VCP Exam

I have had many conversations on how to study for the VMWare VCP exam and my answer is usually the same: if you pay attention in the classes that VMWare gives, there are only a couple of documents that really need to be studied to pass successfully (in my oppinion). I am a big proponent of lab time as well, I believe that it is critical to actually learning the information.

VCP vSphere 5:

The VCP for vSphere 5 exam was even more challenging than the vSphere 4 exam. This test includes more technical questions and less “sales” questions such as questions about licensing. The questions in this test now seem less about recalling memorized information and more about interpreting scenarios presented to you.

I would study the following documents from VMware:

vSphere Installation and Setup Guide – This is the new installation guide, there are quite a few new features and the installer has changed, it is worth being familiar with these changes.

vSphere Upgrade Guide – The upgrade process to 5.0 has changed some, it is important to be aware of the new process, requirements and limitations.

vCenter Server and Host Management Guide – This is a new guide from VMware, the old Basic System Administration guide has been split into several documents, this is one of them.

vSphere Virtual Machine Administration Guide – This is another guide that was part of the Basic System Administration guide.

vSphere Availability Guide – This is also a new guide for VMware, it is imporant to read this one as the inner mechanics of VMware HA have totally changed in vSphere 5.0.

I used the following additional resources:

Simon Long’s Practice Tests – Simon’s practice test is good for quizzing yourself on some of the information to memorize but the question format seems different.

Kalen Arndt’s Practice Test – Kalen’s practice test is also pretty good for quizzing yourself on some of the information to memorize but again, has a different question format.

VMware Mock Exam – This is the sample test from VMware. It is not as thorough as Simon’s, but it is another practice test nonetheless

The VCP for vSphere 4 exam was a bit more challenging, in my opinion.  This test includes some command line knowledge (particularly with firewall commands) and more in depth knowledge of how the software works than the VI3 test.

I would study the following documents from VMware:

Configuration Maximums for VMware vSphere – This is probably the most important document that you should commit to memory. Many of the questions will be indirectly asking questions about a maximum.

Basic System Administration- This is the VMWare document that talks about administration of a virtual infrastructure on a broad scale. It will help re-affirm what was taught in class about the administration of a virtual infrastructure.

ESX and vCenter Server Installation Guide- This guide covers the installation of ESX and vCenter.  The partitioning section for ESX is of particular importance.

ESX Configuration Guide – This document covers the configuration of ESX.  The most important sections are the networking and security sections.

Resource Management Guide - This guide offers in-depth discussion of resource management in vSphere.

I used the following additional resources:

Simon Long’s vSphere Study Notes – The most complete VCP study guide I have ever seen. It has direct links to each part of the exam blueprint.

Simon Long’s Practice Tests – These are great exams. The questions are in a format similar to the actual exam and he is adding questions all the time.

VMware Mock Exam – This is the sample test from VMware. It is not as thorough as Simon’s, but it is another practice test nonetheless.

In my opinion, the VCP 3 test is a fairly simple exam since it is missing the adaptation of a Cisco exam and the lengthy word problems and simulations of a Microsoft exam. It is fairly simple multiple choice exam that is testing basic knowledge of Virtual Infrastructure.

I would study the following documents for the VI3 VCP exam:

Configuration Maximums for VMware Infrastructure 3 – This is probably the most important document that you should commit to memory. Many of the questions on the exam will be indirectly asking questions about a maximum.

Basic System Administration- This is the VMWare document that talks about administration of a virtual infrastructure on a broad scale. It will help re-affirm what was taught in class about the administration of a virtual infrastructure.

Resource Management Guide - This guide offers in-depth discussion of resource management in VI3.

These are the documents that I used to study and pass the VCP on VI3 and vSphere exam – best of luck to you! Please leave a comment or send me an email if there are any other resources that I did not include.