Overall Learning Objective
To master all knowledge domains of the 2V0-11.25 exam and be able to:
Understand and explain VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) architecture
Deploy, configure, and manage vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and SDDC Manager
Plan scalable and secure cloud infrastructure
Confidently solve exam-style questions and troubleshoot real scenarios
WEEK 1: IT Architectures, Technologies, and Standards
Weekly Goal:
To build a strong foundational understanding of VMware Cloud Foundation’s underlying infrastructure, including data center components, virtualization technologies, and industry-standard frameworks for security and compliance. By the end of the week, you should be able to explain key concepts and their purposes in your own words.
Day 1 – Understanding Core Data Center Components
Daily Goal:
Grasp the basic structure of a modern data center and understand how compute, storage, networking, and virtualization fit together.
Tasks:
Learn the four major components of a data center: Compute, Storage, Networking, and Virtualization.
Write definitions and real-world examples of:
x86 servers running ESXi
SAN vs NAS
VLANs, switches, routers
Virtual Machines on hypervisors
Draw a basic diagram of a physical data center layout.
Watch a 5–10 minute VMware video explaining how data centers operate.
Key Focus:
Compute = ESXi + VMs
Storage = SAN/NAS and vSAN basics
Network = VLANs, Switches, Routers
Virtualization = Multiple VMs on a single host
Pomodoro Tip:
Use 3 Pomodoros: 2 for reading/drawing, 1 for summarizing
Add 1 Pomodoro for flashcards or recap
Day 2 – Virtualization Technologies (Server, Storage, Network)
Daily Goal:
Understand how VMware uses software to virtualize physical resources through vSphere, vSAN, and NSX.
Tasks:
Study server virtualization and how ESXi abstracts hardware.
Learn how vSAN pools local storage and enables features like RAID and FTT.
Study network virtualization with NSX (logical switches, routing, and firewalls).
Create a comparison chart: Traditional hardware vs Virtualized infrastructure.
Key Focus:
vSphere (server virtualization)
vSAN (software-defined storage)
NSX (network and security virtualization)
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 1 for each component, 1 for summary and flashcard creation
Day 3 – High Availability, Resource Scheduling, and vMotion
Daily Goal:
Learn how VMware ensures uptime, load balancing, and zero-downtime migrations.
Tasks:
Understand how vSphere High Availability (HA) automatically restarts VMs when a host fails.
Learn how Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) and vMotion balance workloads across hosts.
Create a diagram of a vMotion event step-by-step.
Write one real-world example each for HA, DRS, and vMotion.
Key Focus:
vMotion = live VM migration
HA = automatic VM restart after host failure
DRS = intelligent workload balancing
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 2 for study and drawing, 1 for creating use-case examples
Day 4 – Security Standards and Access Control
Daily Goal:
Understand how industry security standards guide data protection and how VMware enforces them.
Tasks:
Study the basics of ISO/IEC 27001, NIST SP 800-53, and Zero Trust Architecture.
Learn about Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in vCenter and NSX.
Make a side-by-side comparison of ISO, NIST, and VMware security tools.
Draw a multi-layer security architecture for a simple VCF deployment.
Key Focus:
ISO/NIST compliance standards
Zero Trust model = "Never trust, always verify"
RBAC = granular access management
NSX = firewall and segmentation at VM level
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 2 for reading/comparison, 1 for drawing and review
Day 5 – Cloud Architectures and SDDC Concepts
Daily Goal:
Understand the evolution of data center architecture and the concept of a software-defined data center (SDDC).
Tasks:
Learn the differences between Three-Tier, Hyper-Converged (HCI), Cloud-Native, and Edge Computing architectures.
Study what an SDDC is and how VMware Cloud Foundation implements it.
Get familiar with VMware Aria Suite (formerly vRealize) and Tanzu (Kubernetes integration).
Create a table comparing all architectures: design goal, use case, advantages, limitations.
Key Focus:
HCI = vSAN + vSphere + NSX
SDDC = fully software-defined compute, storage, and networking
Aria = automation and observability tools
Tanzu = container and Kubernetes integration
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for reading and comparing, 2 for application and review
Day 6 – Spaced Repetition Review + Active Recall
Daily Goal:
Strengthen memory retention by recalling and applying what you’ve learned.
Tasks:
Go through all flashcards made during the week.
Take a self-created 10-question quiz covering key topics.
Write from memory:
What is vSAN and how does FTT work?
What happens in a host failure if HA is enabled?
How does NSX create secure virtual networks?
Recreate two diagrams from memory:
Full data center architecture
NSX logical topology
Pomodoro Tip:
Use 2 Pomodoros for recall writing
Use 2 Pomodoros for the quiz and review
Use 1 Pomodoro for flashcard drilling
Day 7 – Optional Lab or Reflection Day
Option A – Hands-On Practice:
Try a VMware Hands-On Lab (HOL) for vSphere or NSX if available.
If no lab is available, simulate creating a VM using a template workflow or diagram.
Option B – Light Review and Reflection:
Write a short summary:
Which concept this week was the hardest to understand?
What should be revised next week?
Do a 10–15 minute review of flashcards for memory reinforcement.
