Which entry level/associate VMWARE certification would be beneficial for me ?

aswebdev

I would mainly be using vmware as a dev machine at office. I'm really interested in learning about vmware, virtualization in general.

Please advice.

SimonD.

That would be the VMware VCA - DCV exam then.

Asif Dasl

I was actually going through VCA-DCV when you asked this... it's a bit of a yawn-fest! Take the course as an early introductory to VMware terminology but buy the Mastering vSphere 5.5 book. AFAIK the exam is 50% off at the moment and is not free any longer and the money would be better spent on the book which you can use towards the VCP5-DCV. Just my 2 cents.

aswebdev

Thanks for the advice..

But wouldn't the VCP be much harder, require real world experience and intensive studying ? I have zero experience in vmware or even virtualization really. All I have ever really done is create a few linux servers on virtualbox.

Asif Dasl

Yup! Harder but more worthwhile IMO. Of course it depends on where you see yourself ending up though. The VCA course really only covers VMware terminology, you won't actually learn how to do things with vSphere.

That's why I suggest getting the book and building your own lab and then putting linux on top of vSphere if that's what you want to do. We all had to start somewhere - have you considered going to Stanly CC or Dallas County CC? They are both around $200 for the VCP course (which is a VMware requirement before you can take the exam).

You don't even need to take the exam if you don't want to, but virtualisation is a hot skill at the moment. Add that to linux skills and you'll go places quickly.

SimonD.

Alternatively take a Pluralsight subscription and have a look at their virtualisation offerings (more specifically their Workstation and \ or Fusion training). At between $29 - $49 per month it's not a bad way to go to get that extra knowledge you want.

gorebrush

I've been using VMWare Workstation for the past 10 years and have been using ESX at home since version 4 for the past 4 years. I've used it plenty, I wonder if I would be able to go do VCP without too much difficulty?

Asif Dasl

Don't see why not gorebrush. I think another member here called powmia had a CCIE or two and had a VCP too. VMware will be bringing out more network virtualisation products as far as I understand, so why not? Have a look at the blueprint (green hyperlink) and see if you would have much to learn...