Depends on how good are you with learning, people like readings others like hands-on and watching CBT, if you have all in combinations then your success is much higher, but needless to say you can pretty much get acquanted with VMware quickly by doing the following:

1. Always utilize google.com for any resources or questions then it will links to the best result.

2. Download vSphere 4.0, SRM, View, Lab Manager etc...component trial version so you can play one by one and should start with ESX 3.5 & vSphere 4.0

3. Buy a power PC or laptop where you have at least 4GB of RAM so you can learn ESX3.5/vSphere in a portal lab and very convenience.

4. Download and reall all the guides on www.vmware.com ->Resources and choose all documents and techical paper.

5. Glad you have VMTN account, best resource for VMware problems/solutions and read/lurks/responds to them if you can.

6. Signup with VMworld.com and www.viops.vmware.com to get the most resources you can.

7. Read virtualization blogs out there to get to the latest news/technical tricks such as yellow-bricks.com, vsphere-land.com, rtfm.uk.edu sites etc..

8. Get yourself a Train Signal CBT for vSphere 4.0 made by David Davis (CCIE & vEpert 2009) should be solid foundation for you.

9. Read book from Edward Hatley for securities, Eric Siebert for implementation & administration, Scott Lowe for vSphere 4.0, Mike Laverick for SRM, vSphere and more....just search there name on amazon.com

10. Try to persuade your company to invest in your training and sign up for $3000USD onsite training and get the bang of the buck and that will help you on your VCP certification track.

11. Best thing is always test in a lab, read a lot and experiment and post on VMTN!!!!

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

VMware vExpert 2009

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant