Most viewed posts

Windows Target iSCSI for free

13 March 2012
Comments off
Reading Time: 2 minutes

There are some cases, like for test and/or labs (but not only), where could be useful convert a local storage to a shared storage compatible with VMware vSphere (or other hypervisors).

For local storage inside the host, the simplest solution is look for a virtual appliance that is designed for this scope (search for VSA – Virtual Storage Appliance). For a storage hosted on a Linux/Unix machine, probably the simplest solution is share the space with the NFS Server (of course it will be limited only to VMware vSphere). And when the storage is on a Windows machine?

For Windows Server 2008 R2 there is the official Microsoft iSCSI Target, downloadable for free (the licence has changed one year ago). There is also a guide to configure the Microsoft iSCSI Target. But this is compatible only with the Server OS and not with the client OS.

continue reading…

vStorage ,

General availability of Virtual Infrastructure 3.5 patches

10 March 2012
Comments off
Reading Time: < 1 minute

As report on tte “Product End of Life” page on VMware site, for  Virtual Infrastructure 3.5 (aka ESX/ESXi 3.5 and vCenter Server 2.5) both the General Availability and the End of Availability are expired. But some customers still have this product, so VMware has releases some new patches:

continue reading…

VMware , ,

How to verify other IT Certifications

9 March 2012
Comments off
Reading Time: 2 minutes

In the previous post I’ve define some ways to verify a VMware certification, to avoid frauds and wrong usage of false credential. Note that VUE give also a way to authenticate a Score Report.

For other certifications there are different ways and, in some cases, could also be simplest:

  • Microsoft: for all this kind of certification there is a specific portal (Validate MCP Transcript) where you can put the MCP ID (each certified people has a unique ID and this does not depends on the certification type) and a password (defined by the certified guy) and get the entire transcript of all Microsoft certifications. Note that old certifications (like MCSA and MCSE) does not officially expire (but of course are related to some specific products like Windows Server 2000 or 2003), but new certifications (MCTS, MCTIP, …) have and expire date.
  • Citrix: a common SaaS tool (Integral7.com) is used for all sales and technical certifications. The transcript page (http://www.certmanager.net/citrix) is not public available, but is possible require to send a specific certification (or more) transcript to an email (using “Publish Credentials”). The source email is [email protected], the IP may vary, so be sure to verify the header from a trusted transcript!
  • Symantec: it use the same tool of Citrix but with a different transcript page (http://www.symantec.com/certtracker/). Again it is possible to require to send a transcript via email. Note that for partner there are only several sales certifications and few technical certifications (STS).
  • EMC: still the previous tools, but with a different page (http://i7lp.integral7.com/emc).
  • Juniper and Cisco: same as before (http://www.juniper.net/certmanager/ and http://i7lp.integral7.com/cisco).
  • RedHat, Novell, and other vendors: … for the next post :)
vCertification none

How to verify a VMware certification

8 March 2012
Comments off
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Some days ago there was a case of one guy that was using VCDX certification (and several other certifications) without having it (or at least without demonstrate it). One of the biggest problem in certification credibility is avoid fraud.

Of course some could gain the certification with cheats and other form of frauds, but for some kind of certification (like the VCDX one) this is not possible: who gain it usually deserve it.

Actually there is a transcript tool for VMware certifications (and also for some accreditation) but it’s not public. You have your transcript in your own account. Also for each VMware certification there is also a printed version of the certification (but is not so difficult create a false scanned copy) and there isn’t a digital signed version that could be easy used to verify the certification validity. For all the certification a common way (but may require several time) could contact the the certification team ([email protected]) and ask them to verify the creadential and the certification ID.

continue reading…

vCertification, VMware , , ,

How VCDX has changed my life

6 March 2012
Comments off
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Pubblicato su IT Certification Master.

I’ve already describe my journey (see last link on vinfrastructure.it) but maybe I’ve not yet describe how this certification has change my life.

Basically because my professional life is not change at all, but this was a my choice. After the certification I’ve received several interesting proposal, but I like my jobs and I’ve choose (for this period) to remain in the “same boat”.

Anyway the VCDX experience was a really great challenge and an important grow (not for my career, as described before, but for my professional skill and knowledge). It’s a way to demonstrate (also to myself) that I’m on a “right way”.

Finally, in my opinion, a certification, also the VCDX one, is not a goal, is remain a travel where you have only reach a new level, but you cannot pull up!

vCertification

How to use certifications to become a virtualization expert

5 March 2012
Comments off
Reading Time: 10 minutes

See the complete interview on: How To Use Certifications To Become a Virtualization Expert – with Andrea Mauro

In this interview you will find:

  • What steps you must do to become VMware Certified Design Expert?
  • Why you should not concentrate only on a virtualization technology, but also on other technologies like networking, storage and even SQL?
  • Do you need to work with the biggest systems in the world to become a VCDX?
  • What other certifications are good for vEngineers?

IT Certification Master: Tell us something about the beginning of your career and about your first IT certification.

Andrea Mauro: I’ve started (a lot of years ago) with a Commodore 64, but only with my first experience on a PC (with MS-DOS) I understand that this passion would also be my possible work area. During University, I also played with Linux distributions and this gave me a better understanding of Operating Systems and networking.

Things are really change. Now start in IT is simpler and cheaper (I remember how expensive my first PC was and how difficult it was to find good books or good documentation).

My first officially certification was the VCP3 obtained on 26-Apr-2007, so not really early (I’ve started my career on 1996). Why so much time before a certification? First reason was the cost of a certification (my previous employers have no interest in paying for certifications). But there was a second reason, where initially I was not convinced about the real value of a certification.
To be honest when I’ve started, certifications were not so common as know and was simple to verify the capacity and the knowledge of a person. Now the knowledge level has raised a lot and there are several interconnections between different areas and technologies.

continue reading…

vCertification

My experience with VCAP5-DCD beta exam

1 March 2012
Comments off
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Today I’ve taken the VCAP5-DCD beta exam (I’ve already written about the invitation at this beta). This time I was lucky enough to find a testing center near home and avoid the issues of the VCAP4-DCD beta exam (see the entire story).

For general considerations, like the cost of this kind of exams, the (long) wait period, the selection criteria, … se my though about VMware beta exams.

About the exam itself it is really challenging: time seems really a lot (225 minutes + 30 minutes of extra-time for  non english native) and question seems not so much (131 in this beta)… but questions are really vary and sometime also longer, and not simple multi-choice answer but also “visio” or associations between different elements (both this kind of questions, IMHO, are a good way to make exams where you have to use your brain and you cannot cheat or guess the answer). It’s really easy finish the time without have complete the questions review. To use a “design” terminology time is a big constrain and a bad time management could be risk.

continue reading…

vCertification, vDesign, VMware ,
© 2025-2011 vInfrastructure Blog | Disclaimer & Copyright