Which book is a better read for VCP?

ITdude

Hi,

Along with the other usual study materials, which at this point would be considered a better supplement:

Mastering VMware vSphere 4 by Scott Lowe, or

VMware vSphere 4 Implementation by Mike Laverick?

Thanks!

I realize this is a subjective question.....

nhan.ng

my professor actually recommended both of those books. The vMware class that he taught (unofficial ICM class before the school got accepted into vMware academy), he was using the Mastering vMware book

QHalo

I plan on reading all of these for study. Most likely overkill, but I'm not stopping at VCP.

I've already read Mastering and it was good. I'm reading the second book below right now.

Amazon.com: Mastering VMware vSphere 4 (Computer/Tech) (9780470481387): Scott Lowe: Books - finished reading this
Amazon.com: VMware ESX and ESXi in the Enterprise: Planning Deployment of Virtualization Servers (2nd Edition) (9780137058976): Edward Haletky: Books - currently reading
Amazon.com: VMware ESXi: Planning, Implementation, and Security (978143545495: Dave Mishchenko: Books - this is most likely next
Amazon.com: Maximum vSphere: Tips, How-Tos, and Best Practices for Working with VMware vSphere 4 (9780137044740): Eric Siebert, Simon Seagrave: Books - then this maybe
Amazon.com: VMware vSphere 4 Administration Instant Reference (9780470520727): Scott Lowe, Jason W. McCarty, Matthew K. Johnson: Books

scott28tt

No matter how good those reference books are, just remember that reference books is what they are - they're not VCP study books as such. They can be great at explaining concepts you don't understand, or walking you through an admin task, but the VCP expects you to know so much information that's very specific.

There are more specialist VCP study books available, but I wouldn't recommend any of them in particular - I've found errors in all those that I've read, there is no substitute for referring to the official vSphere documentation.

Scott.

ITdude

scott28tt wrote: »

No matter how good those reference books are, just remember that reference books is what they are - they're not VCP study books as such. They can be great at explaining concepts you don't understand, or walking you through an admin task, but the VCP expects you to know so much information that's very specific.

There are more specialist VCP study books available, but I wouldn't recommend any of them in particular - I've found errors in all those that I've read, there is no substitute for referring to the official vSphere documentation.

Scott.

Thanks and to everyone. So, Scott would you suggest that the official VMware courseware and Lab guide would be more on target, then, or also just a supplement? Thanks.

nhan.ng

the official training guide is awesome if you want to buy it. It's $150 on ebay. We get it at the school's bookstore for $50 once we registered for the official ICM course. But they do not mention about the hardware set-ups so...unless you can find someone that can help you to set up the lab, it wont do u any good.

Asif Dasl

nhan.ng wrote: »

the official training guide is awesome if you want to buy it. It's $150 on ebay. We get it at the school's bookstore for $50 once we registered for the official ICM course. But they do not mention about the hardware set-ups so...unless you can find someone that can help you to set up the lab, it wont do u any good.

Easy way to make $100 if ever I saw one... Maybe you lost let's say 10 of them, 1 after another

nhan.ng

problem is you have to do a special order for them at the bookstore (walk-in order only, cant do them online). Waiting time is anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

ITdude

Thanks guys. Well, I am planning to take the course eventually, so I assume that I will get them anyway but thought I would try to be as prepared as possible beforehand.

blargoe

ITdude wrote: »

Thanks and to everyone. So, Scott would you suggest that the official VMware courseware and Lab guide would be more on target, then, or also just a supplement? Thanks.

I think he was referring to the PDF's on vmware.com.

ITdude

Ah, okay thanks!

QHalo

VCP4 vSphere Study Notes - The SLOG – SimonLong/Blog

Amazing btw, if you haven't already found it.

MentholMoose

I've only read the Mastering book. It is especially good if you are just starting to learn vSphere. I don't recommend trying to study the official docs until you are familiar with vSphere.

scott28tt

@blargoe/ITdude, yes I meant the vSphere PDF documentation.

JDMurray

nhan.ng wrote: »

problem is you have to do a special order for them at the bookstore (walk-in order only, cant do them online). Waiting time is anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Yes to all that, plus at my college you must present your schedule to prove you are in the ICM class, they only order them in batches of ten, and there are absolutely no refunds. So much for ordering a dozen and reselling them on eBay for 200% profit.