Home > Articles > VMware

Like this article? We recommend Exam Objectives

Exam Objectives

Prior to taking this exam, candidates should understand each of the following objectives, as listed on the IaaS blueprint. Each objective is listed below; along with related tools the candidate should have experience with, and related documentation that contains information relevant to the objective. All objectives may also be referenced in other product documentation not specifically highlighted below. The candidate should be familiar with all relevant product documentation or have an equivalent skillset.

Section 1—Plan, Install, Configure and Upgrade vCenter Server and VMware ESXi

Objective 1.1—Install and Configure vCenter Server

  • Identify vCenter Server requirements
  • Identify vCenter Server database requirements
  • Identify VMware vSphere Client requirements
  • Deploy the vCenter Appliance
  • Install vCenter Server
  • Install/Remove vSphere Client plug-ins
  • Enable/Disable vSphere Client plug-ins
  • Determine use case for vSphere Client and Flex Client Tools

Objective 1.2—Install and Configure VMware ESXi

  • Identify ESXi host requirements
  • Perform an interactive installation of ESXi using media or PXE
  • Configure NTP on an ESXi Host

Objective 1.3—Plan and Perform Upgrades of vCenter Server and VMware ESXi

  • Identify available vSphere editions and features
  • Determine appropriate vSphere edition based on customer requirements Tools

Section 2—Plan and Configure vSphere Networking

Objective 2.1—Configure vNetwork Standard Switches

  • Identify vNetwork Standard Switch capabilities
  • Create/Delete a vNetwork Standard Switch
  • Add/Configure/Remove vmnics on a vNetwork Standard Switch
  • Configure vmkernel ports for network services
  • Add/Edit/Remove port groups on a vNetwork Standard Switch
  • Determine use case for a vNetwork Standard Switch

Objective 2.2—Configure vNetwork Standard and Distributed Switches

  • Identify vNetwork Distributed Switch capabilities
  • Create/Delete a vNetwork Distributed Switch
  • Add/Remove ESXi hosts from a vNetwork Distributed Switch
  • Edit general vNetwork Distributed Switch settings
  • Add/Configure/Remove dvPort groups
  • Configure dvPort settings
  • Add/Remove uplink adapters to dvUplink groups
  • Create/Configure/Remove virtual adapters
  • Migrate virtual adapters to/from a vNetwork Standard Switch
  • Migrate virtual machines to/from a vNetwork Distributed Switch
  • Determine use case for a vNetwork Distributed Switch

Objective 2.3—Configure vSS and vDS Policies

  • Identify common vSS and vDS policies
  • Configure load balancing and failover policies
  • Configure VLAN settings
  • Enable Jumbo Frames (1600+ MTU) support on appropriate components
  • Determine appropriate VLAN configuration for a vSphere implementation

Section 3—Plan and Configure vSphere Storage

Objective 3.1—Configure Shared Storage for vSphere

  • Scan/Rescan storage
  • Connect to a NAS and/or SAN device Tools

Objective 3.2—Create and Configure VMFS and NFS Datastores

  • Identify VMFS and NFS Datastore properties
  • Identify VMFS5 capabilities
  • Extend/Expand VMFS Datastores
  • Place a VMFS Datastore in Maintenance Mode
  • Determine use case for multiple VMFS/NFS Datastores

Section 4—Deploy and Administer Virtual Machines and vApps

Objective 4.1—Create and Deploy Virtual Machines

  • Identify capabilities of virtual machine hardware versions
  • Identify methods to access and use a virtual machine console
  • Configure and deploy a Guest OS into a new virtual machine
  • Configure/Modify disk controller for virtual disks
  • Create/Convert thin/thick provisioned virtual disks
  • Install/Upgrade/Update VMware Tools
  • Configure virtual machine time synchronization
  • Configure/Modify virtual CPU and Memory resources according to OS and application requirements
  • Determine appropriate datastore locations for virtual machines based on application workloads

Objective 4.2—Create and Deploy vSphere vApps

  • Describe a vSphere vApp Tools

Objective 4.3—Manage Virtual Machine Clones and Templates

  • Import and/or Export an OVF template

Objective 4.4—Administer Virtual Machines and vApps

  • Identify locations for virtual machine configuration files and virtual disks
  • Hot Extend a virtual disk
  • Assign a Storage Policy to a virtual machine
  • Verify Storage Policy compliance for virtual machines

