Keith Pettit:
Had a question about monitors. The exam lets you have 1. I have a macbook, connected to an external display I’d like to use for exam. If I shut the lid and go into clamshell mode it disables the screen which is good for the exam but you loose webcam. A camera is required for the exam. So is there any way I can go into clamshell mode or somehow disable laptop screen without shutting the lid?
Jorge Sanchez:
My advice is that you do not use an external monitor to take the exam, I think is not allowed
Keith Pettit:
The rule is one active monitor. I don’t have the best vision so external monitor is highly preferred for me. My exam is Sunday so hoping to figure it out before then
Alistair Mackay:
@Keith Pettit @Jorge Sanchez
These are the rules https://github.com/kodekloudhub/community-faq#can-i-use-an-external-monitor|https://github.com/kodekloudhub/community-faq#can-i-use-an-external-monitor
Keith Pettit:
That’s not correct. This is from the exam site:
One active monitor (either built in or external) (NOTE: Dual Monitors are NOT supported) The Linux Foundation recommends a screen size of 15" or higher to support the ExamUI. The Linux Foundation recommends a screen resolution of 1080p.
https://docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/tips-cka-and-ckad
Alistair Mackay:
My instructions are not in conflict with what linux foundation says. Both the windows and mac setup I discuss have successfully been tested in the exam. Dual/multiple active monitors is what is not allowed
Keith Pettit:
The support folks when I called them told me the same thing. Suggested clamshell mode if I wanted to use external monitor. That’s what I can’t get to work with lid open
Alistair Mackay:
Clanshell mode means that the lid is closed
Keith Pettit:
Trying to figure out how to simulate that. Older macs you could use a fridge magnet to make it think lid was closed. Mine is a M1 which doesn’t do that.
Alistair Mackay:
Link to instructions to set up clamshell mode is on the github site
Keith Pettit:
I’ve got clamshell working. But closing lids gets rid of web camera needed for exam. So trying to figure out how to get it in that mode with lid open so I can use webcam as well
Alistair Mackay:
Lid closed + externally connected peripherals. Proctor will probably not let you proceed with the lid open.
But an external webcam is an advantage to have a considerably more stress free check in process at the start of the exam. There’s a lot of camera acrobatics required, so much more difficult swinging an entire laptop around
https://github.com/fireflycons/tips-for-CKA-CKAD-CKS#launching-the-exam|https://github.com/fireflycons/tips-for-CKA-CKAD-CKS#launching-the-exam
Alistair Mackay:
There’s cams with built in mic for under 30USD on amazon that’ll do the job just fine
Keith Pettit:
That’s my plan B 
Alistair Mackay:
I didn’t use a mac, But I do like 4K monitors which is a bonus in the exam as you can get everything expanded as far as it will go. If I was using a mac, it would definitely be in clamshell for the exam.
I do have an external webcam, and believe me it was worth it by the time the proctor asked me to move stuff around, and look underneath the desk for the n’th time!
@Alistair_KodeKloud Did you manage to take your exam using MBP ? Im planning to take the next month want to know if MBP is good enough.
I have. For a MBP, you “clamshell” the laptop. So you need an external keyboard and mouse, and an external webcam (so you can scan the room as you get asked before the exam by the proctor). You connect to the external monitor (the biggest you can reasonably buy or borrow) using USB or whatever the monitor supports. This works, as weird as it sounds.
You definitely want to practice doing this. Definitely take advantage of the killer.sh simulator, to make sure that using a clamshelled MBP works for you.