stores the logs in a temporary PVC. → Incorrect

OCP does not automatically store logs in a Persistent Volume Claim (PVC).

Logs are buffered in memory and not redirected to PVC storage unless explicitly configured.

C. OCP extends the buffer size and resumes log collection. → Incorrect

The buffer size is fixed and does not dynamically expand.

Instead of increasing the buffer, older logs are rotated out when the limit is reached.

D. The Fluentd daemon is forced to stop. → Incorrect

Fluentd does not stop when the external log aggregator is down.

It continues collecting logs, buffering them until the limit is reached, and then follows log rotation policies.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Logging and Monitoring

OpenShift Logging Overview

Fluentd Log Forwarding in OpenShift

OpenShift Log Rotation and Retention Policy

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, Event Endpoint Management (EEM) is the capability that describes, catalogs, and socializes APIs for Kafka event sources with application developers.

Event Endpoint Management (EEM) allows developers to discover and consume Kafka event sources in a structured way, similar to how REST APIs are managed in an API Gateway.

It provides a developer portal where event-driven APIs can be exposed, documented, and consumed by applications.

It helps organizations share event-driven APIs with internal teams or external consumers, enabling seamless event-driven integrations.

Why "Event Endpoint Management" is the Correct Answer?

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?Option

Explanation

Correct?

A. Gateway Endpoint Management

❌ Incorrect – Gateway endpoint management refers to managing API Gateway endpoints for routing and securing APIs, but it does not focus on event-driven APIs like Kafka.

❌

B. REST Endpoint Management

❌ Incorrect – REST Endpoint Management deals with traditional RESTful APIs, not event-driven APIs for Kafka.

❌

D. API Endpoint Management

❌ Incorrect – API Endpoint Management is a generic term for managing APIs but does not specifically focus on event-driven APIs for Kafka.

❌

Final Answer:✅ C. Event Endpoint Management

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration – Event Endpoint Management

IBM Event Endpoint Management Documentation

Kafka API Discovery & Management in IBM CP4I

High availability (HA) in IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 is crucial to ensure continuous service availability and reliability. Different components use different HA mechanisms, and the correct options are B and C.

B. Queue Manager (MQ) uses Replicated Data Queue Manager (RDQM).

IBM MQ supports HA through Replicated Data Queue Manager (RDQM), which uses synchronous data replication across nodes.

This ensures failover to another node without data loss if the primary node goes down.

RDQM is an efficient HA solution for MQ in CP4I.

C. API management uses a quorum mechanism where components are deployed on a minimum of three failure domains.

API Connect in CP4I follows a quorum-based HA model, meaning that the deployment is designed to function across at least three failure domains (availability zones).

This ensures resilience and prevents split-brain scenarios in case of node failures.

Correct Answers Explanation:

A. DataPower gateway uses a Quorum mechanism where a global load balancer uses a quorum algorithm to choose the active instance. → Incorrect

DataPower typically operates in Active/Standby mode rather than a quorum-based model.

It can be deployed behind a global load balancer, but the quorum algorithm is not used to determine the active instance.

D. Platform Navigator uses an Active/Active deployment, where the primary handles all the traffic and in case of failure of the primary, the load balancer will then route the traffic to the secondary. → Incorrect

Platform Navigator does not follow a traditional Active/Active deployment.

It is typically deployed as a highly available microservice on OpenShift, distributing workloads across nodes.

E. AppConnect can use a mix of mechanisms - like failover for stateful workloads and active/active deployments for stateless workloads. → Incorrect

While AppConnect can be deployed in Active/Active mode, it does not necessarily mix failover and active/active mechanisms explicitly for HA purposes.

Incorrect Answers Explanation:

IBM MQ High Availability and RDQM

IBM API Connect High Availability

IBM DataPower Gateway HA Deployment

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

During the installation of IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I), an initial admin password is automatically generated and securely stored in a Kubernetes secret called platform-auth-idp-credentials.

This secret is located in the ibm-common-services namespace, which is a central namespace used by IBM Cloud Pak Foundational Services to manage authentication, identity providers, and security.

The stored credentials are required for initial login to the IBM Cloud Pak platform and can be retrieved using OpenShift CLI (oc).

