Eric Sloof

The VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) on VMware Infrastructure 3 is an advanced certification developed for design architects of VMware enterprise deployments. There are four core validation components to achieve VCDX.

(1) Must be certified as a VMware Certified Professional (VCP) on VMware Infrastructure 3.

(2) Pass the VMware Enterprise Administration Exam. Includes live labs and tests a higher level of skill set than the exam for VCP on VMware Infrastructure 3.

(3) Pass the VMware Design Exam. This exam focuses on actual design scenarios and contains simulations and situational questions.

(4) Submit, present and defend a successful VMware Infrastructure design and implementation plan.

The Enterprise Exam is available this month. See the blueprint here.

At VMware Partner Exchange 2008, VMware, today announced new and enhanced strategic enhancements to its world-class, award-winning channel partner programs. The enhancements build on initiatives announced in February 2008 to enhance the VMware VIP Partner Program, helping VMware's more than 13,000 partners around the world that resell VMware virtualization solutions by accelerating partners' expertise, profitability and opportunity in VMware virtualization.

VMware Converter 3.0.3 is a maintenance release of VMware Converter. It has the following enhancements:

• Contains bug fixes described in Resolved Issues and known issues described in Known Issues.
• Can convert individual volumes on a single physical disk from the source physical machine to separate and independent virtual disks across different datastores.
• Can import as well as create Virtual Appliances in Open Virtual Machine Format (OVF) version 0.9.
• Can remove all System Restore checkpoints in the target virtual machine when doing volume-based cloning.
• Provides full support for Microsoft Vista 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.
  
  

As of the release date for VMware ESX 3.5 Update 1, Microsoft Clustering Service (MSCS) is supported with VMware ESX 3.5 and VMware ESXi 3.5. The Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) has been updated to state: MSCS is supported with VMware ESX 3.5 with both 32-bit and 64-bit VMs running Windows 2003. Please check the Hardware Compatibility List for updates weekly for Storage Arrays certified for MSCS.

At the 5th of June the Dutch VMUG and NetApp will deliver a (Dutch) event. You can sign in at the Dutch VMUG website and attend this sponsored NetApp event. It  provides an opportunity for Dutch VMUG members  to connect with other industry peers to learn about the latest developments and best practices in the data protection within an ESX environment and best practices in the Storage Industry. Here’s the agenda.

- 16:00-16:30 Welkom/Ontvangst
- 16:30-16:40 Ontvangst namens VMUG (Viktorious)
- 16:40-18:00 Technische presentatie NetApp incl. Demo (Tim Waldron)
- 18:00-18:30 Pauze incl. pizza en versnaperingen :)
- 18:30-19:00 Vervolg presentatie / Q&A (Tim Waldron)

Partner Exchange is right around the corner and this year in its expanded format to 2 ½ days there is a lot to experience. Experience first hand everything from 18 Sales tracks, 30 Technical Labs, New SolutionTrack Express and meet one on one with the Experts at the new Experts Bar. Attend this VMlive to see what you will be missing if you miss this year’s VMWare Partner Exchange!