On to the VCAP5-DCD

Today I finished sitting the VMware 5.x Design Workshop course.  It was pretty high level but worth taking a part in. 

I've as well officially started studying to take my VCAP5-DCD exam.  My plans are to take it at the end of December or early January. 

Wish me luck!

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not too proud to let everyone know that I didn't pass my first time.  I took it the first time while I was at VMworld 2013 in San Francisco.  I took the test on a Sunday and received my email the next Thursday.  I was heartbroken butI wasn't going to let that get me down.

I spent the next 3 weeks studying a few more items now knowing better what to expect.  I took the exam again at the end of September.

I PASSED MY VCAP5-DCA exam and received notice on October 1, 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was ecstatic! 

A Special thanks to my family, my God, as well as @cody_bunch @Emad_Younis @TrainSignal @TheJasonNash @jaslanger @DuncanYB @joshcoen @vSential for their study helps and inspiration.  I couldn't have done it without you.

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Where did the time go?

Have you ever experienced a time where you were so engrossed in studying and preparing for an exam that all other items ceased to get any time and attention?  Well...that is what happened to me.  I wouldn't allow my family to forget who I was so between my family and studying, that is all I had time for. 

But some good news..........

Week two study items (06/27/2013 - 07/03/2013)

VCAP5-DCA Section 2.1 - 2.4:

This week I'm working on the 2nd section of the VCAP5-DCA exam blueprint Version 2.4.  The second section goes over implementing and managing networking. 

What I'm using:

1 - TrainSignal - VMware vSphere Optimize and Scale (VCAP5-DCA) online course

• Lessons 5 - 8

2 - http://wahlnetwork.com/2012/07/02/the-vcap5-dca-study-sheet/

3 - http://www.valcolabs.com/2013/02/15/the-unofficial-official-vcap5-dca-study-guide/

• Objective 2.1 - 2.4

4 - VMware vSphere 5.1 Networking Guide:  http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-51-networking-guide.pdf

This weeks study items (06/20/2013 - 06/26/2013)

VCAP5-DCA Section 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3 -

This week I'm finishing the 1st section of the VCAP5-DCA exam blueprint Version 2.4.  The first section goes over implementing and managing storage in a virtual environment. 

What I'm using:

1 - TrainSignal - VMware vSphere Optimize and Scale (VCAP5-DCA) online course

• Lessons 1 - 4

2 - http://wahlnetwork.com/2012/07/02/the-vcap5-dca-study-sheet/

3 - http://www.valcolabs.com/2013/02/15/the-unofficial-official-vcap5-dca-study-guide/

• Objective 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

4 - VMware vSphere 5.1 Storage Guide:  http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-51-storage-guide.pdf

TrainSignal - VMware vSphere Optimize and Scale (VCAP5-DCA)

Today I signed up for my free 3 day trial of all courses TrainSignal.  $50 bucks a months is a steal for all of the courses available.  Today I started on course "VMware vSphere Optimize and Scale (VCAP5-DCA)".  I took the VMware course of the same name back in October of 2012.  Great class.  I'm going to take the course again through TrainSignal as a start to my VCAP5-DCA training regimen. 

Wish me luck..........

VMware vCenter Log Insight

Today I installed VMware vCenter Log Insight in my lab.  I was introduced to it during the VMware VMTN Podcast last week.  Here is a link to the blog:

http://blogs.vmware.com/vmtn/2013/06/vmware-communities-roundtable-podcast-show-notes-234-vcenter-log-insight.html

"VMware vCenter™ Log Insight™ delivers automated log management through log analytics, aggregation and search, extending VMware’s leadership in analytics to log data. With an integrated cloud operations management approach, it provides the operational intelligence and enterprise-wide visibility needed to proactively enable service levels and operational efficiency in dynamic hybrid cloud environments."  (VMware, 2013)           

http://www.vmware.com/products/datacenter-virtualization/vcenter-log-insight/overview.html

I was very impressed at the ease of installation.  I was even more impressed at how easy it was to extract information from the collected log data.  Not 15 minutes after I started reviewing the data I found that I had an issue with disk latency that requires my attention. 

I was going to go through the installation in this blog but after going through the install using the "getting started guide" provided by VMware, why reinvent a perfectly formed wheel?  Below is the link to the guide. 

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-23713

Take a minute and join the VMware Community and download the beta.  It will be well worth your while.

References:  VMware. (2013). Vmware vcenter log insight. Retrieved from http://www.vmware.com/products/datacenter-virtualization/vcenter-log-insight/overview.html