Confidential │ ©2018 VMware, Inc.

Preparing to Take and Pass the VCP-DCV Exam

Professional vSphere 6.7 Exam 2019

John A. DavisMEJEER, LLC (Delivering VMware Professional Services)

@johnnyadavis, john.davis@mejeer.com, vLoreBlog.com

09/25/2019

Agenda

1. Exam Requirements2. Preparation Tools3. Objectives

A. Sample Practice QuestionsB. AnswersC. Tips

Certification: Multi Tracks and Levels

https://www.vmware.com/education-services/certification.html

Certification path for new VCPs

TIP: Take the course that best suits you!

Path for Current VCPs

VCP6.5-DCV

Gain Experience with vSphere 6.7

Option 1: Pass a Professional Exam• Professional vSphere 6.7 Exam 2019• Professional vSphere 6.7 Delta Exam 2019

Option 2: Take a Qualifying vSphere 6.7 Course

VCP6-DCV or VCP5.5 DCV

Gain Experience with vSphere 6.7

Recommended: Take a Qualifying vSphere 6.7 Course

:Pass a Professional Exam• Professional vSphere 6.7 Exam 2019• Professional vSphere 6.7 Delta Exam 2019

TIP: Pay attention to the path based on any VMware certifications that you

currently hold!

Exam Prep Guide (Blueprint)

Exam Prep Guide (Blueprint) TIP: Use the Reference table when doing your research.

Get familiar with the wording in the official VMware

documentation!

Agenda

1. Exam Requirements2. Preparation Tools3. Objectives

A. Sample Practice QuestionsB. AnswersC. Tips

VMware Press

http://www.pearsonitcertification.com/promotions/vmware-press-138356

VCP6.5-DCV Appendix and Practice Questions: https://vloreblog.com/2017/05/05/vcp6-5-dcv-exam-preparation/

Professional vSphere 6.7 Exam 2019 Appendix:https://vloreblog.com/2019/09/23/vcp-dcv-2019-vsphere-6-7-exam-prep/Disclaimer: this is just a very rough draft, but may be useful

vSphere 6.7 Appendix for VCP6-DCV Official Cert Guide

TIP: If you do not have a better tool, use this Appendix as your guide. Apply its content, references to the VCP6-DCV Cert Guide, and references to VMware documentation!

Changes to Exam Preparation Guide (blueprint)

New VMware exams use these standard 7 sections. The vSphere 6.7 Exam does not include Sections 3 or 6.

Previous exams used a different order and included Troubleshooting sections.

VMware Learning Zone https://vmwarelearningzone.vmware.com

Hands on labs

labs.hol.vmware.com

HOL-2011-01-SDC - VMware vSphere - Getting Started

HOL-2011-02-SDC - VMware vSphere - Advanced TopicsHOL-1911-04-SDC - VMware vSphere Security - Getting Started

HOL-1911-01-SDC - What's New in VMware vSphere 6.7

HOL-1811-02-SDC - vSphere with Operations Management

HOL-2004-01-SDC - Mastering vSphere PerformanceHOL-2003-01-NET - VMware NSX for vSphere - Getting Started

HOL-2004-02-CHG - vSphere Challenge Lab

HOL-1908-01-HCI - vSAN v6.7 - Getting Started

Blogs and Community Sites

https://www.vladan.fr/vcp6-7-dcv/https://go.veeam.com/vmware-certification-vcp6-dcv-study-guide-exam-blueprint

https://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/2017/07/17/vcp-practice-exams-are-back/

Exam Prep Guide: Sample Questions

Build Your Own Tools

Memory Tables:

Fill in the Blank:

Capture data in a document. Copy the data to a second document. Delete (cover up) elements within the 2nd document to create a memorization / practice tool.

TIP: Whether using questions or memorization tools,

practice until you consistently get 80% correct!

Agenda

1. Exam Requirements2. Preparation Tools3. Objectives

A. Sample Practice QuestionsB. AnswersC. Tips

Section 1 – VMware vSphere Architecture and Technologies

NOTE: Exam Guides for Earlier Versions Have More Detail

vLoreBlog.com: My personal (NON-Official) approach to sub-topics

TIP: See the Appendix for VCP6-DCV Cert Guide at https://vloreblog.com/2019/09/23/vcp-dcv-2019-vsphere-6-7-exam-prep/!

Exam Questions with Exhibit

Based on the exhibit, which is true if each VM has one vCPU?

