MODULE 1

Course Introduction
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Course Introduction

VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

Importance
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VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

Learner Objectives
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Course Introduction

Module 1 Course Introduction

You Are Here

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VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

Typographical Conventions
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Course Introduction

Module 1 Course Introduction

References
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Making full use of VMware technical resources will save you time and money. Look first at the
extensive VMware Web-based resources. The VMware Communities Web page provides tools and
knowledge to help users maximize their investment in VMware products. VMware Communities
provides information about virtualization technology in technical papers, documentation, a
knowledge base, discussion forums, user groups, and technical newsletters.
The VMware Support page provides a central point from which you can view support offerings,
create a support request, and download products, updates, drivers and tools, and patches.
You can view the course catalog as well as the latest schedule of courses offered worldwide on the
VMware Education page. This page also provides access information about the latest advanced
courses offered worldwide.
For quick access to communities, documentation, downloads, support information, and more, install
the VMware Support Toolbar, a free download.
VMware vSphere documentation is available on the VMware Web site. From this page, you have
access to all the vSphere guides, which also include guides for optional modules or products.

VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

#About vSphere
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Course Introduction

vSphere is an infrastructure virtualization suite that provides virtualization, management, resource

optimization, application availability, and operational automation capabilities in an integrated
package.
vSphere virtualizes and aggregates the underlying physical hardware resources across multiple
systems and provides pools of virtual resources to the data center.
In addition, vSphere provides a set of distributed services that enable detailed, policy-driven
resource allocation, high availability, and scalability of the entire virtual data center.
NOTE

This course focuses on VMware vSphere Enterprise Edition. The features available in VMware
vSphere Enterprise Plus Edition are discussed in the VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale
course available at http://mylearn.vmware.com/portals/www/search/findcourse.cfm?ui=www. (To
see other vSphere course offerings, go to this URL.)

Module 1 Course Introduction

vSphere Editions
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This course covers the features included in vSphere Enterprise Edition, which includes the features
from VMware vSphere Standard Edition. For education on features included in vSphere
Enterprise Plus Edition, take the VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale course.
Features available at the different licensing levels change over time as new features are added and
updated in the product.

VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

#vSphere ICM and VMware Certification

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Course Introduction

The VMware Certified Associate 5 Data Center Virtualization (VCA5-DCV) certification

measures knowledge necessary to be conversant in data center concepts. The information measured
by this certification is requisite knowledge for this course.
The VMware Certified Professional 5 Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV) certification is
designed to reflect what you must know in order to install, manage, and deploy vSphere
environments.
Becoming a VCP5-DCV is a straightforward, three-step process:
1. Attend a qualifying VMware authorized course to gain hands-on experience. This course

satisfies this requirement.

2. Gain hands-on experience with vSphere 5.x. People who do not have hands-on experience find

it difficult to pass the exam.

3. Pass the VCP5-DCV Exam. To register to take this exam, visit the exam blueprint page. To

schedule the exam, contact Pearson VUE, a third-party testing center, at http://
www.pearsonvue.com/vmware.
This course gives you critical information that you need for the exam, but it does not give you
everything. VMware recommends that you take the vSphere Optimize and Scale course in addition
to this course.
Module 1 Course Introduction

To best prepare for this exam, use the VCP5 Exam Blueprint as a study guide. The blueprint
includes the list of topics in the exam and references for these topics. Hands-on experience is a key
component to passing the exam. To obtain the latest exam blueprint, go to the VMware
Communities documents Web page at http://communities.vmware.com/docs. Search the site for
VCP 5 Exam Blueprint.
NOTE

You can search for the certification blueprints using this method.
After you achieve VCP-DCV status, you are eligible to pursue the next level of certification:
VMware Certified Advanced Professional Data Center Virtualization (VCAP-DCV). This
program is available in Data Center Administration (DCA) or Data Center Design (DCD), or both.
This program is appropriate for VCPs who are ready to enhance their skills with the virtual
infrastructure and add industry-recognized credentials to their list of accomplishments.
VCAP-DCA is for system administrators, consultants, and technical support engineers who can
demonstrate their skills in vSphere and VMware vCenter data center technologies. These
participants should also be able to demonstrate their knowledge of application and physicalinfrastructure services and their integration with the virtual infrastructure.
VCAP-DCD is directed toward IT architects and consulting architects who are capable of designing
VMware solutions in a large, multisite enterprise environment. They have a deep understanding both
of VMware core components and their relation to storage and networking, and of data center design
methodologies. They also know applications and physical infrastructure, as well as their relationship
to the virtual infrastructure.
After you achieve VCAP-DCA and VCAP-DCD status, you are eligible to pursue the highest level
of certification: VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX-DCV). This elite group includes design
architects who are highly skilled in VMware enterprise deployments. The program is designed for
veteran professionals who want to validate and demonstrate their expertise in VMware virtual
infrastructure.
To check whether a particular certification is available for your vSphere version, go to the
certification Web page at http://mylearn.vmware.com/portals/certification.

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VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage

VMware Learning Path Tool

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Course Introduction

To make the VMware training that you take most valuable, you must decide upon which learning
path to take. Your learning path could be based upon a solution track that you want to pursue, a role
within your organization that you want to take on, a product that you want to master, or a VMware
certification that you want to achieve. Regardless of which path you choose, the VMware Learning
Path Tool can help you to succeed and achieve your goal.

Module 1 Course Introduction

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VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage