VCAP5-DCA Official Cert Guide: VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5- Data Center Administration

Book description

The VCAP5-DCA 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 “Review Tasks” help you drill on key concepts you must know thoroughly.

  • Master VMware VCAP5-DCA exam topics

  • Assess your knowledge with chapter-opening quizzes and review tasks

  • Review key concepts with exam preparation tasks

  • Practice with realistic exam preparation scenarios

  • The VCAP5-DCA Official Cert Guide focuses specifically on the objectives for the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5 — Data Center Administration. VMware Certified Instructors (VCI) Steve Baca and John Davis share 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.

    This Official Cert Guide comes with access to one set of original practice scenarios designed to prepare you for the experience of the real exam and get you comfortable executing the scenarios in order to complete them in the limited amount of time during the actual test. Content on the practice scenarios maps to the VCAP blueprint and is relevant to both the VCAPDCA510 and VCAPDCA550 exams.  All the scenarios are based on real world experiences, where administration tasks that are covered by the exam, may need to be applied. 

    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 official study guide helps you master many of the topics on the VCAP5-DCA exam, including:

  • Using administrator tools such as the vSphere Client, ESXCLI, vmkfstools, ESXTOP, vCLI, vMA, and PowerCLI.

  • Understanding the networking features that are available in vSphere, such as VLAN, PVLANS, and Netflow.

  • Managing vSphere features and technologies that can be used to provide solutions to various storage challenges.

  • Understanding performance tuning, optimization and troubleshooting.

  • Carrying out a cluster configuration, troubleshoot, and management of a vSphere Cluster.

  • Performing patch management and updating of ESXi hosts, virtual machine hardware, VMware Tools, and virtual appliances using VMware Update Manager.

  • Recognizing how logging works for both ESXi hosts and the vCenter Server

  • Identifying the different methods to secure your vSphere environment. 

  • Making sense of Auto Deploy and how its moving parts work.

  • The VCAP5-DCA 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.

    STEVEN BACA (VCP, VCAP-DCA, VCI, VCP, NCDA) has been in the computer industry for more than 20 years.  Originally a computer programmer and a system administrator working on Unix and Windows systems, he transitioned to VMware about 8 years ago, doing technical training and consulting as well as teaching for NetApp.  He believes that the constant evolution of the computer industry requires continuously learning to stay ahead.  

    JOHN A. DAVIS (VCP, VCAP-DCA, VCAP-DCD, VCAP5-DTD VCI) has been teaching on VMware technologies since 2004. Throughout his tenure, he has taught VMware courses all over the globe. Currently John is a Senior Consulting Engineer at New Age Technologies who splits his time between teaching and consulting. John has authored several white papers and blogs regularly to his vLoreBlog.com.

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Copyright Page
    3. Dedications
    4. Contents at a Glance
    5. Table of Contents
    6. About the Authors
    7. Acknowledgments
    8. About the Reviewers
    9. We Want to Hear from You!
    10. Reader Services
    11. Introduction
      1. Who Should Read This Book
      2. Goals and Methods
      3. How to Use This Book
      4. Certification Exam and This Preparation Guide
      5. Book Content Updates
      6. Access to Practice Scenarios and a word about the VCAPDCA510 and VCAPDCA550
      7. Premium Edition
    12. Chapter 1. Administrator Tools
      1. Foundation Topics
      2. Exam Preparation Tasks
    13. Chapter 2. Network Administration
      1. Foundation Topics
      2. Preparation Tasks
    14. Chapter 3. Storage Concepts
      1. “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
      2. RAID Levels
      3. Supported HBA Types
      4. Virtual Disk Format Types
      5. N-Port ID Virtualization
      6. VMware DirectPath I/O
      7. vCenter Server Storage Filters
      8. Understanding and Applying VMFS Re-signaturing
      9. VAAI Hardware Acceleration
      10. Configuring and Administering Profile-based Storage
      11. Preparing Storage for Maintenance
      12. Upgrading VMware Storage Infrastructure
      13. Identifying Storage Provisioning Methods
      14. Configuring Datastore Alarms
      15. Configuring Datastore Clusters
      16. Configuring Software iSCSI Port Binding
      17. Pluggable Storage Architecture Layout
      18. Installing and Configuring PSA Plug-ins
      19. LUN Masking Using PSA-related Commands
      20. Multipathing Policies
      21. Changing a Multipath Policy
      22. Identifying and Tagging SSD Devices
      23. Summary
      24. Exam Preparation Tasks
    15. Chapter 4. Performance
      1. “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
      2. Foundation Topics
      3. Exam Preparation Tasks
    16. Chapter 5. Clusters
      1. Foundation Topics
      2. Exam Preparation Tasks
    17. Chapter 6. Patch Management
      1. Foundation Topics
      2. Exam Preparation Tasks
    18. Chapter 7. Logging
      1. “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
      2. Generate vCenter Server and ESXi Log Bundles
      3. Configure Logging Level for the vCenter Server
      4. Log Files
      5. Use ESXCLI System Syslog to Configure Centralized Logging on ESXi Hosts
      6. Install and Configure VMware Syslog Collector
      7. Analyze and Test Logging Configuration Information
      8. Install and Configure vSphere ESXi Dump Collector
      9. Summary
      10. Exam Preparation Tasks
    19. Chapter 8. Security and Firewall
      1. “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
      2. Foundation Topics
      3. Exam Preparation Tasks
    20. Chapter 9. Auto Deploy
      1. “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz
      2. Auto Deploy Architecture
      3. Identify Auto Deploy Requirements
      4. Using a Host Profile from a Reference Host with Auto Deploy
      5. Summary
      6. Exam Preparation Tasks
    21. Chapter 10. Scenarios
      1. Foundation Topics
    22. Appendix A. Answers to the “Do I Know This Already?” Quizzes
      1. Chapter 1
      2. Chapter 2
      3. Chapter 3
      4. Chapter 4
      5. Chapter 5
      6. Chapter 6
      7. Chapter 7
      8. Chapter 8
      9. Chapter 9
    23. Appendix B. Hands-On Solutions to Chapter 10 Scenarios
      1. Implement and Manage Storage—Hands-On Solutions
      2. Implement and Manage Network—Hands-On Solutions
      3. Deploy DRS Clusters and Manage Performance—Hands-On Solutions
      4. Manage Business Continuity and Protected Data—Hands-On Solutions
      5. Perform Operational Maintenance—Hands-On Solutions
      6. Perform Advance Troubleshooting—Hands-On Solutions
      7. Secure a vSphere Environment—Hands-On Solutions
      8. Perform Scripting and Automation—Hands-On Solutions
      9. Perform Advanced vSphere Installations and Configurations—Hands-On Solutions
    24. Glossary
    25. Practice Lab 1 [This content is currently in development.]
    26. Practice Lab 2 [This content is currently in development.]
    27. Practice Lab 3 [This content is currently in development.]

    Product information

    • Title: VCAP5-DCA Official Cert Guide: VMware Certified Advanced Professional 5- Data Center Administration
    • Author(s):
    • Release date: May 2014
    • Publisher(s): VMware Press
    • ISBN: 9780133579727