A. VM1 will always get more CPU resources than all other VMs

B. VM4 will always get 20% of total CPU resources

C. VM4 will always get less CPU resources than all other VMs

D. None of the above

VM1

CPU Shares:

HIGH

VM2

CPU Shares:

NORMAL

VM3

CPU Shares:

HIGH

VM4

CPU Shares:

LOW

Resources Pool: Production

CPU Shares: HIGH

Resources Pool: Test & Dev

CPU Shares: LOW

DRS Cluster

Exam Questions with Exhibit

Based on the exhibit, which is true if each VM has one vCPU?

A. VM1 will always get more CPU resources than all other VMs

B. VM4 will always get 20% of total CPU resources

C. VM4 will always get less CPU resources than all other VMs

D. None of the above

VM1

CPU Shares:

HIGH

67%

VM2

CPU Shares:

NORMAL

33%

VM3

CPU Shares:

HIGH

80%

VM4

CPU Shares:

LOW

20%

Resources Pool: Production

CPU Shares: HIGH

80%

Resources Pool: Test & Dev

CPU Shares: LOW

20%

DRS Cluster

VM1: 53% VM2: 26% VM3: 16% VM4: 4%

BLUE is Total Resources

TIP: Be ready to apply your knowledge!

During contention, High, Normal, Low CPU shares are applied at a 4:2:1 ratio.

Ignored during periods of no contention

!

Time Synchronization

Which of the following statements are true concerning the time_tools-sync parameter for a vCenter Server Appliance?

A. Its value could be set to a NTP server's IP address.B. If its values is TRUE, then vCenter Server synchronizes time with an NTP server.C. It is ignored, if the vCenter Server is configured for NTP time synchronization.D. It overrides the NTP configuration in the vSphere Client.

Time Synchronization

Which of the following statements are true concerning the time_tools-sync parameter for a vCenter Server Appliance?

A. Its value could be set to a NTP server's IP address.B. If its values is TRUE, then vCenter Server synchronizes time with an NTP server.C. It is ignored, if the vCenter Server is configured for NTP time synchronization.D. It overrides the NTP configuration in the vSphere Client.

If a vCenter Server Appliance is set for NTP time synchronization, it ignores its time_tools-sync Boolean parameter. Otherwise, if the parameter is TRUE, VMware Tools synchronizes the time in the appliance’s guest OS with the ESXi host.

Page 77 – vCenter Server Installation and Setup Guide

TIP: Exam covers important items that are often

overlooked in the field !

Example from the vSphere Security Guide

An administrator creates a custom role but did not assign any privileges. Which two Privileges would the custom role have? (Choose two.)

A System.noneB. System.AnonymousC. System.ReadonlyD. System.Read

Example of an Exam Question Source: vSphere Security Guide

An administrator creates a custom role but did not assign any privileges. Which two Privileges would the custom role have? (Choose two.)

A System.noneB. System.AnonymousC. System.ReadonlyD. System.Read

TIP: Pay attention to NOTEs in the

VMware docs!

vSphere 6.7 Security Guide page 34

Section 2 – VMware Products and Solutions

Question on VM Secure Boot

You want to enable secure boot for a VM, what is required (pick two)?

A. EFI Firmware

B. Virtual hardware version 12 or later

C. VMware Tools version 10.1 or later

D. Virtual hardware version 11 or later

Question on VM Secure Boot

You want to enable secure boot for a VM, what is required (pick two)?

A. EFI Firmware

B. Virtual hardware version 12 or later

C. VMware Tools version 10.1 or later

D. Virtual hardware version 11 or later

From the vSphere 6.7 Security guide: • Prerequisites: EFI Firmware, virtual hardware version 13 or later. (page 130)• VMware Tools version 10.1 or later is required for VMs that use UEFI secure boot mode. (page 129)

TIP: Be ready to address requirements

for any vSphere feature!

New in 6.5: vCenter Server High Availability

What type of architecture does vCenter HA provide?

A Primary-SecondaryB. Load-BalanceC. Active-PassiveD. N-to-N

VCSA HA

What type of architecture does vCenter HA provide?

A Primary-SecondaryB. Load-BalanceC. Active-PassiveD. N-to-N

TIP: Important topic (new in 6.5). Understand its

architecture, deployment options, requirements, and

workflow!

Section 4 – Installing, Configuring, Setting Up a VMware vSphere Solution

Automating ESXI Deployment

Which two identification sources can a vSphere Auto Deploy rule use to identify target hosts? (Choose two.)

A. Processor Serial Number

B. Security Identifier Number

C. SMBIOS information

D. BIOS UUID

Automating ESXi Deployment

Which two identification sources can a vSphere Auto Deploy rule use to identify target hosts? (Choose two.)

A. Processor Serial Number

B. Security Identifier Number

C. SMBIOS information

D. BIOS UUID

VMware ESXI Installation and Setup – page 100:A rule can identify target hosts by boot MAC address, SMBIOS information, BIOS UUID, Vendor, Model, or fixed DHCP IP address.

