Preparing for Your VCP5-DT Exam

One of the most popular VCP certification paths is the VCP5 – Desktop certification. While VCP5-Datacenter focuses on server virtualization and creating virtual environments for data management, and VCP5-Cloud focuses on the administration of a cloud environment with vCloud director and vSphere, VCP5-DT focuses on end-user computing – working with the VMware View environment, making vSphere environments accessible to end users and ensuring that their clients can tap the full power of the VMware platform.

VCP5-DT is an ideal certification for desktop support specialists and user-facing system administrators, since it focuses on the end-user. Professionals with this designation have not only shown the ability to effectively administrate VMware View to end-users, but also have a strong understanding of vSphere and VMware core components as related to networking, storage, and datacenter management. VCP5-DT provides a great introduction to working with client-facing VMware solutions. The VMware Desktop certification track runs all the way up to the Design Expert level, which focuses on delivering mobile and desktop solutions with Horizon Suite.

If you’re looking to jump into the world of desktop virtualization and already have some experience working at the desktop level, then VCP5-DT is the place to start. There’s also a VMware Associate Desktop exam for those who are just being introduced to these methodologies. If you’re looking to earn either of these valuable certifications and get started on your path to a great virtualization career, VMware Certification has several ways to help.

For the first step in preparing for the VCP5-DT exam, we recommend the VCP5-DT Official Cert Guide, which includes a textbook, e-book, and basic practice exams. This VCP5 study guide is the only guide officially endorsed by VMware, covering all the topics that are included in the VCP5-DT certification. Not only does it cover all the information you need for exam success, but it also makes it easy to prepare for the exam. This guide features “Do I Know This Already” lists before each chapter, so you can choose which sections to spend more time on than others, and end-chapter review exams to ensure you understand each topic before moving on.




 

When you’re almost ready to take the exam, the Official VMware Certified Professional Desktop (VCP5-DT) Practice Test by MeasureUp helps validate that you’ve mastered the content. MeasureUp is one of the leading names in IT test preparation, and they’ve paired with VMware’s experts to create one of the most thorough, effective VCP5 practice exam options currently on the market. MeasureUp is so confident that their guide will help IT professionals in their quest for the VCP5-DT certification, that they even include a Test-Pass Guarantee!





VMware Certification Marketplace offers everything you need to earn your VMware certification, from guides on topics ranging from virtualization basics to enterprise-scale datacenter management. Visit us today to get on your path to a great career in the growing world of virtualization! 

Kickstart Your Career and Stand Out with VCA

Today’s hiring market is competitive and rapidly changing as new technologies and methodologies are used at the enterprise level. However, hiring managers still look for the same qualities they have for years – is this person a self-starter and motivated? Are they professional and deliver results? Do they have the knowledge, both broad and specialized, to succeed in a particular role?

In a recent interview in IT World, former CIO Eric Bloom talks about what he looks for when hiring new IT professionals. Bloom speaks about IT certifications – those candidates who have earned a certification show motivation and the ability to follow through, as well as having the specialization needed for success, particularly in IT roles working with specific systems. Bloom notes IT hiring managers also look for real-world experience – but more than just experience, they demand professionals who have been trained on the latest technologies and have the most relevant knowledge combined with a can-do attitude. 


For those looking to make their first foray into the world of IT, or are at the junior level and looking to distinguish themselves and position themselves for career advancement; the VMware Certified Associate (VCA) certification is a great place to start. It’s a fast, cost-effective way to establish yourself as a specialist in virtualization and land a job in the rapidly growing specialty of virtualization.

While there are other virtualization certification programs available, the VMware Certified Associate program provides several advantages to IT professionals. For one, it focuses exclusively on VMware platform – the world’s leading virtualization platform, trusted by more enterprise-level firms than any other virtualization technology. There are three separate certifications available under the VMware Associate level of certifications: Datacenter, Cloud, and the new Workforce Mobility – all of them focusing on various topics critical to that particular aspect of virtualization. IT professionals can choose to specialize in one aspect, or earn all certifications. VMware certification has a clear certification path as your career advances – VCA holders become eligible for Professional, Advanced Professional and Design Expert certifications as they move forward, gaining more experience and knowledge.

If you’re an IT professional with a few years’ experience looking to establish yourself as a specialist, then the VMware Certified Associate is the program for you. Visit us at VMware Certification Marketplace for everything you need to earn this certification, including exam vouchers, practice exams, books and more.  

The Official VCA-DCV Certification Guide

The VMware Certified Associate exam and certification is often the first step into launching a successful IT career with a specialization in virtualization. Since candidates for this certification are often less experienced, it’s more important to ensure they are thoroughly prepared so that they can succeed on their exam and advance on their career path.

 
The Official VCA-DCV Certification Guide focuses specifically on the objectives for one of the most common Associate-level certifications: the VCA-DCV certification, which specializes in virtual datacenter design, troubleshooting, and deployment. Covering all the objectives and knowledge needed for the VCAD510 exam, experts Matt Vandenbeld and Jonathan MacDonald share preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping IT professionals identify areas of weakness and to improve both conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills.



