Upgrade path announced for VCDX4 to VCDX5

VMware have just confirmed the upgrade path for VCDX4 holders to update their certification to VCDX5.

Current VCDX4 holders will have a 3-month window from when the VCAP5-DCD exam is released where the only requirement to update to VCDX5 will be to pass the VCAP5-DCD exam, people who do that will also be awarded VCP5.

Once that 3-month window has passed, VCDX4 holders will be required to be VCP5 AND pass the VCAP5-DCD exam to achieve VCDX5. The regular current VCP4 to VCP5 training requirement will apply, such as attending the vSphere 5: What's New training course.

Read the official text here: http://communities.vmware.com/message/2037410#2037410

What's a BrownBag? Find out this week!

There are only a couple of things in life that I would buy and expect the contents to be given to me wrapped in a brown paper bag, and lunch isn't one of them! However, over in the US the term Brown Bag (or "brown bag seminar" according to Wikipedia) is designed to be an hour-long seminar that can be consumed by attendees whilst they also consume their lunch!

Well-known blogger Cody Bunch started his VCP BrownBag series over a year ago, extended the coverage to incorporate VCDX, and now has an impressive list of guests and topics similar to the VMware Communities Podcast! The problem for us Europeans is that we have to stay up very late if we want to join Cody's BrownBags live, so Tom Howarth of PlanetVM fame has agreed to start a BrownBag series that will run during evening hours in the UK and Europe.

So, the first European BrownBag takes place this Thursday, July 7th, and it starts at 7pm UK time. Tom has kindly asked me to be a guest speaker/presenter on the session, and we plan on discussing the current state of play with VMware certifications and curriculum.

Register for the first European BrownBag here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/389446408

VCAP4-DCD beta results, first VCDX4s

Twitter has gone pretty crazy in the last 24 hours with those reporting that they got their results for the VCAP4-DCD beta exam - well they did eventually! Something odd originally happened at VMware where they were emailing out the results to the wrong people but it looks like it's all been sorted out now!

Some of those that passed are VCDX3 holders, and the VCAP4-DCD is the only element needed to "upgrade" VCDX3 to VCDX4, so we now have our first batch of VCDX4s too!

Here's a collection of some of the many blog posts from those that took the VCAP4-DCD beta exam, and passed:
Justin Paul
Harley Stagner
Jason Boche
Simon Gallagher
Chris Kranz
Colin Barker
Phil Ditzel
Kanuj Behl

Congratulations to all those who've now gained VCAP4-DCD certification, as well as those who've now met the VCDX4 requirements!

VCAP4-DCD beta exam

Emails have been going out in the last day or so inviting people to register for the VCAP4-DCD exam - passing this exam brings the VCAP4-DCD certification, lets you work towards VCDX4, and is also the exam that the current VCDX3 holders need to pass to gain VCDX4 status.

The beta period is short, November 8th-12th, and slots are filling incredibly quickly - I know of one guy in the UK who has had to schedule his in Amsterdam...

VMware are only offering the beta exam through the same testing centres as those currently enabled for the VCAP4-DCA exam - I've been assured by numerous people at VMware that the final VCAP4-DCD exam will be available at all testing centres.

If you want to try and register for the beta exam, send an email asap to certification@vmware.com and include your VCP ID.

VCAP and VCDX updates

If you're a regular reader of the blog, you'll know already that registration for the VCAP4-DCA exam for vSphere 4 is now open. The VCAP4-DCA exam forms part of the up-and-coming VCDX4 certification, and is a chance for VCP4 holders to "raise the bar" in terms of their VMware certifications.

With the introduction of the VCAP4-DCA and VCAP4-DCD certifications, VMware are retiring the various components of the VCDX3 certification for VI3:

- Registration for the Enterprise Administration exam for VI3 are now closed
- Registration for the Design exam for VI3 are closed too
- Those who have already passed both the exams above for VI3 can still submit a defence to achieve VCDX3, but the design must be submitted by November 22nd 2010
- The design defence element of VCDX3 will only be available at a couple more VMware partner events, the final event being Partner Exchange in Florida in February 2011

VMware also stated previously that those that had completed elements of the VCDX3 certification would receive discounts on the equivalent exams for vSphere 4, to allow them to "upgrade" their certification. As I have previously passed the Enterprise Administration exam for VI3, and I have my VCP4, I now have a 50% discount voucher for me to use against the VCAP4-DCA exam. An equivalent voucher will be sent out to those eligible for a discount on the VCAP4-DCD exam once that exam has been released.

