I have just passed my VCP510 last Saturday upgrading my VCP4 to VCP5. As many of you know the last chance to upgrade your VCP is February 29, 2012 so not much time left. If you have not done so yet, then consider completing that asap to avoid having to being obligated again to attend a VCP course in order for you to be able to upgrade your VCP4 to VCP5. Below are what our website state as ways to obtain the VCP5 Certification.

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

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

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Just to ensure that you are aware that if you don’t currently hold any earlier version of the VCP Certification the VCP5 course is mandatory before taking the VCP510 exam to get the certificate. This is important to keep in mind, as you can take the VCP510 exam without attending the course but you will not be awarded the VCP5 certificate even if you pass the VMware VCP510 exam.

OK, so many of you ask what I have studied for the VMware VCP510 exam and what is on there. The only thing I have really studied after reading the exam blueprint is the Maximums guide as well the VCP5 Mock Exam, as many maximums have changed in vSphere 5 from vSphere 4. I don’t think this much of study will be enough for every one to pass the VMware VCP510 exam, as not many question on the exam on that but I have been working with vSphere 5 on daily basis so it was not too much different of the things I have done on daily basis.  One thing I wish it was differently in the VCP510 exam, where it ask you how you would do something and imagine you would remember where every button in vCenter is. As there is many ways to do the same thing usually in vSphere, you might have always done that particular configuration differently from the way they have expected and make it a bit more difficult to hit the correct answer. I wish if they were to use simulations for such questions, where you actually will be left freely on a real setup do the required change or configuration rather than visualizing where that certain button of functionality was. Over all the exam was fair.

For those of you planning to study for the VMware VCP510 exam, I would always recommend you start by reading VCP5 Exam Blueprint as nothing was on the exam is outside the topics mentioned in the Blueprint. Another thing to have an idea of how the exam flow, you might want to try your self with the VCP5 Mock Exam. If you have read both and wonder what topics or things to focus on then the below topic in my opinion are the most critical to pass the exam.

– Know what new features were introduced in vSphere 5, how to install them,  and how they work.

– Know how do you upgrade vSphere 4 to vSphere 5 and what procedure, recommendation, and changes happen during the upgrade.

– Know a bit about the products that were released at the vCloud Launch like SRM 5 , vCloud Director 1.5, VMware View 5, vDR, & so on. Remember the VCP exam cover the highlights of these products and is not solely based on vSphere which is unlike the administration and Design exams.

– Know the vSphere 5 Maximums and how they are different than they were in vSphere 4.

– Don’t forget what you have learned in vSphere 4 as you can still be asked about these.

– Know where you change each configuration in your vCenter, ESXi and so on.

– Learn how resource management work in vSphere

– Learn how security management work in vSphere.

– To be safe make sure you have at least worked once with each of the items covered in the VCP5 Exam Blueprint. As its again the official blueprint for the exam, if you know the items which is in there it should be easy to pass.

Well, I believe all of the above is already been mentioned in the VCP5 Exam Blueprint but many people like things being in a simple small bullets format or have still missed seeing the VCP5 exam blue print all together. Please note I don’t guarantee that you will pass the exam if you know these, but these the things I made sure I know before showing up to the exam reading the VCP510 Exam Blueprint.

Good luck for everyone with your VCP510 Exam.