Retrieving the Initial Admin Password:To view the stored credentials, administrators can run the following command:

sh

Copy

oc get secret platform-auth-idp-credentials -n ibm-common-services -o jsonpath='{.data.admin_password}' | base64 --decode

This will decode and display the initial admin password.

A. platform-auth-idp-credentials in the IAM service installation folder (Incorrect)

The IAM (Identity and Access Management) service does store authentication-related configurations, but the admin password is specifically stored in a Kubernetes secret, not in a local file.

C. platform-auth-idp-credentials in the /sbin folder (Incorrect)

The /sbin folder is a system directory on Linux-based OSes, and IBM Cloud Pak for Integration does not store authentication credentials there.

D. platform-auth-idp-credentials in the master-node root folder (Incorrect)

IBM Cloud Pak stores authentication credentials securely within Kubernetes secrets, not directly in the root folder of the master node.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration - Retrieving Admin Credentials

IBM Cloud Pak Foundational Services - Managing Secrets

Red Hat OpenShift - Managing Kubernetes Secrets

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server (HSTS) is a key component of IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) that enables secure, high-speed data transfers. There are two primary methods to create an Aspera HSTS instance in CP4I v2021.2:

OpenShift Console (Option B - Correct):

Aspera HSTS can be deployed within an OpenShift cluster using the OpenShift Console.

Administrators can deploy Aspera HSTS by creating an instance from the IBM Aspera HSTS operator, which is available through the OpenShift OperatorHub.

The deployment is managed using Kubernetes custom resources (CRs) and YAML configurations.

IBM Aspera HSTS Installer (Option D - Correct):

IBM provides an installer for setting up an Aspera HSTS instance on supported platforms.

This installer automates the process of configuring the required services and dependencies.

It is commonly used for standalone or non-OpenShift deployments.

Analysis of Other Options:

Option A (Foundational Services Dashboard) - Incorrect:

The Foundational Services Dashboard is used for managing IBM Cloud Pak foundational services like identity and access management but does not provide direct deployment of Aspera HSTS.

Option C (Platform Navigator) - Incorrect:

Platform Navigator is used to manage cloud-native integrations, but it does not directly create Aspera HSTS instances. Instead, it can be used to access and manage the Aspera HSTS services after deployment.

Option E (Terraform) - Incorrect:

While Terraform can be used to automate infrastructure provisioning, IBM does not provide an official Terraform module for directly creating Aspera HSTS instances in CP4I v2021.2.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Documentation: Deploying Aspera HSTS on OpenShift

IBM Aspera Knowledge Center: Aspera HSTS Installation Guide

IBM Redbooks: IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Deployment Guide

The IBM Licensing Operator is responsible for managing and tracking IBM software license consumption in OpenShift and Kubernetes environments. It provides two key Custom Resources (CRs) to facilitate license tracking, reporting, and compliance in IBM Cloud Pak deployments:

IBM License Collector (IBMLicenseCollector)

This custom resource is responsible for collecting license usage data from IBM Cloud Pak components and aggregating the data for reporting.

It gathers information from various IBM products deployed within the cluster, ensuring that license consumption is tracked accurately.

IBM License Service (IBMLicenseService)

This custom resource provides real-time license tracking and metering for IBM software running in a containerized environment.

It is the core service that allows administrators to query and verify license usage.

The IBM License Service ensures compliance with IBM Cloud Pak licensing requirements and integrates with the IBM License Service Reporter for extended reporting capabilities.

B. IBM License Service Reporter – Incorrect

While IBM License Service Reporter exists as an additional reporting tool, it is not a custom resource provided directly by the IBM Licensing Operator. Instead, it is a component that enhances license reporting outside the cluster.

C. IBM License Viewer – Incorrect

No such CR exists. IBM License information can be viewed through OpenShift or CLI, but there is no "License Viewer" CR.

E. IBM License Reporting – Incorrect

While reporting is a function of IBM License Service, there is no custom resource named "IBM License Reporting."

