Plain Virtualization

For those who missed the first half application or wasn't to the cut and have made improvement as suggested from the comments given, the application for second half is now open! If you do not know what is VMware vExpert, you can check out my post here . You might be already doing it why not apply and get accredited.  So start drafting and save your application and remember to submit them by 24th July US. You should expect the results to be out in Aug time frame. As usual if you need help or advice, feel free to approach any of the vExpert Pro nearest to you. If are not aware of the benefit and experience of vExpert accreditation check out my post here . Good luck to all applicants. Dates for reference Open July 7th Closing July 24th Announcement Happens on August 15th

The vExpert 2022 application going to start on 6th Dec 2021. This is the first round of the application cycle for vExpert 2022. Before you head over to apply, you might want to read my experience when I first applied to have the application complete. If you need some help, reach out to your nearest vExpert Pro . They will be more willing to assist and advise you accordingly. Now let's go into how been a vExpert makes a difference. I have been a vExpert over the last 10 years. It was not easy and doesn't just come by just because I am a VMware employee. So don't get the wrong idea, VMware employee needs to also apply and meet the requirements. There are people who have applied and rejected as they do not meet the requirements. There is no such benefit as a VMware employee. This program treats everyone all equal. I applied for vExpert the year I joined VMware. However, the work I have done was the years before I joined VMware. I started jotting my technical experience as a r...

The Round 2 of vExpert 202 application is now live ! This will run from 1st Jun to 25th 19th Jun. Do not miss this dateline. Start preparing now and submit your application. If you need more help or not sure what information to be included, join us in our VMUG SG session coming 3rd Jun, 1300 Singapore Time here . Here is also a post I did for those who are looking at applying to give you all the information I can think off. So head over to  https://vexpert.vmware.com/  and submit your application. All the best and good luck! 18th Jun 2020 Closing date extended to 25th Jun. 

Yes, you read it correctly. The vExpert program for the year 2020 will be open next Monday, 25th Nov 2019 PST. This has been announced in the vExpert Twitter tweet . To recap for those who are applying. My experience FAQ to be qualified, show your contribution vExpert portal to create an account to apply and benefits list List of vExpert Pro around the world to help you Get ready your engine. Make your Mark! Closing date 10th Jan 2020. Update 26th Nov 2019 SGT The application has gone live.

The application runs during Jun and Dec each year for two applications cycle. In case you are not notified, do sign up to be notified for the application period  here . For the application for vExpert 2019 is now  open ! So if you are a current vExpert, this year you will still need to fill in the normal form. Head over to the application here . For new applicants, you will need to put up your case to be accredited vExpert for 2019. You can read up more of the requirements from my previous  post  on my experience. If you have any questions, feel free to approach any of the vExpert Pro in your country or a place near you for questions. Head over to this site for the people. Things to take note, applications will be accepted until February 8th, 2019 PDT. The vExpert 2019  results announcement will be late Feb to early March. Good Luck!

There are two specialist certifications release by VMware, namely vRealize Operations and vSAN. Recently I took the attempt for vSAN Specialist Exam. Before we go into it, let see what is the requirement to take this exam. You need to have a valid VCP 6.x on any track. No course requirement but the vSAN Deploy and Manage is recommended. There is only a Digital Badge when you passed the exam and there is no certification for this exam.  The exam code is  2VB-601: VMware Specialist: vSAN 6.x Exam. Do check out the exam guide. However, the guide does not indicate the exam time and the number of questions. Total questions were 60 from what I encounter and the time is similar to VCP about 240 mins. Cost for me is SGD363 (this might differ for other countries). You are required to know everyone on vSAN from 6.0 to the latest now 6.6. Everything in these versions will be tested. It will be good to understand the concept and fundamentals of the technology as well all the fea...

Wasn't aware till my colleague mention about it here .  Design VCAP exams for the threes tracks namely: Data Center Virtualization, Cloud Management and Automation, Desktop and Mobility has been release. You can register for the beta exams while seats last.  So if you are keen to do the VCAP6 for any tracks, head over to the page.  At the time of writing, only the Data Center Virtualization and Cloud Management Design is available at USD100.  The date for the exam starts on 15th Feb 2016 onwards. You will of course need to meet the following requirements.  Using Data Center Virtualization VCAP6 as example, you will need:VCP6 or VCAP5 DCD/DCA. Upon passing, you will be granted VCAP6-DCD and if you are holding existing VCAP5-DCA, you will be also given VCIX6-DCV if the new certification roadmap announced earlier still applies. I will head over and register for it and update once again after I taken the exam.  Wish me luck! Update 8th Feb 2016 App...

Recently I tried the online proctored exam to renewed my Microsoft certifications.  Yes they do have expiry (just like VMware) after 3 years. Before I go on, why am I sharing this you may ask?  This exam is offered from Microsoft from Prometric.  I am seeing this possible to be row out perhaps in future for VMware as people are not able to make trips to exam center or there are none at their location.  Since VMware exam is also hosted at Prometric, this could be possible. I made my exam appointment online and schedule it just less than one hour from my exam time.  Yes online exam, can be scheduled as long they are available and not limited to operations hours like test center.  I took my exam at Singapore time 1AM. During the booking process, you will be task to test your machine to see if it can work and run the application which will eventually be installed on your laptop.  Sadly Microsoft do not support Mac and only Windows 7 and above with al...