Section 5—Establish and Maintain Service Levels

Objective 5.1—Create and Configure VMware Clusters

  • Describe DRS and Storage DRS
  • Describe Enhanced vMotion Compatibility
  • Create/Delete a DRS/HA Cluster
  • Add/Remove ESXi Hosts from a DRS/HA Cluster
  • Monitor a DRS/HA Cluster
  • Enable/Disable Host Monitoring
  • Enable/Configure/Disable virtual machine and application monitoring
  • Configure admission control for HA and virtual machines
  • Determine appropriate failover methodology and required resources for an HA implementation

Objective 5.2—Migrate Virtual Machines Knowledge

  • Identify ESXi host and virtual machine requirements for vMotion and Storage vMotion Identify Enhanced vMotion Compatibility CPU requirements
  • Migrate virtual machines using vMotion/Storage vMotion

Section 6—Perform Basic Troubleshooting and Alarm Management

Objective 6.1—Perform Basic Troubleshooting for ESXi Hosts

  • Identify general ESXi host troubleshooting guidelines
  • Troubleshoot common installation issues
  • Monitor ESXi system health
  • Export diagnostic information

Objective 6.2—Perform Basic vSphere Network Troubleshooting Knowledge

  • Verify network configuration
  • Verify a given virtual machine is configured with the correct network resources

Section 7—Monitor a vSphere Implementation and Manage vCenter Server Alarms

Objective 7.1—Monitor ESXi, vCenter Server and Virtual Machines

  • Describe how Tasks and Events are viewed in vCenter Server
  • Identify critical performance metrics
  • Explain common memory metrics
  • Explain common CPU metrics
  • Explain common network metrics
  • Explain common storage metrics
  • Compare and contrast Overview and Advanced Charts
  • Configure SNMP for vCenter Server
  • Configure Active Directory and SMTP settings for vCenter Server
  • Configure vCenter Server logging options
  • Create a log bundle
  • Create/Edit/Delete a Scheduled Task
  • Configure/View/Print/Export resource maps
  • Start/Stop/Verify vCenter Server service status
  • Start/Stop/Verify ESXi host agent status
  • Configure vCenter Server timeout settings
  • Monitor/Administer vCenter Server connections
  • Create an Advanced Chart
  • Determine host performance using resxtop and guest Perfmon
  • Given performance data, identify the affected vSphere resource

Objective 7.2—Create and Administer vCenter Server Alarms

  • List vCenter default utilization alarms
  • List vCenter default connectivity alarms
  • List possible actions for utilization and connectivity alarms
  • Create a vCenter utilization alarm
  • Create a vCenter connectivity alarm
  • Configure alarm triggers
  • Configure alarm actions
  • For a given alarm, identify the affected resource in a vSphere implementation

Section 8—Install and Configure vCloud Director

Objective 8.1—Install vCloud components

  • Identify required vCloud components and pre-requisites for installation
  • Describe installation order of vCloud components
  • Explain the purpose and use case of each vCloud component
  • Create a SysPrep package
  • Install vCloud Director
  • Install vShield Manager
  • Install vCenter Chargeback
  • Install vCloud Connector
  • Configure vCloud Director network connections
  • Configure vCloud Director database settings
  • Troubleshoot basic installation issues

Objective 8.2—Configure and Administer vCloud Connector

  • Identify components of vCloud Connector
  • Describe cross-cloud vApp flow
  • Identify VM state (shutdown/power down)
  • Differentiate between functionality of components of vCloud Connector
  • Explain the relationship between the components of vCloud Connector
  • Determine and implement required network and security settings
  • Determine storage requirements and add storage for use by a vCC node
  • Register vCloud Connector with vCenter Server
  • Troubleshoot common vCloud Connector installation and operation issues

Objective 8.3—Configure vCloud Director and vShield Manager System Settings

  • Identify vCloud Director pre-requisites
  • Cite the steps to deploy a vShield Manager appliance
  • Identify relationship between vCenter Server and vShield Manager
  • Generate self-signed certificates
  • Import self-signed or CA issued certificates
  • Add additional vCenter Servers to a vCloud Director implementation
  • Configure licensing for vCloud Director and vShield Manager

Section 9—Administer Users, Roles and Privileges in a vCloud

Objective 9.1—Create Roles and Apply Privileges to Roles in a vCloud

  • Identify vCloud Director predefined roles and their specific privilege levels
  • List the steps to create a custom role in vCD
  • Identify operations that can be performed on predefined roles
  • Identify the types of users that can be granted access to a vCloud
  • Explain the purpose of a custom role in vCD
  • Determine when to create a custom role.
  • Given an end-user's job description, determine which role would be granted
  • Validate the functionality allowed by a newly created role
  • Select specific access rights in a security role.
  • Troubleshoot common customized role access issues.

