VCP4 Exam Blueprint Study Notes
Section 1 – Plan, Install and Upgrade VMware ESX/ESXi
Objective 1.1 — Install VMware ESX/ESXi on local storage Knowledge
- Identify minimum hardware requirements – Extra Links #1
- Download, prepare and validate installation media
- Determine appropriate ESX/ESXi configuration in a given situation – Obtain required information for environment – Verify hardware against the VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide – Extra Links #1
- Perform a custom installation – Customize storage layout for given situations – Extra Links #1
- Configure ESXi from the direct console
- Configure ESX/ESXi NTP
- Manage ESX/ESXi licensing – Compare/Contrast VMware vSphere editions – Manage license keys
Tools
- VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide
- VMware ESX/ESXi and vCenter Server Installation Guide
- Configuration Maximums Guide
- Product documentation
- VMware Virtualization Toolkit
Objective 1.2 – Upgrade VMware ESX/ESXi Knowledge
- Plan a VMware vSphere upgrade – Backup/Restore ESX/ESXi host configuration – Understand Virtual Machine backup options – Determine if existing hardware meets upgrade requirements
- Understand VMware ESX/ESXi upgrade scenarios
- Perform upgrade to ESX 4.0 – Upgrade VMware ESX/ESXi – Upgrade virtual machine hardware – Upgrade VMware Tools
- Verify success of upgrade
- Understand upgrade roll back options
Tools
- vSphere Host Update Utility – Extra Links #1
- vCenter Update Manager
- vSphere Upgrade Guide
- ESX 4 Patch Management Guide
- Product Documentation
- esxupdate
Objective 1.3 – Secure VMware ESX/ESXi Knowledge
- Identify default security principles
- Understand Service Console firewall operation – Service Console Security Level – Extra Links #1, #2 – Opening/Closing ports in the firewall using the vSphere Client – Extra Links #1
- Set up user/group accounts
- Determine applications needed for accessing the service console in a given scenario
Tools
- vSphere Client
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
Objective 1.4 – Install VMware ESX/ESXi on SAN Storage Knowledge
- Configure LUN Masking – Extra Links #1
- Prepare SAN
- Configure FC or iSCSI HBA BIOS – Extra Links #1 – Enable BIOS – Select Boot LUN
- Install VMware ESX/ESXi
- Determine boot LUN size in a given situation
Tools
- FC or iSCSI HBA BIOS Tools
- FC SAN Configuration Guide
- iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide
- Product documentation
Objective 1.5 – Identify vSphere Architecture and Solutions Knowledge
- Differentiate VMware platform products and editions
- Understand the various datacenter solutions (View, SRM, Lab Manager, Stage Manager etc.)
- Explain ESX/ESXi architecture
- Compare and contrast bare metal vs. hosted architecture
Tools
- Introduction to VMware vSphere Guide
- Product Documentation
- VMware vSphere Editions Comparison Chart
Section 2 – Configure ESX/ESXi Networking Objective 2.1 – Configure Virtual Switches Knowledge
- Understand Virtual Switch and ESX/ESXi NIC and port maximums
- Determine the vSwitch NIC teaming policy in a given situation
- Determine the appropriate vSwitch security policies in a given situation
- Create/Delete Virtual Switches
- Create Ports/Port Groups
- Assign Physical Adapters
- Modify vSwitch NIC Teaming and failover policies – Extra Links #1
- Modify vSwitch security policy and VLAN settings – Extra Links #1
- Configure VMotion
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- VMware vSphere Client
Objective 2.2 – Configure vNetwork Distributed Switches Knowledge
- Understand ESX Host and port maximums for dvSwitches
- Determine the virtual port group NIC teaming and fail-over policy in a given situation
- Determine the appropriate virtual port group security policies in a given situation
- Create/Modify a vNetwork Distributed Switch
- Create/Modify Uplink Group settings
- Create/Modify dvPort Group settings
- Add an ESX/ESXi Host to a vNetwork Distributed Switch
- Add/Delete a VMkernel dvPort
- Migrate Virtual Machines to a vNetwork Distributed Switch
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation – Extra Links #1
- VMware vSphere Client
Objective 2.3 – Configure VMware ESX/ESXi Management Network Knowledge
- Modify Service Console IP Settings
- Configure Service Console availability – Extra Links #1, #2
- Configure DNS and Routing settings for an ESX Host
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- VMware vSphere Client
Section 3 – Configure ESX/ESXi Storage Objective 3.1 – Configure FC SAN Storage Knowledge
- Identify FC SAN hardware components
- Identify how ESX Server connections are made to FC SAN storage
- Describe ESX Server FC SAN storage addressing
- Describe the concepts of zoning and LUN masking
- Configure LUN masking
- Scan for new LUNs – Extra Links #1
- Determine and configure the appropriate multi-pathing policy – Extra Links #1
- Differentiate between NMP and third-party MPP
Tools
- Product documentation
- FC SAN Configuration Guide
- VMware vSphere Client
Objective 3.2 – Configure iSCSI SAN Storage Knowledge
- Identify iSCSI SAN hardware components
- Determine use cases for hardware vs. software iSCSI initiators
- Configure the iSCSI Software Initiator
- Configure Dynamic/Static Discovery
- Configure CHAP Authentication
- Configure VMkernel port binding for iSCSI Software multi-pathing
- Discover LUNs
- Identify iSCSI addressing in the context of the host
Tools
- Product documentation
- iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide
- VMware vSphere Client
- esxcli
Objective 3.3 – Configure NFS Datastores Knowledge
- Identify the NFS hardware components
- Explain ESX exclusivity for NFS mounts
- Configure ESX/ESXi network connectivity to the NAS device
- Create an NFS Datastore
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- VMware vSphere Client
Objective 3.4 – Configure and Manage VMFS Datastores Knowledge
- Identify VMFS file system attributes
- Determine the appropriate Datastore location/configuration for given virtual machines
- Determine use cases for multiple VMFS Datastores
- Create/Configure VMFS Datastores
- Attach existing Datastore to new ESX host
- Manage VMFS Datastores – Group/Unmount/Delete Datastores
- Grow VMFS volumes
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- VMware vSphere Client
Section 4 – Install and Configure vCenter Server Objective 4.1 – Install vCenter Server Knowledge
- Identify hardware requirements
- Understand configuration maximums
- Determine availability requirements for a vCenter server in a given situation
- Determine appropriate vCenter Server edition
- Determine database size requirements – Extra Links #1
- Prepare/Configure vCenter Server database
- Install vCenter Server using downloaded installer – Extra Links #1
- Install additional modules – vCenter Guided Consolidation – vCenter Update Manager – Extra Links #1 – vCenter Converter – Extra Links #1
- Determine use case for vCenter Linked Mode Groups
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- Database Sizing Tool/Calculators
Objective 4.2 – Manage vSphere Client plug-ins Knowledge
- Identify available plug-ins
- Determine required plug-ins for a given application
- Ensure permissions to install plug-ins
- Enable plug-ins after installation
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 4.3 – Configure vCenter Server Knowledge
- Identify the vCenter Server managed ESX Hosts and Virtual Machine maximums
- Join ESX/ESXi Hosts to vCenter Server
- Configure Guest OS Customization
- Use datacenters and folders to organize the environment
- Configure/Use Scheduled Tasks
- Configure/Use Resource Maps
- Use Storage Reports/Storage Maps
- View/Manage Events
- Configure vCenter Server settings
- Configure vSphere Client settings
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 4.4 – Configure Access Control Knowledge
- Create/Modify user permissions in vCenter
- Create/Modify user permissions in ESX Server
- Restrict access to vCenter inventory objects
- Define vCenter predefined roles and their privileges
- Create/Clone Edit roles
- Assign roles to users and groups
- Describe how privileges propagate
- Understand permissions as applied to user and group combinations
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Section 5 – Deploy and Manage Virtual Machines and vApps Objective 5.1 – Create and Deploy Virtual Machines Knowledge
- Understand virtual machine hardware maximums
- Create a virtual machine – Determine appropriate SCSI adapter – Determine Virtual Disk type – Install/Upgrade/Configure VMware Tools
- Create/Convert templates
- Customize Windows/Linux virtual machines
- Manage Customization Specifications