Updating my first blog post this month by the new of the vExpert 2015 kick off while I am busy with vForum Singapore. There are so many great news today.  First the news on VMware by ZDNet as the most important IT vendor. Back to the main subject.  Hurry yourself now head to the blog post to sign up and be accredited vExpert yourself by proving your contribution to the communities. I have previously shared my experience why I started all this sharing.  Do your part, so this community can be leverage on to help you and me and everyone else. This year will two application date while the latter date is not yet announced, it best not to missed it. Hope to see more vExpert in 2015! Update 28th Feb 2015 The vExpert 2015 round two application is now live!  Head to the form now.

For some of you, you might know I have attempted VCDX defences couple of times and none was a success and after my last attempt recently I have decided to stop doing it.  The reason was not I given up hope, perhaps I have lost more touch toward post sales consulting where I used to do it and feel different from to what I am doing as a Presales.  As all my attempts were submitted with vSphere 4 design which has retired since the last defense, I have no confident in doing a brand new frictional design based on vSphere 5.  Also I can feel the way I perform during defense versus how I face customer were completely difference.  I just cannot bring myself to be the same in a defense environment and felt the different when I did it with real customers perhaps the environment was just different. The purpose of this article would to share all my 3 attempts and the experience I have gained and each time I always feel I could do better and, Yes I can really do better but it'...

The results of the vExpert 2013 accreditation is released!  A list of the people are listed here .  I am glad to be part of this accreditation again for the 2nd time. For those who have achieved vExpert 2013, Tintri is offering a free T-shirt to congrats all of you here . (This has ended.) I have shared my first experience in my previous post , those who are motivated to be one do start doing some contribution to the community.  You can be a technology evangelist or even a blogger or just a forum participants who contribute back to the communities. Sharing is caring and we live by these communities to have our life in any roles in the virtualization space and be awarded with this accreditation. I also like to thank all those who have supported my blog and YouTube channel and hope to continue to produce useful articles to the community. Once again congratulation to all the vExperts! More freebies for vExpert.  For all vExpert please refer to the comm...

Have just finished my Panel defense for VCDX4 in Toronto, Canada.  Just to share the experience on what I have gone through whoever is interested can prepare for next version of VCDX.  Due to the NDA nothing related to the session can be discussed or disclosed. As usual to be applicable for VCDX certification you need to meet some prerequisites.  This is clearly documented in VMware site here .  You would need to be the version VCP for the version of VCDX you are aftering.  Both VCAP certifications for Design and Administrator which I have also shared the experience in my previous posts. I never expected myself to have even gone through VCAP certification followed by VCDX.  On a personal note, I wanted to give myself some challenges while on my career in the virtualization space.  The certification not only just show your understanding in VMware solutions but it also enhance what the components to look out for in terms of virtualizati...

After been designated as a vExpert 2012, a few people came to ask me how to apply and what must be done to be a vExpert. Though I may not know how the assessment is been done but the application did list down a few things which will be used as a consideration. I read up the vExpert 2012 application here .  I will also list down what allows you to be consider a vExpert in order to apply before the page get removed since results of vExpert 2012 has already been released.  The shorter criteria description can be found here . Below are the three ways you can be assessed and the benefits of been designated: Evangelist Path The Evangelist Path includes book authors, bloggers, tool builders, public speakers, and other IT professionals who share their knowledge and passion with others with the leverage of a personal public platform to reach many people. Employees of VMware can now also apply via the Evangelist path. Customer Path The Customer Path is for internal evangelists...

I must stress this blog of mine is on a personal account and has no relationship with any company or affiliation that I am associated with.  Participates of beta includes partners to users. Did my VCAP5 DCD Beta today.  Went at 2:30PM seated throughout for over 4 hours. I would say it almost similar as VCAP4 DCD however more tougher.  More on BCDR and also more design questions. Since the exam is still in beta, there definitely would be improvement before GA that is what the beta is exam is for to gather feedback. 1.  Some of the questions in English used were rather ambiguous.  Some of us did have some problem understanding it and you might just misunderstood it.  That happens in most IT exams I would say even Microsoft ones. 2.  On the drag and drop drawing diagram questions, I encounter one question which I have to do it 4 times.  Reason was because every time I clicked next and after which click back the whole design I did was clear...

Today I make an attempt to retake my VCAP-DCA.  Yes, the first time I failed by 13 marks as I wasn't prepared enough and as this exam state it is related to Data Center Administrator.  Its more to administrator than a implementer exam (I work as a consultant so daily administration is a problem for me). Beside studying the blueprint, practice is very important.  Luckily for me, I have a whitebox setup with ESXi 4.0 and I was able to test out vMA, VDS, etc.  This flashcard is also very useful. Base on my first experience, I realize I am weak in vicfg commands and as well as performance charting and some hardening/security questions. You will be tested base on ESX/ESXi 4.0 and vMA 4.0.  If you realize that vMA 4.0 and vMA 4.1 there are some changes and commands for e.g. vifptarget does not exist in vMA 4.0. Unlike my first attempt, this time it was very smooth for me and I have my questions answered just in time.  Previously I was rushing the last 10 ...