How to become a VCP.

There are different paths to VCP5 certification based on your background. Choose your path and complete the three core validation components:

Attend a qualifying VMware authorized course.
Already a VCP4? There is no course requirement until February 29, 2012.
Gain hands-on experience with VMware vSphere 5.
Pass the VCP5 Exam.

Source: http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=12457&ui=www_cert

Exam Blueprint.

VMware created a blueprint for the VPC5 exam. This document describes what to know, how many points are needed etc. Link to the Blueprint: http://mylearn.vmware.com/register.cfm?course=103110 or http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-16726

Exam Objectives.

These are the objectives discussed in the Exam Blueprint, these are the topics for the VCP5 exam.

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

• Objective 1.1 – Install and Configure vCenter Server
• Objective 1.2 - Install and Configure VMware ESXi
• Objective 1.3 - Plan and Perform Upgrades of vCenter Server and VMware ESXi
• Objective 1.4 – Secure vCenter Server and ESXi
• Objective 1.5 - Identify vSphere Architecture and Solutions

Section 2 – Plan and Configure vSphere Networking

• Objective 2.1 - Configure vNetwork Standard Switches
• Objective 2.2 - Configure vNetwork Distributed Switches
• Objective 2.3 - Configure vSS and vDS Policies

Section 3 – Plan and Configure vSphere Storage

• Objective 3.1 - Configure Shared Storage for vSphere
• Objective 3.2 - Configure the Storage Virtual Appliance for vSphere
• Objective 3.3 - Create and Configure VMFS and NFS Datastores

Section 4 – Deploy and Administer Virtual Machines and vApps

• Objective 4.1 - Create and Deploy Virtual Machines
• Objective 4.2 - Create and Deploy vApps
• Objective 4.3 - Manage Virtual Machine Clones and Templates
• Objective 4.4 - Administer Virtual Machines and vApps

Section 5 – Establish and Maintain Service Levels

• Objective 5.1 - Create and Configure VMware Clusters
• Objective 5.2 - Plan and Implement VMware Fault Tolerance
• Objective 5.3 - Create and Administer Resource Pools
• Objective 5.4 - Migrate Virtual Machines
• Objective 5.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines
• Objective 5.6 – Patch and Update ESXi and Virtual Machines

Section 6 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting

• Objective 6.1 - Perform Basic Troubleshooting for ESXi Hosts
• Objective 6.2 - Perform Basic vSphere Network Troubleshooting
• Objective 6.3 - Perform Basic vSphere Storage Troubleshooting
• Objective 6.4 - Perform Basic Troubleshooting for HA/DRS Clusters and vMotion/Storage vMotion

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

• Objective 7.1 - Monitor ESXi, vCenter Server and Virtual Machines
• Objective 7.2 - Create and Administer vCenter Server Alarms

VMware documentation.

Of course VMware created a lot of documentation, manuals and whitepapers. These are the most important ones. Read them en learn them.

New Features and Release Notes

• What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0
• VMware vSphere 5.0 Release Notes

Compatibility and Configuration Limits

• Hardware, Host, and Guest Operating System Compatibility Guides
• VMware Product Interoperability Matrix
• Configuration Maximums for VMware vSphere 5.0

ESXi and vCenter Server Product Documentation

Online Archive vSphere 5 Documentation Centre. http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp

What’s new whitepapers.

• What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Platform
• What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Storage
• What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Performance
• What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Networking
• What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Availability

Books.

There are some very good books that provide you with a lot of knowledge that can be used to prepare for the exam. These are. I have both books and I find them extremely useful.