TIP: If you cannot

practice, then make time to

read!

Content Library

What setting should be set on a subscribed content library to optimize the time required to provision VMs from templates?

A. Synchronization = Automatic.

B. Download Method = Immediately.

C. Download Method = On Demand.

D. Synchronization = Manual.

Content Library

What setting should be set on a subscribed content library to optimize the time required to provision VMs from templates?

A. Synchronization = Automatic.

B. Download Method = Immediately.

C. Download Method = On Demand.

D. Synchronization = Manual.

Reference: Chapter 4 in vSphere 6.7: Virtual Machine Administration

TIP: Be ready to apply your knowledge!

Section 5 – Performance-tuning and Optimizing a VMware vSphere Solution

Monitoring with ESXTOP

Based on the exhibit, which metric would be used to identify high latency for a storage device?

A. WRITES/sB. DAVG/cmdC. KAVG/cmdD. GAVG/cmd

Monitoring with ESXTOP

Based on the exhibit, which metric would be used to identify high latency for a storage device?

A. WRITES/sB. DAVG/cmdC. KAVG/cmdD. GAVG/cmd

TIP: Do not get distracted or upset, just answer and move along.

Manage your time!

Network Performance

Which feature of vSphere 6.7 can be used to increase network throughput to VMs, while supporting core virtualization features?

A. VMDirectpath I/OB. NPIVC. RDMD. SplitRX

Network Performance

Which feature of vSphere 6.7 can be used to increase network throughput to VMs, while supporting core virtualization features?

A. VMDirectpath I/OB. NPIVC. RDMD. SplitRX

Page 40: SplitRx mode uses multiple physical CPUs to process network packets received in a single network queue, significantly improving network performance for certain workloads.

TIP: Be ready for surprises!

Page 39:. DirectPath I/O is not compatible with vMotion, physical NIC sharing, snapshots, suspend/resume, Fault Tolerance, NetIOC, memory overcommit, VMSafe, or NSX network virtualization

vSphere6.7 Best Practices Guide:

Section 7 – Administrative and Operational Tasks in a VMware vSphere Solution

Roles and Permissions

Which of the following is not a default System Role in vSphere 6.5.

A No accessB. No cryptography administratorC. Virtual machine userD. Administrator

Roles and Permissions

Which of the following is not a default System Role in vSphere 6.7.

A No accessB. No cryptography administratorC. Virtual machine userD. Administrator

From the Documentation: vCenter Server provides a few default roles. You cannot change the privileges associated with the default roles. Virtual machine user is a sample role and can be modified. From vSphere 6.7 Security Guide. page 35

TIP: Review the What’s

New in 6.5 and 6.7 docs!

Question on Network Resource Pools

On a vSphere Distributed Switch with 5 ESXi hosts having two 10 Gbps uplinks each, you set the bandwidth reservation for VM system traffic to 0.5 Gbps. What is the maximum reservation you can configure for the network resource pools?

A. 95 Gbps

B. 95.5 Gbps

C. 5 Gbps

D. 0.5 Gbps

Question on Network Resource Pools

On a vSphere Distributed Switch with 5 ESXi hosts having two 10 Gbps uplinks each, you set the bandwidth reservation for VM system traffic to 0.5 Gbps. What is the maximum reservation you can configure for the network resource pools?

A. 95 Gbps

B. 95.5 Gbps

C. 5 Gbps

D. 0.5 Gbps

Aggregate VM reservation across uplinks:0.5 Gbps X 10 NICs = 5 Gbps

TIP: Use your scratch pad!

Question on Admission Control

The vSphere HA Cluster’s Configured Failover Capacity for CPU and Memory is set to 25%. How much CPU resources are still available to power on VMs?

A. 70%

B. 75%

C. 30%

D. 45%

Question on Admission Control

The vSphere HA Cluster’s Configured Failover Capacity for CPU and Memory is set to 25%. How much CPU resources are still available to power on VMs?

A. 70%

B. 75%

C. 30%

D. 45%

From vSphere 6.7 Documentation: the Current CPU Failover Capacity is 70% ((24GHz - 7GHz)/24GHz). 45% (70% - 25%) is still available to power on VMs

TIP: Pay attention to examples and to formulas in

the VMware Docs!

Wrap-up

1. Exam Requirements2. Preparation Tools3. Objectives

A. Sample Practice QuestionsB. AnswersC. Tips

Confidential │ ©2018 VMware, Inc.

Thank you!

Please fill in the session survey.

John A. Davis

MEJEER, LLC (Delivering VMware Professional Services) @johnnyadavis, john.davis@mejeer.com

09/25/2019