VCP5-DCV (VCP550) Study Guide

The following pages will detail my study guide for the VCP5-DCA (VCP550) exam.

The guide is based off the VMware VCP5-DCA (VCP550) Blueprint version 3.7

I have created a document package of all required documents listed in the blueprint. There are some duplications but for the most part common files per objective can be found under the common files.

The zip file contains folders for each objective and contains some duplications but for the most part shared files for each objective can be found under the common files folder in that objective folder.

The file can be downloaded here

Objective 1 – Plan, Install, Configure and Upgrade vCenter Server and VMware ESXi

  • Identify available vSphere editions and features
  • Identify the various data center solutions that interact with vSphere (Horizon, SRM, etc)
  • Explain ESXi and vCenter Server architectures
  • Determine appropriate vSphere edition based on customer requirements

  • Identify available vCenter Server editions
  • Identify vCenter Server and vCenter Server database requirements
  • Identify Single Sign – On requirements
  • Deploy the vCenter Appliance
  • Install vCenter Server into a virtual machine
  • Size the vCenter Server database
  • Install and Configure the vSphere Client / vSphere Web Client
  • Install additional vCenter Server components
  • Install/Remove vSphere Client plug – ins
  • Enable/Disable vSphere Client plug – ins
  • License vCenter Server
  • Create a database connection to the vCenter Server database
  • Determine availability requirements for a vCenter Server in a given vSphere implementation

  • Identify ESXi host requirements
  • Perform an interactive installation of ESXi using media or PXE
  • Configure NTP on an ESXi Host
  • Configure DNS and routing on an ESXi Host
  • Enable/Configure/Disable hyperthreading
  • Select a CPU power management policy
  • Enable/Size/Disable memory compression cache
  • License an ESXi host

  • Identify upgrade requirements for ESXi hosts
  • Identify steps required to upgrade a vSphere implementation
  • Upgrade a vSphere Distributed Switch
  • Upgrade from VMFS3 to VMFS5
  • Upgrade VMware Tools
  • Upgrade Virtual Machine hardware
  • Upgrade an ESXi Host using vCenter Update Manager
  • Stage multiple ESXi Host upgrades
  • Determine whether an in – place upgrade is appropriate in a given upgrade scenario

  • Identify common vCenter Server privileges and roles
  • Describe how permissions are applied and inherited in vCenter Server
  • Describe Single Sign-On architecture
  • Configure and administer the ESXi firewall
  • Enable/Configure/Disable services in the ESXi firewall
  • Enable Lockdown Mode
  • Configure network security policies
  • View/Sort/Export user and group lists
  • Add/Modify/Remove permissions for users and groups on vCenter Server inventory objects
  • Create/Clone/Edit vCenter Server Roles
  • Add an ESXi Host to a directory service
  • Apply permissions to ESXi Hosts using Host Profiles
  • Differentiate Single Sign-On Deployment Scenarios
  • Configure and administer Single Sign-On
  • Manage Single Sign-On users and groups
  • Determine the appropriate set of privileges for common tasks in vCenter Server

Objective 2 – Plan and Configure vSphere Networking

  • Identify vNetwork Standard Switch (vSS) capabilities
  • Create/Delete a vNetwork Standard Switch
  • Add/Configure/Remove vmnics on a vNetwork Standard Switch
  • Configure vmkernel ports for network services
  • Add/Edit/Remove port groups on a vNetwork Standard Switch
  • Determine use case for a vNetwork Standard Switch

  • Identify vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS) capabilities
  • Create/Delete a vSphere Distributed Switch
  • Add/Remove ESXi hosts from a vSphere Distributed Switch
  • Add/Configure/Remove dvPort groups
  • Add/Remove uplink adapters to dvUplink groups
  • Configure vSphere Distributed Switch general and dvPort group settings
  • Create/Configure/Remove virtual adapters
  • Migrate virtual adapters to/from a vSphere Standard Switch
  • Migrate virtual machines to/from a vSphere Distributed Switch
  • Monitor dvPort state
  • Backup/Restore vDS configuration
  • Configure LACP on Uplink portgroups
  • Determine use case for a vSphere Distributed Switch

  • Identify common vSS and vDS policies
  • Describe vDS Security Policies/Settings
  • Configure dvPort group blocking policies
  • Configure load balancing and failover policies
  • Configure VLAN/PVLAN settings
  • Configure traffic shaping policies
  • Enable TCP Segmentation Offload support for a virtual machine
  • Enable Jumbo Frames support on appropriate components
  • Determine appropriate VLAN configuration for a vSphere implementation

Objective 3 – Plan and Configure vSphere Storage

  • Identify storage adapters and devices
  • Identify storage naming conventions
  • Identify hardware/dependent hardware/software iSCSI initiator requirements
  • Compare and contrast array thin provisioning and virtual disk thin provisioning
  • Describe zoning and LUN masking practices
  • Scan/Rescan storage
  • Configure FC/iSCSI LUNs as ESXi boot devices.
  • Create an NFS share for use with vSphere
  • Enable/Configure/Disable vCenter Server storage filters
  • Configure/Edit hardware/dependent hardware initiators
  • Enable/Disable software iSCSI initiator
  • Configure/Edit software iSCSI initiator settings
  • Configure iSCSI port binding
  • Enable/Configure/Disable iSCSI CHAP
  • Determine use case for hardware/dependent hardware/software iSCSI initiator
  • Determine use case for and configure array thin provisioning

