Tuesday 22 December 2009

VCP4 2nd-shot free re-take promo extended too!

To co-incide with extending the VCP3 to VCP4 "upgrade" until the end of January 2010, VMware have also extended the 2nd-shot promotion for VCP4 until the same date. The promotion was originally launched at the start of October, and was supposed to run until the end of 2009 - I announced the promotion here.


Here's the all important dates:
January 15th 2010 = last day to register for the 2nd-shot voucher (before 5pm PST)
January 22nd 2010 = last day for 1st attempt at VCP4 exam if the free re-take is required
January 31st 2010 = last day for 2nd attempt at VCP4 exam using free re-take


Remember, if you need some help with the VCP4 exam, I run a VCP4 exam prep workshop which will maximize your chances of passing, 1st time or 2nd time! Global Knowledge UK are scheduling another workshop in London mid-January, email me for more information.

VCP3 to VCP4 "upgrade" deadline extended!

VMware have extended the deadline for VCP3 holders to qualify for VCP4 certification without having to attend an official vSphere training course, you now have until January 31st 2010.

This move has been taken as many are finding it difficult to find a seat at a Pearson Vue testing centre before the previous deadline, December 31st 2009. In other words, in a similar fashion to Christmas shopping, too many people have left it until the last minute. VMware announced the VCP3 to VCP4 path back in the summer, and the exam has been available since the end of August.

Four of the Global Knowledge UK training centres are also Pearson Vue testing centres, and I know at the minute there are a huge number of people doing their VCP3 and VCP4 exams at our centres.

I've just finished delivering another VCP4 exam prep workshop, and we are now looking at scheduling another in London in January 2010, send me an email if you would be interested in attending our intensive 1-day prep session.

Tuesday 15 December 2009

VMware vSphere clips for Global Knowledge UK's "YouTube Tuesday"

The initial set of 4 videos that I recorded for Global Knowledge UK's "YouTube Tuesday" campaign have all now been published, here's the links if you wish to view them:

New VCP4 information
vSphere storage features
vSphere high availability features
vSphere GUI improvements

I'm going to record more videos in early 2010, if there's anything in particular you want to know about leave a comment or send me an email.

Friday 11 December 2009

New vSphere Troubleshooting course qualifies for VCP4 certification

VMware have announced that the new vSphere: Troubleshooting course also now meets the vSphere training requirement for the VCP4 certification.

That now means you have three training course that meet the requirement for VCP4:
vSphere: Install Configure Manage
vSphere: Fast Track
vSphere: Troubleshooting

Although all three of the courses qualify, be aware that the Troubleshooting course assumes that you already have at least the equivalent knowledge of the other two courses (and indeed the VCP4 itself).

The best of the three courses to attend in terms of which one is most closely aligned with the exam topics is currently the Fast Track. Global Knowledge UK already run the Install Configure Manage and Fast Track courses, and will start running the new Troubleshooting course from January 2010.

Thursday 10 December 2009

Free VCP4 re-take promotion ends soon!

If you want to take the VCP4 exam before the end of 2009, and you want a free re-take (just in case you need it!) then VMware have announced that the last day for applying for the re-take voucher is December 18th.

Register for the voucher by following this link.

Remember that if you need to make use of the free re-take then you must have your first attempt at the VCP4 exam by December 22nd, as you must have your second attempt no later than December 31st - so you'd better be quick!

VCP3 retirement date is now March 31st 2010

In a surprise move, VMware have extended the availability of the VCP on VI3 (VCP3) exam until March 31st 2010. The qualification requirements for the certification remain the same, so you'll still have to already be a VCP2 or have trained on one of the three qualifying VI3 courses, but the exam will not now disappear from the Pearson Vue schedule on December 31st 2009 as was previously announced. VI3 courses are disappearing from training company schedules fast, so if you want the VCP3 you'd better act quickly - but at least you now have an extra 3 months to take the exam.....

The Certification page on vmware.com has the news.

Be warned though, if you are using the VCP3 to get to the VCP4 without attending an official vSphere training course - that deadline of December 31st has NOT changed.

Monday 7 December 2009

VCP4 Exam Prep Workshop

I have developed a unique 1-day VCP4 Exam Preparation Workshop for Global Knowledge UK, designed to give away as many secrets as possible about the VCP4 exam without upsetting the VMware NDA police.

As you will probably know if you've read other posts here or seen me post information online on other sites, I have some excellent connections within the Certification team at VMware, which allows me to have great insight into how the VCP4 exam items are designed and what sort of techniques are best for getting a great score!

I'm in the privileged position of having worked intimately with ESX/vCenter for over 4 years now, and hold all 3 of the VCP certifications possible. I appreciate that most people who attempt the VCP4 exam are not instructors like me, they're generally people who don't get prep time or study time for an exam like I get, people who work with vSphere but aren't expected to recite facts and figures about it like I am.

We start the day by reviewing the exam format and giving lots of study and exam tips, then we go through the all-important exam blueprint, section by section, and ask you over 100 practice questions that I've written myself - and I've tried really hard to pull all the same tricks as the real exam questions will! Each question comes with an explanation of the question and answer(s), and items can be discussed with the instructor and other attendees.

I recommend attending the workshop a few days or so before attempting the real exam, to highlight areas that need improvement, enhance your exam-taking technique, or to provide additional focus as the "big day" gets close.

Feel free to drop me an email if you want to know more....

UPDATE: 20th January 2011
Global Knowledge are now also offering the workshop in a live-online style, and at a time of the day that might be more suitable for you - click here for more.

Wednesday 2 December 2009

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Tuesday 1 December 2009

New Course: vSphere VCP4 Exam Preparation Workshop

VMware are going to be releasing their own VCP4 prep workshop, but rather than wait for theirs I've written my own for Global Knowledge. It contains an essential set of exam tips, a full review of the exam blueprint, and masses of practice questions written by myself.


When I sat down to write the practice questions, I deliberately wanted to use all the same techniques as in the real exam, and try and pull all the same stunts and tricks that the real exam will. I'm very proud of the quality of the questions, they really do push you hard, and get you into the right mindset.


By the end of the Workshop, you will have learned the right technique for you to do yourself justice when you take the real exam, and have a much better chance of getting a great score!


Here's the link to the Workshop outline.


If you want to know more, please feel free to drop me an email.