[Updated]
One thing you won’t find in this class is a rookie.
The VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale [5.5] course is “perfect for a core technical person,” says Umasankar Pattnaik of WIPRO Limited – India.
Michael Susylinski agrees, “I found the class on the VMware website…and felt with my level of knowledge of VMware, this course or the Fast Track, were the best.” Michael is a Technical Analyst for Saskatchewan Telecommunications (now called SaskTel).
“I liked the in-depth look at memory management, such as the Transition Lookaside Buffer. I liked the Auto Deploy section. I also liked the Flash Read Cache.” Adds Michael, “[Honestly] when I first saw VMware I did not believe it was possible, and after seeing it in use for many years I have become a major advocate of virtualization and … well most of the VMware product line!”
Michael Susylinski proudly posted his VMware certificate on the wall…next to the “crazy dragon painting in my office”.
At SaskTel Michael is the VMware Administrator, Windows Administrator, and Cisco UCS Administrator. He is also an unofficial instructor since not all his peers where able to join the training, “I shared what I learned. We will be implementing some of the features we discussed in class….I am implementing two changes at once and my co-worker is trying to plan a VMware hardware/tools update at the same time. What a morning!”
Advanced Learning for Advanced Professionals
Other courses offer an introduction to virtualization with VMware. Not this one — it is built for professionals who know what they’re doing and know what they want.
One such professional is Jeff Petersen, Network Engineer from the Railroad Retirement Board in Chicago. “I’ve been through a couple of upgrades. I’ve rebuilt environments from the ground up and in our Disaster Recovery and test environments in our Data Center. I’ve been through Install & Configure classes from 3 to 4. They provide the foundation, but for 4 to 5 – I was looking for something more advanced. I took the Optimize & Scale course so I could better plan our upgrade.”
Designed for experienced VMware vSphere® personnel, the course teaches advanced skills for configuring and maintaining a highly available and scalable virtual infrastructure. (The course is based on VMware® ESXi™ 5.5 and VMware® vCenter Server™ 5.5.) Completion of the course satisfies the prerequisite for taking the VMware® Certified Professional 5 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV) exam and also prepares students for the VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Data Center Administration 5 (VCAP5-DCA) certification.
“There’s a course completion certificate that you get with all these classes,” says Jeff. “I framed mine and posted it on the wall. Last time I updated my LinkedIn profile was when I completed the upgrade, last winter. I took this class to prepare for the next upgrade and then I’ll update my LinkedIn.”
Hand’s-on Labs = “Prepared for Production!”
There are so many ways to optimize vSphere performance and to configure ESXi networking and storage in large, sophisticated enterprises. The best way for students to prepare is through hands-on labs.
“Optimize & Scale was very challenging,” according to Jeff. “It goes well-beyond what Install & Configure classes. I understand those classes are elemental, but this class really takes it to the next level. Navigating around the VMware vSphere® Web Client is a lot different…the functions you are used to using in the infrastructure client are entirely different than the web client. The VMware instructors are there to guide you.”
Similarly, Michael’s team joined forces and brought in an instructor onsite. “Our company had a number of people ready to take the course and another company had a couple interested as well so we were able to bring in an instructor.”
Through onsite, online and instructor-led learning students can practice a wide-range of hands-on labs with the safety of an instructor and peers to guide the way, including:
- Network and Storage Scalability
- Network, Storage, CPU, Memory, Virtual Machine, Cluster Optimization
- Host and Management Scalability
Join VMware Community for skills and entertainment
Of course, once you are certified connecting with other VMware professionals can be a great way to keep skills fresh and up the entertainment factor for senior engineers.
“I am a member of VMware Chicago Area User’s Group,” says Jeff. “I think VMware is wonderful. I watch a lot of YouTube. VMware is a big footprint in my playlist. They are innovative, forward-thinking. Scott Lowe is an employee of VMware and I have several of his books going back to Version 4. Pretty top-notch in my view. I have a picture of Karen Green on my wall!”
So whether you’re a veteran VMUG like Jeff or a future VMware Certified Advanced Professional like Michael, VMware Optimize & Scale can uplevel your skills.
Take the test, Michael!
Good luck with your upgrade, Jeff!
We’ll see you both in VMware’s VMUG Communities!
For more on VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale [5.5] and to check the various class formats, visit the course page.
