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xchangepatewon
Contributor
Contributor

Need assistance in choosing between Vsphere ICM 5.1 and Vsphere FT

The company i work for is in the process of implementing a total VM solution (additional 15k netapp shelf, possible FC switches and 3-4 HOSTS IBM or Cisco Host solution.  With this new project i have been given the green light to take some training and get certified.  I spoke with VMware education staff today about my choices and they mentioned either the vsphere ICM 5.1 course or the vsphere 5.1 FT course. They mentioned all the differences of FT and i am trying to determine if i should go for that one or stick with the ICM course.  I have read about all the additional content covered in the FT course, but was curious if it is water downed based on the amount of content jammed into just 5 days?  Also i am somewhat new to vsphere. i have setup a lab environment with two esxi hosts with iscsi shared storage using freenas on my own and have used vm workstation and vmware fusion on a daily basis (i know those are type 2 hypervisors which are totally different animals vs the type 1 hypervisor of esxi).

Can anyone shed some light as which way would be a better way to go? i have no experience with prior versions of vmware vsphere, esx or esxi.

i look forward to your input.

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lbourque
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

The Fast Track isn't watered down, it's just way more info than what the ICM is (and includes Enterprise Plus info). The question is more a question of how well do you learn when you get a glut of info given to you. The way to compare it is to consider which you prefer: drinking out of a water hose (ICM) or drinking out of a firehose (FT).

Fast Track is all of ICM plus the What's New class and an additional 2-3 modules.

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TomHowarth
Leadership
Leadership

If you have the option of doing the Fast track course over the ICM I would jump at the chance, you are effectively getting 2 courses for the price of 1.5.  there is a lot of slack in the ICM at the front that can be compacted and the extra modules that are in the FT are well worth the cost.

think of it this way ICM (install configure manage) two of those you only do the once.  manange is ongoing, aslo the modules in the FT are also aimed at support and management.

Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / vExpert
VMware Communities User Moderator
Blog: http://www.planetvm.net
Contributing author on VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment
Contributing author on VCP VMware Certified Professional on VSphere 4 Study Guide: Exam VCP-410
xchangepatewon
Contributor
Contributor

  How much knowledge or how much experience do you need to have in networking/storage for these courses? Currently we are a smaller office, running netapp storage, juniper L3 switches with only a couple vlans.  There is nothing really fancy about our network... YET!!! Smiley Happy

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lbourque
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

It helps but not required. A basic understanding of how networking works (OSI model, TCP/IP, etc.) and basics of shared storage concepts (the idea of LUNs, arrays, etc.) is really what you need. The courses themselves are vendor neutral and doesn't really get into how to configure switches or storage on those ends. For that, speaking to those vendors as to their specific requirements is a better options.