While developers rely on platforms like LeetCode for coding interview practice, there is not much for DevOps and Linux sysadmin.
Or, so I used to think until I discovered SadServers.
Weird name? Perhaps. Basically, you have a server in trouble as it is not behaving as it should be. You troubleshoot and fix it to make it happy again.
Sounds intriguing right? Let me provide more details.
SadServers: Assess skills through hands-on realistic tasks
SadServers is an online platform dedicated to Linux sysadmins and DevOps so that they can practice their skills by solving various challenges in the set time frame.
Here, you'll find various problem scenarios, categorized in easy, medium and hard categories of difficulties.
Challenges require you to log into the custom configured Linux server and handle the task as specified in the problem scenario. The answers can be checked automatically when you submit.
And everything happens online, you don't need to bring your own servers. Just hit the Run button.
And a new server preconfigured for your selected problem scenario is deployed. It takes around a minute for the server to be ready for you.
You can open the terminal to access the server right there in the web browser.
There are three kinds of problem scenarios
- Fix: You got a troubleshooting scenario
- Hack: More like pen-testing exercise to test the server security
- Do: You have got a problem scenario to tackle in the command line
Some challenges are free and don't even need registration. Like the simplest of the problem where you have to find the program that is writing to the log file and terminate it. I encourage you to try it out.
If you like that, you can register to access more scenarios for free. And if you want to practice more for interviews or want to support the project, you can always opt for Pro version.
Apart from all scenario access, Pro version has additional benefits like more time to complete scenarios, unlimited retries, direct SSH access to VMs, VMs with network access, command history and achievement page.
I'll be honest. It's not the best looking website and certainly not the best user interface but it's a one of a kind website and it works. No overly fancy gimmicks here. Fernando, the creator of SadServers project, is a DevOps first, a designer later and that shows in this innovative platform.
The challenges are interesting. They make you think and even challenge your logical as well Linux skills to solve the problem within the given time frame.
If you are bored of the theoretical knowledge and want some challenges that will prepare you for the real world, SadServers is a platform worth exploring.
What do you think of SadServers? Did you give it a try yet?