Learning vSphere

[Keiichi]

Is there a way to acquire vsphere without the subscription, or a learning version to be used in a non production environment? I'd like to learn it for certs and some hands on experience, but it's ass expensive.

 

[gimp0]

You can download a trial version for free that is good for 60 days.

 

[Keiichi]

I don't mind paying for a version that doesn't require a support subscription. Right now it costs about $4.2K for vSphere Enterprise plus (1yr gold sub) PER PROCESSOR.

Trial versions are to evaulate products, they are not learning tools.

 

[gimp0]

A full featured product that you can do anything you want is not a learning tool? Sorry you don't see the educational value in the trial, but it most certainly can be used as a learning tool.

It might not be exactly what you wan't (cheap full featured version) but you can look at the webinars and discussion forums and start out with ESXi and the free VI client and then use the trial of vsphere to expand your knowledge.

 

[xphil3]

[/B].

Trial versions are to evaulate products, they are not learning tools.

Totally agree Keiichi. I have personally called vmware back in the 2.5 days requesting full licenses for my "customer", and said we wanted to try this product out for more than 60 days. You can still to this date do this with Microsoft, not sure about vmware though.

Gimp, again... you can't learn all of ESX4 in 60 days. Like Keiichi said, evaluations are not made for training. Good recommendations for the webinars and ESXi though.

 

[gimp0]

Totally agree Keiichi. I have personally called vmware back in the 2.5 days requesting full licenses for my "customer", and said we wanted to try this product out for more than 60 days. You can still to this date do this with Microsoft, not sure about vmware though.

Gimp, again... you can't learn all of ESX4 in 60 days. Like Keiichi said, evaluations are not made for training. Good recommendations for the webinars and ESXi though.

Never said you can learn everything in 60 days but it is an option to deploy a test environment to start your training.

I have used trials and evaluations on many products in the past to learn what those products do and how to do them without costing any money.

Think you guys are getting caught up on terminology and not seeing the learning benefits of trials and evaluations.

 

[xphil3]

]
Think you guys are getting caught up on terminology and not seeing the learning benefits of trials and evaluations.

We're not getting caught up in anything, just saying that you can't learn a technology in 60 days proficiently, thats all. Guess you're one of the guys that believe in those "learn this technology in 30 days!"

 

[gimp0]

We're not getting caught up in anything, just saying that you can't learn a technology in 60 days proficiently, thats all. Guess you're one of the guys that believe in those "learn this technology in 30 days!"

Show me where I said you can learn a techonloy in 60 days...Oh thats right I never did.

I merely suggested that you can use the evaluation version to supplement other methods.

right back at ya pal.

 

[xphil3]

Show me where I said you can learn a techonloy in 60 days...Oh thats right I never did.

I merely suggested that you can use the evaluation version to supplement other methods.

right back at ya pal.

hahahha, whatever...

Keiichi, try what I suggested. Worked wonders for me when I was in college and MSDN wasn't offered.

 

[RiDDLeRThC]

You can become a VMware Partner and get some of the products for testing that way.

 

[sabregen]

This is a lot of quibbling about when no one seems to have the entire story. Let me help:

VMWare ESXi installable is free to download, free to use. It is not, however, recommended for your studying, as it lacks the Service Console OS, and will therefore hamper your testing environment. It can be controlled via vCenter, and licensed up to the full multiple-host interaction level of regular ESX (barring features that require the Service Console).

ESX is free for 60days (as are ALL VMWare products that are for-charge), and so is vCenter. When you deploy without licenses, VMWare did something smart on the trials. They give you full functionality. As opposed to most trial software that require a license to unlock features you want, VMWare gives you all the features up front, and requires a license (past 60 days) to RETAIN those features. I think it's a much better approach. it's awfully hard to justify the cost of a feature that you don't know how to admin, deploy, or leverage.

Does that clear it up? Go grab the 60day trials of everything you want, and go nuts. Worst case is that you will have to rebuild the environment when the trial pops.

 

[Keiichi]

Thanks for the suggestions. It all seems bleak though as it seems that vmware training/certification is a part of their business model. I'll look into the partner thing, but that probably means creating a shell company.

The problem with trial products is that they're a time bomb. You have a time limit on what you can learn. Sure you'll be able to learn a few things, but not enough to one shot something as comprehensive as the VCP.