- Deploy a virtual machine from a template
- Deploy a virtual machine using VMware vCenter Converter Enterprise – Perform a Hot Clone – Perform a Cold Clone – Perform System Reconfiguration
- Deploy a virtual machine using Guided Consolidation – Perform Discovery – Analyze discovered virtual machines – Consolidate selected virtual machines
- Clone a virtual machine
- Import a virtual machine from a file/folder
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 5.2 – Manage Virtual Machines Knowledge
- Configure/Modify virtual machines – Add/Hot Add virtual machine hardware – Grow virtual machine disks – Determine appropriate disk format
- Connect virtual machines to devices
- Configure virtual machine options – General Options – Advanced Options – Power Management Options – VMware Tools Options
- Configure appropriate virtual machine resource settings
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 5.3 – Deploy vApps Knowledge
- Determine whether a vApp is appropriate for a given situation
- Define Open Virtual Machine Format (OVF)
- Import/Export a Virtual Appliance
- Build a vApp
- Create/Add virtual machines to a vApp
- Edit vApp Properties
- Export vApps
- Clone a vApp
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
- OVF Tool
Section 6 – Manage Compliance Objective 6.1 – Install, Configure and Manage VMware vCenter Update Manager Knowledge
- Determine installation requirements and database sizing
- Install Update Manager Server and Client components
- Configure update manager settings
- Configure patch download options
- Create baselines
- Attach baselines to vCenter inventory objects
- Scan ESX hosts and virtual machines
- Remediate ESX hosts and virtual machines
- Stage ESX/ESXi Host updates
- Analyze compliance information from a scan
Tools
- VMware vCenter Upgrade Manager Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- Update Manager Database Sizing Tools
Objective 6.2 – Establish and Apply ESX Host Profiles Knowledge
- Create/Delete Host Profiles
- Import/Export Host Profiles
- Edit Host Profile Policies
- Associate an ESX host with a host profile
- Check for Compliance
- Apply Host Profiles
- Analyze configuration compliance information from a scan
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Section 7 – Establish Service Levels Objective 7.1 – Create and Configure VMware Clusters Knowledge
- Create new cluster
- Add ESX/ESXi hosts to a cluster – Extra Links #1
- Configure High Availability basic/advanced settings
- Enable/Configure VM Monitoring
- Configure Distributed Resource Scheduler basic/advanced settings
- Configure Distributed Power Management
- Configure Enhanced VMotion Compatibility
- Configure swap file location
- Analyze HA host failure capacity requirements
- Analyze HA admission control
- Determine use cases for DRS automation levels and migration thresholds
- Determine use cases for DPM policies
Tools
- vSphere Availability Guide
- vSphere Resource Management Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 7.2 – Enable a Fault Tolerant Virtual Machine Knowledge
- Identify FT restrictions
- Evaluate FT use cases
- Set up an FT network
- Verify requirements of operating environment
- Enable FT for a virtual machine
- Test an FT configuration
- Upgrade ESX hosts containing FT virtual machines
Tools
- vSphere Availability Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 7.3 – Create and Configure Resource Pools Knowledge
- Determine Resource Pool requirements for a given situation
- Evaluate appropriate shares, reservations, and limits in a given situation
- Evaluate virtual machines for a given Resource Pool
- Create Resource Pools
- Set CPU resource shares/reservations/limits
- Set memory resource shares/reservations/limits
- Define Expandable Reservation
- Add virtual machines to pool
- Describe resource pool hierarchy
Tools
- vSphere Resource Management Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 7.4 – Migrate Virtual Machines Knowledge
- Identify compatibility requirements
- Cite the three methods of virtual machine migration
- Understand/Apply
- Determine migration use cases
- Compare and contrast migration technologies
- Migrate a virtual machine using VMotion
- Migrate a virtual machine using Storage VMotion
- Cold migrate a virtual machine
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 7.5 – Backup and Restore Virtual Machines Knowledge
