Following on from my last blog post, I have looked into the VCPC550 Exam a bit more, and having read the blueprint instead of just glancing at it, there are a few problems with doing this exam;
1 I *will* have to brush up on vSphere ESXi and vCenter facts including upgrades etc - so why would I want to do this at the vSphere 5.5 level when its on its way out.
2 Similarly, the vCAC and vCO versions covered in the VCPC550 are presumably not the latest versions
3 VCPC550 includes vCloud Director which isn't really current technology any more!
OK, so what would happen if I went for the VCPC610 current exam instead?
1 ESX/vCenter studying would be worth it as it would be at version 6.x
2 vCAC/vCO would be at vRA/vRO levels i.e. 6.x
3 There is no need to learn vCD which is not in the blueprint
(VCPC610 Blueprint is here https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=54066&ui=www_cert)
So what are the bad points?
One big one unfortunately;
The VCPC610 exam is being retired in only 5 weeks!!
It is being replaced with the VCP6 CMA exam (Cloud Management and Automation) - https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=64298&ui=www_cert - which seems to have a bigger remit, therefore more to learn, quite possibly some of it outside of my useful knowledge area (as in some of the knowledge I would be forced to learn might never be useful to me).
Decisions Decisions! I shall probably go for the CMA, as one of two projects is ramping up next\this week so I'll no doubt be super busy again, and therefore unlikely to be able to do the VCPC6 exam in the next month :s
Monday, 26 October 2015
Sunday, 25 October 2015
VCP DCV 5 Expiry thoughts
I thought I'd share my VCP DCV 5 Expiry thoughts.
For those who don't know, VMware introduced a policy a few years ago to ensure VMware certification holders keep up to date - the rule is that the highest exam passed needs to (within two years) be ;
A Re-newed (i.e. VCP5 DCV to VCP 6 DCV)
OR
B Another exam of the same level is passed (i.e. VCP5 DCV to VCP Cloud 5 or 6)
OR
C A higher exam (i.e. VCA is lower than VCP which is lower than a VCAP) is passed (i.e. VCP <anything> surpassed by a VCAP <anything>
The date on the newest certificate is what counts, not the date the exam was taken.
Firstly I was lucky in that I passed my exam in Nov 2013, but didn't do something (can't remember what) that 'completed' the certification until March 2014, so instead of having a matter of weeks before my VCP expires, I actually have 4 months :D
Secondly, I am lucky at present as there appears to be an 'easy' upgrade for me - I am not a massive fan of exams that need multiple weeks studying, as my complicated life (special needs daughter\volunteering and playing in bands taking up evenings etc) means that I find it very hard to retain the large amounts of pedantic knowledge required (i.e. needing to know exact numbers for maximum configs!) - this 'easy' upgrade appears to be the relatively light VCPC550 i.e. VCP Cloud
The reason I say it is relatively easy for me, is that I've pretty much been working with all the tech, and reading about and implementing all the topics of the VCP Cloud blueprint, during my roles for the last two years.
Colleagues who have taken the exam with similar skills and experience as me have all said that it should be relatively simple :D
This, therefore, is my planned exam to get another 2 years on the VMware exam countdown-to-expiry clock ;)
To see the exam blueprint, study guide & practice exam, instruction videos and more, click on the below link :D
http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?ui=www_cert&plan=32558
For those who don't know, VMware introduced a policy a few years ago to ensure VMware certification holders keep up to date - the rule is that the highest exam passed needs to (within two years) be ;
A Re-newed (i.e. VCP5 DCV to VCP 6 DCV)
OR
B Another exam of the same level is passed (i.e. VCP5 DCV to VCP Cloud 5 or 6)
OR
C A higher exam (i.e. VCA is lower than VCP which is lower than a VCAP) is passed (i.e. VCP <anything> surpassed by a VCAP <anything>
The date on the newest certificate is what counts, not the date the exam was taken.
Firstly I was lucky in that I passed my exam in Nov 2013, but didn't do something (can't remember what) that 'completed' the certification until March 2014, so instead of having a matter of weeks before my VCP expires, I actually have 4 months :D
Secondly, I am lucky at present as there appears to be an 'easy' upgrade for me - I am not a massive fan of exams that need multiple weeks studying, as my complicated life (special needs daughter\volunteering and playing in bands taking up evenings etc) means that I find it very hard to retain the large amounts of pedantic knowledge required (i.e. needing to know exact numbers for maximum configs!) - this 'easy' upgrade appears to be the relatively light VCPC550 i.e. VCP Cloud
The reason I say it is relatively easy for me, is that I've pretty much been working with all the tech, and reading about and implementing all the topics of the VCP Cloud blueprint, during my roles for the last two years.
Colleagues who have taken the exam with similar skills and experience as me have all said that it should be relatively simple :D
This, therefore, is my planned exam to get another 2 years on the VMware exam countdown-to-expiry clock ;)
To see the exam blueprint, study guide & practice exam, instruction videos and more, click on the below link :D
http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?ui=www_cert&plan=32558
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)