As a side note it's total ass that they require participation to a $4000 just for certification.
I wonder if they hand out non production versions of their software if you take the class anyone know?

 

[sabregen]

As a VCP myself, and having answered a few of these thread questions myself, hopefully I can shed some light on the VCP process. it is, as follows:

Pay $
Go to class
Attendance taken on first day of class
survey on last day of class
failure to be present for roll call on first day, or not turn in the survey=you were not present for the class, and cannot become vcp certified
pay $
take test
pass test = vmware asks for class date/location, and checks your attendance. if you met the attendance requirement, and passed the test, you get notified about 2 weeks after the test of your VCP status.

once that's done, you can cash in your VCP voucher to get a free copy of vmware workstation for windows or Linux (but not Fusion).

You don't get any ESX licenses for being VCP. You do get a backpack, training materials from the class with lab exercises, and all of your notes.

I will agree, haven taken numerous cert exams, that VMWare's required class attendance is not something I have seen from ANY other organization. All others are study + pass test = certified.

having a prtnership status is going to be a chicken/egg thing for you. all partnership programs require varying numbers of certifications and accreditation, plus a program membership fee. in addition to this, only the upper level partnerships provide NFRs. For instance, we are a VIP Enterprise level member. The VIP program membership requirements have changed, as of vSphere4's release. They are now:

2x VSPs
2x VCPs
2x VTSPs
$1500/year

they were previously:

2x VSPs
2x VCPs
$1000/year membership fee

my timeline on the vcp was as follows:

vcp class in june 08
deploy esx 3.5 on on hardware at work (in september of 08)
manage/make changes/screw stuff up (yay for no dev environment, at the time) (sept-oct '08)
study for vcp, develop dev environment, go back through the labs (oct-early nov 08)
take vcp test (nov 12 08), passed first time....woot
vcp certified, officially, 2 weeks after test

today (literally) I updated my VSP from 3 to 4, and got my VTSP. Updating my VCP from 3 to 4 is $1495 + travel+wage+hotel+incidentals = 2 day class + test fee +passing vcp4 test = VCP4 certified. Oh, my boss is thrilled.

 

[SpaceHonkey]

I'd love to be a VCP, but I'm not shelling out that kind of cash to do so. Unfortunately my workplace pays $0 for training, so if I want it I have to pony up myself. Any raise (yeah right) I could have as a result of getting it would be negated by the cost of the cert.

That's one thing I'm really unhappy with VMware about - I know I could be a VCP, but I'm not rich enough to prove it.

Unfortunately the only thing I have to show for my 8 months investment is a stable environment and a well deserved pat on the back.

 

[lopoetve]

Thanks for the suggestions. It all seems bleak though as it seems that vmware training/certification is a part of their business model. I'll look into the partner thing, but that probably means creating a shell company.

The problem with trial products is that they're a time bomb. You have a time limit on what you can learn. Sure you'll be able to learn a few things, but not enough to one shot something as comprehensive as the VCP.

As a side note it's total ass that they require participation to a $4000 just for certification.
I wonder if they hand out non production versions of their software if you take the class anyone know?

Of course not - it doesn't make sense for them to give away the product or the certification - both have significant value. What would they gain by offering the certification for free, without the class? The goal is to have you actually learn the system, not just grab a study guide and take the test, like the MCSE/CCNA/etc often are.

I'd love to be a VCP, but I'm not shelling out that kind of cash to do so. Unfortunately my workplace pays $0 for training, so if I want it I have to pony up myself. Any raise (yeah right) I could have as a result of getting it would be negated by the cost of the cert.

That's one thing I'm really unhappy with VMware about - I know I could be a VCP, but I'm not rich enough to prove it.

Unfortunately the only thing I have to show for my 8 months investment is a stable environment and a well deserved pat on the back.

And a fast san now too!

 

[SpaceHonkey]

And a fast san now too!

LULZ!

 

[Keiichi]

Of course not - it doesn't make sense for them to give away the product or the certification - both have significant value.

The product itself does not have any significant value. Vmware uses a support subscription licensing model.

What would they gain by offering the certification for free, without the class? The goal is to have you actually learn the system, not just grab a study guide and take the test, like the MCSE/CCNA/etc often are.