- Describe different back-up/restore procedures and strategies
- Create/Delete/Restore Snapshots
- Install Backup and Recovery Appliance
- Install vCenter Data Recovery plug-in
- Create a backup job with vCenter Data Recovery
- Perform test and actual restores vCenter Data Recovery
Tools
- VMware Data Recovery Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
- Backup and Recovery Appliance
Section 8 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting and Alarm Management Objective 8.1 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting for ESX/ESXi Hosts Knowledge
- Understand general ESX Server troubleshooting guidelines
- Troubleshoot common installation issues
- Monitor ESX Server system health
- Understand how to export diagnostic data
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 8.2 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting for VMware FT and Third-Party Clusters Knowledge
- Analyze and evaluate VM population for maintenance mode considerations
- Understand manual Third-Party failover/failback processes
- Troubleshoot Fault Tolerance partial or unexpected failovers
Tools
- vSphere Availability Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 8.3 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting for Networking Knowledge
- Verify VM is connected to the correct port group
- Verify port group settings are correct
- Verify that the network adaptor is connected within the VM
- Verify VM network adaptor settings
- Verify physical network adaptor settings
- Verify vSphere network management settings
Tools
- ESX/ESXi Configuration Guides
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
- ping, vmkping, tcpdump, nslookup
Objective 8.4 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting for Storage Knowledge
- Identify storage contention issues
- Identify storage over-commitment issues
- Identify storage connectivity issues
- Identify iSCSI software initiator configuration issues
- Interpret Storage Reports and Storage Maps
Tools
- Product documentation
- FC SAN Configuration Guide
- iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide
- vSphere Client
Objective 8.5 – Perform Basic Troubleshooting for HA/DRS and VMotion Knowledge
- Explain the requirements of HA/DRS and VMotion
- Verify VMotion functionality
- Verify DNS settings
- Verify the service console network functionality
- Interpret the DRS Resource Distribution Graph and Target/Current Host Load Deviation
- Troubleshoot VMotion using topology maps
- Troubleshoot HA capacity issues
- Troubleshoot HA redundancy issues
Tools
- vSphere Availability Guide
- vSphere Resource Management Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
- DRS Resource Distribution Graph
- Topology Maps
- cpuid, ping, vmkping
Objective 8.6 – Create and Respond to vCenter Connectivity Alarms Knowledge
- List vCenter default connectivity alarms
- List possible actions for connectivity alarms
- For a given alarm, analyze and evaluate the affected virtual infrastructure components
- Create a vCenter connectivity alarm
- Relate the alarm to the affected components
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- vSphere Client
Objective 8.7 – Create and Respond to vCenter Utilization Alarms Knowledge
- List vCenter default utilization alarms
- List possible actions for utilization alarms
- For a given alarm, analyze and evaluate the affected virtual infrastructure resource
- Create a vCenter utilization alarm
- Relate the alarm to the affected resource
Tools
- vSphere Basic System Administration Guide
- Product documentation
- esxtop/resxtop
- Performance Charts
- vSphere Client
Objective 8.8 – Monitor vSphere ESX/ESXi and Virtual Machine Performance Knowledge
- Identify critical performance metrics (e.g., CPU ready, queue depth, etc.)
- Explain memory metrics (ballooning, shared, etc.)
- Explain CPU metrics (ready/wait time, etc.)
- Explain network metrics (usage, packet drops, etc.)
- Explain storage metrics (latency, queuing, etc.)
- Compare and contrast Overview and Advanced Charts
- Create an Advanced Chart
- Determine host performance using guest Perfmon
Tools
- vSphere Resource Management Guide
- Product documentation
- esxtop/resxtop
- Performance Charts
- vSphere Client
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