  • Identify VMFS and NFS Datastore properties
  • Identify VMFS5 capabilities
  • Create/Rename/Delete/Unmount a VMFS Datastore
  • Mount/Unmount an NFS Datastore
  • Extend/Expand VMFS Datastores
  • Upgrade a VMFS3 Datastore to VMFS5
  • Place a VMFS Datastore in Maintenance Mode
  • Select the Preferred Path for a VMFS Datastore
  • Disable a path to a VMFS Datastore
  • Determine use case for multiple VMFS/NFS Datastores
  • Determine appropriate Path Selection Policy for a given VMFS Datastore

Objective 4 – Deploy and Administer Virtual Machines and vApps

  • Identify capabilities of virtual machine hardware versions
  • Identify VMware Tools device drivers
  • Identify methods to access and use a virtual machine console
  • Identify virtual machine storage resources
  • Place virtual machines in selected ESXi hosts/Clusters/Resource Pools
  • Configure and deploy a Guest OS into a new virtual machine
  • Configure/Modify disk controller for virtual disks
  • Configure appropriate virtual disk type for a virtual machine
  • Create/Convert thin/thick provisioned virtual disks
  • Configure disk shares
  • Install/Upgrade/Update VMware Tools
  • Configure virtual machine time synchronization
  • Convert a physical machine using VMware Converter
  • Import a supported virtual machine source using VMware Converter
  • Modify virtual hardware settings using VMware Converter
  • Configure/Modify virtual CPU and Memory resources according to OS and application requirements
  • Configure/Modify virtual NIC adapter and connect virtual machines to appropriate network resources
  • Determine appropriate datastore locations for virtual machines based on application workloads

  • Identify vApp settings
  • Create/Clone/Export a vApp
  • Add objects to an existing vApp
  • Edit vApp settings
  • Configure IP pools
  • Suspend/Resume a vApp
  • Determine when a tiered application should be deployed as a vApp

  • Identify Cloning and Template options
  • Identify content types
  • Clone an existing virtual machine
  • Create a template from an existing virtual machine
  • Deploy a virtual machine from a template
  • Update existing virtual machine templates
  • Deploy virtual appliances and/or vApps from an OVF template
  • Import and/or Export an OVF template
  • Create a Local/Remote Content Library with/without external storage (VMs, ISOs, Scripts, vApps)
  • Publish/Subscribe/Share a Content Library
  • Determine the appropriate deployment methodology for a given virtual machine application

  • Identify files used by virtual machines
  • Identify locations for virtual machine configuration files and virtual disks
  • Identify common practices for securing virtual machines
  • Hot Extend a virtual disk
  • Configure USB passthrough from an ESXi Host
  • Configure Serial port redirection
  • Configure virtual machine options
  • Configure virtual machine power settings
  • Configure virtual machine boot options
  • Configure virtual machine troubleshooting options
  • Assign a Storage Policy to a virtual machine
  • Verify Storage Policy compliance for virtual machines
  • Determine when an advanced virtual machine parameter is required
  • Adjust virtual machine resources (shares, limits and reservations) based on virtual machine workloads

Objective 5 – Establish and Maintain Service Levels

  • Describe DRS virtual machine entitlement
  • Create/Delete a DRS/HA Cluster
  • Add/Remove ESXi Hosts from a DRS/HA Cluster
  • Add/Remove virtual machines from a DRS/HA Cluster
  • Configure Storage DRS
  • Configure Enhanced vMotion Compatibility
  • Monitor a DRS/HA Cluster
  • Configure migration thresholds for DRS and virtual machines
  • Configure automation levels for DRS and virtual machines
  • Enable/Configure/Disable Host Power Management/Distributed Power Management
  • Enable BIOS P/C states
  • Create VM-Host and VM-VM affinity rules
  • Enable/Disable Host Monitoring
  • Enable/Configure/Disable virtual machine and application monitoring
  • Configure admission control for HA and virtual machines
  • Determine appropriate failover methodology and required resources for an HA implementation
  • Determine appropriate power threshold for a given implementation

  • Identify VMware Fault Tolerance requirements
  • Configure VMware Fault Tolerance networking
  • Enable/Disable VMware Fault Tolerance on a virtual machine
  • Test an FT configuration
  • Determine use case for enabling VMware Fault Tolerance on a virtual machine

  • Describe the Resource Pool hierarchy
  • Define the Expandable Reservation parameter
  • Describe vFlash Architecture
  • Create/Remove a Resource Pool
  • Configure Resource Pool attributes
  • Add/Remove virtual machines from a Resource Pool
  • Create/Delete vFlash Resource Pool
  • Assign vFlash resources to VMDKs
  • Determine Resource Pool requirements for a given vSphere implementation
  • Evaluate appropriate shares, reservations and limits for a Resource Pool based on virtual machine workloads

  • Identify ESXi host and virtual machine requirements for vMotion and Storage vMotion
  • Identify Enhanced vMotion Compatibility CPU requirements
  • Identify snapshot requirements for vMotion/Storage vMotion migration
  • Migrate virtual machines using vMotion/Storage vMotion
  • Configure virtual machine swap file location
  • Migrate a powered-off or suspended virtual machine
  • Utilize Storage vMotion techniques (changing virtual disk type, renaming virtual machines, etc.)

