Category: Certifications

  • 🎓 Exam Guide: VCP, VCF Architect → 2V0-13.24

    If you’re eyeing the VMware Certified Professional, VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 2V0-13.24 exam, you’re already walking the path of shaping modern private cloud architecture. Whether you’re a seasoned architect or an admin stretching into design territory, this guide will help you focus your prep with intention. For me, this wasn’t just another VCP… this was Credly Badge #99, and it didn’t come without deliberate study and real-world experience.

    📘 About the Exam

    The 2V0-13.24 is not your typical “click next” kind of test. This is a design-level VCP focused on VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x. You’re not just expected to know the how, but the why behind each architectural decision.

    The exam is structured to evaluate whether you can:

    • Interpret business and technical requirements
    • Translate those into logical and conceptual designs
    • Make design decisions aligned with Availability, Manageability, Performance, Recoverability, and Security (AMP-RS)
    • Map design choices directly to business outcomes

    🧠 Core Topics You Must Master

    Here’s a breakdown of the exam blueprint themes and what you need to nail:

    1. Logical vs Conceptual Design

    Understanding the distinction here is key:

    • Conceptual Design = “What does the business want to achieve?”
      • No technology mentioned.
      • Focus on high-level goals and constraints.
    • Logical Design = “How do we architect it logically?”
      • Technologies emerge, but no IPs, VLANs, or hosts yet.
      • Think: availability zones, workload domains, storage tiers.

    You will be tested on the ability to move from conceptual to logical with traceability back to the business requirements.

    2. Design Decisions Matter

    Expect questions that require critical thinking:

    • Which solution aligns best with requirement X?
    • How would a particular constraint affect the design?
    • What is the impact of removing a specific capability?

    You’ll need to:

    • Justify decisions using AMP-RS principles
    • Prioritize trade-offs (e.g., choosing performance over manageability, or availability over cost)
    • Think like an architect: not just “can this work,” but “should this be done?”

    3. Availability, Manageability, Performance, Recoverability, Security

    Let’s break them down:

    • Availability – Redundancy, fault domains, stretched clusters, HA
    • Manageability – Lifecycle management via SDDC Manager, visibility, automation
    • Performance – Workload sizing, storage policies, CPU/mem planning
    • Recoverability – SDDC & NSX SFTP Backups, VMware Live Recovery
    • Security – Role-based access, NSX segmentation, certificate management, Root Password Rotation, Isolated WLD

    🧩 Study Approach That Worked for Me

    Here’s how I approached it:

    ✅ 1. Know the Official Exam Guide Cold

    The exam guide is structured around real-world architectural flows – from stakeholder interviews to final documentation. Don’t just skim it – match each objective to something you’ve done in a VCF environment.

    ✅ 2. Use the VMware Cloud Foundation Reference Architecture (VCF RA)

    It’s not just documentation – it’s the answer key to many design scenarios. Learn the validated designs and the reasoning behind them.

    ✅ 3. Connect Requirements to Design

    Practice translating a list of stakeholder needs into design decisions:

    • Example: “Developers want isolation and scalability” → Is this a separate WLD? Do you use vRA Projects for guardrails?

    ✅ 4. Review Aria Suite & NSX Integration

    You’ll need a high-level grasp of:

    • Aria Automation Projects, Cloud Zones, Deployments
    • NSX overlay/underlay, T1/T0 design, BGP vs static

    ✅ 5. Leverage Hands-on Experience

    This is where working with VCF daily becomes an advantage. Lab what you can, especially around:

    • SDDC Manager workflows
    • Creating and deleting WLDs
    • Integrating Aria and NSX

    🏁 Final Thoughts

    This exam rewards those who understand why each decision matters. It’s not a test of memorization, it’s a test of your architectural mindset. If you’re working in VCF environments, or guiding customers through design workshops and decisions, this certification is your validation.

    And hey → Badge #99 unlocked. On to 100. 😎

    📚 Resources

    Let me know in the comments if you’re preparing or have questions – always happy to help another architect earn their stripes.

  • 🎓 Exam Guide: VCP, VCF Admin → 2V0-11.25

    A Practical Guide to Passing the VCF Admin Exam (2V0-11.25)

    If you’re here reading this, chances are you’re considering or preparing to take the VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Admin exam (2V0-11.25), based on VCF 5.2. Let’s take a more straightforward and practical approach, focusing on what you need to know to pass this exam and some solid recommendations for your preparation.

