VM /ETC

Posts Tagged ‘certification’

TrainSignal, makers of popular computer training DVDs and current sponsor of VM /ETC, is not only a great training resource for admins learning VMware vSphere, but now for a limited time you can get a free Server 2008 R2 training DVD with any other DVD purchase. What may not be obvious from the 2008 R2 DVD title (at least it wasn’t to me!) is that scattered in the 6 hours and 12 2008 R2 videos are episodes on how to configure some of the new Microsoft virtualization and Hyper-V features such as Hyper-V dynamic storage and clustering. This DVD training course also explains using the new Remote Desktop Services for creating personal virtual desktops.

What I personally find great about TrainSignal videos is that the training is provided to you in multiple formats – .mp4 (video) and .mp3 (audio) for portable media players, PDFs, as well as DVD. Upload the portable formats to your favorite media player and learn on the road. Print out the PDFs if that’s a better learning style for you.

If you are used to vExpert David Davis training you on the vSphere videos, then you’ll be glad to know Certified Instructor, Benjamin “Coach” Culbertson (MCT, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDBA, CIW, A+, Net+, MOS) walks you through each 2008 R2 video in the same, easy to follow and learn TrainSignal style.

Check out the rest of this post for the 2008 R2 DVD Course outline and then browse through the many other technology training options from TrainSignal. Make your purchase and get the 2008 R2 DVD for free while the offer lasts! The 2008 R2 DVD is normally a $297 value. 

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VMware has extended it’s previous deadline for upgrading to VCP4 certification until the end of January 2010. Previosuly, VMware admins already holding VCP3 certification had until December 31, 2009 to upgrade to VCP4 without being required to sit (and pay for) an additional course on vSphere 4. In conjunction with the new deadline, VMware has also extended the 2 For 1 VCP-410 test re-take offer. Candidates who enroll in the Second Shot program with Pearson Vue and take their first exam before January 15, 2010 can take the exam again at no charge if needed.

The following information was taken from the VMware Certification page:

In order to accommodate participants that despite best efforts were unable to schedule their exam prior to the deadline, VMware will continue accepting the VCP3 certification as a qualification to take the VCP4 exam without requiring attending the ‘What’s New" class through January 31st 2010. We fully expect that the additional four weeks will allow remaining participants ample time to find a testing center with available seating, and will NOT be extending the deadline any further, so please take advantage of this opportunity! Regards, The VMware Technical Certification Team

Become a VCP4. Free 2nd Shot Opportunity!

VMware is allowing participating candidates who fail a VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 4 exam (exam code – VCP410) to have a free re-take. To participate you must enroll prior to taking your first attempt and no later than January 15th, 2010. You will receive a registration confirmation for a class. You will receive additional information on the date and at the time indicated in your registration. You should wait to register with Pearson VUE until you have received the additional information.

Click here to enroll in the 2nd Shot Program. Vouchers will only be sent to those who have completed the prerequisites for VCP4 (see below). Please direct any questions about this program to certification@vmware.com. You must take your first exam on or before January 22nd to allow for the 7 day wait between attempts.

Visit www.PearsonVUE.com/VMware/Upgrade for the full list of participation instructions. If you have previously enrolled in the 2nd Shot Program and already received your voucher, the expiration has been automatically extended.

Check out this previous VM /ETC post for a quick list of links to help you prepare for the VCP-410 exam.

VMware and Pearson VUE have combined to offer a free retake/second shot promotion for the VMware VCP4 certification exam. The details of the registration process are explained on the VMware Education Services page. Here’s the pertinent info from that page:

• “Upgrade to VCP4!
  VMware is allowing participating candidates who fail a VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 4 exam (exam code – VCP410) to have a free re-take. Visit www.PearsonVUE.com/VMware/Upgrade for more details.

  Click Here to enroll in the 2nd Shot/Upgrade Program. Additional information will be emailed to those who enroll on the Friday following enrollment. Those who have not met the requirements for VCP4 (see below) are not eligible for this program.