This great VMware exam prep book features a great level of detail and offers assessment features, comprehensive design scenarios, challenging review questions and real-world exercises – while still being concise and easy to understand. “Do I Know This Already” quizzes open each chapter, allowing professionals to test their current knowledge and focus on the topics they need more preparation for. Topics covered in this exam guide include: 

• Datacenter virtualization: What is it and what are the components?
• Business challenges solved by virtualization
• Core components of vSphere: the virtual machine, ESXI, high availability
• vSphere storage, including physical versus virtual, storage types, thin provisioning, and more
• vSphere networking fundamentals, physical versus virtual switches, components, policies, I/O
• Mapping business challenges to vSphere solutions

If you’re ready to earn your VCA-DCV certification; The Official VCA-DCV Certification Guide offers the knowledge and guidance you need to ready yourself for the VCA-Datacenter certification.</p>

VMware vs. CompTIA vs. Microsoft – Choosing the Right Virtualization Certification

Currently, the two most prevalent certification organizations are CompTIA and Microsoft. Both organizations offer a wide variety of certifications for different specializations within the technology field, offering certified professionals a variety of career opportunities.

For IT professionals looking for the right certification to take, the choices can be overwhelming. When it comes to the IT subspecialty of virtualization, candidates are faced with several choices. In this article, we’re going to be comparing the three most popular certifications that involve virtualization: Cloud+ from CompTIA, MCSE and its Cloud-focused programs from Microsoft, and the VMware Professional Certification from VMware.

Almost every IT professional is familiar with CompTIA. Designed to provide vendor-neutral information technology certifications, CompTIA certifications focus more on hardware and core IT concepts than individual programs. The Cloud+ certification focuses on the infrastructure that makes virtualization possible – setting up the servers and hardware required for an effective virtualization environment. While CompTIA Cloud+ does touch on software systems and utilizing them for managing virtual machines, datacenters and services; it does not cover the specifics of any one program in great detail, which can lead to knowledge gaps.

Being by far the largest software company in the world, it’s no surprise that Microsoft offers a vast array of certifications, including several which cover various aspects of virtualization. With the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification, professionals can choose from various specialties focused on Microsoft products. Certification specialties include Server Infrastructure (which would be comparable to VCP programs focused on ESXi); Desktop Infrastructure (comparable to VCP-DT – Desktop Virtualization), focusing on network architecture and incorporating some cloud components; Private Cloud, focusing on intranet cloud storage and services at the enterprise level; and individual programs such as SharePoint and Lync managed out of a virtual platform. While providing many options and subspecialties, no one certification pathway provides the full set of knowledge needed to become a virtualization expert. Microsoft’s programs cover a lot of different aspects – making them great for those working with various systems – but outside of Microsoft programs such as Windows Server, SQL Server and SharePoint; there’s not a lot of specialization involved.

VMware Certification only focuses on virtualization and the infrastructure and software needed to effectively run virtualization environments on the VMware platform. Much like Microsoft, there are many sub-specializations available for those seeking the VMware Certified Professional certification such as VCP-DV, focusing on datacenter virtualization; VCP-DT, which focuses on desktop virtualization and delivery of services; and Certified Professional on vSphere 5, which focuses on managing virtualization environments using the vSphere hypervisor. Since these tests focus exclusively on the VMware platform, they cover all aspects of using VMware and give knowledge on utilizing specific programs such as vSphere 5 hypervisor, vApps, and how to integrate programs such as Microsoft SQL Server 2005 into VMware environments. Considering that VMware is the world’s leading virtualization platform, this is typically the certification of choice for those wanting to really drill down into the specialty of virtualization. 

At VMware Certification Marketplace, we aim to help every customer achieve their career goals by earning virtualization certification. Visit our books selection not only for VMware books, but materials which cover all aspects of virtualization. If the VMware certification is right for you, visit us for exam vouchers and everything you need to earn your VMware Certified Professional designation.

Enhancing Your Education with VMware Certification

Many professionals in the field of information technology come from an academic background that focuses on technology skills such as management information systems, computer science, and advanced mathematics. Many IT professionals have also found themselves in the technology field not through their academic background, but through career experience – having become the de-facto technology expert at their company, and building their knowledge through the workplace.

For those who have spent years studying or working with information technology, a certification can still be extremely valuable. Many professionals with previous experience overlook the value of having a certification, believing that their academic and work experiences are sufficient enough to land the job they want. However, for both those just beginning their careers and those with years of experience, a certification provides an immense value that helps them achieve their goals in a number of ways.

• Hiring – Having a VMware certification, or other specialized certification, helps candidates stand out from the rest of the pack. As IT departments expand and systems become more complex, hiring managers and companies look for professionals with specialized skills to manage individual components of their technology infrastructure. Hiring managers are more likely to select those professionals with a certification which matches the job role. For companies looking for a virtualization architect or engineer, they are much more likely to hire those who have a VMware certification confirming that they are specialists in virtualization infrastructure.
  
