Dave's VCDX journey

As many of you know I'm going to attempt a VCDX defense at this year's VMworld. The interesting problem I'm running into is that the environments I've help build never had any defined requirements. Usually the equipment were pre-purchased and my task was to build the best virtual environment possible with them.

I decided to design a virtual environment to support 700 servers which are mixture of P2V & new servers, must support SQL 2008R2 failover cluster, DR capable & try to re-use older equipment.

It feels like I'm cheating if I come up with all the requirements & constraints. I'd like to ask the TE community to shoot me some design requirements/constraints. They can be requirements you've worked with or something you'd like to see someone design around.

Thanks in advance,

Dave

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

jibbajabba wrote: »

Man I wish - I am using that avatar for the last, don't know - 20 years ? More than that ? I wished I had a larger version of it.

And right now it is wannabe-vcdx - if anything ...

Edit: funny, google picture search found one.

Rooting you on man! - Someday, like in 5 years I'll get the VCDX too.

I'll need you guys for moral support then too.

You guys! so crazy!

Working on crazy amount of documentations (800+ pages). Guess I can use it for vcdx.

dave330i wrote: »

Working on crazy amount of documentations (800+ pages). Guess I can use it for vcdx.

Yepp - split it for about 4 different submissions

....

Unless you're Niran, than you are 200 pages short for 1 submission.

Completed:
Initial draft of planning documents (42 pages).
Initial draft of the install doc (only 228 pages).
Architecture diagrams (30 figures).

To do:
Architecture doc
Configuration workbook
Validation workbook
Ops guide

ONLY 228 pages for install doc ?

wow ... my submission (CMA) :

Architecture Design : 167 Pages (17 Figures, 62 Tables)
Implementation Plan : 16 Pages
Installation Guide : 101 Pages (Could half that if I'd remove screenshots)
Standard Operating Procedures : 27 Pages
Test and Validation Plan : 38 Pages

I got no Configuration Workbook.
a. It is a bit of a partner thing from a SET - and I believe they don't really like SETs
b. I had to highly anonymize it due to NDA - I figured no point in adding IPs just for the sake of it.

Anyway - 69 hours until my defense - not that I am counting ...

I think I have 2 screenshots in my install doc.

And 228 pages ? Holy crap ...

jibbajabba wrote: »

And 228 pages ? Holy crap ...

It's for a customer. They are using everything VMware owns. I'm covering everything but Horizon (someone else is doing it). Attempting a VCDX with it is just an added bonus.

Architecture document done. ~150 pages.

Operational guide complete. ~120 pages.

Still need to complete:
config workbook
validation workbook
requirements workbook
presentation slides

Hit submit yesterday. It's SDDC design, not vSphere, so we'll see if they accept or not.

What track are you doing this time Dave? Still the DCV?

Essendon wrote: »

What track are you doing this time Dave? Still the DCV?

DCV. I did do an interesting thing with NSX, but NSX overall is pretty simple.

Good luck Dave!

Defenses are ..... fun ..... in my case it's 'Better luck next time' - at least it doesn't cost me anything ... that's the best thing about it ...

Too bad jibba. Better luck next time?

They accepted my package. We'll see how the review goes.

My technical review result is past due. Sent an email to the cert team.

Took them a few extra days to notify me that my application passed technical review. I get to defend in December.

Congrats Dave, excellent work!

Thanks. Now I need to figure out how to cover 22 slide presentation in 15 minutes.

December 12th is the big date. Haven't had a real chance to prep due to work. Maybe after overeating some turkey.

Lemme know if you want to do a mock or two before the big date Dave.

Essendon said:

Lemme know if you want to do a mock or two before the big date Dave.

Thanks for the offer. As stated before, I'm pretty busy due to work atm, so not sure when my schedule will open up.

hey, all the best:)
(I did not login to this site in the last 2 years, it has completely new design)

I should be focusing on my defense next week, but brain is filled new project I'm supporting.

Did manage to update the presentation deck and finish the talking points. Just need to practice some more.

dave330i said:

I should be focusing on my defense next week, but brain is filled new project I'm supporting. Did manage to update the presentation deck and finish the talking points. Just need to practice some more.

Good luck Dave, my VCDX partner is defending in Palo Alto on Tuesday in the Network track, you can reach him on Twitter @vScripter or ping me on Twitter if you guys want to link up, he'll be in PA and free tomorrow.

slinuxuzer said:

dave330i said:

I should be focusing on my defense next week, but brain is filled new project I'm supporting. Did manage to update the presentation deck and finish the talking points. Just need to practice some more.

Good luck Dave, my VCDX partner is defending in Palo Alto on Tuesday in the Network track, you can reach him on Twitter @vScripter or ping me on Twitter if you guys want to link up, he'll be in PA and free tomorrow.

Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately I'm not flying in until Tuesday morning.

dave330i said:

slinuxuzer said:

dave330i said:

I should be focusing on my defense next week, but brain is filled new project I'm supporting. Did manage to update the presentation deck and finish the talking points. Just need to practice some more.

Good luck Dave, my VCDX partner is defending in Palo Alto on Tuesday in the Network track, you can reach him on Twitter @vScripter or ping me on Twitter if you guys want to link up, he'll be in PA and free tomorrow.

Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately I'm not flying in until Tuesday morning.

Well best of luck to you then mate, I assume you are defending the NV track? I'm VCDX:NV - ping me on Twitter DM if you need me.

Quick Links