- Topics Mentioned
- Certification(s):
- VCP
- Exam(s):
- VMware Exams
When VMware announced vSphere 5 on July 12th, 2011 and then released it on August 25th (just before VMworld 2011), the clock started ticking for you to learn about the latest version of vSphere and upgrade your VCP. Besides being chock-full of new features for you and your company, vSphere 5 offers those interested in certification and learning many new opportunities.
New vSphere 5 = New Learning Opportunities
The first opportunity (whether you are interested in the VCP certification or not) is to further your knowledge on the hottest new release in IT. While there are some 140+ new features in vSphere 5, there are a few unparalleled new features that every admin should be aware of and understand.
The 5 best new features of vSphere 5 are:
- vCenter Appliance – a Linux-based virtual appliance that contains vCenter and a local database. This vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) can be imported into an ESXi server and you can have vCenter up and running FAST (without having to buy a Windows Server license, install the OS, and install vCenter). This is where VMware is going with vCenter and it’s likely at some point there won’t be a Windows version of vCenter.
- vSphere Web Client – a web-based version of the vSphere client, used to administer a vSphere infrastructure. VMware has already announced that soon there won’t be a Windows version of the vSphere client and future administrative interfaces will be web-based. While today’s vSphere web client may only do 60% or so of what the Windows version does, it’s time to start learning it now.
- Storage Distributed Resource Scheduler (SDRS) – an amazing new feature in vSphere enterprise plus that performs load-balancing of storage. SDRS can move the virtual disk of a RUNNING virtual machine from one data store to another with no downtime. This way, if a SAN is experiencing latency or is running out of space, virtual machine disk files can be moved without intervention from the VMware or SAN Admin.
- AutoDeploy - allows you to deploy hundreds of ESXi servers, automatically, and then configure them using host profiles. Need to get a large virtual infrastructure up and running in a few hours? AutoDeploy is the way you do it.
- vSphere Host-Based Replication - with vSphere 5 and SRM 5, you can replicate virtual machines from one ESXi server to another, even over a wide-area network. This is done independent of what SAN they are on and doesn’t require hardware-based replication. High availability in the event of a disaster is now more affordable to medium and small businesses.
BONUS – Improved Scalability – vSphere 5 offers much higher configuration maximums for servers and VMs. For example, now you can create a “monster VM” with 32 virtual CPUs, 1TB of virtual RAM, and a 1TB virtual disk.
New vSphere 5 = New Career Opportunities
Along with the new version of vSphere comes new opportunities to upgrade (or achieve) your VMware Certified Professional (VCP) certification. VMware has announced a new version of the VCP — the VCP5 covers traditional VCP topics but is mapped to the new features and maximums of vSphere 5.
If you already have your VCP in vSphere 4 then HURRY because you just have a few months to upgrade your VCP4 without having to take a costly VMware education course. In fact, the deadline for those who have a VCP4 to upgrade without a class is February 29, 2012.
There is no need to wait until you have vSphere 5 in production and no need to wait for more certification preparation material to come out. You can run vSphere 5 in a lab and the VCP5 prep material is already here — read on!
How to Prepare for the VMware VCP5 Exam in Under One Week
I don’t want to trivialize the VCP5 exam but if you are already a VCP4, preparation shouldn’t be so difficult that it couldn’t be completed in a week. In fact, if you are an experienced VMware Admin with a VCP4 then here’s what I recommend you do in one we week to prep for the VCP5:
- Build a vSphere 5 virtual lab in VMware Workstation 8 or Fusion 4 (unless you have available servers lying around to use). Use this lab to gain hands-on experience with vSphere 5. This isn’t as hard as it used to be and you’ll find a video in my vSphere 5 video training course that walks you through the process.
Estimated time to complete: 3 hours
- Watch my vSphere 5 video training course to learn all the new features of vSphere 5 (including the ones I listed above) from vExperts with years of experience. You can watch this course from your computer, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Android phone, or even listen to it in your car. I recommend recreating the hands-on portions of the video in your virtual lab so that you can see how they work, for yourself. My VMware vSphere 5 video training will give you all of the practical (and much of the theoretical) knowledge you need to prepare for the VCP5.
Estimated time to complete: 16 hours
- Use the practice tests and read the articles from the following links:
- Articles:
- Comparing Exam Blueprints VCP4 vs VCP5 by Damian Karlson
- How to Pass the VCP5 Exam by Greg Stuart at the Petri IT Knowledgebase
- Practice Tests:
- Simon Long’s VCP5 configuration maximums exam and VCP5 practice exams
- VMware Education’s VCP5 Mock Exam
Estimated time to complete: 5 hours
So far, that only totals about three 8 hour work days. What do you do with the remaining 2 days? Well, if you are like me, you have to do your work and study too so perhaps you don’t really have any time left. On the other hand, if I really had 2 days left, I would spend my time reading a book likeMastering vSphere 5 by Scott Lowe as learning a topic works best if you get exposure to it in different ways — video, hands-on experience, reading and practice tests.
With your preparation complete, all you need to do is register for and take your VCP5 exam! You can register for your exam at the Pearson VUE VMware website.
Trust me, you aren’t alone taking the VCP5 – there are always at least 80,000 VCPs out there, just like you, who need to upgrade their VCP4 to a VCP5 (including your humble author — me). Post your exam questions or experience here (no NDA material please!).
For questions about virtual labs, my vSphere 5 training video, the VCP5 exam, or resources contact me via the contact page on my blog.
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