Training

With the release of vSphere version 5.0, VMware will also offer two new training courses. These new training courses are still in beta and will be released when vSphere 5.0 becomes general available. The two day “VMware vSphere: What's New [V5.0]” is aimed at current vSphere 4 administrators and the VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V5.0] is the full five day course. VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 5 VCP5 certification is available at the end of August, more information can be found at vue.com (VCP510). There are different paths to VCP5 certification based on your background. Choose your path and complete the three core validation components:

1.Attend a qualifying VMware authorized course.Already a VCP4? There is no course requirement until February 29, 2012.

2.Gain hands-on experience with VMware vSphere 5.

3.Pass the VCP5 Exam.

VCP5 Exam Blueprint

At the 25th and 26th of August I'll deliver the vSphere 5 What's New training GK Nieuwegein - http://www.globalknowledge.nl/cursussen/vmware/virtualisation/vmwn.html

Ik geef een Nederlandstalige vSphere 5 ICM training bij Global Knowledge in Nieuwegein van 19 sep t/m 23 sep http://bit.ly/qZHkku

VMware vSphere: What's New [V5.0]

This hands-on training course explores new features in VMware vCenter™ Server 5.0 and VMware® ESXi™ 5.0. Topics include VMware vSphere® 5 installation and how to upgrade from vSphere 4.x to vSphere 5.0. vSphere 5.0 is the first version of vSphere to include only the ESXi hypervisor.

Objectives

• List and describe key enhancements in vSphere 5.0
• Upgrade a deployment from vSphere 4.x to vSphere 5.0
• Use Image Builder to modify and export an image profile as part of Auto Deploy
• Use Auto Deploy to Install a stateless ESXi host
• Manage a version 8 virtual machine with the next-generation Web-based VMware vSphere Client
• List and describe key networking enhancements, including the ESXi firewall and new features in vNetwork distributed switches
• Upgrade and manage a VMware vSphere VMFS5 datastore
• Understand and configure policy-driven storage management
• Create a datastore cluster and configure Storage DRS
• Configure a VMware High Availability cluster based on the new Fault Domain Manager agents
• Use the Linux-based VMware vCenter Server Appliance
  

VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V5.0]

This hands-on training course explores installation, configuration, and management of VMware vSphere®, which consists of VMware ESXi™ and VMware vCenter™ Server. The course is based on ESXi 5.0 and vCenter Server 5.0. Completion of this course satisfies the prerequisite for taking the VMware® Certified Professional 5 exam.

Objectives

• Install and configure ESXi
• Install and configure vCenter Server components
• Configure and manage ESXi networking and storage using vCenter Server
• Deploy, manage, and migrate virtual machines
• Manage user access to the VMware infrastructure
• Use vCenter Server to monitor resource usage
• Use vCenter Server to increase scalability
• Use VMware vCenter Update Manager to apply ESXi patches
• Use vCenter Server to manage higher availability and data protection

What’s New in VMware vSphere 5?

The second tier of the latest VMware Desktop certification program, VMware Certified Professional 4 – Desktop (VCP4-DT), is now available.

VMware Certified Professional 4 – Desktop (VCP4-DT) is directed toward Virtualization Systems Engineers who seek to demonstrate their ability to install and configure the VMware View environment and enable View Client users. Candidates must also be able to configure the vSphere environment, possess a deep understanding of VMware core components and their relation to storage and networking and be proficient in datacenter design methodologies.

VMware Desktop Certification Overview

VMware Certified Associate 4 – Desktop (VCA4-DT) is the first step toward gaining expertise in desktop virtualization and earning the respect and recognition that comes with being VMware Certified. There are no course requirements in order to take the exam. Learn more and register today.

VMware Certified Professional 4 – Desktop (VCP4-DT): After earning your VCA-DT and VMware Certified Professional on vSphere 4, you are ready to take the VCP4-DT exam. If you meet the pre-requirements, register for the VCP4-DT exam before September 1, 2011 and take advantage of the $50 discount. Learn more and register today!

