VCP 5 cert NOOB question

My employer recently booked me for the one week course linked below. I don't have a heck of a lot of vitualization experience. Mostly VMware workstation but because I've got this course coming and it covers the exam prerequisite I'm thinking I should try to knock this one out.

Questions: I found this study guide at chapters. It supposedly covers everything. Would that book the course and some CBT videos be enough to pass? Is there a better book? Also how much time do you think I'd need to study?

VCP5 VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 Study Guide: Exam VCP-510: Brian Atkinson: Books | chapters.indigo.ca

VMware VMware vSphere Install Configure Manage V5.0 at Global Knowledge Canada

EDIT: Found this guide too. Its cheaper and vmware press. With Cisco I've always preffered their study guides.. Should I get this one instead?
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Official-Vcp5-Certification-Guide-Bill-Ferguson/9780789749314-item.html?ikwid=vcp5&ikwsec=Books
THANKS!

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Comments

dave330i

Many of us used Mastering vSphere 5 by Scott Lowe. It maps well to VCP5. Haven't read either of the books you linked, so can't comment on how good they are. Trainsignal videos are much better than cbt nugget.

How long it takes to study really depends on how well you absorb and understand the material. I think I spent about a month studying for it, but I was already familiar with VMware. If you're new to it, 2-3 month maybe?

You'll also want to build a lab.

tha_dub

Cool thx for the advice dave.

SteveLord

Good luck. I'll be taking the VSphere and View courses this summer. I already have the Mastering book and plan on finally opening it soon.

Akaricloud

I'll be taking that class in a few weeks here myself! I would definitely recommend the Mastering vSphere 5 book if you can pick it up. I'm a couple chapters in and it's a very informative book.

Essendon

I'll second/third the Mastering vSphere 5 book, really good read. You may want to thumb through the HA and DRS Technical Deepdive book if you'd like more detail on HA, DRS, Resource Allocation but I reckon the Mastering book should be enough. I have gone through both books once and cant recommend them enough.

scott28tt

The Scott Lowe book gets great reviews. The HA/DRS book also mentioned covers those particular features in excellent detail. They will help with general knowledge in the areas they cover, but not always give you the precise details that the VCP exam will test you on.

From what you've said you're going to need more hands-on experience, the exam is very fair to those who have actually done the things being tested on.

You need to focus on the objectives in the exam blueprint, and there are some great practice questions available online too - and I'm definitely not talking about brain **** there!

The VCP5 tab on my blog includes some links you'll find very useful. Including my review of the exam so you can get a feel for what to expect: VMware Training and Certification