VCP4 Study Plan

As I had mentioned in my last blog, I got thru VCP-410. My secret – good teachers for my VSphere 4.0 Fasttrack class. Jim McCullough and Brian Watrous did a good job.

I also followed a study plan – after the class. Some thoughts below :

Good Practical experience
- Have a running system, good experience in solving various problems in a running virtualization infrastructure is essential. No doubt, the vmware course (FastTrack, for me) also rounds of the actual working experience – as one will not get a chance to work through all the facets of the product.
Read a good book – to get a slightly different view and narration technique
- The VMware documents, while are very good compared to other tech documents, are not exactly a long read without getting monotonous
- I read thru the book “Mastering VMware vSphere 4.0” by Scott. Rounds off the knowledge; also gets one’s attention as the book says the things in a different way, different order
Read VMware Tech Notes
- I found the Virtual Networking very useful
Take on-line sample tests
- I like to take the sample tests early and fail ! This way, one gets a feel for how the material will manifest in the test, also as one reads the documentation, the questions one failed will stand out !
- My first choices are Simon Long and the VMware site
  - When you are at Simon’s site, don’t do the Maximums yet ! It totally confused me until I wrote some notes
Now the time has come for the VMware documentation work !
- First download the book bundle and unzip them into a directory (I actually printed them and bound them at Kinkos)
  - The URL will change. I used the URL http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vs_pages/vsp_pubs_esxi40_u1_e_vc40_u1.html
  - The URL has the link “Download pdf versions of all documents”
- Also keep the pdf copy of the Exam Blue print (download from the site http://mylearn.vmware.com/portals/certification/) and make sure you have covered all the sections, as you read the various documentation
- The order I followed:
  - ESX & vCenter Setup Guide
  - vSphere Basic System Administration
  - iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide
  - Fibre Channel SAN Configuration Guide
  - Resource Management Guide (Pay special attention to this guide. It has lots of good information)
  - Upgrade Guide (important, may not so obvious stuff here)
  - Availability Guide
Next comes the VMware materials you got during the VMware course. Read them through to refresh all the good work you have done during the course
Now go back to the sample exams and work them until you have > 85%
(Dday – 3) Finally curl up with the study notes from Simon and the VMware Maximums.
- Also my notes, if that helps. Or write your own notes on areas you are not that comfortable with.
- This is also the time to do the “vSphere 4 Configuration Maximum Exams”. First do the exams referring to the notes.
- And don’t overdo the Maximums. “They will come you …” when you need them
(DDay – 1) Get a good night sleep
(DDay) Refresh the VMware Maximums list, and the final notes
You will ace the test in no time …
Test taking tips
- There are 85 questions for 90 minutes.
- They have review check box which makes it easier to mark questions that you have some doubt on
- You can also review all questions after you have gone thru all the 85 questions
- My suggestion is breadth first – answer all questions you are sure of and mark the ones you have some doubt on. DOn’t dwell on any question too long
- After the firat pass, depending on the time available (there is a countdown clock) allocate time for the ones you have marked for review
- Usually your first gut feel is the right answer; but sometimes as you analyze the question, newer insights will change the answer
Good luck …