Coming Soon: VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Desktop (VCAP-DT): is directed toward Virtualization Architects who seek to demonstrate their deep knowledge of VMware vSphere and VMware View design. Candidates will be able to expertly manage all aspects of the vSphere and View environments from installation and configuration to maintenance and troubleshooting. Candidates will also possess a deep knowledge of virtualization architectures and components and be able to architect VMware desktop solutions to meet specific customer business requirements.

http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=21427&ui=www_cert

This self-paced training course covers the requirements and effects of transitioning your VMware vSphere™ environment to VMware® ESXi. It provides the knowledge necessary to make fundamental design decisions and successfully add ESXi to a deployed vSphere environment. This course is based on ESXi 4.1.

Special Note: For those who prefer to learn this content in a classroom environment, whether virtual or face-to-face, there are several two-day classes scheduled worldwide.  For a fee, you will receive the added value of hands-on lab exercises as well as interaction with fellow students and an instructor.

Module 1: Transition to ESXi Overview
Module 2: Compare and Contrast VMware ESXi and VMware ESX
Module 3: Install and Configure VMware ESXi
Module 4: Script Interfaces and Command Line Tools
Module 5: Performing Management Tasks

Become a true ESXi expert with the new FREE VMware eLearning course and ebook offer!

At the end of the course, you should be able to:

•  Identify ESXi installation and configuration procedures
•  Leverage scripting interfaces to manage ESXi
•  Identify risks when migrating to ESXi
 
Who Should Attend? System administrators, systems engineers, technical support engineers, and consultants responsible for managing and supporting a vSphere installation.

VMware is offering a free second chance if you fail for your first attempt and believe me the exam isn’t easy. I’ve seen a lot of VCP candidates fail at their first attempt. To be eligible for a free second chance, you must use a special promotion code when booking the first one. For a limited time, VMware is giving you a free second chance at the VCP4 exam when you register for a full-priced exam by following the steps below.

• Register to take the VCP4 exam at a Pearson VUE test center for the full price (no discounts apply) using the promotion code: VCPTAKE1.
• If you fail your first exam, simply schedule your “second chance” exam with the promotion code “VCPTAKE2” and it’s free! Please note that this discount will only be valid on retakes of exams that were initially scheduled using the “VCPTAKE1” promotion code and must be taken before July 31, 2011.

Next month, VMware will release three new training courses.

VMware vSphere: Automation FastTrack

This fast-paced, extended-hour training course includes the content of the VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage and VMware vSphere: Automation with vSphere PowerCLI courses. This hands-on course explores installation, configuration, and management of VMware vSphere™ using the VMware vSphere Client and VMware vSphere PowerCLI. vSphere PowerCLI automation can reduce your IT costs while improving efficiency, availability, flexibility, and manageability. The course is based on VMware ESX™/ESXi 4.1 and VMware vCenter™ Server 4.1 and includes a prepaid voucher for the VMware Certified Professional 4 examination.

VMware vSphere: Advanced FastTrack

This fast-paced, extended-hour, lab-intensive course includes the content of the VMware vSphere: Manage for Performance and VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting courses. This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to make fundamental design decisions that enhance performance and meet performance goals in a deployed VMware vSphere™ installation. This course also provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve competence in troubleshooting the vSphere virtual infrastructure. This course includes a prepaid voucher for the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 4 – Datacenter Administrator examination.

VMware View: Desktop FastTrack

This fast-paced, extended-hour training course includes the content of the following courses: VMware View: Install, Configure, Manage Application Virtualization with VMware ThinApp VMware View: Design Best Practices This hands-on training course builds your skills in the VMware View™ suite of products: VMware View Manager, VMware View Composer, and VMware® ThinApp™. It will provide applicationsoriented administrators with the knowledge and skills to virtualize Windows applications with ThinApp and to choose the best deployment and updating processes for their environment. The course will also present a methodology for analyzing and designing a View solution for the VMware vSphere™ infrastructure. The course is based on View 4.5 and ThinApp 4.5 and 4.6. It includes a prepaid voucher for the VMware Certified Associate 4 Desktop examination.

http://www.vmware.com/education

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Design (DRBC Design) is a self-paced course that provides students with a 4-hour introduction to disaster recovery and business continuity concepts and enables them to map some of these concepts to specific VMware product features.

