The vSphere: Install Configure Manage (ICM) course was released in the middle of 2009, and is by far the most popular official course on vSphere 4 - those attending the course qualify for the VCP4 certification, and the content covers all the foundation-level skills and knowledge needed to deploy and administer a vSphere 4 environment.
Towards the end of August 2010, VMware will be releasing an updated version of the ICM course, and for the first time it will be a 5-day training event. This will give us the opportunity to cover additional material in the lecture and lab sessions, giving you a more well-rounded experience during the course and helping you further in preparation for the VCP4 exam.
The new content in the 5-day ICM will be:
- vCenter Linked Mode
- Host Profiles
- Distributed Power Management
- Deeper content on High Availability
- Fault Tolerance
As well as the addition of the new material, VMware have also overhauled and restructured a lot of the content that was previously in the 4-day ICM course. Most of the new material is derived from the content of the current vSphere: Fast Track (FT) course, the 5-day extended-hours FT course will still be available, and will still cover some additional lecture and lab material not found in the new 5-day ICM.
Update on July 13th:
I can confirm that this course will be based on the new 4.1 release of vSphere.
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
I get lots of emails from people asking me about becoming a VCI, I've been one since 2006 and thoroughly enjoy holding the title and doing the job too!
VMware have now launched a VCI portal, it can be accessed via the Education Services page, or directly via this link or this link.
The welcome page of the portal outlines the VCI requirements and gives the link for vciprogram@vmware.com which potential VCIs can use to contact VMware. The requirements for becoming a VCI are strict, even just to deliver a vSphere: Install Configure Manage course a VCI has to meet three key requirements:
- Attend the VMware vSphere 4: Install, Configure, Manage course twice
- Pass the VCP4 certification exam with the required minimum score (350 or more for a VCI)
- Attend and pass a VMware Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW).
There are also specific requirements for delivering other official courses on vSphere, as well as the other products that have instructor-led courses. These are all detailed in the secure area of the VCI portal, and VCIs also have access to a private community forum too where we can exchange ideas with one another and courseware developers.
I've just come back from a 2-week holiday, and whilst I was away I received an email from John Troyer at VMware informing me that I'd been designated as a VMware vExpert 2010!
Here's the VMware definition of a vExpert:
The VMware vExpert Award is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the community of VMware users over the past year. vExperts are book authors, bloggers, VMUG leaders, tool builders, and other IT professionals who share their knowledge and passion with others. These vExperts have gone above and beyond their day jobs to share their technical expertise and communicate the value of VMware and virtualization to their colleagues and community.
I'm very proud to be given this status, it's great to get recognition from VMware themselves for all the work that gets put in by all of us within the wide VMware community. As well as this blog, I've just spent a lot of time updating my Think Virtually website, but the biggest thing of all from my perspective is the help I give to the community forums on training and certification.
So, for the next year I will be able to use the vExpert logo as well as make use of the other benefits now available to me. The logo looks good, I feel a new blog banner coming on...
Needless to say the hard work goes on, I'll certainly be trying my best to achieve the vExpert 2011 :-)
I've been running my Think Virtually website for about 9 months now, in conjunction with this blog, as a way of organizing the various pieces of information I publish about VMware training courses and the various certifications programs from VMware.
Here's the URL: http://thinkvirtually.co.uk
I'll be honest, I'd neglected the website a little over the last few months and the content had become a little outdated and stale, so this week I decided to re-vamp the site and add content around the new certifications and latest training courses. I've also given the website a new look and feel which I think is much more vibrant and fresh than it was.
The current content is formed of the following:
- VCP4 information and resources
- VCAP4 details
- VCDX4 outline
- VCDX3 overview
- vSphere foundation and advanced courses
- View and Site Recovery Manager courses
- Articles on the VMware training labs I use, and ESX/ESXi
Initially I planned on shifting away from this blog and moving towards the website, but I think both serve very different purposes so I will continue to update both. Take a look at the content and tell me what you think - I've got ideas as to what I might want to add in the future but I'm open to suggestions :-)
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.