Objective 9.2—Configure AD/LDAP Integration in a vCloud

  • Identify AD/LDAP infrastructure components
  • Configure Open LDAP with vCD
  • Configure Active Directory with vCD
  • Test connectivity to external LDAP
  • Import users and groups from external LDAP
  • Troubleshoot common LDAP external connectivity issues

Objective 9.3—Configure and Administer vShield Edge

  • Identify where to set firewall rules within vCloud Director
  • Explain vShield firewall concepts as they relate to a vCloud environment
  • Determine which firewall rules need to be applied or modified
  • Identify ordering for firewall rules
  • Enable/Disable firewall
  • Add/Modify/Delete firewall rules
  • Determine which vShield devices impact a given service
  • Verify firewall rule operation
  • Troubleshoot common firewall service issues

Section 10—Configure and Administer vCenter Chargeback

Objective 10.1—Configure and Administer vCenter Chargeback Roles and Privileges

  • Identify vCenter Chargeback permissions
  • Identify Resource types
  • Identify Resources that cannot be manually assigned permissions
  • Identify default vCenter Chargeback roles
  • Create/Modify/Delete a role
  • Determine when a new role should be created
  • Associate a role to a user
  • Troubleshoot common permission issues

Objective 10.2—Configure and Generate vCenter Chargeback Reports

  • Identify vCenter Chargeback report types
  • Identify components of the reporting dashboard
  • Given a reporting requirement, determine what report type should be run
  • Schedule reports
  • Manage archived reports
  • Generate custom reports

Objective 10.3—Configure and Manage vCenter Chargeback Cost Elements

  • Identify vCenter Chargeback cost elements
  • List cost element attributes
  • Describe default billing policies and cost models
  • Create/Edit billing policies
  • Manage cost models
  • Edit cost configuration of an entity
  • Manage physical infrastructure costing
  • Manage pricing matrix for virtual machine

Objective 10.4—Troubleshoot Common vCenter Chargeback Issues

  • Collect logs
  • Run troubleshooting utility
  • Explain impact of vSphere statistics levels on report generation
  • Explain impact of local firewall settings on vCenter Chargeback services
  • Given a service failure, determine root cause

Section 11—Configure and Administer vCloud Networking

Objective 11.1—Create and Administer vCloud External and Organization Networks

  • Identify and differentiate the types of vCloud Organization networks
  • Create/Modify/Delete an external network
  • Create/Modify/Delete an external direct organization network
  • Create/Modify/Delete an external NAT-routed organization network
  • Create/Modify/Delete an internal organization network
  • Explain the relationship between external networks and vSphere port groups
  • Explain the purpose and use cases for external networks
  • Explain the relationship between organization networks and vShield Edge
  • Explain best practices related to organization networks
  • Given organization requirements, determine the appropriate organization network type.

Objective 11.2—Configure and Administer vCloud Network Pools

  • Describe the concept of a Network Pool
  • Create/Delete a Network Pool
  • Expand a Network Pool
  • Determine appropriate backing for a given Network Pool
  • Configure Network Pool properties

Objective 11.3—Configure and Administer vApp Networks

  • Identify vApp Network types
  • Explain the purpose and use cases for vApp networks
  • Explain the relationship between vApp networks and vShield Edge devices
  • Create/Modify/Delete a direct vApp network
  • Create/Modify/Delete a NAT-routed vApp network
  • Create/Modify/Delete an internal vApp network
  • Troubleshoot vApp networks using the visual mapping tool

Objective 11.4—Administer vCloud Network Services

  • Identify available vShield Edge network services
  • Configure DHCP/NAT/VPN services
  • Add a SNAT/DNAT rule
  • Add a DHCP IP pool
  • Add DHCP static binding
  • Configure the VPN service
  • Configure Syslog
  • Use logs to troubleshoot common network service issues

Section 12—Configure and Administer vCloud Organizations

Objective 12.1—Create vCloud Organizations

  • Identify the URL name of a newly created Organization
  • Create/Modify/Delete vCloud Organizations
  • Configure VM lease times
  • Configure Storage lease times
  • Configure SMTP server information
  • Configure notification settings
  • Apply policies to a vCloud Organization