Why the other options are incorrect:

IBM Licensing Service Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak Licensing Overview

OpenShift and IBM License Service Integration

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) licensing follows Virtual Processor Core (VPC)-based pricing, where licensing requirements differ between production and non-production environments.

For non-production environments, IBM typically requires half the number of VPC licenses compared to production environments when deploying components like API Connect, App Connect Enterprise, and IBM MQ.

This 50% reduction applies because IBM offers a non-production environment discount, which allows enterprises to use fewer VPCs for testing, development, and staging while still maintaining functionality.

IBM provides reduced VPC license requirements for non-production environments to lower costs.

The licensing ratio is generally 1:2 (Non-Production:Production), meaning the non-production environment will require half the licenses compared to production.

This policy is commonly applied to major CP4I components, including:

IBM API Connect

IBM App Connect Enterprise

IBM MQ

A. The same amount → Incorrect

Non-production environments typically require half the VPC licenses, not the same amount.

C. More than half as many → Incorrect

IBM’s standard licensing policy offers at least a 50% reduction, so this is not correct.

D. More information is needed to determine the cost. → Incorrect

While pricing details depend on contract terms, IBM has a standard non-production licensing policy, making it predictable.

Why Answer B is Correct?Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Licensing Guide

IBM Cloud Pak VPC Licensing

IBM MQ Licensing Details

IBM API Connect Licensing

IBM App Connect Enterprise Licensing

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an XML-based standard used for exchanging identity, authentication, and authorization information between an Identity Provider (IdP) and a Service Provider (SP).

SAML is widely used for Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication in enterprise environments, allowing users to authenticate once with an identity provider and gain access to multiple applications without needing to log in again.

User Requests Access → The user tries to access a service (Service Provider).

Redirect to Identity Provider (IdP) → If not authenticated, the user is redirected to an IdP (e.g., Okta, Active Directory Federation Services).

User Authenticates with IdP → The IdP verifies user credentials.

SAML Assertion is Sent → The IdP generates a SAML assertion (XML-based token) containing authentication and authorization details.

Service Provider Grants Access → The service provider validates the SAML assertion and grants access.

How SAML Works:SAML is commonly used in IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 to integrate with enterprise authentication systems for secure access control.

B. IAM SSO authentication → ❌ Incorrect

IAM (Identity and Access Management) supports SAML for SSO, but "IAM SSO authentication" is not a specific XML-based authentication standard.

C. IAM via XML → ❌ Incorrect

There is no authentication method called "IAM via XML." IBM IAM systems may use XML configurations, but IAM itself is not an XML-based authentication protocol.

D. Enterprise XML → ❌ Incorrect

"Enterprise XML" is not a standard authentication mechanism. While XML is used in many enterprise systems, it is not a dedicated authentication protocol like SAML.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration - SAML Authentication

Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) Overview

IBM Identity and Access Management (IAM) Authentication

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

In IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Server (HSTS), UDP ports are crucial for enabling high-speed data transfers. When multiple instances of Aspera HSTS exist in a cluster, each instance must be assigned a unique UDP port to avoid conflicts and ensure proper traffic routing.

Aspera HSTS relies on UDP for high-speed file transfers (as opposed to TCP, which is typically used for control and session management).

If multiple HSTS instances share the same UDP port, packet collisions and routing issues can occur.

Ensuring unique UDP ports across instances allows for proper load balancing and optimal performance.

B. UDP and TCP ports have to be the same.

Incorrect, because UDP and TCP serve different purposes in Aspera HSTS.

TCP is used for session initialization and control, while UDP is used for actual data transfer.

C. Each TCP port must be unique.

Incorrect, because TCP ports do not necessarily need to be unique across multiple instances, depending on the deployment.

TCP ports can be shared if proper load balancing and routing are configured.

D. UDP ports must be the same.

Incorrect, because using the same UDP port for multiple instances causes conflicts, leading to failed transfers or degraded performance.

Key Considerations for Aspera HSTS in a Cluster:Why Other Options Are Incorrect:IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Aspera HSTS Configuration Guide

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration - Aspera Setup

IBM Aspera High-Speed Transfer Overview

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, ensuring high availability (HA) requires certain components to maintain a quorum. A quorum is a mechanism where a majority of nodes or instances must agree on a state to prevent split-brain scenarios and ensure consistency.

