VCP 410 is no joke.

T

tsuehpsyde

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Just took the test today and failed sadly. :( Score of 250 outta the required 300. It could be worse, but it still sucks not getting it the 1st time. Mainly due to storage types and such being out of my scope (haven't worked with them much) and the lab given for testing had local data stores, which I figured was going to be a pain point.

We're looking to expand the lab so I can get some more studying in and re-take, but man, talk about a blow to the ego. :( Anyone else around here got their VCP 410? Curious how many times you guys had to hit it and how much time/experience you had. Some of the questions were just so specific it was just painful.

Bah, gimme access to Google and the vSphere client and I'd knock it outta the park. :p
 
What kind of storage type questions? interested in taking it but only storage experience I have is with iscsi no fiber channel
 
lopoetve said:
you'll need to take the class :)
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I will trust when you say that seeing as you have seen some of the stupid questions i have asked.

I do have to say vSphere 4 has given me NO problems :) very happy and very easy upgrade.
 
RiDDLeRThC said:
What kind of storage type questions? interested in taking it but only storage experience I have is with iscsi no fiber channel
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NDA yo. Can't really say, but you can read the blueprint on VMWare's site to get an idea.
 
I have to update my VCP3 cert to 4 before the end of the year. I order my vSphere 4 book, and stripped out 2x blades for my studying. vSphere3 was no joke, either. I expect the same of this one. Sounds like they changed the scoring though. 250 out of 300? is that points, number of questions? i thought it was only like 72% passing?
 
No you need a 300 to pass.

It is a tough exam, but no tougher than some of the cisco and upper level microsoft exams.

I got mine on the 1st try, but knowledge of the storage and virtual switches helped.
 
I really wish VMware would remove the class requirement.

<rant>
It drives me so crazy knowing that I could pass the exam, but can't afford the class on my own. In that way, the exam to me seems to represent not only someone's knowledge, but their wealth (or atleast association with it by sponsorship). Even a CCIE cert has no class or even requisite cert requirements. If you have the knowledge, you can try. This is the one way that I feel VMware has really let me down. I've dedicated many months to learning then implementing our VM environment here, and a not-for-profit simply can't afford a TEST this expensive.
</rant>
 
SpaceHonkey said:
I really wish VMware would remove the class requirement.

<rant>
It drives me so crazy knowing that I could pass the exam, but can't afford the class on my own. In that way, the exam to me seems to represent not only someone's knowledge, but their wealth (or atleast association with it by sponsorship). Even a CCIE cert has no class or even requisite cert requirements. If you have the knowledge, you can try. This is the one way that I feel VMware has really let me down. I've dedicated many months to learning then implementing our VM environment here, and a not-for-profit simply can't afford a TEST this expensive.
</rant>
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Passing the test does not imply knowing the material, it just means you memorized a test. I expect it's all about the desire to have people actually learn the material (imho). The CCIE guarantees you know what you're doing simply by the complexity and requirement to demonstrate the knowledge - the VCP is not a complex test, it's simply answering questions.
 
so by your measure, the VCDX (which is, in description, at least , every bit as complex as the CCIE) should not have a class requirement? ...yet it does
 
sabregen said:
so by your measure, the VCDX (which is, in description, at least , every bit as complex as the CCIE) should not have a class requirement? ...yet it does
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if you can pass the VCDX, then no, you probably don't need the class - but most people won't pass without the class, much like the CCIE. Lets be honest though - most basic certs (MCSE, CCNA, etc) are meaningless without the class- you can pass the test, but that doesn't mean you KNOW anything. the IE/DX/etc are different.
 
The best way to put it is the CCIE / VCDX are demonstration tests - you have to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the product. The CCNA/MCSE/VCP are simple knowledge test with no demonstrations.
 
I still need to get more vmware sales before I can get a commitment for the VCDX class, and other associated costs and study materials / time. I wish we had the numbers to support it though, sounds like a hell of a challenge.
 
SpaceHonkey said:
I've dedicated many months to learning then implementing our VM environment here, and a not-for-profit simply can't afford a TEST this expensive.
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Realisitcally speaking the cert is for people who are looking for a better job, or better pay at their current job. If you don't fall into one or the other category, then the cert does nothing for you really.

