Study path to VCP

Hi there,

I haven't read a clear recommendation anywhere regarding when one should take the required class for the VCP cert. Is it best to take the class first and then read books and practice in a home lab after, or the other way around?

I'm taking TSHOOT in two weeks and providing I pass I will have my CCNP. I don't have any virtualization experience currently and feel that I need to given the growing relationship with networking. Nothing is virtualized in my current work environment but I plan on looking for a new position within the next month.

I came through the CCENT -> CCNA -> CCNP track (all self study) without having any solid Cisco experience and I found the structure of those courses to be excellent to worth with. It was a solid way of learning Cisco and the certification is an added bonus. I would be hoping for a similar sort of structure working towards VCP.

In order to fulfill the six months of experience I am assuming that practice with a home lab environment is sufficient?

Many thanks!

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Comments

meadIT

The Install, Configure, Manage course starts out assuming you know nothing. It would benefit you to at least play around with it before the class so you can ask intelligent questions and to help fill in any blanks that the instructor may have missed. After the class, you'll want to read through t whitepapers and lab up everything you feel weak on. The class will only cover (in my estimate from v4 ICM class) around 70% of what's needed for the exam.

nosoup4u

I just passed 510 yesterday using The Official VCP5 Certification Guide by Bill Ferguson & Mastering VMware vSphere 5 by Scott Lowe

I also used the blog from http://www.techexams.net/members/scott28tt.html here on TE, VMware Training and Certification: Studying for the VCP5 exam

I have experience with vmware here at work but nothing spectacular.

Akaricloud

I could go either way on taking the class before or after you've worked with it more. On one hand, it's a great intro to vSphere but at the same time you can get more out of the class if you have experience first. By having ~6 months of experience before I took the class I was able to ask more advanced questions, help provide the class with real-world examples and tie up any loose ends that I had in my mind. Whichever you choose will be fine I'm sure.

Home lab experience should be fine as long as you really set up a good lab and play with it often. My VMware instructor gave us all a walkthrough on what it would take to create a fully capable home lab which may be another reason to take the class first.

I also second Mastering VMware vSphere 5 by Scott Lowe. It's a good read and helps reinforce a lot of the concepts.

/usr

My two cents...

Depending on where you take the class, most will give you access to a lab as you go through so you can work with what you're learning. That said, if you do the fast paced course with no prior virtualization experience, you're going to be bombarded with information, so you may not retain it quite as well as if you've read through a book or two first.

My recommendation would be to read through Scott Lowe's book first, even if that's just once through, that way when you take the course you can drive home key concepts and ask more specific questions. After that, begin studying for the actual exam.

wave

Thank you all for your advice - much appreciated!

dave330i

You get a discount voucher after class, so taking it before the exam will save you some money.

scott28tt

nosoup4u wrote: »

I just passed 510 yesterday using The Official VCP5 Certification Guide by Bill Ferguson & Mastering VMware vSphere 5 by Scott Lowe

I also used the blog from http://www.techexams.net/members/scott28tt.html here on TE, VMware Training and Certification: Studying for the VCP5 exam

I have experience with vmware here at work but nothing spectacular.

Congratulations! And thanks for using and mentioning my blog

scott28tt

meadIT wrote: »

The Install, Configure, Manage course starts out assuming you know nothing. It would benefit you to at least play around with it before the class so you can ask intelligent questions and to help fill in any blanks that the instructor may have missed. After the class, you'll want to read through t whitepapers and lab up everything you feel weak on. The class will only cover (in my estimate from v4 ICM class) around 70% of what's needed for the exam.

Good advice

Akaricloud

dave330i wrote: »

You get a discount voucher after class, so taking it before the exam will save you some money.

I never heard of or received this...

Regardless it would be very pointless to plan to take the class after the test.

SteveLord

jibbajabba

Akaricloud wrote: »

I never heard of or received this....

Me neither .... Some VCIs seem to be able to give out 25% voucher - but no idea about the details. Thankfully the only VMware related course / exam I had to pay for myself was the upgrade 4>5 and IAAS.

scott28tt

There is a discount promotion at the moment, every VCI has codes so ask your VCI for theirs.