IBM MQ Multi-instance Queue Manager is designed for high availability.

It runs in an active-standby configuration where a shared storage is required, and a quorum ensures that failover occurs correctly.

If the primary queue manager fails, quorum logic ensures that another instance assumes control without data corruption.

API Connect operates in a distributed cluster architecture where multiple components (such as the API Manager, Analytics, and Gateway) work together.

A quorum is required to ensure consistency and avoid conflicts in API configurations across multiple instances.

API Connect uses MongoDB as its backend database, and MongoDB requires a replica set quorum for high availability and failover.

Why "Multi-instance Queue Manager" (A) Requires a Quorum?Why "API Management (API Connect)" (B) Requires a Quorum?

Why Not the Other Options?Option

Reason for Exclusion

C. Application Integration (App Connect)

While App Connect can be deployed in HA mode, it does not require a quorum. It uses Kubernetes scaling and load balancing instead.

D. Event Gateway Service

Event Gateway is stateless and relies on horizontal scaling rather than quorum-based HA.

E. Automation Assets

This component stores automation-related assets but does not require quorum for HA. It typically relies on persistent storage replication.

Thus, Multi-instance Queue Manager (IBM MQ) and API Management (API Connect) require quorum to ensure high availability in Cloud Pak for Integration.

IBM MQ Multi-instance Queue Manager HA

IBM API Connect High Availability and Quorum

CP4I High Availability Architecture

MongoDB Replica Set Quorum in API Connect

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) includes Confluent Platform as a key capability to support event-driven architecture and real-time data streaming. The Confluent Platform is built on Apache Kafka, providing robust event-streaming capabilities that allow organizations to collect, process, store, and manage data from multiple sources in a highly scalable and reliable manner.

This capability is essential for real-time analytics, event-driven microservices, and data integration between various applications and services. With its high-performance messaging backbone, it ensures low-latency event processing while maintaining fault tolerance and durability.

A. It provides the ability to trace transactions through IBM Cloud Pak for Integration.

Incorrect. Transaction tracing and monitoring are primarily handled by IBM Cloud Pak for Integration's API Connect, App Connect, and Instana monitoring tools, rather than Confluent Platform itself.

B. It provides a capability that allows users to store, manage, and retrieve integration assets in IBM Cloud Pak for Integration.

Incorrect. IBM Asset Repository and IBM API Connect are responsible for managing integration assets, not Confluent Platform.

C. It provides APIs to discover applications, platforms, and infrastructure in the environment.

Incorrect. This functionality is more aligned with IBM Instana, IBM Cloud Pak for Multicloud Management, or OpenShift Discovery APIs, rather than the event-streaming capabilities of Confluent Platform.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Documentation - Event Streams (Confluent Platform Integration)

IBM Cloud Docs

Confluent Platform Overview

Confluent Documentation

IBM Event Streams for IBM Cloud Pak for Integration

IBM Event Streams

Explanation of Other Options:References:

When configuring OpenShift Logging with Kibana to retrieve logs for Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) applications, the correct index pattern to use is applications*.

Here’s why:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) applications running on OpenShift generate logs that are stored in the Elasticsearch logging stack.

The standard OpenShift logging format organizes logs into different indices based on their source type.

The applications* index pattern is used to capture logs for applications deployed on OpenShift, including CP4I components.

Analysis of the options:

Option A (Incorrect – cp4i-*): There is no specific index pattern named cp4i-* for retrieving CP4I logs in OpenShift Logging.

*Option B (Correct – applications)**: This is the correct index pattern used in Kibana to retrieve logs from OpenShift applications, including CP4I components.

Option C (Incorrect – torn-*): This is not a valid OpenShift logging index pattern.

Option D (Incorrect – app-*): This index does not exist in OpenShift logging by default.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Logging Guide

OpenShift Logging Documentation

Kibana and Elasticsearch Index Patterns in OpenShift

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, IBM MQ provides multiple high-availability (HA) deployment options. A multi-instance queue manager consists of a pair of pods:

One active queue manager (handling message processing).

One standby queue manager (ready to take over if the active instance fails).

