Have you been wanting to start down the VCDX3 track and were a little hesitant because you knew the VCDX4 would be shortly approaching? Well here is some information that could help you with your planning. VMware has recently made public some changes to their certifications program.

As many of you already knew there is the VCP certification which requires taking a VMware Approved class as well as passing the VCP exam (currently VCP410). Then early last year they added the VCDX3 program which requires a VCP but also adds in two exams (Enterprise Administration and Design) as well as a submitting a VCDX Application (design document) and then sitting through a defense.

For vSphere4 they’ve added a new certification track, VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP4) with two available specialties, Data Center Administration (DCA) and Data Center Design (DCD). If you haven’t already guessed it they are basically the upgradesto the Enterprise Administration and Design Exam necessary for the VCDX3. The problem was that many people wanted to take that next step in their virtualization education and certification, but unless you’re a pre-sales engineer for a partner or a systems architect the need of obtaining a VCDX is low (unless you’re a vDiva like me).

So what does that mean if you’ve already taken the VCDX3 Enterprise Administration and Design Exam? Not to worry, there is an upgrade path for those of you that have already started your journey (or already have a VCDX3). Simply take the VCAP4-DCD exam when it is made available (around August) and you’ll be qualified to obtain the VCDX4 (or will be upgraded if you’ve already obtained a VCDX3). The chart on the right highlights your certification options and the path you would take depending on where you’re at. The * denotes the exam will be available at a discounted price.

The VCAP4-DCA exam will be available around mid-July and the VCAP4-DCD exam around the August time-frame. VCDX4 defenses will still happen at VMware global events (VMworld, PEX, etc). But now you have almost endless options and certification choices when it comes to VMware.

Posted under Certification, Training

VMwareTips and the website…

Thought I’d give all of my avid readers an update on VMwareTips and my personal life.  For those of you that attended VMworld 2009 you already know there wasn’t too many exciting announcements made.  We have VMware View 4 coming with PC over IP (PCoIP), SRM 4 with its NFS support and more hype of the vCloud and VMware Go, a tool for ESXi users to deploy and manage your systems via a web based tool. Expect some write-ups soon on View 4 and SRM 4, those are set to be released before the end of the calendar year.

As of August 2009 we’ve hit over 70,000 visits per month and over 18,000 unique visitors!  The growth of the site has been phenomenal over the past year and I have no one to thank but my readers!  I pledge to you that the next year will only be better!

Mastering VMware vSphere 4

Earlier this month Sybex published Scott Lowe’s masterpiece “Mastering VMware vSphere 4″which is available on Amazon.com. I had the honor to be the technical editor of this great book and I truly feel this is a great tool for those of you just learning VMware vSphere or simply need a quick reference tool.

VMware Certified Professional 4 (VCP4) Study Guide

I’ve been asked by McGraw-Hill to be the technical editor on an upcoming publication focused on the VCP-410 exam. This book “VMware Certified Professional 4 (VCP4) Study Guide”should be released by January 2010 and will be available on Amazon.com.  Don’t forget that the requirements for the VCP4 certification are successful passing of the VCP-410 exam and also sitting through a certified VMware training session.

VMware vSphere 4 Administration Instant Reference

In what would be the third VMware book I’ve worked on, Sybex has once again asked me to be a technical editor on Scott Lowe, Jase McCarty and Matthew Johnson’s upcoming release “VMware vSphere 4 Administration Instant Reference”.  Think of this as a smaller pocket guide of the Mastering book. Perfect for those crunch moments, or perhaps some light bathroom reading? Pre-order now on Amazon.com!

TrainSignal vSphere Training

David Davis is at it again with the next edition of their popular video based VMware training series. TrainSignal has asked me to be the Technical Editor for this product and I promise we’ll provide nothing but the best video based training available for VMware vSphere.  Also be sure to keep an eye out for the Cisco Nexus 1000V video training which I will be authoring, this will be included in the vSphere series and should be added around mid November.

I’ve saved the best for last…

Most of you already know, via Twitter, but it is official.  I am now a VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX).  I am one of a few select bunch (< 25), I couldn’t be happier to be part of this elite crew!

Posted under Good Reading

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.

Posted under Certification

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;

Read More…

Posted under Certification

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.

Read More…

Posted under Certification

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!

Posted under Certification

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.

Read More…

Posted under Certification

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!

Posted under Certification

Duncan over at Yellow-Bricks came across a response on the VMTN forums from Jon Hall, Technical Certification Developer at VMware, in regards to the VCDX Design Exam (step 3 of 4). Looks like the third portion of the highly anticipated VCDX Certification will be available around the end of February.  Hopefully when I get the results on the Enterprise Exam Tina will let me schedule this next portion.

Read More…

Posted under Certification

As some of you know, last night I took the VCDX Enterprise Administration Exam.  So, let me paint you the picture of how it worked, first you need to read a sheet that shows the rules and regulations for the testing center. Then you need to show two forms of ID (Drivers License & Credit Card worked for me), then you give a digital signature and they take a photo. After your signed in you then remove all your belongings and put them in a locker (this includes cell phones, watches, wallets, money, cheat sheets or food), you can have nothing in your pocket except for your drivers license and the locker key.

Read More…

Posted under Certification