• VCP on vSphere Exam Now Availalable!
  The VCP4 exam is now available! For registration, please visit Pearson VUE’s website.”

The key to the process is getting the voucher emailed to you before you register for the exam with Pearson VUE. To do that use the “click here to enroll” link above.

Important details about the promotion are also found on Pearson VUE’s page:

“Both the full price and free “Upgrade” exams must be taken by December 31, 2009. Offer valid for the VMware Certified Professional on vSphere™ 4 (VCP4) exam only (exam code – VCP410). Only one (1) offer per person. Standard VMware retake policy rules apply.”

I was a bit confused when I registered this morning because VMware has you actually enroll for a class with a duration of 1 minute! See the following screen shot. Read the rest of this entry »

There have been several posts in the v12n community providing study recommendations, materials, and practice exams to help prepare for VMware’s VCP 4 certification. This post is a quick list of blogs that provide posts with multiple certification preparation links. I’m publishing this mainly for my own future reference, but hopefully others can take advantage of it too.

Links to other’s study material lists:
Professional VMware -VCP4 Resource Page
ESX Virtualization – VMware vSphere 4 passing VCP Exam training links
The SLOG (SimonLong /blog) – VCP vSphere 4 Practice Exam
VMware Training and Certification Blog – Studying for the VCP on vSphere 4

Let me know of any other must visit sites to prepare for the VCP 4.

Thanks to the bloggers who put these posts together for all of us.

Check out the Paths To VCP on vSphere 4 Certification if you are not sure what prerequisites you need to meet before taking the VCP 4 exam.

VMware has provided information about the VCP certification upgrade that will be necessary once VMware vSphere is generally available. Go to the VMware.com certification page for more details on courses and exam information, but the following flow chart on the upgrade paths to VCP on vSphere 4 sums up the certification upgrade options visually.

This post is a summary of the Microsoft virtualization training and certification options announced along with the availability of Hyper-V Server 2008 last week. There are several free courses to jump start your Hyper-V training and an exam Second Chance offer when testing for certification. I’m trying to be clever and stick to my site theme with the “/ETC” play on words.

Microsoft Helps Customers Overcome Barriers to Virtualization and Get Virtual Now

The press release recaps how CEO Steve Ballmer announced the general availability of Hyper-V Server 2008 “during a TechNet Server and Tools event keynote address in London”. The release also introduces “a new offering of specialized assessment and implementation services available from the Microsoft Services organization that help customers use server virtualization, and separate new training and certifications from Microsoft Learning for IT Professionals.”

For the new services part of the announcement, Rick Becker, vice president of Software and Solutions at Dell, is quoted explaining how Dell is now offering server, storage, and implementation services around Hyper-V and SCVMM.

The new training and certification portion of the release are summarized in the following quote:

“Building on the strength and valued reputation of the Microsoft Certified Professional program, Microsoft is also delivering a new series of global virtualization training and certification offerings for IT professionals covering desktop, server and management environments. Complete details on these programs are available at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/virtualization and the Microsoft Learning Community blog at http://blogs.technet.com/mslcommunity/archive/tags/virtualization/default.aspx.”

Following the link to the Microsoft Learning Virtualization Portal provides more details on the free virtualization offerings. I’ve also created a cut and pasted summary of the various links to the Microsoft training and certification information in the rest of this post.

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Since my company is a Citrix Partner I have the opportunity to become a Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) for XenServer Enterprise Edition 4.1 (version 5 classes are still in development). I just received the instructions for signing up for the training and redeeming the vouchers for the online partner course and labs (here is the link to non partner instructor led courses). I am also attending the Citrix Summit Partner Conference in Orlando, FL at the end of this month (Oct. 26 – 29), so look for some more XenServer and XenDesktop content here on VM / ETC in the upcoming weeks/months.

For now, here is the CCA XenServer Enterprise Edition Exam and various test and certification details for anyone that is interested (and for my future reference!). Read the rest of this entry »