    1. Understand the Exam Topics

    The exam covers a wide range of topics, so it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the exam blueprint, which is the official guide outlining the domains and objectives. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to study:

    • Architecture and Components of VMware Cloud Foundation
      Understand the overall architecture of VCF, including how vSphere, vSAN, and NSX work together. You should know how VCF integrates with vSphere, NSX, and vSAN, and how the SDDC Manager orchestrates everything.
    • Deployment and Configuration
      This section tests your ability to deploy and configure VCF components. You’ll need to know how to set up the environment, configure networking and storage, and perform lifecycle management tasks like patching and upgrading.
    • Management and Monitoring
      You’ll be asked questions about managing the VCF environment and monitoring its health. Familiarize yourself with the SDDC Manager interface, how to use vCenter for monitoring, and how to troubleshoot issues within the VCF environment.
    • Troubleshooting and Maintenance
      Troubleshooting is a key skill. Be prepared to identify common issues with VCF, understand how to use logs to diagnose problems, and know how to perform basic maintenance tasks.

    2. Set Up a Hands-On Lab

    One of the best ways to prepare for this exam is through practical experience. If you haven’t already, set up a lab environment where you can deploy and configure VCF. Even if you don’t have access to an actual VCF environment, VMware provides resources like VMware Hands-on Labs, which offer free, guided lab environments that mimic the real-world setup.

    Recommendation:

    • Use VMware Cloud Foundation Documentation to get familiar with deployment steps and configuration tasks.
    • Practice basic tasks such as deploying a VCF instance, configuring networking, and managing vCenter through the SDDC Manager.

    3. Focus on the Key Tools and Technologies

    The VCF Admin exam tests your knowledge of several VMware tools and technologies. Make sure you’re comfortable with the following:

    • vSphere
      Familiarize yourself with the deployment and configuration of vSphere environments, particularly how it integrates with VCF.
    • vSAN
      Review vSAN concepts, including how to configure storage and manage clusters within the VCF framework.
    • NSX-T
      Know how to deploy and configure NSX-T in a VCF environment. Be prepared to understand networking and security policies, as well as how to configure and troubleshoot them within VCF.
    • SDDC Manager
      This is the heart of VCF management. Be comfortable navigating and using the SDDC Manager to manage the lifecycle of VCF components, perform updates, and configure settings.

    4. Study the Exam Guide and Resources

    VMware provides a comprehensive exam guide for 2V0-11.25, which is the foundation of your study plan. Here are some other useful resources to consider:

    • VMware VCF 5.2 Documentation
      This is your most important resource for understanding how VCF works in practice. Make sure to review installation guides, troubleshooting procedures, and lifecycle management best practices.
    • Training and Courses
      VMware offers several official training courses for VCF, such as the “VMware Cloud Foundation: Deploy and Manage” course. If you haven’t already taken it, I highly recommend it. It provides valuable hands-on experience and prepares you for real-world scenarios.
    • Practice Exams
      If available, practice exams are an invaluable resource for familiarizing yourself with the question format and ensuring you’re on track.

    5. Time Management During the Exam

    The VCF Admin exam is 60 minutes long, and you’ll have around 70 questions. It’s important to manage your time carefully. Here are a few tips:

    • Don’t dwell too long on any one question.
      If you’re stuck, mark it and come back to it later. Focus on answering the questions you’re sure about first.
    • Understand the question format.
      Many questions require you to identify the best solution for a given scenario. Focus on understanding the broader context of each question before jumping to the answer.
    • Use the exam to validate your knowledge.
      It’s okay to not know every single detail. Trust in your preparation and don’t second-guess yourself too much.

    6. Conclusion

    The VCF Admin exam (2V0-11.25) is challenging but entirely manageable with the right preparation. By familiarizing yourself with the core concepts of VCF 5.2, gaining hands-on experience, and studying the exam guide, you’ll be well-prepared to succeed.

    Remember, it’s not about memorizing every detail-it’s about understanding the foundational concepts of VMware Cloud Foundation and how they fit together. So, take a deep breath, focus on the key areas, and give yourself the time you need to study effectively.

    Good luck, and here’s to earning that VCF Admin certification!