Before you attempt to take the VCP-310 exam and try to become a VMware Certified Professional (VCP), it is imperative that you know considerable information about VMware Infrastructure 3 and all its suite components. There is so much breadth to this exam that we felt it necessary to include a Self-Assessment within this book to help you evaluate your exam readiness. Within this portion of the book, take a look at what is needed to pass the exam and assess your preparedness.
To complete the VCP certification, you have to be a very well-rounded ESX Server-aware individual. The VCP certification is meaningful and maps closely to the everyday virtualization work environment found in the real world. With that said, you will also likely find this particular exam quite challenging to complete successfully.
The exam requires you to have at least a base level of knowledge about the entire VMware Infrastructure suite. You need to know how ESX Server 3.5 networking works, including the concept of virtual networking within a virtual infrastructure. You need to be intimately familiar with storage in an ESX environment, including what types of storage are supported and how to best configure this storage for optimal performance of the virtual machines. Backup is no small task in any environment, and knowing how to safeguard your VMs and recover them when necessary is crucial to VCP certification. Monitoring and resource management are other areas where you will be tested, without a doubt. And all these text topics are certainly not to dismiss VirtualCenter in all its intricacies.
Increasing numbers of people are becoming VCPs, so the goal is within reach. If you’re willing to tackle the process seriously and do what it takes to obtain the necessary experience and knowledge, you can take—and pass—the exam involved in obtaining a VCP certification.
Just to give you some idea of what an ideal candidate is like, here is some relevant information about the background and experience such an individual should have:
• Training or significant on-the-job experience in network theory, concepts, and operations is helpful. This includes everything from networking media and transmission techniques through network operating systems, services, and applications.
• Experience with any UNIX operating system is a plus to any candidate. Because the Service Console operating system is Linux based, knowing Linux in particular or UNIX in general will help you navigate better and use common UNIX commands in daily tasks.
• Training or significant on-the-job experience in storage technologies including Fiber Channel and iSCSI is a huge plus, but this book covers these concepts to the extent they are tested on the VCP exam. However, knowledge of these technologies will make you more comfortable with the material.
• A thorough understanding of how to install operating systems is required because these virtual machines require an OS installation.
The following series of questions and observations are designed to help you figure out how much work you’ll face in pursuing the VCP certification and what kinds of resources you can consult on your quest. Be absolutely honest in your answers; otherwise, you’ll end up wasting money on an exam you’re not ready to take. There are no right or wrong answers—only steps along the path to certification. Only you can decide when you are ready.
Two things should be clear from the outset, however:
• Even a modest background in computer science is helpful.
• Hands-on experience with ESX Server and its technologies is an essential ingredient for success.
1. Have you ever taken any computer-related classes?
If Yes, proceed to question 2; if No, proceed to question 4.
2. Have you taken any classes on computer operating systems?
If Yes, you will probably be able to handle ESX’s architecture and system component discussions. If you’re rusty, brush up on basic operating system concepts.
If No, consider some basic reading in this area. We strongly recommend a good general operating systems book such asOperating Systems Concepts, 7th edition (ISBN: 0471694665), by Abraham Silberschatz.
3. Have you taken any networking concepts or technologies classes?
If Yes, you will probably be able to handle ESX’s networking terminology, concepts, and technologies (brace yourself for frequent departures from normal usage). If you’re rusty, brush up on basic networking concepts and terminology, especially networking media, transmission type, and networking technologies such as Ethernet.
If No, you might want to read one or two books in this topic area. The two best books that we know of are Computer Networks, 4th edition (Prentice-Hall, 2002, ISBN: 0-13-066102-3), by Andrew S. Tanenbaum and Computer Networks and Internets with Internet Applications, 4th edition (Prentice-Hall, 2004, ISBN: 0-13-143351-2), by Douglas E. Comer.
Skip to the next section, “Hands-On Experience.”
4. Have you done any signification reading or self-directed study on operating systems?
If Yes, you will probably be able to handle ESX’s architecture and system component discussions. If you’re rusty, brush up on basic operating system concepts.
If No, consider some basic reading in this area. We strongly recommend a good general operating systems book such as Operating Systems Concepts, 7th edition (ISBN: 0471694665), by Abraham Silberschatz.
5. Have you done any signification reading or self-directed study on computer networking?
If Yes, you will probably be able to handle ESX’s networking terminology, concepts, and technologies (brace yourself for frequent departures from normal usage). If you’re rusty, brush up on basic networking concepts and terminology, especially networking media, transmission type, and networking technologies such as Ethernet.
If No, you might want to read one or two books in this topic area. The two best books that we know of are Computer Networks, 4th edition (Prentice-Hall, 2002, ISBN: 0-13-066102-3), by Andrew S. Tanenbaum and Computer Networks and Internets with Internet Applications, 4th edition (Prentice-Hall, 2004, ISBN: 0-13-143351-2), by Douglas E. Comer.
Perhaps the most important key to success on any certification exam is hands-on experience, especially with ESX Server, plus the many add-on services and components like VMotion, Storage VMotion, and others. If you leave with only one realization after taking this self-assessment, it should be that there’s no substitute for time spent installing, configuring, and using the various VMware Infrastructure components on which you’ll be tested repeatedly and in depth.
Have you installed, configured, and worked with ESX 3.5?
• If yes, make sure you have a good understanding of virtual networking, storage, resource management, and the entire VI suite.
You can download objectives, practice exams, and other data about the VCP exam from the VMware Certification page at http://mylearn1.vmware.com/portals/certification/. Use the exam blueprint link to obtain specific exam information.
• If you haven’t worked with ESX 3.5, you must obtain one or two machines and a copy of the software. Then learn the software and any other components on which you’ll also be tested. You can download an evaluation copy of ESX, which is good for 60 days.
Whether you attend a formal class on a specific topic to get ready for an exam or use written materials to study on your own, some preparation for the certification exams is essential. You pay for your exam attempts pass or fail, so you want to do everything you can to pass on your first try.
This book includes several practice exam questions for each chapter and two sample tests. If you don’t score well on the chapter questions, study more and then tackle the sample tests at the end of the book. Use the questions to identify areas of deficiency.
Have you taken a VCP practice exam and scored well?
• If yes and you scored 90% or better, you’re probably ready to tackle the real thing. Make sure you can score this regularly.
• If you haven’t taken any practice exams or your score isn’t above that crucial 90% threshold, use the practice exams in this book and on the CD to keep at it until you break that barrier. Make note on the topics you struggle with most. Go back and study in your areas of deficiency, and repeat the practice tests. Keep at it until you can comfortably break the 90% threshold.
After you’ve assessed your readiness, undertaken the right background studies, obtained the hands-on experience that will help you understand the products and technologies at work, and reviewed the many sources of information to help you prepare for a test, you’ll be ready to take a round of practice tests. When your scores come back positive enough to get you through the exam, you’re ready to go after the real thing. If you follow this regimen, you’ll know not only what you need to study, but also when you’re ready to take the exam. Good luck!