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

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2 is designed to run on Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (OCP). Each version of CP4I has a minimum required OpenShift version to ensure compatibility, performance, and security.

For Cloud Pak for Integration v2021.2, the minimum required OpenShift version is 4.7.4.

Compatibility: CP4I components, including IBM MQ, API Connect, App Connect, and Event Streams, require specific OpenShift versions to function properly.

Security & Stability: Newer OpenShift versions include critical security updates and performance improvements essential for enterprise deployments.

Operator Lifecycle Management (OLM): CP4I uses OpenShift Operators, and the correct OpenShift version ensures proper installation and lifecycle management.

Minimum required OpenShift version: 4.7.4

Recommended OpenShift version: 4.8 or later

Key Considerations for OpenShift Version Requirements:IBM’s Official Minimum OpenShift Version Requirements for CP4I v2021.2:

IBM officially requires at least OpenShift 4.7.4 for deploying CP4I v2021.2.

OpenShift 4.6.x versions are not supported for CP4I v2021.2.

OpenShift 4.7.4 is the first fully supported version that meets IBM's compatibility requirements.

Why Answer A (4.7.4) is Correct?

B. 4.6.8 → Incorrect

OpenShift 4.6.x is not supported for CP4I v2021.2.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration v2021.1 supported OpenShift 4.6, but v2021.2 requires 4.7.4 or later.

C. 4.7.4 → Correct

This is the minimum required OpenShift version for CP4I v2021.2.

D. 4.6.2 → Incorrect

OpenShift 4.6.2 is outdated and does not meet the minimum version requirement for CP4I v2021.2.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration v2021.2 System Requirements

Red Hat OpenShift Version Support Matrix

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration OpenShift Deployment Guide

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

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, BAR (Broker Archive) files are used to package message flows, message models, and other resources for IBM App Connect Enterprise (ACE) deployments. These BAR files must be stored in a persistent storage volume to ensure they remain available across pod restarts and upgrades.

When setting up the ACE Dashboard, the storage type must be defined during the initial configuration. Once the Dashboard is created, the selected storage type cannot be changed without recreating the Dashboard. This is because the storage configuration is tied to the deployment and affects how BAR files are managed and accessed.

Option A (Persistent-claim storage is required): Incorrect, because while persistent storage is commonly used, the requirement depends on the deployment configuration. ACE supports ephemeral storage as well.

Option B (The storage type can be changed after the Dashboard is created): Incorrect, as the storage type is fixed after creation.

Option C (The BAR files must be stored in a volume in the container's file system): Incorrect, as ACE supports different storage options, including persistent volumes.

Option D (The storage type cannot be changed after Dashboard is created): Correct, because the storage configuration is immutable after creation.

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

IBM Documentation: Managing BAR files in App Connect Enterprise

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Knowledge Center: ACE Dashboard Storage Configuration

IBM Redbooks: IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Deployment Guide

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, when installing the API Connect Operator, it is crucial to monitor its deployment status to ensure a successful installation. This is typically done using ClusterServiceVersion (CSV), which is a Kubernetes resource managed by the Operator Lifecycle Manager (OLM).

The ClusterServiceVersion (CSV) represents the state of an operator and provides details about its installation, upgrades, and available APIs. The status field within the CSV object contains the installation progress and indicates whether the installation was successful (Succeeded), is still in progress (Installing), or has failed (Failed).

To query the status of the API Connect operator installation, you can run the following command:

kubectl get csv -n

or

kubectl describe csv -n

This command will return details about the CSV, including its "Phase", which should be "Succeeded" if the installation is complete.

A. The API Connect InstallPlan – While the InstallPlan is responsible for tracking the installation process of the operator, it does not explicitly indicate whether the installation was completed successfully.

C. The API Connect Operator Subscription – The Subscription resource ensures that the operator is installed and updated, but it does not provide a direct success or failure status of the installation.

D. The API Connect Operator Pod – Checking the Pod status only shows if the Operator is running but does not confirm whether the installation process itself was completed successfully.

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

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Knowledge Center

IBM API Connect Documentation

IBM OLM ClusterServiceVersion Reference

Kubernetes Official Documentation on CSV

When replacing the default ingress certificate in IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, one critical requirement is that the private key associated with the new certificate must be unencrypted.

