Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) Exam — EX294

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The EX294 exam is a hands-on, performance-based certification assessment that validates advanced Linux system administration skills with a strong focus on automation using Ansible. Instead of theoretical questions, candidates are required to perform real administrative and automation tasks in a live Red Hat Enterprise Linux environment.

This exam proves the ability to design, write, and execute Ansible playbooks to automate common system operations such as configuration management, service deployment, and task orchestration. It reflects real-world enterprise scenarios where automation is essential for scalability, consistency, and efficiency.

Exam Overview

The EX294 exam is conducted by Red Hat and is designed as a practical lab-based assessment. Candidates work directly on Linux systems to complete assigned objectives within a fixed time. All tasks must be completed using approved tools and documented best practices.

The exam typically lasts around four hours and requires strong time management, problem-solving skills, and confidence in automation workflows. Scoring is based entirely on task completion and system accuracy rather than multiple-choice answers. Successful candidates earn the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) credential.

Ideal For

This exam is ideal for:

• Linux system administrators seeking advanced certification
• Professionals working with infrastructure automation and configuration management
• DevOps engineers and site reliability engineers
• IT professionals managing large-scale Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments
• Candidates who already possess RHCSA-level skills or equivalent practical experience
  
  

It is especially valuable for professionals aiming to demonstrate real-world automation expertise rather than theoretical knowledge.

Knowledge Areas Covered

The EX294 exam evaluates practical skills across the following domains:

Ansible Automation

• Creating and managing inventories and playbooks
• Using variables, facts, loops, and conditionals
• Implementing roles and reusable automation structures
• Securing sensitive data using Ansible Vault
  
  

System Administration Automation

• Automating user and group management
• Managing services and system configurations
• Deploying and configuring software packages
• Applying consistent configurations across multiple hosts
  
  

Enterprise Automation Tasks

• Managing multi-node environments through automation
• Enforcing system state and configuration compliance
• Troubleshooting playbooks and automation failures
• Validating and testing automated results