Section 1 of the VCP5 Blueprint as presented on the ProfessionalVMware.com BrownBags

1. ProfessionalVMware.com
Brownbag 1/11/2012
VMware VCP5: Section 1

2. Objective 1.1 – Install and Configure vCenter Server
• Identify available vCenter Server editions
– vCenter Server Foundation
• Up to 3 hosts
– vCenter Server Essentials
• Integrated management for the Essentials kits, same features as Foundation
– vCenter Server Standard
– Resources:
• http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vsphere_pricing.pdf
• http://www.vmware.com/products/vcenter-server/buy.html
• Deploy the vCenter Appliance
– Alternative to installing on a Windows server or VM
– No Update Manager, no linked mode, no support for VSA, Oracle only as the external db,
embedded DB2 only supports 5 hosts & 50 VMs, no vCenter Heartbeat
• Install vCenter Server into a virtual machine
– Installing into a VM leverages HA & DRS, snapshots
– May require management cluster, especially with vDS
• Size the vCenter Server database
– Sizing can be performed within the vCenter client; also sizing calculator available on
VMware.com

3. Objective 1.1 – Install and Configure vCenter Server
• Install additional vCenter Server components
– vSphere Client, Web client, Update Manager
– ESXi Dump Collector: Can collect memory dumps of PSOD’d ESXi hosts on a
network location
– Syslog Collector: Can collect system logs of ESXi hosts on a network location
– Auto Deploy: Useful for PXE deployments of ESXi (think elastic growth)
– Authentication Proxy: Allows joining of AD without having domain creds
within the host; used in PXE situations
• Install/Remove vSphere Client plug-ins
• Enable/Disable vSphere Client plug-ins
• License vCenter Server
– Licensing option under vCenter Server -> Home
• Determine availability requirements for a vCenter Server in a given
vSphere implementation
• Determine use case for vSphere Client and Web Client
– Web Client: non-administrative users; requires Java

4. Objective 1.2 – Install and Configure VMware ESXi
• Perform an interactive installation of ESXi
– No Service Console, no GUI installation. Installation process different from ESXi 4 (password
set during install, for example)
– Upgrade ESXi & preserve VMFS; Install ESXi & preserve VMFS; Install ESXi & overwrite VMFS
• Deploy an ESXi host using Auto Deploy
– Resources: http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2011/08/25/using-vsphere-5-auto-deploy-in-your-
home-lab/
• Configure NTP on an ESXi Host
– vSphere Client
• Configure DNS and Routing on an ESXi Host
– vSphere client, partially DCUI
• Enable/Configure/Disable hyperthreading
– With proper hardware support, can be enabled/disable through the client
• Enable/Size/Disable memory compression cache
• License an ESXi host
– Through vCenter Server Licensing plugin
– Through vCenter client connected directly to host

5. Objective 1.3 – Plan and Perform Upgrades of vCenter
Server and VMware ESXi
• Identify upgrade requirements for ESXi hosts
– x64 only, HCL, 2 cores & 2GB RAM minimum
• Identify steps required to upgrade a vSphere implementation
– Read the upgrade guide for general guidelines
• Upgrade a vNetwork Distributed Switch
– vSphere Client: Home -> Networking -> vDS Summary tab
• Upgrade from VMFS3 to VMFS5
– vSphere Client: Host Configuration -> Storage -> select datastore & click Upgrade
• Upgrade VMware Tools
• Upgrade Virtual Machine hardware
– Backup first, then upgrade Tools, power off VM and upgrade VM HW level
• Upgrade an ESXi Host using vCenter Update Manager
– Read the upgrade guide
• Determine whether an in-place upgrade is appropriate in a given upgrade scenario
– Understand decision points such as VMFS3 vs VMFS5

6. Objective 1.4 – Secure vCenter Server and ESXi
• Identify common vCenter Server privileges and roles
– Read the Security guide
– Understand that use cases/actions touch various resource objects & roles
must apply all the way through (ex: Virtual Machine permissions, Resource
Pool permissions, Datastore & Network permissions
• Describe how permissions are applied and inherited in vCenter Server
– Permissions can propagate (checkbox)
– Child object permission settings override inherited
– Most restrictive security always applies (will err on the side of deny vs allow)
• Configure and administer the ESXi firewall
– vSphere client, vSphere VMA
• Enable/Configure/Disable services in the ESXi firewall
• Enable Lockdown Mode
– vSphere client, ESXi DCUI

7. Objective 1.4 – Secure vCenter Server and ESXi
• Configure network security policies
– Switch level, portgroup level (vSS)
– Switch level, portgroup level, uplink level (vDS)
• View/Sort/Export user and group lists
– vSphere client connected to ESXi host; Local Users & Groups tab
• Add/Modify/Remove permissions for users and groups on vCenter Server
inventory objects
– vSphere client connected to host or to vCenter Server
• Create/Clone/Edit vCenter Server Roles
– vCenter Server -> Roles
• Add an ESXi Host to a directory service
• vSphere client > Host > Configuration > Authentication Services > join domain
• Apply permissions to ESXi Hosts using Host Profiles
– vSphere client > Host Profiles > Edit Profile > Security Configuration > Add/configure/require >
Propagate
• Determine the appropriate set of privileges for common tasks in vCenter Server

8. Objective 1.5 – Identify vSphere Architecture and
Solutions
• Identify available vSphere editions and
features
• Explain ESXi and vCenter Server architectures
• Explain Private/Public/Hybrid cloud concepts
• Determine appropriate vSphere edition based
on customer requirements