  • Identify snapshot requirements
  • Identify VMware Data Protection requirements
  • Explain VMware Data Protection sizing guidelines
  • Differentiate between VDP and VDPA
  • Describe vSphere Replication Architecture
  • Create/Delete/Consolidate virtual machine snapshots
  • Install and Configure VMware Data Protection
  • Create a backup job with VMware Date Protection
  • Manage and monitor VDP capacity
  • Perform a test and live full/file-level restore with VMware Data Protection
  • Perform a VDR data migration
  • Install/Configure/Upgrade vSphere Replication
  • Configure Replication for Single/Multiple VMs
  • Recover a VM using vSphere Replication
  • Perform a failback operation using vSphere Replication
  • Determine appropriate backup solution for a given vSphere implementation

  • Identify patching requirements for ESXi hosts and virtual machine hardware/tools
  • Create/Edit/Remove a Host Profile from an ESXi host
  • Import/Export a Host Profile
  • Attach/Apply a Host Profile to an ESXi host or cluster
  • Perform compliance scanning and remediation of an ESXi host using Host Profiles
  • Install and Configure vCenter Update Manager
  • Configure patch download options
  • Create/Edit/Delete an Update Manager baseline
  • Attach an Update Manager baseline to an ESXi host or cluster
  • Scan and remediate ESXi hosts and virtual machine hardware/tools using Update Manager
  • Stage ESXi host updates

Objective 6 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting

  • Identify general ESXi host troubleshooting guidelines
  • Troubleshoot common installation issues
  • Monitor ESXi system health
  • Export diagnostic information

  • Verify network configuration
  • Verify a given virtual machine is configured with the correct network resources
  • Troubleshoot virtual switch and port group configuration issues
  • Troubleshoot physical network adapter configuration issues
  • Identify the root cause of a network issue based on troubleshooting information

  • Verify storage configuration
  • Troubleshoot storage contention issues
  • Troubleshoot storage over-commitment issues
  • Troubleshoot iSCSI software initiator configuration issues
  • Troubleshoot Storage Reports and Storage Maps
  • Identify the root cause of a storage issue based on troubleshooting information

  • Identify HA/DRS and vMotion requirements
  • Verify vMotion/Storage vMotion configuration
  • Verify HA network configuration
  • Verify HA/DRS cluster configuration
  • Troubleshoot HA capacity issues
  • Troubleshoot HA redundancy issues
  • Interpret the DRS Resource Distribution Graph and Target/Current Host Load Deviation
  • Troubleshoot DRS load imbalance issues
  • Troubleshoot vMotion/Storage vMotion migration issues
  • Interpret vMotion Resource Maps
  • Identify the root cause of a DRS/HA cluster or migration issue based on troubleshooting information

Objective 7 – Monitor a vSphere Implementation

  • Describe how Tasks and Events are viewed in vCenter Server
  • Identify critical performance metrics
  • Explain common memory metrics
  • Explain common CPU metrics
  • Explain common network metrics
  • Explain common storage metrics
  • Compare and contrast Overview and Advanced Charts
  • Configure SNMP for vCenter Server
  • Configure Active Directory and SMTP settings for vCenter Server
  • Configure vCenter Server logging options
  • Create a log bundle
  • Create/Edit/Delete a Scheduled Task
  • Configure/View/Print/Export resource maps
  • Start/Stop/Verify vCenter Server service status
  • Start/Stop/Verify ESXi host agent status
  • Configure vCenter Server timeout settings
  • Monitor/Administer vCenter Server connections
  • Create an Advanced Chart
  • Determine host performance using resxtop and guest Performance Monitor
  • Given performance data, identify the affected vSphere resource

  • List vCenter default utilization alarms
  • List vCenter default connectivity alarms
  • List possible actions for utilization and connectivity alarms
  • Create a vCenter utilization alarm
  • Create a vCenter connectivity alarm
  • Configure alarm triggers
  • Configure alarm actions
  • For a given alarm, identify the affected resource in a vSphere implementation

  • Differentiate Major/Minor vCOPs badges
  • Explain vCOPs architecture
  • Deploy and Configure vCOPs appliance
  • Upgrade vCOPs
  • Understand metrics used by Major/Minor vCOPs badges
  • Monitor vSphere environment
  • For a given alarm, identify the affected resource in a vSphere implementation

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