Best VMware Book?

I have a $50 gift card to Amazon. Because there is so many VMware books I need help in picking one that is the best for the VCP test. The reason I'm asking here instead of just reading the reviews is I trust y'all a whole lot more then Amazon reviews. My ideal book will give me information with the test and real world as well.

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Comments

vCole

Mastering VMware vSphere4
Amazon.com: Mastering VMware vSphere 4 (Computer/Tech) (9780470481387): Scott Lowe: Books

dales

what fadetobright said no other book comes close!

vCole

dales wrote: »

what fadetobright said no other book comes close!

Except the one that's coming out in March:

VMware vSphere Design - Coming Soon

dales

FadeToBright wrote: »

Except the one that's coming out in March:

VMware vSphere Design - Coming Soon

Oooooooo pretttyyyyyy, opens wallet.........

scott28tt

OK, I'm going to both agree and disagree here - it is widely thought that Scott Lowe's "Mastering vSphere" is pretty much the best vSphere book out there, but I've yet to see or hear of a single book that will prepare you FULLY for the VCP exam - and that even applies to the various VCP study guide books...

So, whatever book you decide to buy, just bear in mind that there is no substitute for working through the VCP exam blueprint with the vSphere documentation on one side and a vSphere lab to play with on the other side - you will still need to do those things regardless of the book you buy.

Scott.

ElvisG

Thanks everybody!

Forsaken_GA

Lowe's book is pretty good, but it doesn't cover 4.1, and there are some pretty important changes. Like the fact that vcenter doesn't install on 32-bit OS's anymore, and you can't upgrade a 4.0 32bit install to 4.1.

Taking things like that into account, it's still a pretty good primer.

bertieb

scott28tt wrote: »

there is no substitute for working through the VCP exam blueprint with the vSphere documentation on one side and a vSphere lab to play with on the other side - you will still need to do those things regardless of the book you buy.
Scott.

^^this. The vSphere documentation and following the exam blueprint is essential. The 'Mastering' book by Scott Lowe is very, very good and I can't wait to have a read through the design one too when it's released.

Chris:/*

Scott Lowe's book is a good training manual and quick reference to do tasks but as the author himself said the vendor documentation is a must for passing the VCP.

jasonboche

There are many fine VMware books out now. Variety in this case is a good problem to have. Scott's book is an excellent technical guide. It's not marketed as a VCP book although I've seen several testimonials thanking Scott personally for helping them pass their VCP exam. The fastest resource which focuses on passing the written VCP exam would probably be the red Exam Cram book along with a lot of experience. Every exam question should be covered in one VMware PDF document or another which are all free.

Jas

thulasi39

VCP 410 Exam cram by Elias is the good resource to pass the exam. I passed VCP3 with his earlier book.

avlad

VMware vSphere 4 Implementation by Mike Laverick the best for VCP4 exam.
As always, you should study from other books/ VMware documentation.

yehosaphat

Hi all, I am looking for a VMware book to start off as well. Anyone has gone through 'Mastering VMware vSphere 5' already? Any reviews?

Thanks in advance

Essendon

Way to bring the thread back from the dead!

Yes that book is worth its weight in gold, it's really good.

yehosaphat

Great thanks Essendon. Is this also suited for those just starting out on VMware stuff as well?

Essendon

Yes it is. Pick up a copy and you'll never look back.

odysseyelite

The book is only 35 bucks now, use the rest of the card to pick up the VMware vSphere 5 Clustering Technical Deepdive