What is a good study guide for VCAP5-DCA

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KapsZ28

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I got my VCP5-DCV earlier this year and would like to get the VCAP5-DCA in early 2015. I am looking for a good study guide. Preferably something lab based. But instead of just using VMware's HOL, I would prefer to build everything out in my own lab.

I was looking at the exam blueprint and it doesn't seem too bad. Was thinking of just going through each item and making sure I understand it and configure it in a lab. But if there was a study guide out there that also walks you through the labs, that would be helpful.
 
Use Autolab, install the VMA and go to town? I started my VCAP5 studies this way but stopped due to getting sucked into other items in life.
 
Just scheduled mine for end of Febuary. Got a Pluralsight membership and the unofficial guide from Jason Langer and Josh Coen. Built out home lab with nested ESXi on VMware Workstation and Synology NAS. Would highly suggest putting together a good kickstart script so you can deploy and config quickly. Use VirtuallyGhetto.com and other resources for that.

The other info in the link above looks really good too.
 
I was handed a free test pass if I scheduled the test the following day. I spent six hours googling and took the exam at 8am and passed. I must say that is not the best way to take the test unless your job is living inside all that is VMware all day. Many things keep test takers from talking about the test but, here are few suggestions that I am sure everyone will say.

Knowing the info is important but the most important thing (for me) was taking the first five minutes to launch all of the GUIs, web clients, Powershell/PowerCLI windows and advancing the test to the last question and back to the first. I found a few websites that said to do this and it paid off for me.

My test had so much latency, without prepping multi GUI consoles, you will waste an hour sitting in your chair waiting for GUIs to refresh. If you are really good with CLI, you will save tons of time but I would not suggest learning and doing it all via CLI.

Keep in mind that it is okay to skip questions to knock out easy ones. This is why I suggest advancing the exam to the end and back. Some questions to build upon each other but some are just quick "do this" items.

Good Luck!
@vmnick0
 
REDYOUCH said:
Just scheduled mine for end of Febuary. Got a Pluralsight membership and the unofficial guide from Jason Langer and Josh Coen. Built out home lab with nested ESXi on VMware Workstation and Synology NAS. Would highly suggest putting together a good kickstart script so you can deploy and config quickly. Use VirtuallyGhetto.com and other resources for that.

The other info in the link above looks really good too.
Click to expand...

Yep. My PS course will get you through the DCA, especially with Jason and Josh's guide. If you do the 5.5 DCA you'll need to study a few other things, and drop a few things from my course and their guide but it's not far off.
 
Should one go for the 5.1 vcap dca or ramp up and do the 5.5? Thoughts?
I've been listening to the pluralsight lessons from Josh...no home lab yet. Should be getting two hosts from work.
 
5.5...the new test environment is more forgiving than the 5.1 and I don't think the 5.1 test will be around too much longer.
 
crnhusker said:
Should one go for the 5.1 vcap dca or ramp up and do the 5.5? Thoughts?
I've been listening to the pluralsight lessons from Josh...no home lab yet. Should be getting two hosts from work.
Click to expand...

That guy's name is Jason, not Josh. :p And he's awesome.
 
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