Presented at the London VMware User Group event on 10th February 2011.

1. VMware Certification – Preparing for Success Scott Vessey Lead Virtualisation Instructor Global Knowledge UK

2. Session Overview

3. Session Overview VMware Training and Certification Programs Preparing for Datacenter Certifications General Reference Sites

4. VMware Training and Certification Programs

5. VMware Training

6. Datacenter Certifications - Overview Certification for vSphere 4.x: Foundation VMware Certified Professional (VCP4) Advanced VMware Certified Advanced Professional – DataCenter Administration (VCAP4-DCA) VMware Certified Advanced Professional – DataCenter Design (VCAP4-DCD) Expert VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX4)

7. Datacenter Certifications - Training

8. Desktop Certifications - Overview Certification for vSphere 4.x and View 4.5: Administrator VMware Certified Associate – Desktop (VCA4-DT) Engineer VMware Certified Professional – Desktop (VCP4-DT) Architect VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Desktop (VCAP4-DT)

9. Desktop Certifications - Training

10. Preparing for Datacenter Certifications

11. General Preparation Tips (1) Exam Blueprint – THE most important document for any VMware exam! Defines the exam format (eg. number of questions, style of questions, time allowed) Defines the specific objectives tested on Suggests learning methods for each objective Mock Exams and Demos Allows you to experience the format first-hand vSphere Documentation All exam answers are validated against it

12. General Preparation Tips (2) vSphere Lab 60-day evaluation mode for vSphere components Physical lab or virtual lab Unofficial blogs and websites Study guides, practice questions Books Study guides, reference books Braindumps Be wary of them, they are frequently inaccurate, can be counter-productive, and are a form of cheating!

13. VCP4 Exam 85 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes Some questions require multiple answers Scaled scoring system, from 100-500 300 or higher required to pass Exam scored immediately on completion Answers will be either things you know, or things you don’t know Exam items are consistent with vSphere 4.0 and 4.1 Available at all PearsonVUE testing centres

14. VCP4 Exam Preparation Resources Exam Blueprint and Mock Exam http://www.vmware.com/go/vcp The SLOG http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog vSphere Reference Card http://www.vreference.com/vsphere4-card Exam Preparation Workshop http://www.globalknowledge.co.uk/vmware

15. VCAP4-DCA Exam 40 live lab activities in 210 minutes Same scoring system as VCP4 exam Lab assessed and scored within 10 working days Score is based on the end result of the lab activities, rather than the method used Access to vSphere Client, an SSH client, and vSphere documentation Lab systems include vCenter Server, vSphere Management Assistant, ESX hosts Only available at selected PearsonVUE testing centres

16. VCAP4-DCD Exam Mixture of multiple-choice and drag-and-drop design questions Same scoring system as VCP4 Exam scored immediately on completion Only available at selected PearsonVUE testing centres

17. VCAP4 Exam Preparation Resources Exam Blueprints and User Interface Demos http://www.vmware.com/go/vcap Sean Crookston http://www.seancrookston.com/ Kendrick Coleman http://www.kendrickcoleman.com/ TheSaffaGeek http://thesaffageek.wordpress.com/

18. VCDX4 Available only to those who hold VCP4, VCAP4-DCA and VCAP4-DCD certifications Complete and submit a design Defend the submitted design Program Overview, Defence Overview, Handbook and Application http://www.vmware.com/go/vcdx Yellow Bricks http://www.yellow-bricks.com/?s=vcdx

19. General Reference Sites

20. General Reference Sites VMware Training & Certification blog http://vmwaretraining.blogspot.com Global Knowledge http://www.globalknowledge.co.uk/vmware VMware Education Services http://www.vmware.com/education VMware Certification http://www.vmware.com/certificaiton

21. Email: [email_address] Twitter: @vmtraining Facebook: vmware.training