Objective 12.2—Administer vCloud Organizations

  • List operations that can be performed on an Organization
  • List the vCloud constructs that make up an Organization
  • Given a tier of server determine the appropriate Organization vDC
  • Edit leases/quotas/limits applied to an Organization
  • Revise Catalog(s) attached to an Organization
  • Add/Remove users and groups
  • Configure/Edit Organization settings
  • Allocate resources to an Organization
  • Explain the purpose and use case for storage options
  • Configure storage provision options

Section 13—Allocate and Manage vCloud Resources

Objective 13.1—Create and Administer Provider VDCs

  • Identify where in the hierarchy a provider VDC resides
  • Identify where an Provider VDC gets its resources
  • Differentiate Provider and Organization VDCs
  • Explain the concept of a Provider VDC
  • Explain when and how to Enable/Disable a Provider VDC
  • Create/Delete a Provider VDC
  • Select Resource Pools and Datastores for a Provider VDC
  • Explain when and how to Enable/Disable a Provider VDC Host
  • Prepare/Unprepare a Provider VDC Host
  • Upgrade/Repair a Provider VDC Host agent
  • Explain when and how to Enable/Disable a Provider Datastore
  • Configure Low Disk Space Warnings

Objective 13.2—Create and Administer Organization VDCs

  • List Allocation Models
  • Explain the concept of an Organization VDC
  • Create/Modify/Delete an Organization VDC
  • Enable/Disable an Organization VDC
  • Select Organization VDC components
  • Select/Edit Organization VDC resources
  • Configure Allocation Model settings
  • Determine the appropriate network pool for a given Organization vDC network

Section 14—Create and Administer vCloud Catalogs

Objective 14.1—Create vApp Templates, Media and Catalogs

  • Describe the function of vApp templates, media, and catalogs
  • Identify the location of vApp templates, media and catalogs
  • Identify the format in which vApp templates, media, and catalogs can be stored
  • Differentiate between vApp templates, media and catalogs
  • Create/Update a vApp template
  • Create/Delete a Catalog
  • Publish a catalog to different Organizations

Objective 14.2—Administer vCloud Catalogs

  • Identify frequently used Catalog properties
  • Explain how guest customization works in a vCloud implementation
  • Deploy a vApp from a Catalog
  • Configure a Catalog to be shared by users in an Organization
  • Copy vApp templates and media to/from a Catalog
  • Configure Catalog properties
  • Given requirements, apply the appropriate properties to a Catalog

Section 15—Monitor a vCloud Implementation

Objective 15.1—Troubleshoot and Audit Resources and Events in a vCloud

  • Identify vCloud Director interface components used for monitoring
  • Identify the location of logs in vCloud Director
  • Monitor CPU, Disk and Memory usage for a Provider vDC
  • Monitor CPU, Disk and Memory usage for an Organization
  • Monitor External Network, Organization Networks, and Network Pools
  • Monitor IP allocation utilization
  • Review and interpret tasks and events in a vCloud
  • Troubleshoot common resource/event issues in a vCloud

Objective 15.2—Map vCloud Resources to vSphere Resources

  • Differentiate components of vCloud Director and vSphere client interfaces
  • Describe the relationship between vCloud storage resources and VMFS/NFS datastores
  • Describe the relationship between vCloud network resources and vSphere virtual switches
  • Describe the relationship between vCloud compute resources and DRS/HA Clusters/Resource Pools
  • Determine total/current resources available to a Provider/Organization vDC relative to assigned vSphere resources
  • Determine the explicit vSphere resource consumed by a Provider/Organization vDC
  • Determine which vSwitch resource is being use by a given vCloud network
  • Determine on which datastore a vCloud hosted virtual machine resides
  • Determine on which ESXi host a vCloud hosted virtual machine resides

Where to Go from Here

The VCP-Certification will begin to differentiate you in the marketplace not only for new career opportunities, but also apart from your peers. This is a brand new certification path with VMware, the number of VCP-Cloud’s are small. Once you have passed this certification, the VMware Certified Advanced Professional certifications should be your next certification to achieve. The Cloud Infrastructure Design exam is geared towards Cloud Architects, if that is not your passion or profession. The Cloud Infrastructure Administrator exam is geared towards those that administer a vCloud Infrastructure for over 12 months. Either way the candidate is assured to be among the first in the field to have these certifications.

No matter where you decide to go or do good luck with your exam! Message me on Twitter @TomRalph if you have questions or concerns about the VCP-Cloud exam.

Pearson IT Certification Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Pearson IT Certification and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Pearson IT Certification products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.pearsonitcertification.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020