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The VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. “Do I Know This Already?” quizzes open each chapter and enable you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending exam preparation tasks help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly.
• Master VMware VCAP5-DCD exam topics
• Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes
• Review key concepts with exam preparation tasks
• Practice with realistic exam questions on the DVD
The VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide focuses specifically on the objectives for the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5–Data Center Design exam. VMware Certified Instructor (VCI) Paul McSharry shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.
The companion DVD contains a powerful Pearson IT Certification Practice Test engine that enables you to focus on individual topic areas or take a complete, timed exam. The assessment engine also tracks your performance and provides feedback on a module-by-module basis, laying out a complete assessment of your knowledge to help you focus your study where it is needed most.
Well-regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, comprehensive design scenarios, and challenging review questions and exercises, this official study guide helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.
The VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide is part of a recommended learning path from VMware that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized VMware instructors and self-study products from VMware Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered worldwide, please visit www.vmware.com/training.
PAUL MCSHARRY (VCP, VCAP, VCI, MCSE, MCITP, CompTIA CTT+ and Microsoft MCT credentials), has more than 15 years of IT experience and is an independent virtualization consultant and instructor based in the United Kingdom. When not working in the field, he is often found instructing VMware-authorized classes for various VMware authorized training providers. He has been awarded the vExpert designation for his work within the VMware community and blogs at http://www.elasticsky.co.uk.
The official study guide helps you master many of the topics on the VCAP5-DCD exam, including
• Understanding the design process and associated terminology
• Creating the design, information gathering, and logical design presentation
• Making meaningful choices in virtualization design
• Creating logical designs and the process to evolve them into the final physical design
• Comprehending project execution and the order of delivery, task validation, and project documentation
• Preparing for the exam with tips and strategy
• Reviewing the VCAP-DCD experience
Exam Profile: VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5, Datacenter Design (VCAP5-DCD)
Please visit the author's site here.
An associated article written by the author is available here.
The exciting new VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide Premium Edition eBook and Practice Testis a digital-only certification preparation product combining an eBook with enhanced Pearson IT Certification Practice Test.
The Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test contains the following items:
About the Premium Edition Practice Test
This Premium Edition contains an enhanced version of the Pearson IT Certification Practice Test (PCPT) software with three full practice exams. In addition, it contains all the chapter-opening assessment questions from the book. This integrated learning package
Pearson IT Certification Practice Test minimum system requirements:
Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista (SP2), or Windows 7;
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 Client;
Microsoft SQL Server Compact 4.0;
Pentium-class 1GHz processor (or equivalent);
512MB RAM; 650MB disk space plus 50MB for each downloaded practice exam
About the Premium Edition eBook
The VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide focuses specifically on the objectives for the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5 – Data Center Design exam. VMware Certified Instructor (VCI) Paul McSharry shares preparation hints and test-taking tips, helping you identify areas of weakness and improve both your conceptual knowledge and hands-on skills. Material is presented in a concise manner, focusing on increasing your understanding and retention of exam topics.
The VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide presents you with an organized test preparation routine through the use of proven series elements and techniques. “Do I Know This Already” quizzes open each chapter and allow you to decide how much time you need to spend on each section. Exam topic lists make referencing easy. Chapter-ending exam preparation tasks help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly.
Well-regarded for its level of detail, assessment features, and challenging review questions and exercises, this official study guide helps you master the concepts and techniques that will enable you to succeed on the exam the first time.
This official study guide helps you master all the topics on the VCAP5-DCD exam, including the following:
The VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide is part of a recommended learning path from VMware that includes simulation and hands-on training from authorized VMware instructors and self-study products from VMware Press. To find out more about instructor-led training, e-learning, and hands-on instruction offered worldwide, please visit www.vmware.com/training.
