Jon Hall from VMware Certification wrote a post on the VMTN Communities page the other day, which Duncan Epping made me aware of.

VMware will be providing onsite testing services at VMworld 2009. A great deal is available on the VCP exam (see my post at http://communities.vmware.com/thread/222191?tstart=0), but more importantly, the VCDX Enterprise Administration and Design Exams will be offered! You must be pre-authorized to take these exams, so if you are already in process to take the Enterprise Administration Exam, contact certification@vmware.com to inquire about the availability of the exam at VMworld. You can register at Pearson VUE for the Design Exam, but again you must already be in process and have authorization from VMware to take the exam. The link for registering with Pearson for the Design Exam is http://pearsonvue.com/vmware/vmworld/ . For the Enterprise Administration Exam only, you must contact us directly.

This reminded me that I still haven’t heard from VMware on the results of my VCDX Design Exam beta.  I was really hoping that I would receive my passing grade (hopeful huh?) and schedule the defense during VMworld.

Well, I called Tina (she’s so famous now!) at VMware and chatted about this.  She sounded hopeful that the results would be sent out by end of business tomorrow (Friday 7/24).  She also informed me that in addition to VCP and VCDX exams being available at VMworld, that VMware will also be scheduling VCDX Defense sessions during the week.  Great news!

Duncan also had this to say on his blog post,

For those who want to do the Enterprise Exam check the mock exam that has also has just been released: Enterprise Administration Mock Exam.

Dave Convery also posted about discounts for these exams, which might be a nice incentive to get you guys studying!

Created on July 23, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification, VMworld.

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Tags: vcdx, vcp, VMworld

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Three hours and 270 questions later, the VMware VCP4 Beta Exam is complete.  Let me just tell you,  I was not prepared at all for this exam – no studying or even using vSphere at all today.  I’ve been so busy that the only thing I reviewed was the Configuration Maximums in my car for about 5 minutes before the test.

Because of the NDA I cannot get into great detail about the exam.  The process is extremely standard for Pearson VUE tests; sign in – verify ID – sign electronic signature – take picture. Then get escorted to an awesome home built PC with your VCP411 test ready to begin!

Out of the 270 questions, it felt that about 35% of them were fit of a VCP4 exam – the rest seemed a little more advanced, perhaps a Master or VCDX level even. But, perhaps they’re working on making the VCP a little more difficult?  I will say that you will need to know someof the Configuration Maximums, but not a lot. It would definitely benefit you to know about Paravirtualization, NPIV, iSCSI, Fault Tolerance, Host Profiles and dvSwitches.

With that said, I feel that I did pretty good, left a lot of comments – knew I wouldn’t have enough time to comment on every question, so I did skip some (thanks to VCDX Design Exam Beta for that experience). Hopefully I will find out my results in the 6-8 weeks advertised on the invitation, and not the 3-4 months I’ve been waiting since taking the VCDX Design Exam.

Created on July 8, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

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This morning I wake up to find an e-mail from the VMware Certification department, inviting me to take the VCP4 Beta Exam. This is pretty exciting, yet it disappoints me because it reminds me that I still have not received my VCDX Design Exam Beta results (going on 3 months now). However, I did talk to Tina at VMware on Tuesday and she sounded hopeful that these results will be available sometime in July.

It looks like the General Release exam will become available in August, based on the information provided in the e-mail from VMware;

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Created on July 2, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

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Tags: Certification, vcdx, vcp

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VMware’s first ever Technical Summit was held at the Hilton Towers in San Francisco, CA from May 5-7. This event was attended by over 900 employees from the Technical Services organization. The main objective of the event was technical training for the TS employees on new products/solutions and providing a forum for networking.

This three-day event had keynotes each day followed by various breakout sessions including hands-on labs. Keynotes included presenters from VMware, Cisco and Ebay. The breakout sessions were divided into tracks focusing on the competency areas defined in the TS Subject Matter Expert program – namely Infrastructure Virtualization, Business Continuity, Virtualization Management and Desktop. Additional breakout sessions covered topics on Competition, Application solutions and solutions from the partner ecosystem.

VMware awarded the First Eight VCDX in the entire World.  Duncan Epping from Yellow-Bricks.com is lucky to be VCDX-007 (how cool!).

Created on May 18, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

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Jon C. Hall, from VMware’s Certification department posted a comment on Erik Zandboer’s blog today with regards to the VCDX Design Exam.  If you haven’t read Erik’s post, I would strongly suggest it. His comments and concerns about the VCDX Design Exam are the consensus of the majority of the people included in the Design Exam Beta, including myself.

Anyways, back to Jon… In a comment that Duncan saw earlier today, Jon mentioned that they (VMware) are working on a Master VCP program, which will take you above and beyond the VCP – while the VCDX is mainly for Solutions Architects…..

The VCDX, as cool as it is, is specifically targeted at a solution architect level. It is not for everyone. What should be for all of you is a “next” level. This “Master VCP” certification is something that we are working very hard on being able to provide soon. It would involve being a VCP, then taking the Enterprise Administration Exam, which is part multiple choice, part practical. That exam has limited scalability at this point, and we can’t roll out this certification until we resolve that issue. Of course that is only one factor, but it is the main limiting factor at this point.

So for all of you wanted the next level of mastery, just stay tuned and we will have it for you soon…

Jon C. Hall
Technical Certification

Lucky me…another certification I need to work on! :)

Created on April 15, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

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Tags: design exam, master vcp, vcdx, vcp

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I started the VCDX Design Exam at 2pm (GMT-8 04/02/09), and finished it right before 6pm. It took me the entire 4 hours to complete the exam, luckily I was able to complete all 134 questions within the allowed time. I’ve heard from some people that have taken it that they weren’t able to finish all the questions. I must admit though, when I noticed there was about 20 minutes left I rushed through the remaining questions and did not thoroughly think about my answers as well as I did previously.

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Created on April 2, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

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Tags: Certification, design, exam, vcdx

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I got about 20 hours until I take the VCDX Design Exam, and you know what…I’m not that nervous.  I was lot more nervous about the Enterprise Administration Exam.  Perhaps it was the $200 discount I received on this test, or maybe I’m just confident because of everything I’ve heard about it?

From what I hear the only real thing you need for this exam is true experience. You need to know how to design a full virtual infrastructure from front to back. I’ve done so many that perhaps it is just second nature for me.  Still doesn’t hurt to study what you can though!

I’ve been reading the VCDX Design Exam Blueprint as well as some guides on VMware Partner Central;

• VMware Business Continuity Jumpstart
• VMware Plan and Design
• VMware Virtualization Assessment
• VMware Operational Readiness Accelerator Kit

Thanks to VirtualTroll.com for providing the above suggestion. I really believe this exam covers the true details of creating a robust, reliable and redundant virtual infrastructure….anyone with thorough systems architecture and virtualization experience should not have a problem with this exam…but only time will tell for me!

I will be sure to publish my thoughts on the test as soon as I complete it.  Wish me luck!

Created on April 1, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

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Tags: Certification, design, exam, test, vcdx

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Just received an e-mail from the VCDX Certification team that the Design Exam (beta) is available for me until April 10th. As part of the beta I would be entitled to a 50% discount ($200) and I would need to send my comments and suggestions to the team after taking the exam.  I’m going to schedule it now, maybe for the week of March 23rd.  I’ll need a couple weeks to study, especially when I’m trying to edit a book, do a day job and all the other fun things life brings me.

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Created on March 6, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

This blog has 2,432 views and 2 responses.

Tags: beta, Certification, design exam, vcdx, vcp, VMware

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This morning I called Tina in the VMware Certification department, it has been 17 days and I still haven’t heard of my VCDX Enterprise Administration Exam results.  Well, Tina looked up my record and said she has yet to hear from the “Exam Admins”, and that should would get back to me.

A few hours later, I receive an e-mail from VCDX@vmware.com and within second a phone call from Tina…

Congratulations on passing this exam. Passing this exam is the second of the four parts required to achieve the VMware Certified Design Expert designation. The next component is the VMware Design Exam. You will be sent registration information and voucher for admission to this exam when it publicly released in late February 2009. Please contact VMware if there are any changes to your mailing address as provided to VMware at the time of registration. Please be sure to watch for important announcements at the VMware VCDX program on the website: http://www.vmware.com/certification

Hooray!  What a great start to the weekend!  Tina informed me that she should be in contact sometime within the next couple weeks to schedule the Design Exam.   Only two more rounds of stress and anxiety to go!

Created on February 20, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification.

This blog has 1,676 views and 2 responses.

Tags: Certification, exam, vcxd, VMware

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Well, its been 10 days since I’ve taken the VCDX Enterprise Admin Exam, and I still haven’t heard from the VMware Certification department on the results.  Perhaps this is a good thing?  Does the old saying “No News is Good News” apply in this situation?  Anyways, I’m stressing myself out thinking about it, it also doesn’t help knowing that a couple of the lab answers I did were wrong.  Thinking back now I’m almost certain I forgot to do two things that were parts of the questions, things that are no-brainer do them all the time type things…but in a testing environment it is easy to choke under the gun!

Oh well, hopefully I’ll hear something on Tuesday!  You guys have a great weekend, and be sure to do something nice for your loved one tomorrow (Valentine’s Day).

Created on February 13, 2009 by Rick Scherer

Posted under Certification, Good Reading.

This blog has 1,760 views and 5 responses.

Tags: vcdx

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