WEEK 2: VMware by Broadcom Solution (VCF Platform and Core Components)
Weekly Goal:
To deeply understand the purpose, structure, and function of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and its four main components: vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and SDDC Manager.
By the end of this week, you should be able to explain how VCF is deployed, what it includes, how its architecture is layered, and how it supports modern cloud infrastructure.
Day 1 – Introduction to VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF)
Daily Goal:
Understand what VCF is, what problems it solves, and where it’s used.
Tasks:
Study the definition and purpose of VCF as a full-stack SDDC platform.
Identify and summarize the four core components: vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and SDDC Manager.
Review the common use cases: private cloud, hybrid cloud, multi-cloud, and Kubernetes with Tanzu.
Create a diagram that visually shows VCF as a platform managing infrastructure + containers.
Key Focus:
VCF = integration of virtualization, storage, networking, automation
Why it's used for hybrid and multi-cloud deployments
Support for containers through Tanzu
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for reading, 1 for diagramming, 1 for creating flashcards
Day 2 – Deep Dive into vSphere (VCF's Compute Layer)
Daily Goal:
Learn how vSphere enables virtualization of compute resources in VCF.
Tasks:
Study the role of ESXi hypervisors and vCenter Server.
Understand how clusters are managed and how HA and DRS work in vSphere.
Practice identifying which vSphere features are tied to availability and performance.
Review how vSphere fits into both the management and workload domains in VCF.
Key Focus:
ESXi as the host platform
vCenter Server as the management interface
Cluster-level management with HA, DRS
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 2 for concept deep dive, 1 for a short write-up/flashcards
Day 3 – Deep Dive into vSAN (VCF's Storage Layer)
Daily Goal:
Understand how vSAN provides shared storage within VCF and how its policies are used.
Tasks:
Learn how vSAN aggregates local disks to form a distributed datastore.
Study SPBM (Storage Policy-Based Management) and how policies like FTT and RAID are applied per VM.
Explore features such as deduplication, compression, encryption, and stretched clusters.
Draw a sample vSAN policy with: FTT=1, RAID 5, and deduplication.
Key Focus:
vSAN enables policy-based storage
FTT (Failure To Tolerate) determines resilience
Stretched clusters protect across sites
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for concepts, 1 for drawing/policy design, 1 for review
Day 4 – Deep Dive into NSX (VCF's Network and Security Layer)
Daily Goal:
Gain a clear understanding of how NSX virtualizes networking and enforces security.
Tasks:
Study logical switching, logical routing, and the role of Tier-0/Tier-1 gateways.
Learn how NSX Edge Nodes handle North-South traffic and external connectivity.
Explore Distributed Firewall (DFW), micro-segmentation, and security groups.
Design a 3-tier app topology with NSX segments and appropriate firewall rules.
Key Focus:
Logical network overlays
Tiered routing and edge services
Security via DFW and micro-segmentation
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for reading and drawing network flow, 2 for DFW and firewall planning
Day 5 – Deep Dive into SDDC Manager and VCF Architecture
Daily Goal:
Understand how SDDC Manager ties all VCF components together and manages their lifecycle.
Tasks:
Learn the role of SDDC Manager in deploying, patching, and upgrading vSphere, vSAN, and NSX.
Study how workload domains are created and managed.
Understand the difference between Management Domain and Workload Domains.
Create a diagram showing VCF architecture layers: Management Domain + multiple Workload Domains.
Key Focus:
SDDC Manager = lifecycle automation
Domain types and separation
Workload Domain creation process
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for SDDC Manager study, 1 for architecture drawing, 1 for flashcard review
Day 6 – Spaced Repetition Review + Active Recall
Daily Goal:
Reinforce what you’ve learned this week through active memory retrieval and testing.
Tasks:
Review all flashcards made this week.
Take a 15-question quiz covering all four VCF components.
Write from memory:
What does FTT=1 mean in vSAN?
What does a Tier-0 Gateway do in NSX?
What is the role of SDDC Manager during upgrade?
Redraw two major diagrams:
VCF component overview
VCF architecture with management and workload domains
Pomodoro Tip:
Use 2 Pomodoros for flashcard drilling
Use 2 Pomodoros for quiz and written recall
Day 7 – Hands-On or Reflective Practice
Option A – Hands-On Practice (if access available):
Use VMware Hands-On Labs (HOL) to explore vSphere or NSX Manager.
Simulate deploying a workload domain in theory.
Option B – Light Review and Reflection:
Write a brief personal summary:
Which component is most difficult for you to explain?
Which area do you feel confident about?
Do 10–15 minutes of review flashcards for reinforcement.
WEEK 3: Plan and Design the VMware by Broadcom Solution
Weekly Goal:
To learn how to analyze requirements, design scalable and resilient architecture, and plan resource sizing for VMware Cloud Foundation.
By the end of this week, you should be able to create a conceptual design based on real-world constraints, using VMware-recommended practices for capacity, storage, networking, availability, and future scalability.
Day 1 – Understanding the Design Methodology
Daily Goal:
Learn how professional IT architects approach design using structured frameworks.
