VCP 4: Doing it the hard way

by VCP Help on 03/01/10 at 6:18 pm

If you’re interested in trying to pass the VCP 4 without using the study guides, you can expect to have a much more difficult time. I work every day with VMware tools and I doubt that I would have passed the exam without having the advantage the test prep kits provide.

However, if you want to study the “official way” here’s a TASTE of what you’ll need to know:

Deploying a new VMware installation:

  • Identify minimum hardware requirements
  • ESX Hardware Reqs – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=13
  • ESXi Hardware Reqs – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esxi_i_vc_setup_guide.pdf#page=13
  • Download, prepare and validate installation media
  • Download media – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=25
  • Determine appropriate ESX/ESXi configuration in a given situation
  • Obtain required information for environment: IP info, LUN info, boot information, service console memory, user accounts, ntp server IP, etc.
  • Verify hardware against the VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide: Server, hard drives, san, HBAs, nics, procs, etc. all on HCL
  • Perform a custom installation
  • Booting ESX installer – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=27
  • Graphical Install – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=39
  • Text Install – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=42
  • Scripted Install – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=45
  • Customize storage layout for given situations
  • Required Partitions – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=61
  • Optional Partitions – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=62
  • Configure ESXi from the direct console
  • Install ESXi – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esxi_i_vc_setup_guide.pdf#page=22
  • Direct Console User Interface – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esxi_i_vc_setup_guide.pdf#page=26
  • Configure ESX/ESXi NTP
  • ESX NTP During Install – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=24
  • Configuration tab, Time Configuration, Properties
  • Manage ESX/ESXi licensing
  • Compare/Contrast VMware vSphere editions
  • Edition Comparison Chart – http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1010579
  • Manage license keys – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf#page=107

Upgrading an existing VMware installation:

  • Plan a VMware vSphere upgrade
  • Backup/Restore ESX/ESXi host configuration
  • Backup host configuration – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=71
  • Restore host configuration – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=83
  • Understand Virtual Machine backup options
  • VMotion, storage VMotion, vcb, converter, vdr, third party
  • Determine if existing hardware meets upgrade requirements
  • Hardware Requirements – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=27
  • Understand VMware ESX/ESXi upgrade scenarios
  • Host Upgrades – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=67
  • Release Upgrade Support – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=72
  • Perform upgrade to ESX 4.0
  • Upgrade VMware ESX/ESXi
  • About Host Updates – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=101
  • Update Manager Upgrade Baseline – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsp_vum_40_admin_guide.pdf#page=53
  • esxupdate/vihostupdate – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=104
  • ESX Upgrade – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=75
  • ESXi Upgrade – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=77
  • Upgrade virtual machine hardware
  • Virtual Hardware Upgrade – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=97
  • Upgrade VMware Tools
  • Tools Upgrade – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=86
  • Verify success of upgrade
  • Upgrade Logs – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=79
  • Understand upgrade roll back options
  • Roll Back an ESX Upgrade – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=82
  • Roll Back an ESXi Upgrade – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf#page=83

Understand VMware security:

  • Identify default security principles
  • Default Roles – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_admin_guide.pdf#page=214
  • General Security – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_server_config.pdf#page=179
  • ESXi Lockdown Mode – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esxi_server_config.pdf#page=168
  • Understand Service Console firewall operation
  • Service Console Security Level
  • COS Security – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_server_config.pdf#page=142
  • Firewall Security Level – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_server_config.pdf#page=180
  • Opening/Closing ports in the firewall using the vSphere Client
  • Configuration, Security Profile, Properties
  • Set up user/group accounts
  • Host Users/Groups – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_admin_guide.pdf#page=212
  • Understanding Users/Groups – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_server_config.pdf#page=167
  • Working With Users & Groups – http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_server_config.pdf#page=170
  • Determine applications needed for accessing the service console in a given scenario: vSphere client, ssh client, vCenter, VCB/VDR, Update Manager, Converter, etc.

Know these tools:

  • VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide
  • VMware ESX/ESXi and vCenter Server Installation Guide
  • Configuration Maximums Guide
  • Product Documentation
  • VMware Virtualization Toolkit
  • vSphere Host Update Utility
  • vCenter Update Manager
  • vSphere Upgrade Guide
  • ESX 4 Patch Management Guide
  • Product Documentation
  • esxupdate
  • vSphere Client
  • ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
  • Product Documentation

As you can see from this sampling, you need to know a ton of stuff to pass the VCP 4. And, here’s a word of warning: not all of the test questions are answered the way that it’s done in the real world. Some of the answers are just plain wrong. The test prep materials will let you spot those questions which you’d otherwise get wrong because you know better ;)

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