The standby instance continuously monitors the active queue manager, and if it detects a failure, it automatically takes over, ensuring minimal downtime and high availability.

A. Native HA – Incorrect

Native HA (Highly Available) queue managers use persistent storage and multiple replicas for redundancy but do not rely on an active-standby pod setup. Instead, they use Raft consensus for leader election and failover.

They are different from multi-instance queue managers, which explicitly have one active and one standby pod.

C. Single Resilient – Incorrect

A Single Resilient queue manager has only one instance running and recovers using persistent storage, but it does not have a standby pod for immediate failover.

D. Replicated Data – Incorrect

"Replicated Data" is not a specific IBM MQ HA mode. Instead, Native HA queue managers use replicated data across multiple pods to ensure resilience.

Why the other options are incorrect:

IBM MQ Multi-Instance Queue Manager Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration – High Availability Configurations

OpenShift Deployment of IBM MQ

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, which runs on Red Hat OpenShift, the Ingress Controller is responsible for managing external access to services running within the cluster. The Ingress Controller certificate ensures secure communication between clients and the OpenShift cluster.

A. The administrator can specify a custom certificate at a later time. ✅

OpenShift allows administrators to replace the default self-signed certificate with a custom TLS certificate at any time.

This is typically done using a Secret in the appropriate namespace and updating the IngressController resource.

Example command to update the Ingress Controller certificate:

Explanation of Correct Answers:oc create secret tls my-custom-cert --cert=custom.crt --key=custom.key -n openshift-ingress

oc patch ingresscontroller default -n openshift-ingress-operator --type=merge -p '{"spec":{"defaultCertificate":{"name":"my-custom-cert"}}}'

This ensures secure access with a trusted certificate instead of the default self-signed certificate.

C. By default, OpenShift uses an internal self-signed certificate. ✅

If no custom certificate is provided, OpenShift automatically generates and assigns a self-signed certificate for the Ingress Controller.

This certificate is not trusted by browsers or external clients and typically causes SSL/TLS warnings unless replaced.

B. The Ingress Controller does not support the use of a custom certificate. ❌ Incorrect

OpenShift fully supports custom certificates for the Ingress Controller, allowing secure TLS communication.

D. By default, OpenShift does not use any certificate if one is not applied during the initial setup. ❌ Incorrect

OpenShift always generates a default self-signed certificate if no custom certificate is provided.

E. Certificate assignment is only applicable during initial setup. ❌ Incorrect

Custom certificates can be assigned at any time, not just during initial setup.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

OpenShift Ingress Controller TLS Configuration

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Security Configuration

Managing OpenShift Cluster Certificates

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

jsonpath='{.status.channels[*].name}'

performs the following actions:

oc get packagemanifest → Retrieves the package manifest information for operators installed on the OpenShift cluster.

-n ibm-common-services → Specifies the namespace where IBM Common Services are installed.

ibm-common-service-operator → Targets the IBM Common Service Operator, which manages foundational services for Cloud Pak for Integration.

-o jsonpath='{.status.channels[*].name}' → Extracts and displays the available upgrade channels from the operator’s status field in JSON format.

The IBM Common Service Operator is part of Cloud Pak for Integration Foundational Services.

The status.channels[*].name field lists the available upgrade channels (e.g., stable, v1, latest).

This command helps administrators determine which upgrade paths are available for foundational services.

Why Answer A is Correct:

B. It displays the status and names of channels in the default queue manager. → Incorrect

This command is not related to IBM MQ queue managers.

It queries package manifests for IBM Common Services operators, not queue managers.

C. It retrieves a manifest of services packaged in Cloud Pak for Integration operators. → Incorrect

The command does not return a full list of services; it only displays upgrade channels.

D. It returns an operator package manifest in a JSON structure. → Incorrect

The command outputs only the names of upgrade channels in plain text, not the full JSON structure of the package manifest.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak Foundational Services Overview

OpenShift PackageManifest Command Documentation

IBM Common Service Operator Details

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

The Operations Dashboard in IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 is used for monitoring and managing integration components. When securing data at rest, the supported encryption method in CP4I includes Portworx, which provides enterprise-grade storage and encryption solutions.

