Target Audience

• System Administrators and Engineers responsible for vSphere day‑to‑day operations

• Consultants and Solution Architects designing enterprise virtualization solutions

• IT professionals seeking the VCP‑DCV 2024 certification

System Administrators and Engineers responsible for vSphere day‑to‑day operations

Consultants and Solution Architects designing enterprise virtualization solutions

IT professionals seeking the VCP‑DCV 2024 certification

Prerequisites

• 6–12 months of hands‑on experience with vSphere 7.x or 8.x

• Familiarity with server administration (Windows/Linux) and networking fundamentals

• Completion of VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V8] (recommended)

6–12 months of hands‑on experience with vSphere 7.x or 8.x

Familiarity with server administration (Windows/Linux) and networking fundamentals

Completion of VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage [V8] (recommended)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Install and configure VMware ESXi hosts and vCenter Server Appliance.

Build and manage vSphere clusters with DRS, HA, vSAN, and vCLS.

Design and implement advanced networking (VDS, NIOC, DPU offload) and storage (datastore clusters, vVOLs, SIOC).

Optimize performance using resource pools, shares/reservations, performance charts, and Skyline proactive management.

Plan and execute vSphere Lifecycle Manager updates for ESXi OS, drivers, firmware, and virtual machines.

Deploy and convert encrypted VMs, configure vMotion encryption, and integrate with a Key Management Server.

Troubleshoot and repair using host and vCenter log analysis, support bundle generation, and host profile remediation.

Create and manage roles, permissions, alarms, content libraries, and automated DRS rules.

Perform VM migrations (vMotion, Storage vMotion, cold, cross‑vCenter) under varied constraints.

Apply exam‑style case studies and performance‑based lab scenarios to solidify understanding.

Course Outline

vSphere Architecture & Deployment

• ESXi installation, boot options, lockdown mode

• vCenter Server Appliance deployment, Single Sign‑On, high availability

ESXi installation, boot options, lockdown mode

vCenter Server Appliance deployment, Single Sign‑On, high availability

Cluster Services & Storage

• DRS, HA, vSphere Cluster Services (vCLS) retreat mode

• vSAN architectures (ESA vs. hybrid), vVOLs, NFS/iSCSI/FC datastores

DRS, HA, vSphere Cluster Services (vCLS) retreat mode

vSAN architectures (ESA vs. hybrid), vVOLs, NFS/iSCSI/FC datastores

Networking & Performance

• Standard vs. distributed switches, NIOC, QoS

• Resource pools, shares/limits/reservations, latency sensitivity, CPU affinity

Standard vs. distributed switches, NIOC, QoS

Resource pools, shares/limits/reservations, latency sensitivity, CPU affinity

Lifecycle Management

• vSphere Lifecycle Manager: baselines vs. images

• Firmware and driver management via hardware support managers

• Update Planner and Skyline proactive recommendations

vSphere Lifecycle Manager: baselines vs. images

Firmware and driver management via hardware support managers

Update Planner and Skyline proactive recommendations

Security & Encryption

• Identity federation and KMS integration

• Deploying encrypted VMs and vMotion encryption modes

Identity federation and KMS integration

Deploying encrypted VMs and vMotion encryption modes

Troubleshooting & Repair

• Key log files (hostd, vmkernel, vpxd, vpxa, fdm)

• Generating and analyzing support bundles

• Host profiles: extract, customize, remediate, compliance checks

Key log files (hostd, vmkernel, vpxd, vpxa, fdm)

Generating and analyzing support bundles

Host profiles: extract, customize, remediate, compliance checks

Administration & Operations

• Role‑based access control and least‑privilege design

• Custom and predefined alarms, actions, and automated workflows

• Content libraries, OVF/OVA deployment, VM template version management

Role‑based access control and least‑privilege design

Custom and predefined alarms, actions, and automated workflows

Content libraries, OVF/OVA deployment, VM template version management

Migration Strategies

• vMotion, Storage vMotion, cold migration, cross‑vCenter export/import

• Migration prerequisites, constraints, and best practices

vMotion, Storage vMotion, cold migration, cross‑vCenter export/import

Migration prerequisites, constraints, and best practices

Exam Preparation Workshops

• Sample questions covering multiple‑choice, multi‑select, and case studies

• Timed performance‑based lab exercises

• Exam‑taking strategies and review of blueprint objectives

Sample questions covering multiple‑choice, multi‑select, and case studies

Timed performance‑based lab exercises

Exam‑taking strategies and review of blueprint objectives