Time To Get Involved – HP Accredited Solutions Expert

Posted on by Craig

I had intended to take a break from studying after recently passing the VCP5-DT.  Yesterday, I received an email from HP mentioning that I could update my HP APC – StorageWorks Solutions Architect 2011 to HP ASE – Storage Solutions Architect, needless to say that email which normally I would have filed in ‘deleted items’ had me intrigued.

First of all I checked the certification overview which states

“This certification validates that you are able to identify and translate business requirements into an enterprise, multi-site storage solution design that supports all needed applications and data. This includes data across physical, virtual and cloud environments with a common architecture and converged management considerations. Your skills to design deduplication and back-up/recovery solutions for information protection and storage solutions for information retention and analytics with massive “big data” repositories will be validated. This includes validation of your expertise to design and architect storage solutions that enable seamless efficiency, agility, information protection, and non-disruptive scalability for optimum ROI.”

Some fancier words that I would tend to normally use, however it does fit the very essence of what I do.

The ideal candidate

“IT professionals with at least one year of experience in storage technologies are ideal candidates. If you want the proven credibility to not only identify and define business requirements but to also design enterprise, multi-site complex storage solutions to meet those needs, this certification is ideal for you.”

Again, I fit the bill, there must be a catch somewhere I thought, maybe it’s four exams and you need to go on a paid course?

Looking into this, it appears that you only need to sit and pass the HP0-J66 HP Storage Migration exam.  Earning this certification confirms you can:

  • Understand the hardware configuration and architecture of the new HP 3PAR StoreServ platform
  • Identify the components and the specifications of the new HP 3PAR StoreServ platform
  • Describe changes in the Service Processor on the HP 3PAR StoreServ OS 3.1.2
  • Explain how to use the HP 3PAR StoreServ Virtual Service Processor
  • Describe how to use the HP 3PAR StoreServ SmartStart setup tool
  • Describe the new features of the StoreVirtual SAN/iQ Operating System environment
  • Identify changes to the CMC to integrate FC connection type similar to iSCSI
  • Identify and describe the OneCommand Manager and San Toolbox HBA And SAN Tools used to
  • Configure the StoreVirtual fiber channel platforms
  • Understand the hardware configuration and architecture of the new StoreVirtual servers
  • Identify the components and the specifications of the new StoreVirtual servers

The exam must be fairly recent as StoreServ was only released late November 2012, same for StoreVirtual (LeftHand’s new name).

I plan to use the material below for the exam.  This is all web based training and is free from HP Learning Center

  • HP 3PAR Inform OS 3.1.2 Delta Rev 13.11
  • HP 3PAR 7000 Array Hardware Delta, Rev. 13.11
  • HP StoreOnce B6000 Backup System Training Rev 13.11
  • LeftHand SAN/iQ 10.1 L2 Training Rev 13.11
  • LeftHand Nitro A L2 Training Rev 13.11

My VCP5 Exam Experience

Posted on by Craig

Before I start this entry, I would like to point out that this isn’t for anyone who wants to know the answers to the exam questions as I won’t be disclosing any information about the content except for pointing you towards the VCP 510 exam blueprint.

What sort of experience do I have with vSphere 5? Well in the first half of this year, I have been fortunate enough to have performed a few installs:
  

  • 3 x Enterprise License installs
  • 2 x Essentials Plus installs
  • 3 x HP 3PAR F400 installations
  • 2 x HP P2000 iSCSI installations
  • 3 x Fabric installations using Brocade HBA’s and HP Fabric switches
  • 26 x ESXi5 host installs

I had also designed another seven VMware vSphere 5 environments ranging from Essentials Plus to Enterprise.

With this in mind, I felt I could handle the VCP510 with my real world experience and I foolishly just booked the exam.  First time round I failed with 285, which was quite frustrating as 300 is the pass mark.

Why did I fail, well, lack of preparation and I misread some of the questions (I know this as some appeared second time round).

I felt the exam was alot harder than the VCP410 as it tests such a broad technical skill base, from networking to storage to ESXi5.  So you need to know your ‘onions’ in every area.
So after my failure, I decided to do things the right way.  I purchased Scott Lowes – Mastering vSphere 5 and Duncan Epping’s – vSphere 5 Clustering Technical Deepdive on Amazon Kindle.  I can’t recommend these books highly enough if you are looking to pass the VCP510 exam.  Each night I went over the chapters and built a nested ESXi5 environment to go over areas that are not my strong point e.g. Distributed Switches and Data Recovery to try increase my technical understanding as our customers normally use Veeam and Enterprise for licenses.

Second time round, I passed with 461, which I was really pleased with.

I always approach exams the same way, I get to the examination centre round 30 minutes early, so you can go over the sign in process and hand over your valuables.  I then make three signs on the plastic sheet you are given

Tick – these are for questions I know I have definitely know the answers too.

Question Mark – these are questions I’m 80% plus sure on

Cross – these are questions I’m making an educated guess or generally haven’t got a clue on!

I try to aim for 30 seconds per question to give myself enough time to review questions at the end.  If I find I have spent over a minute on a question, I will mark it for review and then come back to it.  At the end of the exam, I only review questions I have marked for review not all of them.

Then when I’m finally ready to click the submit button, I always cover my eyes and then peek through my hands at the results.  I’m really not sure why I do this, but as they say habits die hard!

VTSP 5

Posted on by Craig

Bit of a strange one really, I was all prepared to crack on and go over the VMware Technical Sales Professional 5 training in VMware Partner University.

Logged in and added the VTSP 5 to ‘my Plan’.  Much to my surprise it then said I had met all the pre requisites and I’m now a VTSP 5.

Slightly easier than I imagined!