VCAP-DCD journey

tomtom1

After finishing up CCNP ROUTE earlier today, we're diving into the next subject, VCAP-DCD. I took a pause from the Cisco world to let a colleague finish up his CCNA, will continue Cisco after the VCAP. I am already a VCAP-DCA and in my day to day work a vSphere administrator with little to no experience in the design world. Nevertheless always eager to learn and we'll just start prepping and see where it goes from there.

Resources:
-> PluralSight vSphere design course
-> VCAP-DCD study guide by Paul McSharry
-> vSphere design book by Scott Lowe
-> A whole lot of PDF's, also mentioned on this forum.

I will use this forum to report the study activities and provide some details / tips / notes that I come across in the preparation process. Hope to do the exam in 2-3 months, but I have no idea what to expect and if this timetable is realistic.

Wish me luck

Essendon

The DCD's one hell of an exam to study for, that's for sure. You need to think and prepare differently for this exam. Like you most other exams I've taken have been config type ones, but this one's different. They'll ask you things on the lines of - why would you have NIOC on a server with 10 GbE cards or ask the same question another way - a customer has recently ordered a server with 2 10 GbE cards and how would you set up networking for them if they want guaranteed bandwidth for say iSCSI traffic. Get the drift? For more ideas and how I prepared check my blog if you havent already.

Try to to get yourself into the Design Workshop, that may help too or just get your hands on the handbook they give. The Visio-like questions are particularly notorious for difficulty and confusing nature. Make sure you look at the BC/DR course (free). Lemme know if you need more info.

tomtom1

Really nice starting point. Concerning the design course, not sure, but I could atleast try with management Will check your blog too. One of the design I have no vision on (as an administrator) is the conceptual, logical and physical design and how something like that is designed, including the differences between those. Could you perhaps share some of those, or some solid examples?

Essendon

This will answer your questions > VCAP5-DCD Study Guide - VirtuallyHyper

Basically you should be able to tell if a design is conceptual/logical/physical and how you do that is in the link above. The Managing and Optimizing vSphere Deployments book is good too, I had a few questions that seemed to have been plucked right out it.

QHalo

I'm reading the following right now as I'm studying for this exam as well.

VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide (with DVD): VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5 - Data Center Design (VMware Press Certification): Paul McSharry: 9780789750181: Amazon.com: Books
VMware vSphere Design: Forbes Guthrie, Scott D. Lowe, Kendrick Coleman: 9781118407912: Amazon.com: Books
http://www.virtuallanger.com/2012/09/30/vcap-dcd-5-document-package/
http://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-architecture/vcat-toolkit3

Essendon

Plus if you are a VMware partner at a certain level, download the Plan and Design kit from VMware Partner Central. Handy guides there.

A tip for both of you, I skimmed the McSharry book before my test and let me caution you - it's inadequate. Go through it once and put it away. The other three resources listed by QHalo are solid prep material.

kj0

If you haven't already, Check out Essendon's other link here. http://www.techexams.net/forums/virtualization/95566-vcap5-dcd-resources.html

Some very good resources there. I"m using some to get my head around a couple of VCP things.

tomtom1

Some great resources, thanks! Already ordered the Managing and Optimizing deployment book, whilst I go through the design book now. Did the first chapters and did a small write up on the blog, to help me keep track of the progress.

I created a project revolving around this, called 8 weeks of DCD. In these 8 weeks I'll be systematically going through the blueprint, books and other resources to prepare for the DCD. I'm not sure if 8 weeks will be enough, but at least it will give some goal to work towards.

Write up of Objective 1.3 - Determine Risks, Constraints and Assumptions.

tomtom1

Essendon wrote: »

A tip for both of you, I skimmed the McSharry book before my test and let me caution you - it's inadequate. Go through it once and put it away. The other three resources listed by QHalo are solid prep material.

Last time I started off using the McSharry book, but there really is a big gap in the level of detail between the vSphere design book and his, so thanks!

kj0

Mike preston's 8 week challenge is a good read for doing the VCAP in 8 weeks. In Fact, He mentions you.


8 weeks of #VCAP | mwpreston.net


[EDIT] Forget that, I see on your twitter that you have already been inspired by the great Mike P.

tomtom1

kj0 wrote: »

Mike preston's 8 week challenge is a good read for doing the VCAP in 8 weeks. In Fact, He mentions you.


8 weeks of #VCAP | mwpreston.net


[EDIT] Forget that, I see on your twitter that you have already been inspired by the great Mike P.

Yeah, Mike and I came together in our preparation for the DCA. I really like to work with members of the community in studying for an exam like the DCD or the DCA. In fact, I already found some guys who will be working with me on achieving the DCD, which is really a whole new world compared to the DCA.

I'm really excited about all this new stuff to learn, and trying to get a deeper, but at the same time, more global understanding of the options you have when it comes to vSphere design.