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The primary reason for becoming vExpert certainly should not be related to any possible benefits of the program. And once confirmed (for me is the fifth year in a row) you have to think more about what you can give rather to what is to be expected. But I’d be a hypocrite to deny that there are also practical advantages in being a vExpert!

Officially, VMware, according with the vExpert FAQ, say that the biggest benefit of the award is the public recognition as a VMware vExpert Award winner.

But benefits also include:

  • vExpertAward certificate and gift
  • vExpert logo to display on website or email signature
  • Access to a private vExpert community
  • Free subscription to conference session materials on VMworld.com
  • Access to exclusive online events and other opportunities to participate in activities
  • Inclusion in public vExpert directory

Unofficially, there are, sometimes, also the access to VMware beta programs and/or products license. Note that VMworld pass are not listed… so it could be, but also not (usually each year it was, but please don’t ask for it, just follow the official vExpert community for any news)!

Added on May 23: For VMworld blogger passes (so not only limited to vExpert) see this link.

But there are also a lot of other benefits (this was the 2013 related list) offer by third part people or companies.

There are also different groups and lists:

Pluralsight

Pluralsight-LogoHistorically TrainSignal give the access to a lot of material. In the past year it was acquired by Pluralsight and the available material has increased!

Also it was the first to announce the confirmation of the vExpert (and MVP) benefit also for 2014:

Just fill out the online form. Note that there is also an interesting opportunity for the communities.

Login VSI

The Login VSI VIP program builds on these programs and offers a number of special benefits to all active Citrix Technology Professionals (CTP), to all VMware vExperts, and to Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) for App-V, Remote Desktop Services and Virtual Machine:

  • A free (for non-commercial use) Login VSI Pro license (12 months, 100 user sessions)
  • Login VSI goodies (like the “I love a good performance” T-shirt) when we meet in person
  • Direct access to our support, product marketing and development team

Just fill out the online form.

HP

If you are interested to a NFR license of HP StoreVirtual VSA (that can also be used to testing the storage integration of Veeam Backup & Replication), just ping (and thanks) Calvin Zito. Here is the post on Google+.

Devolutions

Devolutions is offering vExperts a free license of their flagship remote desktop management solution. Remote Desktop Manager lets you centralize, organize and securely share all your remote connections, credentials, passwords and documents throughout your entire team. Learn more about Remote Desktop Manager on SlideShare.

If you are interested and would like to obtain the free license, please send an email to [email protected] along with a link to your VMTN profile. Devolutions will not add you to any email lists, databases or share your information.

Proximal data

Proximal Data give a free trial of AutoCache, a software cost-effectively solution that removes I/O bottlenecks in VMware ESXi servers, enabling you to increase your VM density by up to 3x.

Royal TS

Royal TS give a NFR license for Microsoft MVPs, Citrix CTPs and VMware vExperts of Royal TS or TSX, a powerful tool for server admins, system engineers, developers and IT focused information workers who constantly need to access remote systems with different protocols.

Veeam

As usually Veeam is giving a free 180-day NFR license for 2 sockets of Veeam® Backup Management Suite™ 7 for VMware (or Hyper-V for Microsoft certifications/awards) for your home or work lab.

Note that this does not apply only for VMware vExperts, but also for VMware Certified Professionals (VCP), Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP), Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists (MCTS) and Most Valuable Professionals (MVP).

Symantec

If you are a VMware vExpert, VMware Certified Professional or VMware Certified Instructor, you can get free two licenses of Symantec Backup Exec V-Ray Edition along with 12 months of essential support to use in production or non-production environments (e.g. evaluation, demonstration or training purposes).

DataCore

If you are a VMware vExpert, VMware Certified Professional or VMware Certified Instructor, DataCore Software is offering a free 1 year NFR license for DataCore’s SANsymphony-V Storage Hypervisor Software.

SolarWinds

VMware vExperts are offered a free 6 months NFR/Demonstration license to Solarwinds Virtualization Manager.

Nakivo

If you are a VMUG member, VMware vExpert, VCP, or VCI you can get a free two-socket Not For Resale (NFR) license of NAKIVO Backup & Replication for your home or work lab.

Unitrends

If you are VCPs, VCIs, vExperts, MVPs, MCPs you can protect 2 sockets and 2 physical servers with Unitrends backup solution. Note that you have also phone, e-mail and online support with 1-year expiration (renewable along with certification).

VSS Labs

VSS Labs is releasing a new product, called vCert Manager, which will vastly improve the SSL certificate management experience for VMware customers. VSS Labs has a free NFR license available for home lab usage, with a special bonus for current fellow VMware vExperts. The tool will discover all of your components, even if they exceed your license, but you can only actively manage the number up to your licensed threshold (2 vCenter, 10 hosts). For more info see this post.

Tintri

Tintri-Shirt2013Like previous year, Tintri recognize vExpert guys with a nice shirt. The one of previous two years (it’s becoming a tradition) were really cool and this year seem similar of the past one (with the the number of starts related to the number of years in vExpert program).

To request your shirt use this form: vExpert Shirt Offer 2014.

Note: Supplies are limited. Must be a 2014 vExpert to participate. Requests must be received by June 30, 2014.

Tegile Systems

Tegile want to thank the VMware vExpert 2014 for contributing to the VMware community. All vEXPERTS attending VMworld 2014 in San Francisco are eligible to receive an exclusive vEXPERT gift package, which includes:

  • A fleece pullover customized with your name, Twitter handle and vEXPERT logo
  • A portable USB charger
  • An exclusive invitation to the Tegile Party @ Roe on Monday, August 25th

Not sure if the first two are also available for vExpert at the VMword EU edition (just register and choose that you cannot attend at VMworld US, they will send you the pack to home). Anyway for more information see this page.

Simplivity

Past year there was an awsome gift (an embedded system). This year there is a coffee presses:

VMware vCHS

VMware has setup a process for vExperts to get access on a rolling basis to vCloud Hybrid Service.  For more information see:

Other

  • As written in this post, you can have a vExpert URL Shortener with the prefix vexpert.me! (thanks @dawoo)
  • In the same post there also also part 2, related to the vExpert stickers (of past year). Click here to complete the form.

See also those posts:

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Virtualization, Cloud and Storage Architect. Tech Field delegate. VMUG IT Co-Founder and board member. VMware VMTN Moderator and vExpert 2010-20 and vExpert Pro. Dell TechCenter Rockstar 2014-15. Microsoft MVP 2014-16. Veeam Vanguard 2015-19. Nutanix NTC 2014-20. Several certifications including: VCDX-DCV, VCP-DCV/DT/Cloud, VCAP-DCA/DCD/CIA/CID/DTA/DTD, MCSA, MCSE, MCITP, CCA, NPP.