I never said that they should be offering anything for free. Personally I call shennanigans on the class requirement. All it is is a three day boot camp and it doesn't even fully prepare you for the exam itself. If they want people to actually learn their system they should over at least an environment to be able to practice in.

The problem I see with the VCP is that there is a huge financial barrier of entry. They expect people to already have made the investment in a production environment to be able to learn their products.

 

[xphil3]

What would they gain by offering the certification for free, without the class? The goal is to have you actually learn the system, not just grab a study guide and take the test, like the MCSE/CCNA/etc often are.

<rant>
What can I say that Keiichi hasn't already said... I mean come on man, the fact that you have to pay for a class to become certified is complete garbage. Im extremely pissed that vmware did that, I know a lot of very good engineers that would school the vmware teaching folks, completely school them on their own product. My god, I can remember talking to some of the LEAD network folks at vmworld 07 and just listening to the presentations..... Im telling you, they need to take some classes themselves!
</rant>

Keiichi summed it up best, they're putting a financial barrier on their certification by requiring a class to be taken. I for one would not put out my own money to become a VCP, its far too expensive compared to more worth while certifications(from a financial standpoint of course).

 

[gimp0]

I wonder if the fact that it is a relatively new certification has any bearing on the high price tag. Also, the amount of participants that go for the certification is significantly lower than say the MCSE.

I would love to see the VCP be around $500-1000 (preference is obviously on the lower end) as that is an easier sell to the higher ups (allows companies to certify more than just a few individuals as well) and also easier for individuals to obtain.

 

[lopoetve]

The product itself does not have any significant value. Vmware uses a support subscription licensing model.

I never said that they should be offering anything for free. Personally I call shennanigans on the class requirement. All it is is a three day boot camp and it doesn't even fully prepare you for the exam itself. If they want people to actually learn their system they should over at least an environment to be able to practice in.

The problem I see with the VCP is that there is a huge financial barrier of entry. They expect people to already have made the investment in a production environment to be able to learn their products.

The product does have value - no competition for the market actually exists, as no competitor has nearly the features that vSphere has. I'd call that significant, imho. The support subscription is just additional to that - you don't have to maintain that if you choose not to.

Most people that are taking the exam already are experienced admins that are adding ESX to their environments, in my experience - people already in the market that just want the certification. Yes, the class could be better - but I know far too many people that have an MCSE/etc that don't actually know anything about the products they're supporting, so I personally agree with the requirement that you at least actually take the exam.

 

[lopoetve]

<rant>
What can I say that Keiichi hasn't already said... I mean come on man, the fact that you have to pay for a class to become certified is complete garbage. Im extremely pissed that vmware did that, I know a lot of very good engineers that would school the vmware teaching folks, completely school them on their own product. My god, I can remember talking to some of the LEAD network folks at vmworld 07 and just listening to the presentations..... Im telling you, they need to take some classes themselves!
</rant>

Keiichi summed it up best, they're putting a financial barrier on their certification by requiring a class to be taken. I for one would not put out my own money to become a VCP, its far too expensive compared to more worth while certifications(from a financial standpoint of course).

You don't have to have the certification to be a vmware sysadmin, any more than you have to have an MCSE to be a windows admin. They're just certifications. Better a class than something where you just read a book and take the test - I personally think it should be a much more admin oriented class and test though, instead of just knowledge - actual troubleshooting and the like.

 

[Thuleman]

The problem with trial products is that they're a time bomb. You have a time limit on what you can learn. Sure you'll be able to learn a few things, but not enough to one shot something as comprehensive as the VCP.

You won't be able to learn enough in a home-lab environment to one-shot the VCP simply because you are unable to recreate the total randomness and complexity of the issues that occur in the real world.

As a side note it's total ass that they require participation to a $4000 just for certification.

Really? Why is it total ass? Because you have to invest something rather than getting free lunch? Quite frankly, I find your attitude in this whole thread to be lacking. You post as if you are entitled to something, you disregard good advice just because it doesn't fit into your world model, good going!

I rather have the cert be expensive and hard, than every unemployed monkey having one.

As far as whether VCP is worth it, it depends on how one looks at it, all I can provide is a "take-with-a-grain-of-salt" indeed comparison: MSCE vs VCP salaries