• Specialization – Beyond just the hiring process, certification allows professionals to build their knowledge in a particular area. A general computer science academic program covers much of the theory of IT and gives professionals the framework they need for career success, but a certification allows them to drill down and assert themselves as an expert in one particular aspect. For example, a computer science graduate – or anyone with a background in IT – understands the concepts and basics of a datacenter. Those who have earned the VMware VCP-510 certification have shown that they not only understand the concepts of a datacenter, but they also know how to implement, design, and manage datacenters on the VMware virtualization platform. Studying for the VCP-510 and earning the certificate allows professionals to build their knowledge base, learn the skills they need, and be recognized for it.
  
  
• Value – The return on investment for those with certifications is incredibly high. For the cost of the exam and training, professionals have the ability to command a much larger salary, often tens of thousands of dollars more than those without certification. A certification provides an unmatched level of negotiating power, job security, and career opportunities because those who are certified have proven that they are a knowledgeable expert in their field.

If you’re an IT professional who works with the VMware virtualization platform, becoming certified as a VMware Certified Professional, Associate, Advanced Professional or Design Expert allows you to open the door to more opportunities and a higher salary while allowing you to be officially recognized by the world’s leading virtualization company as an expert on the VMware platform. Visit VMware Certification Marketplace for study guides, exam vouchers, and everything else you need to establish yourself as an expert in the growing field of virtualization technology.

VMware vSphere and Virtual Security

The VMware platform is now used by thousands of enterprises and businesses to deliver mission-critical data and applications to millions of devices. However, the popularity of virtualization systems in today’s environment has also made them a security risk. Managing security risks on the VMware platform can seem daunting – but Edward Haletky, a leading VMware expert, has offered a comprehensive guide to VMware security. Haletky helps virtualization professionals address security risks and implement effective security measures and practices to ensure the safety of enterprise data and the stability of critical applications.



VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing the Virtual Environment not only offers the basics of using VMware security tools and identifying security threats, but details exactly how to mitigate and address current security threats and configure VMware infrastructure for more security. From the basics of virtual server security, to explaining the unique features and risks of VMware platforms, Haletky’s guidance covers everything needed to effectively secure VMware platforms.



One of our most popular VMware books, VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing the Virtual Environment covers many topics, including:

•    Security threats that VMkernel addresses and those it does not
•    Mitigating risks of backup, performance management and other operations
•    Secure virtual desktop infrastructure
•    Securing virtualized storage
•    Protecting clustered environments which use VMware High Availabilty, vMotion and more
•    Auditing infrastructure for risk and conducting investigations after a possible breach

Today’s enterprises demand both performance and security on their VMware environments. With Haletky’s guide, you can learn the skills needed for effective security on VMware platforms and get the knowledge needed to be an expert in the field of virtualization. 

Desktop vs. Datacenter - The Right VCP5 Certification for You

Like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and other organizations which grant IT certifications, VMware offers a variety of different certificate programs; each of which focus on a different skillset and specialty within the world of virtualization. There are several levels of VMware Certification – Associate/Professional and Advanced.

The VMware Certified Professional designation recognizes those who already have previous experience working with virtualization systems and are looking to establish themselves as knowledgeable professionals within the sphere of virtual systems. However, there are several subspecialties available when earning the VMware Certified Professional designation. Two of the most commonly pursued certifications at the professional level include VCP5-DCV – Data Center Virtualization and VCP5-DT Desktop. While both are recognized as VMware professionals, each certification has different requirements and topics covered, preparing the professional for a different role within the IT field.

The VMware Certified Professional 5 – Desktop (VCP5-DT) Exam certification is for individuals just beginning their virtualization careers or for analysts and technicians who work with individual users at the desktop level. This specialization focuses more on the end-user experience when working with VMware, making programs and data accessible to users, and working with the VMware View management system. To earn this VMware certification, professionals must either first attend a qualifying VMware course OR currently hold VCP5-DV Data Center Virtualization or VCP-Cloud Certification credentials. Candidates must be able to configure the vSphere environment, possess a deep understanding of VMware core components and their relation to storage and networking, and be proficient in datacenter design methodologies.

VMware Certified Professional 5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DV) Exam is for individuals who already have experience with VMware systems and those who work on wide-scale, enterprise-level virtualization environments. This certification focuses more heavily on design, planning, and implementation, rather than focusing on the end-user. VCP5-DV certification is available to those who have a minimum of six months of experience working with VMware and complete the required course or currently have VCP-DT certification. For those who already have VCP4 training and have completed a qualifying course, the VCP5-DV exam is available after completing a “What’s New in VCP5” course. VCP-DV certification confirms that you have the education needed to successfully install, deploy, scale, and manage VMware vSphere environments.

Which certification is right for you? There are several options available to you based on your job function, experience with VMware, and your career goals. VMware offers comprehensive information about the VCP5-DV and VCP5-DT certifications on their website. When you’re ready to take the next step and earn your certification, visit us at VMware Certification Marketplace for books, study guides, practice tests, exam vouchers and everything you need to earn your virtualization certification.