Introduction
During the opening keynote of VMworld 2013, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger announced the general availability of the next generation of their flagship product, vSphere, 5.5. Five months later, VMware Education has released the updated version of the VMware Certified Professional –Data Center Virtualization test to cover the several new features.
vSphere 5.5 is the third major release of the vSphere 5.x family; however, it is the first time the VCP-DCV5 test has been changed (aside from the removal of VSA and Data Recovery questions with the release of vSphere 5.1). When 5.1 was released, VMware Education decided to keep the test 5.x “agnostic.” This meant that only the features of 5.0 were fair game. There are two reasons that the test has changed for the latest release.
First, vSphere 5.5 emphasizes several features that VMware has made key to their long term product roadmap. These include:
- The depreciation of the C-Sharp Client in favor the vSphere Web Client.
- A focus on vCenter Operations Manager (vCOPs) integration with vSphere in the form of VSOM.
- Single Sign On (SSO) is now required by vCenter.
- Built in BCRS tools with vSphere Replication and Data Protection.
- vFlash read caching with direct attached SSD drives.
- The introduction of VM hardware version 10.
These will be further explained in the following sections.
The second is to align the test with the Cloud and Desktop versions. The VCP-510 was 90 minutes, 85 questions (63s per question average). The Cloud and Desktop tests are both 120 minutes, 135 questions (52s per question average). The VCP550 test has been increased so that all three tests are equal.
There has also been one removal. Lab Manager is no longer part of the test. This is the final nail in a product that has been on its way out for a while now.
How VMware Writes a Test
One thing that VMware Education has always done a great job with is test blueprint design. The blueprint for the VCP550 (ver 3.1 as of 2/24/14) is the rubric on which you will be tested. No more, no less. This has always been the case. If it appears on the Blueprint it is fair game. If something does not appear, at best you might see a reference (to VSAN for example), but it will not be the heart of the question.
VMware also tests heavily on new features and products since the last release, features that have changed, and Enterprise Plus features. For admins using earlier versions of vSphere, I highly recommend you study these three things. Having taken several VMware tests, I am not sure you can pass without them. To help you get started I will address what has specifically changed in the Blueprint and features that have been updated.
New Changes to the VCP550 Blueprint
The following section is a complete list of all new objectives that have been added to the Blueprint for the VCP550. Each objective is paired with a link to the official VMware documentation that addresses the knowledge required.
Note: The VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide and vSphere Operations Manager documents are only available in PDF format, so direct links are not available. In this case, page numbers have been provided as a reference to the appropriate content.
Section 1 – Plan, Install, Configure and Upgrade vCenter Server and VMware ESXi
Objective 1.2 — Install and Configure vCenter Server: Knowledge – Identify Single Sign On Requirements
Prerequisites for Installing vCenter Single Sign-On, Inventory Service, and vCenter Server
Objective 1.2 — Install and Configure vCenter Server: Knowledge – Install and Configure the vSphere Client / vSphere Web Client
Objective 1.5 –Secure vCenter Server and ESXi: Knowledge – Describe Single Sign-On architecture
vCenter Single Sign-On Components
Objective 1.5 –Secure vCenter Server and ESXi: Knowledge -Differentiate Single-Sign-On Deployment Scenarios
vCenter Single Sign-On Deployment Modes
Objective 1.5 –Secure vCenter Server and ESXi: Knowledge -Configure and administer Single Sign-On
Add a vCenter Single Sign-On Identity Source
Objective 1.5 –Secure vCenter Server and ESXi: Knowledge -Manage Single Sign-On users and groups
Objective 5.3 – Create and Administer Resource Pools: Knowledge – Describe vFlash architecture
Section 5 – Establish and Maintain Service Levels
Objective 5.3 – Create and Administer Resource Pools: Knowledge – Create/Delete vFlash Resource Pool
About VMware vSphere Flash Read Cache
Objective 5.3 – Create and Administer Resource Pools: Knowledge – Assign vFlash resources to VMDKs
Configure Flash Read Cache for a Virtual Machine
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Identify VMware Data Protection requirements
VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide – Pages 18-19
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Explain VMware Data Protection sizing guidelines
VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide – Page 18