Having said that, VMware is fairly steadily adding more VMware Academic Partners (VAP). The VAPs are higher education institutions where you will be able to take a semester-based VMware course at whatever the normal tuition cost is, and you will be eligible to take the actual VCP (or other exams down the road). In fact, as part of the course you also get a voucher which lowers the cost of the actual exam to $70 or $75.

May be worth to call around in your area and see whether any of the colleges have signed up already, and if they did not and you know someone who has the clout or decision-making authority, then send them to: http://www.vmware.com/partners/programs/vap/enroll.html
 
I have the VCP3, guess I'll need to get a VSphere test environment put up as we aren't yet ready to migrate over. I got the VCP3 but haven't seen a penny more from my employer.
 
What study methods are you all using for VCP410? Book? Lab? Class?

I'll be upgrading my VCP3 before the end of the year as well. I'll be using a combination of this book in addition to studying in both my personal lab as well as my employers lab which I am currently implimenting.

Also, did anyone else get the email from VMware about the free retake if you need it to pass VCP410 by the end of the year?
 
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I got my CVE (VMtraining's Certified Virtual Expert) a few weeks ago--test was a breeze for me, I want to take the VCP test without fufilling the class requirement. I would still put it on my resume as Passed VCP Exam and if they ask why are you not certified I'll explain the whole class requirement, I doubt any employeer would hold it against you--and maybe you'd get lucky and get sent to the class...

Just my two cents...
 
Nybbles said:
Also, did anyone else get the email from VMware about the free retake if you need it to pass VCP410 by the end of the year?
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Yep, got that e-mail on Thursday. Lab + vSphere4 book + practice before test
 
Nybbles said:
What study methods are you all using for VCP410? Book? Lab? Class?

I'll be upgrading my VCP3 before the end of the year as well. I'll be using a combination of this book in addition to studying in both my personal lab as well as my employers lab which I am currently implimenting.

Also, did anyone else get the email from VMware about the free retake if you need it to pass VCP410 by the end of the year?
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yeah I got the email but the upgrade link says it's expired now :mad:
 
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oakfan52 said:
what part said expired ? The voucher code when you wnet to register with pearson vue ?
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When you go the Vmware website provided in the email link, there's another link to register for the upgrade, that link tells me the deal is expired.
 
Taking it this Tuesday, already am VCP3. Got a TestKing cram I'm going to pound on Monday night.

I have a ton more experience with ESX this go around than I did for the 3.5 test. I've done a few 4.0 migrations and fresh installs. hHandled all the SAN/Network configs that went with it. Hoping that mitigates the difficulty some.

I went through a cram for 3.5 as well, but poured through around 1500 pages in white papers. I'm just doing the cram this time.
 
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Vorex said:
I got my CVE (VMtraining's Certified Virtual Expert) a few weeks ago--test was a breeze for me, I want to take the VCP test without fufilling the class requirement. I would still put it on my resume as Passed VCP Exam and if they ask why are you not certified I'll explain the whole class requirement, I doubt any employeer would hold it against you--and maybe you'd get lucky and get sent to the class...

Just my two cents...
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They would if they need your cert for partnership requirements. The companies that wanted to pay me good money for certs always fell in this category. Though they may decide to just send you to the class if they like you enough.
 
Just passed it, feels good. I only went through the 1st quarter of the cram and other than that took it cold. Was nervous right up until I passed.

Good to have that done with for another 1.5 years.
 
I'll probably be writing this in the next month. Just took the course so I'm going to set up a quick home lab and then write as soon as possible.
 
I took the class last month. I re-scheduled the exam twice now (cause of work). Going to take it this Monday.

quick question for those who have taken the VCP4 exam. Are there a tone of questions about configuration? like how many CPUs does Vm support, How many LUNS on first scan, How many ports in a Vswitch, what is port 902 used for etc etc.

I have been using vmware for a few months now and I am comfortable with it but it seems all the sample test question focus more around memorizing the above questions.

There are also a tone of questions that are related to the VSP, VTSP (sales training) like what the different products add-ons do etc...

What do you guys think? Should I focus a lot of energy on memorizing those questions?
 
There are a couple questions like that, but it pulls from a large pools so you never know what you are going to get.

