Can we pass VCA exam with self study without attending training

[vwankhedkar]

Hi All,

I am new to vmware certification and planning for VCA certification in data centre area.

Can you please suggest me at start which is the best certification for me VCA-DCV OR VCP-DCV ?

Which I can complete with self study without attending any trainig?

Thanks in Advance!!!

[scott28tt]

Review the exam blueprint and take the Fundamentals training on this page: (VCA-DCV) VCA-Data Center Virtualization

The only thing you will need to pay for is the exam.

I'm not sure what you mean by VCA-DCP.

If you find the training very easy, you might want to look at VCP-DCV - it is the most popular certification: (VCP5-DCV) VCP-Data Center Virtualization

You will need to attend a course in order to achieve your first VCP level certification.

[vwankhedkar]

Appreciate your information Scott.

From where  I will get training centers in Pune & also fees information?

[scott28tt]

You can search for training in Pune here: VMware Education - Courses by Location

[vwankhedkar]

Ok, Thanks for the information Scott.

[JDLangdon]

Yes you can but I'm in the opinion that forcing people to take a class in order to obtain certification is nothing more then a money grab for VMware.  Especially considering the course material doesn't cover everything that the exam does.  It's not like the good old days of Novel exams where the exams was based directly on the course material to the point where some questions were taken word for word from the chapter review questions.

[scott28tt]

"good old days" - talking with Novell instructors who were colleagues at the time, the exams/certifications were a joke.

[JDLangdon]

Sure the exams were a joke but so is ALL entry level certifications and whether VMware agrees or not the VCP is an entry level certification.

[NealeC]

I'd disagree.

• VCA is the entry level certification and as it's web based and not monitored/proctored then you could call into question it's use in gauging someone's skill and knowledge.
• VCP is (or was until the new v6 2-part which I've not read up on fully yet) multiple question only so are many other vendors and people can, if they choose, can try and cheat using nefarious sources on the internet. 
  BUT the requirement for the course means that even if someone did cheat the exam they still spent their own money or their company invested 5 days and money into them learning about the technology.
  So I think it sets a VCP apart from a MCTS (MCP as was) or another similar vendor exam
• VCAP (soon to be VCIX) tests you in a lab.  There's no faking this and if you pass it then no-one can question your skills or the validity of the testing process
• VCDX - anyone who can stand up an defending a design in front of the vendor responsible for it (and has usually flown to the location to do so) deserves to be in a club of circa 200 in the world

So I don't think it's fair to say VCP is a joke or entry-level.  I understand that an independent consultant or SME business may struggle to fund a £2.5k course but if you have a significant vSphere infrastructure to support, either personally or as a business.......then is £2.5k too much to spend to make sure you are trained up?

[JDLangdon]

The VCP might not be a joke but it is an entry level certification.  While the VCA might be the lowest certification offered by VMware, no one is actively looking for VCA's to fill vacant positions.

[NealeC]

Ok JD, I'll concede that.  VCA even says it's aimed at Exec so they can say they understand VMware (and because they can't be fussed with VSP/VTSPs)

But even as a vendor-vendor comparison I'd hire a VCP over a MCP/MCTS as I know the former has had training, from their employer investing in them or self-funded.

I know some folks who went on the ICM course and never bothered with the exam (I was guilty of that with ICM3....taught by one scott28tt Vesey!) which in my opinion is criminal and it was reflected as their training requests were looked at harder in future as they hadn't really anted up their part of the bargain.

[vwankhedkar]

Hey Guys,

thanks for this useful information.

Till now what I understand is :- Since I am new to vmware certification and VCP is somewhat tedious than VCA so I feel to start with vmware certification VCA seems to be the good choice at my level.

Isn't it?

[scott28tt]

It would depend on why you want to learn about virtualisation, and why you want to gain a certification - what is your objective in terms of knowledge and role?

[JDLangdon]

My employer doesn't pay for or acknowledge certifications so I also gave up after VCP 3.

[NealeC]

Hi vw,

If you are very new to vSphere then to pass VCP you would need practical experience, plus the training.
If you are able to secure funding, from your employer or personally, for a training course then go for it, then get practical experience, then read the blueprint and practice the bits you may not use regularly in your day job, then do the VCP-DCV exam.

However if you are looking for a "cheap"-ish way to demonstrate to your employer that you are familiar with basic VMware Datacentre Virtualisation concepts and the components within the vSphere suite then VCA is a good option.

It's level of credibility amongst employers etc. is a subjective thing really.  As JD suggest a guide may be to see which jobs have VCA as a requirement/nice-to-have mentioned explicitly.

I did the VCA-DCV when they were first announced last year and if you're new to VMware/vSphere then it is a good first step.

[vwankhedkar]

My goal is :- I am having basic knowledge of virtualization on various flavours of unix. And my task involves only creation of virtual machines,assign storage and perform storage product testing on it.

And I want to be certified in 1 of the flavour of unix, so that it would help me to search the opportunity in virtualization and I think vmware is the best choice to start with.

[NealeC]

Which makes sense if you are sticking with that employer.
As Scott said it's about what you want to get/need personally.

Where I work we are a VMware partner and need a certain number of current VCPs so I'm encouraged to keep my VCP up to date.

I can do that having without attending any more courses than my original ICM v3.

I am actively studying toward VCAP-DCA (I did attempt 510 but had to rush prior to it's expiry at the end of Jan) and in doing so it has made other areas of my day job easier, such as cluster/vcenter wide queries to resolve issues or report on something using powercli.  It actually gave me the excuse/impetus to learn Powershell to a reasonable level.

Like many large tech companies where I work there are lots of other people working in a similar area to me.  By gaining certifications, updating them and actively working towards the next level I can differentiate myself from my colleagues both here and if I needed to at a potential new employer.

But if I had to self-fund training and certification myself and it also wasn't recognised in any way by my employer I would have much less reason/justification to devote time and money to it.

It's what works best for you.

[NealeC]

I think VCA would be good then.

A minor point, possibly being pedantic, but ESXi isn't based around a Linux/Unix Kernel it's built on VMkernel which is proprietary.

More detail can be read up on here

VMware Front Experience: A myth busted and an FAQ: ESXi is *not* based on Linux! But what is it?

But getting experience of multiple hypervisors is good to be able to understand the differences and strengths/weaknesses of each (if only to know when someone might be "exaggerating" in favour of their preferred hypervisor).

Good Luck in your learning

[JDLangdon]

If your goal is to have a basic knowledge of virtualization and Unix you need to be studying IBM Power Systems on VMware.  VMware and Unix are two entirely different technologies.

[vwankhedkar]

Right, actually as a part of OS certification I am already HP-UX fundamental certified. So I think I will look forward for VCA to start with virtualization.

Does this online material provided is sufficient to pass VCA? Normally how much time it requires to prepare for VCA?