The course consists of four modules:

1.  An Introduction to Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity. 
2.  Using Decision Trees to Design Disaster Recovery Plans.
3.  Using Decision Trees to Design Business Continuity Plans.
4.  Mapping VMware Product Features to DRP and BCP Requirements. 
 
Objectives 

•  Describe the differences between disaster recovery and business continuity.
•  Describe decision trees involved in disaster-recovery design with vSphere/vCenter and SRM, and the pros and cons of each path in the tree. 
•  Map SRM features to DR concepts. 
•  Describe vSphere best practices that facilitate successful DR implementations.
•  Describe the role of VMware clustering and backup/restore technologies in disaster recovery. 
•  Plan for performance monitoring in the event of a failover. 
•  Describe the business planning and process planning required to implement a disaster recovery and business continuity design for a VMware vSphere deployment.

This course is recommended by VMware when you’re preparing  for the VMware Certified Advanced Professional on vSphere 4 - Datacenter Design which is open for registration.

Overview: This course covers the features and functionality of the VMware vCloud Director product and what benefits the product offers in cloud.  

Objectives: After completing this course, students should:

•  Know the prerequisites for a VCD 1.0 installation (hardware and co-requisite software)
•  Be able to perform initial setup of VCD in a Red Hat Linux virtual machine
•  Know how to install and configure vShield Manager
•  Understand critical VCD concepts: cell, organization, virtual datacenter, provider networks, organization networks, vApps, vApp networks, catalog
•  Understand the services that vShield Edge provides to VCD
•  Create an external network
•  Create a network pool of virtual-machine networks
•  Create an organization and allocate resources and networks to it
•  Build a vApp within the organization
•  Integrate the vApp into the catalog
•  Understand the relationship of VCD to Chargeback Manager 1.5

Continue reading "New Training Course: VMware vCloud Director..." »

This five-day course will be released at the end of October and provides students with the knowledge and skills to utilize Windows PowerShell for administering and automating administration of Windows based servers.
The course is intended for IT Professionals already experienced in general Windows Server and Windows Client administration, including Active Directory administration. No prior experience with any version of Windows PowerShell, or any scripting language, is assumed. After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Explain how Windows PowerShell works.
• Use Windows PowerShell as an interactive, command-line shell.
• Use Core Windows PowerShell cmdlets for everyday purpose.
• Customize the output using Windows PowerShell Formatting Subsystem.
• Explain what Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is and how it can be used from Windows PowerShell.
• Manage Active Directory objects using Windows PowerShell cmdlets.
• Write basic Windows PowerShell scripts that execute batches of commands.
• Work with Windows PowerShell’s background jobs and remote administration functionality.
• Master the scripting language of Windows PowerShell.
• Use advanced techniques related to structured programming within Windows PowerShell.
• Automate Windows Server 2008 R2 Administration using Windows PowerShell.
• Identify the best practices for working with Windows PowerShell.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Course.aspx?ID=10325A&Locale=en-us#tab1

I’m sure you’re curious about how Duncan Epping’s brother cousin looks. Well here he is Raymon Epping; Senior Consultant at VMware. I had the chance to do a short interview with Raymon during the last day of the VMware vSphere Troubleshooting training.

Fellow VMware Certified Instructor Paul McSharry over at Elastic Sky has released a new series of VCP practice questions based on vSphere 4.1. To be honest I just did the test and although my performance has been rated as 'Good', I only scored 18 out of 25. Let’s see if you can do better.

Here you will find a growing number of practice exam tests. I have based these questions from the official documentation and my own practical experience. They are completely braindump free, please do you not use braindump materials, instead have fun learning to use an excellent technology!

http://www.elasticsky.co.uk/practice-questions/

This hands-on training course builds your skills in the VMware View™ suite of products: VMware View Manager, VMware View Composer, and VMware® ThinApp™. This course is based on the VMware View 4.5 release. 

