CertMaster PlatformSystem Requirements
This guide outlines the minimum and recommended system specifications for using CertMaster courses and lab simulations. Meeting or exceeding these requirements ensures the best performance and reliability.
Technical Specifications
Processor / CPU
Minimum: Intel Core i3 (8th generation or newer)
Alternative Minimum: AMD Ryzen 3 (2000 series or newer)
Recommended: Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7
CPU Speed
~2.4 GHz or faster
Memory (RAM)
Minimum: 8 GB
Recommended: 16 GB
Operating Systems
Windows 10 (64-bit) or newer
Intel-based macOS
Linux OS
ChromeOS (see Chromebook requirements below)
Internet Bandwidth
3.6 Mbps per user minimum
See “Network / Bandwidth Requirements” below for lab-specific needs.
Virtual Machine Requirements
Graphics Acceleration must be enabled
Device must support WebGL 2.0 and WebAssembly
Supported Browsers (Latest Versions)
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Safari
Allowed Domains
*.comptia.org
(Additional lab or CDN domains may apply depending on network configuration.)
Chromebook Requirements
CertMaster courses can run on modern Chromebooks, but VM-based lab simulations require higher specifications. Performance varies significantly between models.
Chromebook CPU Requirements
Minimum (Required)
Intel Celeron N4000 series or newer
Not Supported / Not Recommended
ARM-based Chromebooks
ARM processors do not reliably support WebAssembly, WebGL, or the real-time VM streaming used in labs.
Recommended (Preferred)
Intel Core i3 or i5 (11th generation or newer)
ChromeOS Version Requirements
ChromeOS version 115+
Device must not be past its Auto Update Expiration (AUE)
Why This Matters
Older ChromeOS versions may lack:
Required WebGL bundles
Required WebAssembly capabilities
Stable WebSocket support
Security protocols needed for VM initialization
Display Requirements
Minimum Resolution: 1366 × 768
Recommended Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (1080p)
VM interfaces are complex, and sub-1080p displays may require excessive scrolling.
Extensions and Performance Notes
Heavy district-managed extensions (e.g., GoGuardian, Securly, Lightspeed Relay) may consume large amounts of RAM/CPU and can interfere with WebSocket stability.
Whenever possible:
Reduce non-essential extensions
Close unused tabs
Restart the Chromebook before launching labs
Network / Bandwidth Requirements
Per-Student Bandwidth
Minimum: 1 Mbps sustained
Recommended: 3–5 Mbps sustained
Burst: 10 Mbps for graphics-heavy scenarios (VM OS reloads, web browsing inside VMs)
WebSocket Requirements (Required)
Long-running WebSocket connections must be allowed
SSL inspection/decryption must be disabled for VM endpoints
WebRTC/peer connections must be permitted for some lab types
Connectivity Requirements
To launch and use a lab, the following conditions must be met:
Supported Operating Systems
Windows 10 or newer
Ubuntu 14.04 or later (or comparable distributions)
macOS 10.12 or later
ChromeOS (per Chromebook requirements above)
Supported Browsers
Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari
Latest version recommended (minimum 2023-era browser builds)
Note: Chromium-based browsers like Opera or Vivaldi can connect, but default hotkeys may interfere with lab inputs.
Network Ports
One of the following must be allowed:
Secure WebSockets on 443 and 43443
RDP traffic over 21xxx or 443 (enhanced control)
Bandwidth Requirements (Detailed)
In addition to baseline system requirements:
Minimum: 200 kbps consistent with 1 Mbps burst per student
Optimal: 1 Mbps+ sustained per student
Bandwidth demand increases with:
Embedded audio
Embedded video
Large images in the instructions panel
Media demands vary widely:
MP3 audio may require minimal bandwidth
1080p embedded video may require up to 10 Mbps during playback
Cloud Slice Labs
Cloud environments (Azure, AWS, etc.) require additional bandwidth:
512 kbps minimum per student (Azure/AWS management portals)
Additional Notes
Courses may run on devices below these specifications, but slowness, freezing, or VM loading issues may occur.
An external mouse is recommended; touchscreens are not supported.
Smaller screens may require reducing browser zoom.
CertMaster is fully online; labs, videos, and quizzes are not available for offline use or download.
Mobile devices (phones/tablets) are not supported for labs or quizzes.