This page is designed to serve as a summary of the best VCAP5-DCA related material you can find. It will be continually updated with new and more detailed information as I work through my own VCAP studies until I pass the exam myself. Come back often to find the latest updates and feel free to suggest a resource in the comments.
Update: 07-April-2014
VMware has announced a new VCAP5-DCA exam based on vSphere 5.5 (VDCA550). I have updated the resources to include the new exam blueprint as well as some additional content.
The Exam
Prerequisites
To be able to attain the VCAP5-DCA certification you must first already have completed one of the following VCP level exams as well as the required VMware Authorized training courses.
- VMware Certified Professional 5 - Data Center Virtualization (VCP5-DCV)
- VMware Certified Professional 5 - Desktop (VCP5-DT)
- VMware Certified Professional - Cloud (VCP-Cloud)
- VMware Certified Advanced Professional 4 - Data Center Administration (VCAP4-DCA)
Exam Details
Download the exam blueprint. This will serve as a guide for knowing what is covered on the exam and can be used as a checklist as you progress through your studies.
vSphere 5.5 Based Exam – Exam Code VDCA550 Blueprint
[vSphere 5.0 Based Exam – Exam Code VDCA510 Blueprint
]2
Chris Wahl has converted the exam objectives into a checklist for you to help you organize your studies.
VCAP5 Training
- VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale. The optional VMware instructor led training to help prepare for the VCAP5-DCA.
Training Videos
- Pluralsight: VMware vSphere Optimize & Scale course by Jason Nash
- Pluralsight: VMware vSphere 5 course by VMware vSphere 5 & Elias Khnaser
- CBT Nuggets: VMware Virtualization VCP vSphere 5 by Greg Shields
- CBT Nuggets: VMware vSphere 5.5 VCA-DCV VCP5-DCV by Greg Shields
- Demo of VCAP lab environment from VMware. Gives you a visual of what working in the VCAP lab will be like.
Books
- Mastering VMware vSphere 5.5 by by Scott D. Lowe & Scott D. Lowe
- VCAP5-DCA Official Cert Guide by Steve Baca & John B. Davis
- VMware vSphere 5.1 Clustering Deepdive by Duncan Epping & Denneman
- Troubleshooting vSphere Storage by Mike Preston
- Learning PowerCLI by Robert van den Nieuwendijk
- VMware vSphere™ PowerCLI Reference by Luc Dekens; Alan Renouf; Glenn Sizemore; Arnim van Lieshout; Jonathan Medd
- VMware vSphere Resource Management Essentials by Jonathan Frappier
** Study Guides**
- vSphere 5 Documentation Center
- The Unofficial Official VCAP5-DCA Study Guide by Jason Langer and Josh Coen
VCAP5-DCA Exam Experiences
Learn from those who have already sat the exam. They will provide valuable insights into the nuances of the exam.
- https://communities.vmware.com/message/2344996#2344996
- http://www.michaelm.info/blog/?p=1365
- http://www.wynner.eu/computing/vmware/my-vcap5-dca-experiance/
- http://notes.doodzzz.net/2013/11/05/vmware-vcap5-dca-a-4-hours-dream/
- http://longwhiteclouds.com/2013/09/19/vmware-certification-vcap5-dca-exam-experience/
- http://www.boche.net/blog/index.php/2013/11/07/vmware-vcap5-dca-exam-experience/
VCAP5-DCA Study Tips and Blogs