Tackling VCP 5

Essendon

I really need some advice from you guys on tackling this certification. I have the following resources at my disposal:

1. Mastering vSphere 5, Scott Lowe
2. VMware vSphere Design, Scott Lowe and two others
3. Trainsignal and CBT Nuggets
4. My home lab, with multiple ESXi's nested inside a physical ESXi box.
5. Various websites on the internet.

I realize that all these resources are pretty much what I need to achieve this certification (barring the actual experience which I quite lack), but I frankly find all the info difficult to absorb. I am upto Chapter 5 on the Mastering vSphere book and my head is in a spin with these vSwitches and vDS's. When I read the book, I understand what he's talking about. When I lab and recap what I've read, it feels like I cant retain all the info. It's just overwhelming. We have VMware at work and I have built plenty of VM's, performed P2V's and troubleshot VM performance issues, but I dont deal with the nitty-gritty details of it all. So the question is, how do I go about this? I am not a dork and know that these higher level certs arent easy otherwise everyone would have them, but honestly this cert is going to be brutal.

So the question is, how do I go about this? Just go slow and steady, labbing, re-labbing, re-labbing and re-labbing till I understand it all or...?

dave330i

Read Mastering vSphere 5, watch Trainsignal on vSphere 5 & lab. vSphere Design is a great resource, but won't help you pass VCP5. Also the book is about vSphere 4, so it could confuse you on topics like HA (it changed between 4 & 5).

Zentraedi

I'd suggest a lot of labbing, plus reading all the vSphere 5 manuals on VMware's site.

Another option is to take the exam once just as a practice run. I didn't pass VCP4 on my first try because I was caught a little off guard by the scope and what might be important. Went back 3 weeks later after review all the stuff I should have and nailed it.

I felt VCP5 was basically the same exam except for some easy questions on the new features. I could have sworn they even copied and pasted questions from the VCP4 exam because they were just too lazy/cheap to write new ones.

QHalo

Really, that Mastering book is a deep dive into much of the technologies. The blueprint and the official documentation should be your guide to passing. Use the Mastering book when you want to take it a step further or you have questions about configurations. I'm not saying the book isn't useful, but I wouldn't use it as a primary study guide. It was never built with that intention.

dales

It is a little unfortunate that the VCP exams have been sadly lacking over the years in quality structured study books, Scott Lowes book is awsome though and is the closest to a study guide at present. The vcp5 is absolutely critical to passing the vcp5 and simon longs blog has a kind of test engine to give you a very rough idea of where you currently are with your studies.

Ultimately labbing though is your best bet as this exam is definately geared towards production experience not just what the book says should happen in theory.

meadIT

I didn't see any mention of the class training. Have you taken the classroom portion yet? If not, that my be a good first step. The class will cover about 65% of what you need for the certification. You can then fill in the blanks with your other resources and lab time.

Essendon

Thanks for the advice guys, sure helps. Labbing, reading the whitepapers and the books is what I'll be doing.

meadIT wrote: »

I didn't see any mention of the class training. Have you taken the classroom portion yet? If not, that my be a good first step. The class will cover about 65% of what you need for the certification. You can then fill in the blanks with your other resources and lab time.

Dont have the cash to spend on the training yet, I know I'd be handicapped without this training but I just dont have the moolah and work wont fork the money out either. Out of curiosity, does this training help at all (I'm not a newb to VMware) or it's VMware's way to rake in the money?

meadIT

The training helps out, especially if you're just starting out. If you're not just starting out, they have more advanced training that fulfills the requirement for the certification.

It's basically VMware's way to make sure that someone is not just dumping the test to get the certification. It doesn't stop them from dumping for the exam, but it does ensure that they have at least been exposed to the material.

odysseyelite

Essendon wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys, sure helps. Labbing, reading the whitepapers and the books is what I'll be doing.



Dont have the cash to spend on the training yet, I know I'd be handicapped without this training but I just dont have the moolah and work wont fork the money out either. Out of curiosity, does this training help at all (I'm not a newb to VMware) or it's VMware's way to rake in the money?

I'm paying for the training on my own and found a local community college offering the class for 600.00. Have you checked your area?

undomiel

Personally I wouldn't consider the lack of training a handicap. I found the course I took to be rather lackluster. Having the equipment available for doing availability labs was the best thing about it. If you can put together a full lab at home then you won't be missing that. Reading the white papers and burying yourself in your own lab will in my opinion get you the best experience. You'll definitely want to consult some other resources though. If the white paper explanations aren't making any sense then having a book available for an alternate explanation definitely helps.

scott28tt

Without doing the training, you cannot become a VCP.

undomiel

Correct, I was responding to the part about whether he'd be handicapped in the exam without the training.

scott28tt

undomiel wrote: »

Correct, I was responding to the part about whether he'd be handicapped in the exam without the training.

True, but is there any point doing the exam without the training anyway?

undomiel

I agree, I'd rather do the exam after the training as well. Definitely can't begin studying too early though. Then you can sit the exam with confidence immediately after the training.

Essendon

I understand that without the training I will not be a VCP and am trying to locate a place which offers it at a reasonable price. I am not doing this just for the cert, but I want to be good at this, better than the guys who manage VMware at work. Also I want to be able to put something on the resume too, like VCP 5 - exam passed or something. When I have the money I'll do the training too.