Mastering VMware vSphere 5Virtualization is hotter than ever. VMware vSphere is the most widely deployed virtualization platform, and this indispensable book by VMware vExpert and VCDX Scott Lowe is your key to harnessing the newest version. Using step-by-step instruction and real-world examples, he takes you under the hood of VMware vSphere 5 and shows you how to get the very most out of all its components. Learn how to install, configure, operate, monitor, secure, and automate your virtual infrastructure from a leading expert and with the leading virtualization solution.ISBN: 9780470890806 | 0470890800 Also available as Kindle e-book

VMware vSphere 5.0 Clustering Technical DeepdiveVMware vSphere 5.0 Clustering Technical Deepdive zooms in on three key components of every VMware based infrastructure and is by no means a “how to” guide. It covers the basic steps needed to create a vSphere HA and DRS cluster and to implement Storage DRS. Even more important, it explains the concepts and mechanisms behind HA, DRS and Storage DRS which will enable you to make well educated decisions. This book will take you in to the trenches of HA, DRS and Storage DRS and will give you the tools to understand and implement e.g. HA admission control policies, DRS resource pools, Datastore Clusters and resource allocation settings.ISBN: 1-4610-4032-9 | 1461040329 Also available as Kindle e-book

Training videos.

David Davis and Elias Khnaser have created an excellent video based training for Trainsignal. This training will help you prepare for the exam. When you watch all the chapters you get familiar with all the new features that vSphere 5 will offer. I have seen them all, and I’ve learned a lot.For more information, see http://www.trainsignal.com/VMware-vSphere-5-Training.aspx

VCP5 Resource Blogs

• Gregg Robertson The Saffegeek VCP5 blog: http://thesaffageek.co.uk/vcp5/
• Andrea Mauro blog: http://vinfrastructure.it/certifications-on-virtualization/vcp/vcp5/
• Daniel Petri blog: http://www.petri.co.il/vcp5-exam.htm
• Forbes Guthrie blog: http://www.vreference.com/vsphere-5-notes/ <- Must Read!
• Scott Vessey blog: http://vmwaretraining.blogspot.com/2011/10/studying-for-vcp5-exam.html
• Preetam Zare blog: http://vcp5.wordpress.com/
• Chad King blog: http://virtualnoob.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/vcp-510-study-guide-prepping-up-vcp5/
• Damian Karlson blog: http://damiankarlson.com/2011/11/01/vmware-vcp-5-resources/
• Jason Langer blog: http://virtuallanger.com/vcp5/

VCP5 practice exams.

These are some practice exams I’ve found online. I should be noted that these do not necessarily indicate the types and styles of questions you will get in the real exam, and the accuracy of these practice exams cannot be guaranteed either.

• VMware Mock exam: http://mylearn.vmware.com/quiz.cfm?item=24908&ui=www_cert
• Simon Long’s practice exam: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/vcp5-practice-exams/
• Kalen Arndt practice exam: http://www.kalenarndt.com/vcp-510-quiz/
• Paul McSharry practice exam: http://www.elasticsky.co.uk/2011/08/vsphere-5-configuration-maximums-practice-tests-series/
• Robert Stothards practice exam: http://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=kmh4e272723524e2

VCP5 Exam experience

Of course there are other people that already taken the exam, these are there experiences.

• Eric Sloof on NTPro.nl: http://www.ntpro.nl/blog/archives/1865-Eric-Sloofs-VCP5-exam-experience.html
• James Burd: http://www.burdweiser.com/?p=542
• Virtual Nomad: http://vmnomad.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-vcp-5-exam-experience.html
• Jason Ventresco : http://www.vjason.com/2011/08/29/vcp5-exam-passed/
• Maish Saidel-Keesing: http://technodrone.blogspot.com/2011/09/vcp-5-beta-exam-pass-but-it-aint-easy.html
• Craig: http://malaysiavm.com/blog/vcp-5-exam-experience/

What’s New Whitepapers

What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Platform (VMware)
What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Storage (VMware)
What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Performance (VMware)
What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Networking (VMware)
What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0 Availability (VMware)
What’s New in VMware vCloud Director 1.5 (VMware)
What’s New in VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager 5.0 (VMware)
What’s New in VMware Data Recovery 2.0 (VMware)

Documentation

VMware vSphere product documentation (VMware)
VMware vSphere Basics Guide
vSphere Installation and Setup Guide
vSphere Upgrade Guide
vCenter Server and Host Management Guide
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration Guide
vSphere Host Profiles Guide
vSphere Networking Guide
vSphere Storage Guide
vSphere Security Guide
vSphere Resource Management Guide
vSphere Availability Guide
vSphere Monitoring and Performance Guide
vSphere Troubleshooting
VMware vSphere Examples and Scenarios Guide

Licensing.

