Before the exam
If you are new to VMware certification, the first requirement for VCP6.5-DCV certification is to gain experience with vSphere 6.5 (the certification guide suggests a minimum of six months).
There are different ways to practice using a product: studying it, working on it in the field, and using labs.
Also, if you are new to VMware certification and this will be your first VCP, one of the mandatory requirements for VCP6.5-DCV certification is to attend at least one of the required training courses at a VMware Authorized Training Center (VACT).
Attending a course
There are different types of courses, depending on your knowledge level and your working role.
For new VCPs, the list of mandatory course (for VCP6.5-DCV) is as follows:
- VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=76648)
- VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale [V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=76652)
- VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage plus Optimize and Scale Fast Track [V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=79043)
- VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale plus Troubleshooting Fast Track [V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=79181)
- VMware vSphere: Skills for Public Sector Customers [V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=79044)
- VMware vSphere: Fast Track [V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=79166)
- VMware vSphere: Troubleshooting Workshop [V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=79173)
These kinds of courses have a five-day duration and can have different formats (classroom, live online, self-paced, vFlex-ILT, and onsite). Usually, the best option is to use the classroom format, because you can easily interact with the teacher and other attendees, in order to share experience, make the course more interactive, ask questions, and so on.
Note that none of the courses can 100% prepare you for the VCP exam, because all of the courses cover different aspects, and none of them provide total coverage of the knowledge required for the exam. For example, the Install, Configure, Manage course lacks some topics, such as distributed virtual switches (the coverage is too minimal) and troubleshooting.
VSAN is covered by other courses, but you only need a minimal overview of it for the VCP exam.
There are also other cases; for example, if you have an old VCP or you need a preparation course for the exam, consider the following:
- VMware vSphere: What's New [V5.5 to V6.5] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=76655)
- VMware Certification Exam Prep: VCP6.5-DCV Exams (2V0-622/2V0-622D) (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=det&id_course=342946)
- VMware Certification Exam Prep: VCP6.5–DCV v6.5 Exams (2V0-622/2V0-622D) (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=det&id_course=342946)
- VMware Certification Exam Prep: vSphere 6.5 Foundations Exam (2V0-602) (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=det&id_course=342947)
The What's New course is a three-day course that introduces all of the new features of vSphere 6.5, walking you through the process of installing, upgrading, and migrating.
There are also some courses on the new vSphere 6.7 (more will likely be available in the next few months), as follows:
- VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V6.7] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=84058)
- VMware vSphere: What's New [5.5 – 6.7] (https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/courses.cfm?ui=www_edu&a=one&id_subject=84063)
At this time, there isn't any certification for vSphere 6.7.
Studying by yourself
A course can be a good way to study theory (and to practice with labs), but what if you don't take the course (because you don't need it), or you want to learn more?
One solution is to study by yourself, with books, videos, and free resources; this will be covered in the following sections.
Books
There are actually a few books on vSphere 6.5, but one example is as follows:
- Mastering VMware vSphere 6.5: https://www.packtpub.com/virtualization-and-cloud/mastering-vmware-vsphere-65
Videos
If you prefer a video format over a book format, Packt has some videos on vSphere 6.5, as follows:
- VCP6-DCV(6.5) Examination Preparation Guide: https://www.packtpub.com/virtualization-and-cloud/vcp6-dcv65-examination-preparation-guide-video
- Mastering VMware vSphere 6.5: https://www.packtpub.com/virtualization-and-cloud/mastering-vmware-vsphere-65-video
Online resources
The following list has some additional useful resources for VCP-DCV preparation:
Hands-on Labs
A minimally qualified candidate (MQC) for VCP6.5-DCV certification should generally have about six months of experience in working with a vSphere implementation, and more than one year of IT industry experience.
Typically, he should be capable of installing, configuring, monitoring, and managing a vSphere solution, and also capable of deploying and configuring other infrastructural parts, such as storage and networking. Some minimal skills in optimizing, securing, and troubleshooting all components of the implementation are also required.
What is the best way to get this kind of practice? If you already work on it, there is no problem; otherwise, you will need a lab to try the products.
The simplest method is to use the Hands-on Labs environment provided by VMware, located at https://labs.hol.vmware.com/.
There are labs on different products, including, of course, vSphere and VSAN. But, most importantly, each lab is not a simulated environment; it's a real, live environment (a nested environment), so you can use it as you please, even without following the suggested track.
You can build your own lab environment for practice, undergoing the installation and upgrade processes, allowing for a more flexible solution.
Which version should you use? VCP certification should be based on vSphere 6.5U1, so you can use this version; in most cases, it's similar to the U2 version.
Which management tool should you use? VCP certification uses the vSphere Web Client as a reference, in most cases. For this reason, in this book, most of the screenshots are with this client. The other reason is that the HTML5 client lacks some specific administrative tasks.
Checking your exam preparation
The first source of information for checking your preparation before taking the exam is the VCP6.5-DCV exam guide, at https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/certification/vmw-vcp65-dcv-2v0-622-guide.pdf.
This book is structured in the same way as the official exam guide, in order to simplify the process of finding specific information or filling the gaps of missing information. Note that there isn't a logical order to the chapters and topics; if you are at the beginning, it's better to start with a course, a book (for example, the Mastering VMware vSphere book), or the official vSphere documentation, and then use the exam guide (or this book) as a checklist for verifying your knowledge.
On the official course page, there are also other resources, such as the following:
- Prepare for your VCP6.x -DCV exam with these helpful tips (https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg.htm?ShowKey=41188&AffiliateData=ODweb)
Mock exams
This book provides two mock exams to check your preparation.
The mock exams are designed to be taken in a single attempt; if you know the right answers, the scores for other attempts may be very high, but will not be useful.
VMware does not provide any free mock exams, but you can buy them at http://www.vmwarecertificationmarketplace.com/VMware-Certified-Professional-6-5-p/mu_vcp6.5_dcv_p.htm.
Do you want other free mock exams? The following web resources can help you:
- Simon Long's VCP 6.5 VCP practice exams: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/vcp6-5-dcv-practice-exams
- Paul McSharry's VCP 6 VCP practice exams: http://www.elasticsky.co.uk/practice-questions/
You can also practice with VCP 6.0-based exams; they are still valuable, because the two exams are at least 60% alike.