OpenShift’s Ingress Controller (which CP4I uses) requires an unencrypted private key to properly load and use the custom TLS certificate.

Encrypted private keys would require manual decryption each time the ingress controller starts, which is not supported for automation.

The custom certificate and its key are stored in a Kubernetes secret, which already provides encryption at rest, making additional encryption unnecessary.

Why Option A (Unencrypted Private Key) is Correct:To apply a new custom certificate for ingress, the process typically involves:

Creating a Kubernetes secret containing the unencrypted private key and certificate:

sh

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oc create secret tls custom-ingress-cert \

--cert=custom.crt \

--key=custom.key -n openshift-ingress

Updating the OpenShift Ingress Controller configuration to use the new secret.

B. The certificate file must have only a single certificate. → ❌ Incorrect

The certificate file can contain a certificate chain, including intermediate and root certificates, to ensure proper validation by clients.

It is not limited to a single certificate.

C. The new certificate private key must be encrypted. → ❌ Incorrect

If the private key is encrypted, OpenShift cannot automatically use it without requiring a decryption passphrase, which is not supported for automated deployments.

D. The new certificate must be a self-signed certificate. → ❌ Incorrect

While self-signed certificates can be used, they are not mandatory.

Administrators typically use certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs) to avoid browser security warnings.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

Replacing the default ingress certificate in OpenShift

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Security Configuration

OpenShift Ingress TLS Certificate Management

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

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, only a Cluster Administrator has the necessary permissions to replace default keys and certificates. This is because modifying security components such as TLS certificates affects the entire cluster and requires elevated privileges.

Access to OpenShift and Cluster-Wide Resources:

The Cluster Administrator role has full administrative control over the OpenShift cluster where CP4I is deployed.

Replacing keys and certificates often involves interacting with OpenShift secrets and security configurations, which require cluster-wide access.

Management of Certificates and Encryption:

In CP4I, certificates are used for securing communication between integration components and external systems.

Updating or replacing certificates requires privileges to modify security configurations, which only a Cluster Administrator has.

Control Over Security Policies:

CP4I security settings, including certificates, are managed at the cluster level.

Cluster Administrators ensure compliance with security policies, including certificate renewal and management.

Why is "Cluster Administrator" the Correct Answer?

Why Not the Other Options?Option

Reason for Exclusion

A. Cluster Manager

This role is typically responsible for monitoring and managing cluster resources but does not have full administrative control over security settings.

B. Super-user

There is no predefined "Super-user" role in CP4I. If referring to an elevated user, it would still require a Cluster Administrator's permissions to replace certificates.

C. System User

System users often refer to service accounts or application-level users that lack the required cluster-wide security privileges.

Thus, the Cluster Administrator role is the only one with the required access to replace default keys and certificates in Cloud Pak for Integration.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Security Overview

Managing Certificates in Cloud Pak for Integration

OpenShift Cluster Administrator Role

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration - Replacing Default Certificates

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

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) is licensed based on Virtual Processor Cores (VPCs), and administrators must ensure that CP4I does not exceed the entitled number of VPCs when deployed on a shared OpenShift cluster.

One of the official methods to enforce license usage limits in CP4I is by setting the MaxLicenseDeployment environment variable in the CP4I Operator.

MaxLicenseDeployment is an environment variable that can be set in the CP4I operator.

This restricts the CP4I components to only consume the specified number of Virtual Processor Cores (VPCs), ensuring compliance with licensing terms.

The value assigned should be less than or equal to the entitled VPCs to prevent over-deployment.

How This Works:Configuration Example:To enforce a maximum VPC limit of 16, update the CP4I Operator's environment variables:

env:

- name: MaxLicenseDeployment

value: "16"

IBM officially recommends using MaxLicenseDeployment to enforce VPC limits.

It is a built-in mechanism for Cloud Pak licensing enforcement.

Ensures compliance without affecting other Cloud Paks running on the same OpenShift cluster.

Why Answer A is Correct?

B. VPCs are shared across all IBM Cloud Paks, so this is not necessary. → Incorrect

While VPCs are shared at the cluster level, IBM provides per-Pak license enforcement mechanisms like MaxLicenseDeployment.

Without setting limits, CP4I could consume more than its entitled VPCs.

C. Only deploy CP4I to a namespace enforced by Kubernetes CPU quota limits, where the limit is less than the VPCs of license entitlement. → Incorrect

Kubernetes CPU quotas control resource allocation but do not enforce IBM licensing.