VMware vSphere 5.0 Licensing, Pricing and Packaging (VMware)
vSphere 5 Purchase Advisor (VMware)
vSphere 5 Entitlement Mapping (VMware)
Upgrading to VMware vSphere License Keys (VMware)
vSphere Desktop – vSphere Edition to host Desktop Virtualization FAQ (VMware)
Understanding the vSphere 5 vRAM Licensing Model (VMware – Rethink IT)

Storage

vSphere 5.0 Storage Features Part 1 – VMFS-5 (VMware vSphere Blog)
vSphere 5.0 Storage Features Part 2 – Storage vMotion (VMware vSphere Blog)
vSphere 5.0 Storage Features Part 3 – VAAI (VMware vSphere Blog)
vSphere 5.0 Storage Features Part 4 – Storage DRS – Initial Placement (VMware vSphere Blog)

Upgrade

VMware vSphere Upgrade Center (VMware)
Ivo Beerens upgrade blog (IvoBeerens.nl)

Best Practices

Performance Best Practices for VMware vSphere 5.0
VMware vSphere vMotion Architecture, Performance and Best Practices in VMware vSphere 5
VMware vSphere 5.0 Upgrade Best Practices

vCenter Server

vSphere 5 – vCenter as a linux VM (ESX Virtualization)
vSphere vCenter 5 Design Considerations (Kendrick Coleman)
vCenter 5 – To Appliance or Not? (Kendrick Coleman)
vSphere 5 vCenter Server Virtual Appliance Quick-Start Guide (VMwire)
VMware vCenter Server Virtual Appliance (VCSA) features and benefits (VMwire)

Books

Announcing Mastering VMware vSphere 5 (Scott Lowe)
Hot of the press: vSphere 5.0 Clustering Technical Deepdive (Yellow Bricks)

Certification & Training

vSphere 5 – New Training Courses: What’s New [V5.0] and VCP5 (NTPro.nl)
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V5.0] Training Course by VMware Education (ESX Virtualization)
VCP5 vs VCP4: Comparing exam blueprints (vmDK)

Download

vSphere 5 download link.

Important documentation links.

VMware vSphere 4.0 documentation : http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vs_pages/vsp_pubs_esx40_vc40.html
VMware Consolidated Backup Documentation : http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vcb_pubs.html
VMware vCenter Update Manager Documentation : http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vum_pubs.html
VMware vCenter Converter Documentation : http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vcc_pubs.html

Important document links.

Configuration Maximum Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_config_max.pdf
ESX and vCenter Server Installation Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40_u1/vsp_40_u1_esx_vc_installation_guide.pdf
ESXi and vCenter Server Setup Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40_u1/vsp_40_u1_esxi_i_vc_setup_guide.pdf
vSphere Upgrade Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_upgrade_guide.pdf
ESX Configuration Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_esx_server_config.pdf
Fiber Channel SAN Configuration Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_san_cfg.pdf
iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_iscsi_san_cfg.pdf
vSphere Basic System Administration : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_admin_guide.pdf
vCenter Converter Administration Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsp_vcc_41_admin_guide.pdf
Setup for Failover Clustering and Microsoft Cluster Services : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_mscs.pdf
vSphere Availability Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_availability.pdf
VMWare Data Recovery Administrator’s Guide : http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vdr_10_admin.pdf

Books I used for preparation.

Mastering VMware vSphere 4 by Scott Lowe. Link

Links to Blogs about the VMware VCP 410 exam.

The Slog. Blog from Simon Long. Link.
Matthijs van den Berg Blog. Link.