The VCDX4 defence application will be made available in November 2010, which suggests to me that the VCAP4-DCD exam will launch next month too - we shall see...

Handy URLs to VMware certification and education pages

I'm going through the process of updating my VCP4 exam prep workshop to reflect the vSphere 4.1 release, and stumbled across something very useful - shortcut links to the various certification pages on the VMware website.

So instead of saving this in your browser favourites:
http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=12457&ui=www

You can just enter this URL in your browser:
http://www.vmware.com/go/vcp

There are also other shortcuts that might come in handy too:
http://www.vmware.com/go/vcap
http://www.vmware.com/go/vcdx

You can also get a simple redirection to the general Certification area by going to:
http://www.vmware.com/certification

And if it's training you're looking for:
http://www.vmware.com/education
or of course:
http://www.globalknowledge.co.uk/vmware ;-)

VCAP4-DCA exam blueprint now available

The VCAP4-DCA exam is currently going through the beta phase, invitations were sent out about a week ago and beta exams are being taken this week. At the same time, VMware also published the exam blueprint document, which as always will be THE most important document for an individual to download and digest when preparing themselves for this VMware exam.

The exam covers the following objectives:

• Implement and Manage Storage
• Implement and Manage Networking
• Deploy DRS Clusters and Manage Performance
• Manage Business Continuity and Protect Data
• Perform Operational Maintenance
• Perform Advanced Troubleshooting
• Secure a vSphere Environment
• Perform Scripting and Automation
• Perform Advanced vSphere Installations and Configurations

The blueprint confirms that the exam is based exclusively on live lab activities, with each lab consisting of a number of scored tasks. The exam will use the same 100-500 scaled scoring system as the VCP4 exam, although the passing score will only be set after the beta period. VMware will also set the time for the exam after the beta period. The exam code with Pearson Vue will be VCDA410, and registration for the final exam opens on July 12th.

Update on June 16th:
The content of the exam is very broad and very thorough at the same time, it looks as though the labs will be challenging, and that the VCAP4-DCA certification will be a very significant step-up from the now foundation-level VCP4.


Whilst VMware have not made it compulsory to attend any training courses to qualify for the VCAP4-DCA certification, the exam contains labs similar to those done during the following courses:

vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage and Manage Availability and Manage Scalability
vSphere: Fast Track
vSphere: Manage for Performance
vSphere: Troubleshooting
vSphere: Manage and Design for Security
vSphere: Automation with vSphere PowerCLI

New Certification: VMware Certified Design Expert on vSphere 4 - Datacenter Design (VCDX4)

To complete the set of advanced-level certifications for vSphere 4, VMware also announced the VCDX4 certification, designed to follow-on from the VCP4 and both new VCAP certifications. The VCDX for VI3 is held by roughly 50 individuals worldwide, most of whom work for VMware or their partners, and VCDX4 is aimed at the same calibre of individuals.

There are four elements to the VCDX4, three exams need to be passed as well as the individual submitting, presenting, and defending a vSphere 4 design to a panel of the current breed of VCDX holders:

The VCAP-DCA and VCAP-DCD exams can be taken either way round, but both must be completed before the process of submitting a vSphere design can begin. Those who pass the VCAP-DCA and VCAP-DCD exams will also gain those certifications en route to achieving their VCDX4.

The only compulsory vSphere training element of the VCDX4 is to achieve the foundation-level VCP4, but VMware recommend advanced-level vSphere courses as part of the preparation for the VCAP exams. An individual wishing to achieve VCDX4 who already has the VCP4 certification should follow this path:

VMware are offering discounts and shortcut paths to those who were persuing the VCDX3 certification, and have completed some or all of that program. The official VMware page on VCDX4 illustrates the various options available.