As much as it's against the spirit, I recommend everyone get their hand's on a TestKing study guide. It's about 400 questions and they are all word for word off the test, I used it for 310 and 410.

Obviously if you are not familiar with VMware you should do a lot of reading and hands on if possible as well, just so you aren't the stereotypical paper admin in the real world.
 
Took it yesterday. It's really the VCP3 test with a few questions on VI4 items...which I guess makes sense. Still the same fundamentals. Glad to have that done.... Starting on Cisco UCS training/exams soon.
 
congrats to all that have passed it. i just updated other stuff in our partner profile today, and will be taking vcp4 before the end of the year.
 
Wanted to say thanks to everyone on these forums. I love this community.

Just to help out anyone else interested here is some quick back ground.

I have been using Vsphere 4 in Test/dev env for over 6 months now. took the class a month or so ago. Basically studied the blue prints and the materials in the vmware books provided during class. Did the online practice test on vmware site many times (that test is pretty indicative of what you can expect on the exam, just more questions is all).

I scored 381/500. I was done in an hours (the test is 90 mins long).

Good luck to you all.
 
I contected them because I passed it in OCT and still haven't received any confirmation or my cert. This is pretty lame. How long does it take to print some certs up.

Hello Matt,

Your VCP status has been confirmed. We are working on the NEW welcome kits which will include the workstation 7 licenses. We will be sending it to the address below as soon as we can. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Kind Regards~
The VMware Technical Certification Team
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oakfan52 said:
I contected them because I passed it in OCT and still haven't received any confirmation or my cert. This is pretty lame. How long does it take to print some certs up.
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4-6 weeks is the official line. I've been following this a bit on the vmware forums. Heard rumors of a new logo and other things holding the process up. It's really more a kit than a paper cert, but yeah. It's still frustrating.
 
I guess I will have to wait a while since I just passed mine two days ago.

Any one know whats included in the kit? Any cool stuff???
 
Free copy of Workstation 7 is the big one. Looking forward to that myself.

Other stuff is the cert itself and logos, not sure what else. Can't remember anything else from 3.5.
 
FYI, I just read they extended the upgrade from VCP310 until 3/31/10.

Wish I had known this, would have waited to get it at my new job so I could get a cert bonus for it :). At the time I took it my employer told me they didn't even want me to. Since they weren't going to reward me for it and it would only be good for me elsewhere.

Yeah, wonder why I moved on...

Edit: Ignore this post, got my info wrong.
 
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Taco said:
Free copy of Workstation 7 is the big one. Looking forward to that myself.
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Taco said:
FYI, I just read they extended the upgrade from VCP310 until 3/31/10.
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You sure about this? I've seen nothing about this anywhere, and I also wasn't asked which version (Windows or Linux) that I wanted like I was when I took the VI3 test. Also, VMware's site indicates they are extending availability for the VI3 test, but that the vSphere4 upgrade offer is still only good through this year.


http://mylearn.vmware.com/portals/certification/?ui=www said:
VCP310 Exam Availability Extended!
The available of the VCP310 exam has been extended to March 31st, 2010. Please beware the upgrade requirements to become a VCP4 have NOT changed. Please see the requirements below for more information on becoming a VCP4.
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http://mylearn.vmware.com/portals/certification/?ui=www said:
2.If you are currently a VCP3
&#9702;Take and pass the VCP4 exam. This option will only be available until December 31, 2009. The What's New class is strongly recommended. Beginning in 2010, VCP3s must attend the VMware vSphere 4: What’s New class in order to upgrade.
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Oh, and a good reminder for people...
http://mylearn.vmware.com/portals/certification/?ui=www said:
Last Chance to enroll in the 2nd Shot Program: December 18th
For those interested in the 2nd Shot program, the latest you can enroll will be December 18th 5pm Pacific Standard Time.
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Now if only VMware could get the Welcome Kits out in a timely manner.
 
Oops, yeah. Either I misread a post on another board or they misinterpreted it. Apologies for the FUD..

I am sure about the Workstation license. If you send them an email asking for the status of your kit they say they are waiting on the Workstation licenses.

We are just waiting on the workstation licenses for 7 include in the kits. We will mail them as soon as we can.
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I don't know how they are handling the OS version. Can you download Workstation like you can ESX? Then you'd likely be able to download whatever version is applicable to you.
 
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