Portworx is a Kubernetes-native storage solution that supports encryption of data at rest.

It enables persistent storage for OpenShift workloads, including Cloud Pak for Integration components.

Portworx provides AES-256 encryption, ensuring that data at rest remains secure.

It allows for role-based access control (RBAC) and Key Management System (KMS) integration for secure key handling.

Why Option B (Portworx) is Correct:

A. AES128 → Incorrect

While AES encryption is used for data protection, AES128 is not explicitly mentioned as the standard for Operations Dashboard storage encryption.

AES-256 is the preferred encryption method when using Portworx or IBM-provided storage solutions.

C. base64 → Incorrect

Base64 is an encoding scheme, not an encryption method.

It does not provide security for data at rest, as base64-encoded data can be easily decoded.

D. NFS → Incorrect

Network File System (NFS) does not inherently provide encryption for data at rest.

NFS can be used for storage, but additional encryption mechanisms are needed for securing data at rest.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Security Best Practices

Portworx Data Encryption Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Storage Considerations

Red Hat OpenShift and Portworx Integration

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/cloud-paks/cp-integration/2020.3?topic=configuration-installation

When installing a new instance of IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) Operations Dashboard, several prerequisites must be met. The correct answers are B and D based on IBM Cloud Pak for Integration v2021.2 requirements.

B. A pull secret from IBM Entitled Registry must exist in the namespace containing an entitlement key.

The IBM Entitled Registry hosts the necessary container images required for CP4I components, including Operations Dashboard.

Before installation, you must create a pull secret in the namespace where CP4I is installed. This secret must include your IBM entitlement key to authenticate and pull images.

Command to create the pull secret:

Correct Answers:oc create secret docker-registry ibm-entitlement-key \

--docker-server=cp.icr.io \

--docker-username=cp \

--docker-password= \

--namespace=

IBM Reference: IBM Entitled Registry Setup

D. The vm.max_map_count sysctl setting on worker nodes must be higher than the operating system default.

The Operations Dashboard relies on Elasticsearch, which requires an increased vm.max_map_count setting for better performance and stability.

The default Linux setting (65530) is too low. It needs to be at least 262144 to avoid indexing failures.

To update this setting permanently, run the following command on worker nodes:

sudo sysctl -w vm.max_map_count=262144

IBM Reference: Elasticsearch System Requirements

A. For shared data, a storage class that provides ReadWriteOnce (RWO) access mode of at least 100 MB is required. (Incorrect)

While persistent storage is required, the Operations Dashboard primarily uses Elasticsearch, which typically requires ReadWriteOnce (RWO) or ReadWriteMany (RWX) block storage. However, the 100 MB storage requirement is incorrect, as Elasticsearch generally requires gigabytes of storage, not just 100 MB.

IBM Recommendation: Typically, Elasticsearch requires at least 10 GB of persistent storage for logs and indexing.

C. If the OpenShift Container Platform Ingress Controller pod runs on the host network, the default namespace must be labeled with network.openshift.io/controller-group: ingress to allow traffic to the Operations Dashboard. (Incorrect)

While OpenShift’s Ingress Controller must be configured correctly, this specific label requirement applies to some specific OpenShift configurations but is not a mandatory prerequisite for Operations Dashboard installation.

Instead, route-based access and appropriate network policies are required to allow ingress traffic.

E. For storing tracing data, a block storage class that provides ReadWriteMany (RWX) access mode and 10 IOPS of at least 10 GB is required. (Incorrect)

Tracing data storage does require persistent storage, but block storage does not support RWX mode in most environments.

Instead, file-based storage with RWX access mode (e.g., NFS) is typically used for OpenShift deployments needing shared storage.

Explanation of Incorrect Options:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Operations Dashboard Installation Guide

Setting Up IBM Entitled Registry Pull Secret

Elasticsearch System Configuration - vm.max_map_count

OpenShift Storage Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 Administration References:

Final Answer:✅ B. A pull secret from IBM Entitled Registry must exist in the namespace containing an entitlement key.✅ D. The vm.max_map_count sysctl setting on worker nodes must be higher than the operating system default.