VCDX Boot Camp: Preparing for the VCDX Panel Defense

Prepare to succeed at your VCDX panel defense and gain world-class knowledge for designing complex VMware environments

VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) is the highest level of VMware certification, achieved by dedicated professionals who have demonstrated exceptional skill in VMware enterprise deployments. To earn a VCDX, professionals must create a complete enterprise VMware design and undergo an arduous defense at the hands of some of the world’s most sophisticated VMware experts.

Now, for the first time, there’s a comprehensive guide to VCDX defense: VCDX Boot Camp. Based on the legendary standing-room-only boot camps led by VCDX co-creator John Arrasjid, this guide captures the unsurpassed personal experience of three pioneering VCDX certification holders, program developers, and defense panelists.

John Arrasjid, Ben Lin, and Mostafa Khalil cover everything you need to know to prepare for certification. They demystify the entire VCDX defense process, clearly explain its format and prerequisites, and offer indispensable tips for maximizing your likelihood of success. Detailed chapters on both design and troubleshooting offer four complete scenarios explaining exactly what VCDX panelists will expect from your defense.

Learn how to think like a VCDX, discovering powerful insights and best practices for designing your own world-class virtualized environment.

Coverage includes

• Authoritative preparation guidance (including expert insights into scheduling your preparation and defense)

• Tips for conducting mock defenses, boot camps, and study sessions with your colleagues

• How to select, create, and document a superior, defensible design

• How to make design choices and incorporate design patterns that support the VCDX blueprint

• How to confidently defend your skills in architecture, designing new solutions, and troubleshooting design or implementation flaws

• Proven tips for responding to tough questions from panelists

• Detailed example defenses of designs incorporating VCDX-DCV, VCDX-Cloud, and VCDX-DT

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John Y. Arrasjid, VCDX-001, is a Principal Architect at VMware, leading development of VMware Validated Architectures. He has been with VMware since 2003. He developed IP and software for

his first six years as a Consulting Architect and currently does so as a Principal Architect, VMware Ambassador, and vExpert. John regularly speaks at VMware conferences and related workshops and industry events, including VMworld, VMware Partner Exchange, VMware vForum, VMware User Groups (VMUG), and the USENIX LISA conference.

John has been the lead architect and chief product owner for the VMware vCloud Architecture Toolkit (vCAT) since 2011. The latest release of vCAT 3.1 will be released through VMware Press in printed format; the online electronic version is accessible for free at http://www.vmware.com/go/vcat.

John’s publications include three books in the USENIX Association Short Topics in System Administration series:Deploying the VMware Infrastructure, Foundation for Cloud Computing with VMware vSphere 4, andCloud Computing with VMware vCloud Director.

During his past ten years at VMware, John has developed multiple consulting engagement materials and conference tutorials that focus on security, performance, and availability of virtualized and cloud infrastructures. John’s earlier work at VMware included development of free backup (vmsnap) and recovery (vmres) tools for VMs using snapshot technology.

John participated in the initial development of the VCDX program and continues his support with online and onsite workshops (VCDX Tips, VCDX Boot Camp, #vBrownbag Boot Camp Live Online) and this book.

John is a member of the USENIX Association (and LISA SIG), where he serves as vice president of the Board of Directors. He can be followed on Twitter as @vcdx001 and can be seen playing guitar and ukulele with the VMware Elastic Sky band and at The Strawberry Music Festival.

Ben Lin, VCDX-045, is currently a Global Cloud Specialist and has been with VMware since 2008. He holds VCDX3/4/5 certifications and actively participates in VCDX panels and development activities. Ben graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences.

Ben coauthored the book Cloud Computing with VMware vCloud Directorand was closely involved with cloud designs and deployments since the inception of vCloud Director. He works with global customers in the Americas, providing thought leadership and expertise in designing cloud solutions.

Ben has been a lead architect for the VMware vCloud Architecture Toolkit (vCAT) and has created numerous reference architectures, service kits, and whitepapers used by field and partners worldwide. He regularly presents at conferences such as VMworld, VMworld Europe, Partner Exchange, LISA, HotCloud, and vForum. Follow him on Twitter at @blin23.

Mostafa Khalil, VCDX-002, is a Technical Support Director on the Global Support Services team. He has been with VMware since 1999, at the top of the escalation ladder in support.

Mostafa specializes in storage-related technologies and holds VCDX3/4/5 certifications. He has published the bookStorage Implementation in vSphere 5.0, Technology Deep Dive.

Mostafa regularly speaks at VMware conferences and workshops (Vmworld and Partner Exchange) and other industry events. Follow h