Objectives   

•  Install and configure View components
•  Create and manage dedicated and floating desktop pools
•  Deploy and manage linked clone virtual desktops
•  Configure and manage desktops that run in local mode
•  Configure secure access to desktops through a public network
•  Use ThinApp to package applications


Course Datasheet
Continue reading "New Training in Beta: VMware View 4.5 -..." »

This course enables storage administrators to better plan and manage their storage systems to support a VMware vSphere™ environment. The course uses lecture, hands-on labs, and case studies to demonstrate vSphere interaction and operation with storage rather than to teach vSphere administration skills.

Objectives   

•  Explain basic concepts related to virtual computing, including vSphere server and storage virtualization
•  Be cooperative partners with vSphere administrators to design, configure, manage, and troubleshoot storage in a vSphere environment
•  Identify and employ tools and utilities that can be used to inspect and modify storage configuration, from a virtual machine disk to a specific datastore 
 
Course Datasheet

Continue reading "New Training in Beta: VMware vSphere - Skills..." »

I’m very happy with being awarded as the Independent VCI of Q2 2010.

Kevin Johnson – VMware’s Northern Region Education Manager:

Eric has been very busy over the last 3 months and has delivered 14 classes over a wide range of subjects; two of these classes were LoL. Eric’s score were also consistently high. Eric is also very active in the VCI community.

Raymond Boelhouwer - Business Development Manager over at Global Knowledge:

Although Eric is a freelance instructor he has taught many advanced and new VMware courses for Global Knowledge in the last quarter. All his deliveries are granted high scores by the attendees even for first deliveries which are not easy to do. For an organization as Global Knowledge it is easy to work with Eric and you can trust a job well done.

Andy Cary - Senior Technical Trainer EMEA over at VMware

Congratulations on winning this award you had some tough competition! You also will receive a free pass to VCI day at VMworld.

This 3 day course explores a design methodology, criteria, and approach for designing a VMware vSphere 4 virtual datacenter architecture consisting of VMware ESX/ESXi 4 and VMware vCenter Server 4. This course, by discussing the benefits and risks of available design alternatives, provides information that supports making sound design decisions. This course also provides an opportunity to practice your design skills by working with peers on a design project.

Duncan Epping, a Consulting Architect working for the VMware vCloud Services team, was involved in the development of this new training. He says: I was fortunate enough to be part of the development team for the Design Workshop. Notice the "Workshop" part as this course is different then any other VMware course you have done so far. Indeed it is a real workshop and it is all about discussing design considerations with your peers and crafting a design based on specific requirements and constraints. Although it is not an official pre-requisite I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to become a VCDX. I hope you will enjoy this workshop as much as we did creating it.

Duncan’s article regarding VMware's new approach for developing training courses will be available soon at yellow-bricks.com.

You can join me and reserve your seat at the following dates:

15 december Zwolle

Vyatta has released a new training course to help customers who are evaluating Vyatta for routing and security in VMware and XenServer. This course will show you common use cases as well as installation, verification and basic configuration of Vyatta OVF and XVA virtual appliances for adding routing & security to VMware ESX and XenServer environments.

Free - Watch this video now at: http://www.vyatta.com/promo/virtualfirewallcourse.php


This free training course is just one of over 20 courses in the Vyatta University curriculum. For a full course catalog visit: http://www.vyatta.com/services/training.php

This hands-on training course explores installation, configuration, and management of VMware vSphere 4,1, which consists of VMware ESX™/ESXi and VMware vCenter™ Server. The course is based on ESX/ESXi 4.1 and vCenter Server 4.1. Upon completion of this course, you can take the examination to qualify as a VMware Certified Professional (VCP4).

Students who complete this course may enroll in any of several advanced vSphere courses.

The old 4-day course will change in duration to a 5-day class for all sessions after August 23rd. For differences please look at the course datasheet.

Scott Vessey has discovered some differences between the old and the new course. The new content in the 5-day ICM will be:

• vCenter Linked Mode
• Host Profiles
• Distributed Power Management
• Deeper content on High Availability
• Fault Tolerance