VCAP5-DCD Official Cert Guide: Introduction to Technical Design
Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 1 and Index)
Introduction xvii
Chapter 1 Introduction to Technical Design 3
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 3
Foundation Topics 6
What Is a Technical Design? 6
Where Do We Start? What Are We Doing? 6
What Makes a Good Designer? 6
A Familiar Scenario...? 7
The Technical Design Process 7
Vision 8
Scope 9
Requirements 9
Constraints 9
Assumptions 9
Risks 10
Project Deliverables 10
Building a Realistic and Executable Plan of Approach 11
General Guidelines for a Good Technical Design 12
Learning from Experience 12
Measuring Project Success 13
Exam Preparation Tasks 13
Review All Key Topics 13
Design Scenarios 14
Definitions of Key Terms 14
Read the Technical Material with a Designer’s Hat On 14
Review Questions 15
Chapter 2 Creating a Design 19
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 19
Foundation Topic 22
Gathering Information and Spotting the Gaps 22
Presenting the Data Gathered 26
Key Points from the Summary of Stakeholder Interviews 27
Milestone Plan and Technical Approach 28
Milestone Phases 28
Justification for Design Choices 28
Real-Life Tips 29
Exam Preparation Tasks 29
Review All Key Topics 29
Design Scenario 30
Definitions of Key Terms 30
Review Questions 30
Chapter 3 Thoughts on Good Choices for Virtualization and Design 35
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 35
Foundation Topics 38
What Makes a Good Choice for Virtualization, and What Is a Good Design? 38
“It’s Okay, We Have HA!” 41
RTO, RPO, and All That Stuff 42
Single Points of Failure and Risk 43
What Is DR, and When Is It Invoked? 45
Platform and Operations: The Roles 45
“Did Someone Change Something on Production?” 47
When to Virtualize? 48
Exam Preparation Tasks 50
Review All Key Topics 50
Design Scenario 50
Definitions of Key Terms 51
Review Questions 52
Chapter 4 Developing a Design on Paper and Delivering It Physically 55
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 55
Foundation Topics 60
How to Approach vSphere Technical Design 60
Transitioning to a Physical Design: A Common Approach and Process 61
vSphere Platform Components 63
Design Thoughts, Choices, and Impact Considerations 64
Storage Design: Logical and Physical Approaches 64
Storage Tiering 66
vSphere Storage Design Decisions 69
Design Approaches and Development 70
Developing a Physical Storage Design 71
Examples of Recommended Best Practices 72
Network Design: Logical and Physical Design to Allow Applications to Flow 73
vNetworks: Planning from the Basics 74
Creating a Logical Design 78
Moving from the Logical Design to the Physical Design 81
Compute and Host Design 82
Management/Platform Design 85
The Importance of vMotion, VMware HA, and Fault Tolerance 90
Admission Control, and I Don’t Have the Power, Captain! 91
Restart Priority 92
Guest Machine Placement 93
Now What Do I Do? 93
Exam Preparation Tasks 94
Review All Key Topics 94
Design Scenario 95
Definitions of Key Terms 95
Review Questions 96
Chapter 5 Virtual Machine Design 99
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 99
Foundation Topics 104
Virtual Machines—From the Design Perspective 104
It’s All About the Application 105
Design Approaches 107
What Should a VM Contain? 108
Guest Virtual Machine Component Considerations 110
Reservations, Limits, and Shares 111
Network Considerations 112
Storage Considerations 113
CPU Considerations 114
vSphere Platform-wide Considerations 115
Antivirus Solutions for a vSphere Admin 116
vApps 117
OVFs 119
Exam Preparation Tasks 120
Review All Key Topics 120
Design Scenario 120
Define Key Terms 121
Review Questions 121
Question Scenario 122
Chapter 6 Project Execution 125
“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz 125
Foundation Topics 127
Implementation Approach and Order of Delivery 127
Establishing the Order of Delivery 128
Technical Approach 128
Validation, Thoughts, and Processes 130
Going Live and the Bedding-in Period 135
Documentation and Delivery 136
Implementation Plans 137
Installation Guides 137
Exam Preparation Tasks 139
Review All Key Topics 139
Design Scenario 139
Definitions of Key Terms 140
Review Questions 141
Chapter 7 Tips For Passing The Exam 143
The Blueprint 143
Studying for the Test and Real-Life Designing 144
The Exam Design Tool 144
Tips for E-design Tool Questions 145
My VCAP5-DCD Experience 146
Exam Preparation Tasks 147
Final Preparation Tasks 147
Real-Life Tips from Field and Design Defenses 147
Appendix A Answers to the “Do I Know This Already?” Quizzes and Chapter Review
Questions 149
Appendix B Recommended Reading and Assumed Platform Knowledge 153
Section 1: VMware Recommended Reading List 154
Section 2: Assumed Platform Knowledge 155
Section 3: vSphere Design Choice Thoughts 158
Glossary 165
Index 169