A few notes about the new VCAP4 certifications

Here's a colleciton of lots of things I've learned about the new VMware Certified Advanced Professional certifications for vSphere 4:

• The DataCenter Administration exam will be 100% live labs
• Your score for the DataCenter Administration exam will not be given immediately on completion of the exam, just like the Enterprise Administration exam for VI3 today
• The DataCenter Administration exam will cost $400, the price for the DataCenter Design exam has not yet been set
• The DataCenter Design exam will be a mixture of multiple-choice questions, and a design exercise, as it is today for VI3
• The testing centres for the DataCenter Administration exam will be expanded to a significantly larger pool than it is today
• The new exams will be scheduled directly with Pearson Vue, only the VCDX design defence will need arranging directly with VMware
• The blueprint documents for the new exams are still in development and will be released soon
• The new exams will not have compulsory training course requirements
• The advanced-level Performance, Troubleshooting, and Security courses are recommended as preparation for the DataCenter Administration exam, the exam content is centred around those 3 key areas
• The vSphere: Design Workshop will be excellent preparation for the DataCenter Design exam, the workshop content covers all of the objectives in the exam
• The beta periods for both exams will begin shortly, and will be invitation-only
• VMware partner requirements will not include VCAP4 certifications at this time

Advanced-level vSphere certifications

VMware have now officially announced the three advanced-level certifications for vSphere 4:

1. VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 4 - Datacenter Administration (VCAP4-DCA)
2. VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 4 - Datacenter Design (VCAP4-DCD)
3. VMware Certified Design Expert on vSphere 4 - Datacenter Design (VCDX4-DCD)

I've gots lots of content ready to post later today, here's the official news from VMware.

Update on new vSphere Certifications

I have a few snippets of news on some of the new certifications coming from VMware for vSphere 4, I am only allowed to say a limited amount at the moment, VMware will be making an official announcement in the coming weeks ahead of the release of these new certifications and their component exams.

On top of the existing foundation level VCP4 certification, there will be three new certifications for vSphere 4:

• Enterprise Administrator Certification *
• Design Administrator Certification *
• VMware Certified Design Expert on vSphere 4 (VCDX4)

* Final name still to be confirmed

I know when VMware plan to announce these certifications officially, and I also know when the relevant exams are due to be released, but due to confidentiality I can't say any more than the above at the moment...

I shall certainly be signing up to take at least one of the above certifications when they become available!

First VCDX4 signs

I was sent a survey by VMware last week asking me for my opinions on the vSphere Enterprise Administration exam that will form part of the VCDX4 certification. I completed the survey as requested, and it definitely gives an insight into the content that will form the exam when it is released. The basis for the exam blueprint is clear from the various topics asked about in the survey. Jon Hall from VMware also created a post on the VCP community forum about the survey

I also listened to a 5-month old VMware Communties Roundtable recording (right-click to save the MP3) this week where Jon Hall was asked questions about VCDX4 (as well as VCP4 but that's all old news now). One of the things that Jon said that I hadn't heard before is that VCDX3 holders will only need to pass the vSphere Design exam in order to "upgrade" their certifications to VCDX4. Jon also said that the Enterprise Administration exam for vSphere would be available around now, I can't imagine we're that far away from seeing it - a few weeks perhaps.

Get 10% off the cost of any VMware exam!

I have a special Pearson Vue voucher code which anyone can use to get a 10% discount off the cost of any VMware exam between now and the end of June 2010!

I can distribute the code to any student I train, so contact me and I can help you get booked on your official vSphere training or VCP Exam Preparation Workshop.

Effect of vSphere 4 Release on VCDX

I swapped emails with Jon Hall this evening, Jon is a Technical Certification Developer at VMware - in other words, he's the guys that writes the VCP and VCDX exams!

I asked Jon what the implications are on VCDX on the release of vSphere 4, and this was his reply:

"Just as we have announced a new exam and an upgrade path for existing VCP on VI3s who want to upgrade to VCP on vSphere 4, we intend to announce new exams and an upgrade path for the VCDX certification. As the VCP on vSphere 4 exam has just completed beta, it will be later this year before you could expect an Enterprise Administration on vSphere 4 Exam or a Design on vSphere 4 Exam. Only after those exams are available would we announce the upgrade path for existing VCDXs."

It's exactly what I was expecting to hear, but it's great to actually hear it.

I think the big questions is going to be "Is it worth doing the VCDX on VI3?" - well I think it is. To me, the VCDX is such a high-level certification for anyone to hold, that the version you hold it in is a lot less important than it is for the VCP.

It remains to be seen exactly what the upgrade process will be for VCDX, but if you compare it to other higher-level vendor certifications like MCSE (or MCITP as it is now) then some sort of single-exam upgrade process would be good to see.

Watch this space....