Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 31, 2027

Dates: April 13 to June 15, 2027
Schedule: Tuesday evenings, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Delivery mode: Online
Language of instruction: English
Duration: 30 hours

*Cost: $150 – see eligibility requirements*.

Description

This 30-hour course introduces VMware, VirtualBox, Docker and Kubernetes to learners seeking to increase their virtualization skills.

Specifically, in this course learners will :

  • Understand type-1 vs. type-2 hypervisors and when to use each.
  • Deploy and manage virtual machines on VMware ESXi and VirtualBox.
  • Build container images and manage container lifecycles with Docker.
  • Write Dockerfiles and docker-compose files for multi-service applications.
  • Understand container networking, volumes, and registries (Docker Hub, GHCR).
  • Introduction to Kubernetes: pods, deployments, services, and namespaces.
  • Deploy a local Kubernetes cluster using Minikube or K3s.
  • Explore Podman as a rootless, daemonless Docker alternative.
  • Understand resource allocation, snapshots, live migration, and HA concepts.
  • Build isolated lab environments to safely test configurations.

Prerequisites and Other Course Information

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of operating systems (Windows and/or Linux).
  • Comfort working in a command-line or terminal environment.
  • Recommended: Completion of the Linux System Administration course or equivalent hands-on experience.
  • You must ensure that you have a stable internet connection and a device capable of supporting a Teams meeting with a working microphone and camera. It is also your responsibility to verify that your device is compatible with the applications and/or software covered in the course, if applicable.

Hardware Requirements

  • CPU: Quad-core processor with hardware virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V — must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI).
  • RAM: Minimum 16 GB — this is a firm requirement given that multiple VMs and containers will run simultaneously during labs.
  • Storage: Minimum 80 GB of free SSD space (HDD will work but will significantly impact VM performance).
  • Network: Stable internet connection for pulling container images from Docker Hub and GHCR.
  • Note: Students using older machines that do not meet these specs are encouraged to contact the instructor before the course start date to discuss cloud-based alternatives.

Software Requirements

  • VirtualBox (free) — for type-2 hypervisor labs.
  • VMware Workstation Player (free for personal use) — for type-2 ESXi simulation labs.
  • Docker Desktop (free) — for all container and Compose labs.
  • Minikube or K3s — for local Kubernetes cluster deployment (installation guided in class).
  • Podman Desktop (free) — for rootless container labs.
  • kubectl CLI — for Kubernetes management.
  • VS Code with the Docker and Kubernetes extensions (recommended).
  • OS: Windows 10/11 (with WSL2 enabled), macOS 12+, or Ubuntu 20.04+.

Attendance and Virtual Classroom Behavior

This course requires your individual presence and your active, consistent and sustained participation in your individual work.  Your individual responsibilities are to complete the work assigned, to be online and ready to work within the first five minutes of the class.

Active Participation

While the use of the camera remains optional, active participation implies that the learner takes part in discussions, answers and asks questions, either verbally or via the chat integrated into the meeting and participates in group and/or individual exercises.  The instructor’s feedback is taken into account to validate that a learner’s participation has met the expectations for issuing the certificate.

Electronic certificates of completion will be given to students who have attended and actively participated in 80% or more of the scheduled classes.  We will no longer issue paper certificates.

Register to this course