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Differentiate between VDP and VDPA
VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide – Page 12, Table 1.1
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Describe vSphere Replication architecture
Overview of VMware vSphere Replication
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Install and Configure VMware Data Protection
VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide – Pages 17-28
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Create a backup job with VMware Date Protection
VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide – Page 66
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Manage and monitor VDP capacity
VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide – Page 94
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Perform a test/live full/file-level restore with VMware Data Protection
VMware vSphere Data Protection Administration Guide – Pages 81-86 and 123-128
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Perform a VDR data migration
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Install/Configure/Upgrade vSphere Replication
Installing vSphere Replication
Reconfigure the vSphere Replication Appliance
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Configure Replication for Single/Multiple VMs
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Recover a VM using vSphere Replication
Recover Virtual Machines by Using vSphere Replication
Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Perform a failback operation using vSphere Replication
Failback of Virtual Machines in vSphere Replication
Objective 5.6 – Patch and Update ESXi and Virtual Machines: Knowledge – Import/Export a Host Profile
Section 7 – Monitor a vSphere Implementation
Note: The requirement to know resxtop has been removed. However it is a useful tool you should understand.
Objective 7.3 – Install, Configure and Administer vCenter Operations Manager: Knowledge – Differentiate Major/Minor vCOPs badges
Using Badges to Monitor Objects in the Virtual Environment
Objective 7.3 – Install, Configure and Administer vCenter Operations Manager: Knowledge – Explain vCOPs architecture
vCenter Operations Manager 5.8.1 vApp Deployment and Configuration Guide – Page 7
Objective 7.3 – Install, Configure and Administer vCenter Operations Manager: Knowledge – Deploy and Configure vCOPs appliance
vCenter Operations Manager 5.8.1 vApp Deployment and Configuration Guide
Objective 7.3 – Install, Configure and Administer vCenter Operations Manager: Knowledge – Upgrade vCOPs
vCenter Operations Manager 5.8.1 vApp Deployment and Configuration Guide, Page 29
Objective 7.3 – Install, Configure and Administer vCenter Operations Manager: Knowledge – Understand metrics used by Major/Minor vCOPs badges
Using Badges to Monitor Objects in the Virtual Environment
Objective 7.3 – Install, Configure and Administer vCenter Operations Manager: Knowledge – Monitor vSphere environment
vSphere Monitoring and Performance
Objective 7.3 – Install, Configure and Administer vCenter Operations Manager: Knowledge – For a given alarm, identify the affected resource in a vSphere implementation
Monitoring Events, Alarms, and Automated Actions
Final Thoughts and Advice
VMware’s VCP tests are complex and none more so than the VCP-DCV. vSphere is the heart and soul of the vision that is the Software Defined Enterprise. To that end, it is crucial to understand. Version 5.5 continues a long history of disruption and innovation by extending further into the realms of storage, networking, and policy-based management. To become a VMware Certified Professional, your knowledge and skills must as well. The days of only needing to know about compute are over.
VCP-510 covers an enormous amount of material that a VMware administrator is required to understand. VCP-550 has upped the stakes. It is longer from both the perspective of time and total questions. It also covers two brand new products that could easily merit their own tests. That being said it is very doable. I have done it and lived to tell the tale.
To be successful you need three things:
1. Hands-on experience. If you don’t have direct access to a production environment, build a home lab. This can be done with little upfront cost on one PC. Kits like Autolab can run on a mid-level laptop and are free.
2. Complete knowledge of the blueprint. Know it in your sleep. It is the key to success.
3. Proper training. This may be the most important step. If you have not used vSphere daily for at least a couple years, training will fill in the gaps and raise your game to level needed for success.
Lastly, I assure you it is worth it. VMware is the industry standard for the Software Defined Enterprise. Proving your skills by becoming a VMware Certified Professional shows that you are ready for the latest challenges facing business and IT.
Good luck and Godspeed.
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