VCP5-DCV Study Info - The vCenterNerd

Here it is!

Back in July I passed my VCP5-DCV and said I would post the VCP5-DCV Study Info that I used to help me pass. Well, this is that post…finally! I will try to give all the areas or resources that I used even if it was just a quick blog post I referred to for help in understanding a topic.

I 1st talked my boss into letting me take the required coursework “VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V5.1]” back in May of this year. But I began my VMware certification path a little different with hands on experience in my current role and a few hours of hands on at my previous employer in 2011/2012. After building my current VMware View infrastructure at work I thought I should probably take the course for View first since that was my focus and I wanted to be more knowledgeable on this technology. Well as you can see that is kinda backwards right? Build it, plan along the way, then take the VMware course? Yeah not the best path or zig zag of a path to follow, but it worked for my situation at the time.

Grab the Goods

So after my vSphere course was out of the way in May I purchased two things almost immediately. First was the VMware Press Official Cert Guide for VCP5 and second was a monthly TrainSignal subscription which allowed me to take practice tests for the VCP5-DCV (2 versions) as well as watch tons of videos about vSphere 5. I began with these two tools for reference as well as working with vSphere day to day at the office.

I then began running through a bunch of the best virtualization blogs from top VMware consultants & employees who were subject matter experts willing to share their knowledge for free online! I started at vLaunchPad which lists 100s of noteworthy blogs revolving around virtualization (or as proper English shows it, Virtualisation). I stuck with a bunch but these 3 really stood out for me (All 3 are VCDX holders):

Yellow Bricks – Duncan Epping
The Slog – Simon Long
The Wahl Network – Chris Wahl

All contained great info about vSphere and beyond. Most posts also included step by steps or pictures to show you the way through a task. Super helpful!

During my blog surfing I came across another site that proved invaluable with more amazing content, vReference.com by Forbes Guthrie. Forbes is lead author of the VMware vSphere Design books and has these wonderful vReference Cards that break down every aspect of vSphere. From limits to maximums to firewall default ports, Forbes as it covered in a simple reference ‘card’ that can be downloaded in PDF formats. I personally used his vSphere 5.0 card to study each night before bed and right up to the parking lot of the exam center. Get this reference as it is on point, no doubts.

Don’t Forget the Blueprint!!

Last but not least, is the VMware Blueprint for VCP5-DCV which can be found here. This is your road map to what will be on the test and what you should know. VMware does not hold back any secrets, if it is on the blueprint for the exam, expect it to come up on the test. I have to admit it can seem a little daunting to look at but its just a guide to point you to the subject matter you need to master. Just let it guide you.

In Closing

I think it’s important to note a few things that I feel are the basics behind making this journey to VCP successful. First and probably the most important is Family Support. If you do not have the full support of your family, whether that be wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc, then I feel you will have a hard time making time for VMware and the studies that go with it. Secondly, employer support is also crucial in attaining certifications. Having an employer that has paid for my VMware classes (most courses run in the upper $3000 range for 5 days) and testing has helped me tremendously. Thank you National Specialty Alloys!! And third, is hands on experience. If you do not have access to a VMware Infrastructure at work, build one at home! I know it sounds crazy but it is an investment that will help you learn many different pieces of the VMware software from the comfort of your home. Check out my post on Autolab for more info. I spent about $700 on building a bad ass server class PC in my home that runs ESXi 5.x and has a whole ESXi datacenter nested within that physical host, complete with VMs running Active Directory, vCenter, FreeNAS, VMware View, etc. Worth the time and effort for this exam and many others.

Good Luck and please feel free to hit me up if I have overlooked anything here or if you have any further questions about the VCP5-DCV study info, or the exam (in general, of course).