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Veeam Certified Engineer (VMCE) is a technical certification introduced by Veeam to documented proof that an engineer possesses the necessary level of expertise to correctly architect, implement and configure Veeam Software Solutions. Actually, in order to gain this certification, you basically need to attend a course and pass the related exam.

I’ve already described the entire process (and the benefit) for the VMCE Certification and also some comments about the VMCE Course. Finally I’ve found a timeslot time for study and some days ago I’ve passed the exam (I’ve still waiting my VMCE number, but at least on VUE site the pass status has been confirmed).


VMCEExam logistic

Although VMCE exam is similar to others (like VCP), there are some considerations: on VUE site you need to build a new account with a new login/password pair (nothing complicated, but just do it also if you are going to plan the exam soon). After this the booking process is exactly the same of a VCP exam (just to make an example). Note that you will need two different forms of valid (i.e. not expired) identification (exactly like with other VUE exams). Anyway the confirmation email is completely clear on the requirements.

The VMCE exam includes 50 randomized questions from each of the course modules. The VMCE certification is awarded to scores of 80% 70% or higher (also in Italy has been updated with the new score).

About the duration I’m pretty sure that was 90 minutes, but according with the confirmation email I’ve got a 30 minutes time extension for non-native English speaker living in non-English-speaking country. So the official base duration must be 60 minutes (don’t worry about the duration, see the comment about the type of questions).

Exam preparation

Actually there much VMCE study guide (I’ve found this, but note that several links are broken) and note that there isn’t any official blueprint (you can use the VMCE course modules as a replacement). Mainly you have to know Veeam Backup & Replication and Veeam ONE suite.

But first source will obviously be the VMCE course and the related material. Will be enough to pass the exam? My first thought was that it wasn’t, but after re-read the related material I have to admit that you can found all the exam answer on them (use the vmce7-textbook file and be sure to read it carefull more than once).

So a good tactic could be take the course and than schedule the exam a couple of days after it (in my case was not possible because the exam was not yet available). You will save a lot of preparation time and with only a day you can study well for the exam.

Do you need a lab to make practice? Unless you are not really comfortable with the user interface (or you manage Veeam Backup & Replication at least once a week) it could be recommended, but the lab during the course (that it’s well done) could be enough (if you plan the exam really close).

I’ve prepared it in the day before the exam, but unfortunately my preparation was not exactly like I’ve planned.  My initial plan was plan a training on the job to a customer in order to configure Veeam jobs and explain the different features, but (as sometimes happens) plan have changed and most of days has been waste on other (time consuming) tasks. So I’ve got only the time to ready the VMCE course textbook once (but could be not enough, unless you have the exam scheduled really close with the course).

Exam questions

As written there are VMCE exam includes 50 randomized questions from each of the course modules. I’ve found that the balance across modules is not necessary equally (I’ve got 4 questions on a specific feature), so be sure to know really well and widely the product features.

Questions are typical with closed answers that could be single answer (usually from 3-4 options) or multiple answers (usually 2 on 4 options, or 3 on 5 options). There are also some few cases really easy (like 3 answers on 4 options) where you can found the answer that it not correct. Sometimes you may have doubt on similar answers: just read carefully the answers or the question.

Note that time is not a constraints (I’ve finished the exam in less than 40 minutes): questions are really short and with simple sentences (only in few cases you really need to read twice to understand what is request). And you cannot review them or using forward or backward navigation! This seems really bad (and it similar to what happen with VMware design exams), but honestly it’s really a time saving. You have to answer and you cannot change your mind. It could be bad (there are few questions with some good hints for the answers of other questions) but also good (you can go faster). And anyway the new pass level (70% instead of 80%) really help to be more relaxed.

Actually there isn’t a mock exam, but I’ve taken the VMSP and VMTSP v7 exams (are online exams for Sales and Technical Pre-Sales) after the VMCE exam and I’ve found some similar questions: the overall difficult level is not comparable, but could be a really good hint to take them before the VMCE exam.

About the difficult level I have to admit that is not so easy: you need to study on this exam (not only Veeam Backup & Replication but also Veeam ONE included the Business View and Reporter), unless you use at least weekly those products. Some questions are really mnemonic and you need to know well the name or the options in the interface, or the name of files. Seem like a VCP4 exam and it’s a pity, considering that is intended to be a Certified Engineer, so maybe more questions about the design and architecture are better than mnemonic questions (that you can easy answer using a manual or the official guide). Itself are not interesting the name of the options, but the meaning of them and when you should use one instead of another.

But this is the same critique of the VMCE course that lacks (or at least could be bigger) of a big part about the design and the troubleshooting. Same is in the VMCE exam. So be sure to remember the name of services, the port numbers and other similar information. Maybe you can pass the exam also without knowing them, but it may help.

As written you need also know about VeeamOne and all modules included in the VMCE course that could be used as a on official blueprint. Again, maybe you can pass the exam also without this information (it’s just one module), but know it will give you more opportunity.

And what about Hyper-V specific topics? In the VMCE course the lab is only about VMware vSphere environments, and actually it’s enough to pass the exam: you need to know the management interfaces but this could be agnostic across VMware or Microsoft hypervisors. But note that not all Veeam features are implemented on both platform (or at least not in the same way), so be sure to know really well the different editions and how are implemented on the different platform (again the course material has the required information).

I’ve passed the exam barely (thanks to the new minimum score level), but my mistake was to have not planned enough time for the preparation. If you really can schedule it after the course (and you follow it careful), than one preparation day could be really enough. So good luck and good studing.

After the exam

Sound strange, but you will not know the result: the exam will ask for a final survey and then simple it will close. Don’t panic and keep calm! Your result is ONLY in the printed report. In my opinione, the score report could be improved. You have the different exam section with a value, but is not clear which is the maxium value (and if is the same for each section).

Not so much people has yet completed the VMCE certification path, but there are some other exam experiences (like this). VMCE numbers are actually low, but I’ve not yet receveided mine so I don’t know how much people are there.

Typically you should receive a confirmation email from Veeam and have your status reported in this page.

Re-certification

How the exam renewal will be handles is not yet completely clear. According with the official site:

All VMCEs are required to keep current on knowledge and certification related to Veeam Software, this includes the re-certification on all new major releases of the Veeam software. Each VMCE will have 120 days, after the release of a major software update and the associated upgrade course and exam, to take the course and pass the exam thus upgrading the certification level. If the VMCE fails to upgrade in the allotted time there will be another 90 days under which the VMCE must take the full course and pass the full exam. If after this time the VMCE has not been upgraded the certification will expire and the engineer will no longer be eligible for the benefits of the VMCE program.

But you will have a short course (like the what’s new) or in the first 120 days will be not necessary. Honestly I hope that will be like with VMware VCP where the course will be not mandatory in the first period.

Note: next version seems to be a 8.0 version and not a 7.1 or 7.5 version (by looking at existing build number of the new components), that mean a new major release; so be sure to have an active maintenance on your products! This will also mean a new VMCE Certification. So start studying.

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Virtualization, Cloud and Storage Architect. Tech Field delegate. VMUG IT Co-Founder and board member. VMware VMTN Moderator and vExpert 2010-24. Dell TechCenter Rockstar 2014-15. Microsoft MVP 2014-16. Veeam Vanguard 2015-23. 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.