This does not track VPC consumption for licensing compliance.

D. More information is required. → Incorrect

The IBM licensing model is well-documented, and IBM provides clear guidance on using MaxLicenseDeployment.

No additional information is needed to determine the best approach.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Licensing

IBM License Service for OpenShift

IBM Cloud Pak Virtual Processor Core (VPC) Enforcement

OpenShift Resource Quotas and Limits

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, administrators often need to retrieve logs from pods to diagnose issues or monitor application behavior. The correct OpenShift CLI (oc) command to retrieve logs from a specific pod is:

sh

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oc logs

This command fetches the logs of a running container within the specified pod. If a pod has multiple containers, the -c flag is used to specify the container name:

sh

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oc logs -c

A. oc get logs → Incorrect. The oc get command is used to list resources (such as pods, deployments, etc.), but it does not retrieve logs.

C. oc describe → Incorrect. This command provides detailed information about a pod, including events and status, but not logs.

D. oc retrieve logs → Incorrect. There is no such command in OpenShift CLI.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Logging and Monitoring

Red Hat OpenShift CLI (oc) Reference

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Troubleshooting

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

In IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I) v2021.2, secure communication between the Platform Navigator and other capability modules (such as API Connect, MQ, App Connect, and Event Streams) is essential to maintain data integrity and confidentiality.

The protocol used for secure communications between CP4I modules is Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Encryption: TLS encrypts data during transmission, preventing unauthorized access.

Authentication: TLS ensures that modules communicate securely by verifying identities using certificates.

Data Integrity: TLS protects data from tampering while in transit.

Industry Standard: TLS is the modern, secure successor to SSL and is widely adopted in enterprise security.

Why TLS is Used for Secure Communications in CP4I?By default, CP4I services use TLS 1.2 or higher, ensuring strong encryption for inter-service communication within the OpenShift cluster.

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration enforces TLS-based encryption for internal and external communications.

TLS provides a secure channel for communication between Platform Navigator and other CP4I components.

It is the recommended protocol over SSL due to security vulnerabilities in older SSL versions.

Why Answer D (TLS) is Correct?

A. SSL → Incorrect

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is an older protocol that has been deprecated due to security flaws.

CP4I uses TLS, which is the successor to SSL.

B. HTTP → Incorrect

HTTP is not secure for internal communication.

CP4I uses HTTPS (HTTP over TLS) for secure connections.

C. SSH → Incorrect

SSH (Secure Shell) is used for remote administration, not for service-to-service communication within CP4I.

CP4I services do not use SSH for inter-service communication.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration Security Guide

Transport Layer Security (TLS) in IBM Cloud Paks

IBM Platform Navigator Overview

TLS vs SSL Security Comparison

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

In IBM App Connect, which is part of IBM Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I), callable flows enable integration between different environments, including on-premises systems and cloud-based integration solutions deployed in an OpenShift cluster.

To facilitate this connectivity, two critical resources are used:

The Connectivity Agent acts as a bridge between cloud-hosted App Connect instances and on-premises integration servers.

It enables secure bidirectional communication by allowing callable flows to connect between cloud-based and on-premise integration servers.

This is essential for hybrid cloud integrations, where some components remain on-premises for security or compliance reasons.

The Routing Agent directs incoming callable flow requests to the appropriate App Connect integration server based on configured routing rules.

It ensures low-latency and efficient message routing between cloud and on-premise systems, making it a key component for hybrid integrations.

1. Connectivity Agent (✅ Correct Answer)2. Routing Agent (✅ Correct Answer)

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?Option

Explanation

Correct?

A. Sync server

❌ Incorrect – There is no "Sync Server" component in IBM App Connect. Synchronization happens through callable flows, but not via a "Sync Server".

❌

C. Kafka sync

❌ Incorrect – Kafka is used for event-driven messaging, but it is not required for callable flows between cloud and on-premises environments.

❌

D. Switch server

❌ Incorrect – No such component called "Switch Server" exists in App Connect.

❌

Final Answer:✅ B. Connectivity agent✅ E. Routing agent

IBM App Connect - Callable Flows Documentation

IBM Cloud Pak for Integration - Hybrid Connectivity with Connectivity Agents

IBM App Connect Enterprise - On-Premise and Cloud Integration

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