Tasks:
Study the phases of the design methodology: Requirements, Assumptions, Constraints, Risks.
Practice identifying these elements from a sample case (e.g., a company migrating to private cloud).
Learn the five design qualities from TOGAF/ITIL: Availability, Manageability, Performance, Recoverability, Security.
Write a short explanation and example for each design quality.
Key Focus:
Requirements = What the system must achieve
Constraints = Limits like budget, time, hardware
Risks = Potential failure or uncertainty
Design qualities = Core architectural goals
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for concepts, 1 for examples, 1 for documentation practice
Day 2 – Compute and Resource Sizing
Daily Goal:
Learn how to calculate the right number of hosts, CPUs, and memory based on VM needs.
Tasks:
Study how to estimate:
Number of virtual machines
vCPU-to-pCPU ratio (e.g., 4:1)
Memory overcommit ratio (e.g., 1.5x or 2x)
Practice a sizing example:
200 VMs
Each with 2 vCPUs and 8 GB RAM
Calculate required physical CPUs and total RAM
Learn to use the VMware Sizer Tool or a manual spreadsheet.
Key Focus:
vCPU vs pCPU ratios
Memory planning and overcommit
Host utilization best practices
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for theory, 1 for practice case, 1 for recap and flashcards
Day 3 – Storage Design Planning
Daily Goal:
Understand how to plan storage capacity and resilience using vSAN or external storage.
Tasks:
Study vSAN vs external storage (NFS, iSCSI) and when to choose each.
Learn how to calculate usable vs raw capacity (considering RAID and FTT).
Practice designing a vSAN policy:
FTT=1, RAID 1, Deduplication ON
Calculate usable storage from 4 hosts with 2 TB each
Study performance metrics: IOPS, latency, throughput.
Key Focus:
Storage Policy-Based Management (SPBM)
FTT (Failure To Tolerate) and RAID levels
Deduplication and compression impact
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for learning, 1 for calculations, 1 for notes/flashcards
Day 4 – Network Planning and Logical Design
Daily Goal:
Learn how to design a logical network for VMware Cloud Foundation with NSX.
Tasks:
Understand VLAN segmentation for:
Management
vMotion
vSAN
Overlay networks
Edge uplinks
Learn the purpose of MTU settings and how Jumbo Frames enhance performance.
Study redundancy models: LACP (Link Aggregation) and active/standby NICs.
Practice drawing a logical network layout with NSX segments.
Key Focus:
VLAN planning
Overlay segments vs traditional VLANs
Transport zones and uplink design
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for reading/drawing, 1 for notes, 1 for recap
Day 5 – Cluster, Host, and Availability Planning
Daily Goal:
Plan host counts and cluster sizes based on workload types and failure tolerance.
Tasks:
Learn types of hosts:
Management domain
Workload domain
NSX Edge nodes
Study cluster design:
vSAN requires at least 4 hosts
N+1 or N+2 for fault tolerance
Learn about stretched clusters and their use in site resilience.
Review how NSX handles redundancy with:
NSX Manager clusters
Edge node clustering
Active-Active vs Active-Standby gateways
Key Focus:
Minimum cluster requirements
Redundancy planning
High availability strategy
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 2 for theory and drawing, 1 for flashcard recall
Day 6 – Spaced Repetition Review + Design Application
Daily Goal:
Strengthen memory and apply what you've learned by creating your own design.
Tasks:
Review all flashcards from this week.
Take a 20-question quiz focused on sizing, design qualities, and redundancy.
Create a sample design plan (basic):
1 Management domain
2 Workload domains
10 ESXi hosts
VLANs, MTU, FTT=1
Write a justification for your design choices (e.g., why N+1? why vSAN over external storage?).
Pomodoro Tip:
Use 2 Pomodoros for quiz + answers
Use 2 Pomodoros for case design and justification
Day 7 – Case Study Practice or Active Rest
Option A – Design Simulation Task:
Create a complete VCF design for a fictional business:
300 VMs
Mix of general-purpose and high-performance workloads
Security and compliance constraints
Include compute, storage, network, and security layers.
Option B – Light Review & Reflection:
Write a reflection:
Which design element do you feel least confident in?
What would you do differently if redesigning your Week 6 plan?
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros for design work or 2 for light review
WEEK 4: Install, Configure, and Administrate VCF
Weekly Goal:
To thoroughly understand the end-to-end deployment process, initial configuration, and day-2 administrative operations of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), including using Cloud Builder, SDDC Manager, vCenter, and NSX Manager.
By the end of this week, you should be able to simulate (on paper or in a lab) the full deployment flow of VCF and describe key administrative tasks.
Day 1 – Installation Prerequisites and Workbook Preparation
Daily Goal:
Learn what must be prepared before installing VCF using Cloud Builder.
Tasks:
Study hardware and software requirements (check VMware Compatibility Guide for VCF-certified servers).
Learn about DNS, NTP, and network setup required before deployment.
Open and examine a Deployment Parameter Workbook (Excel template). Understand what data is needed:
Hostnames, IP addresses
VLAN IDs for each network
FQDNs and gateway IPs
Root/admin passwords
Fill out a mock version of the workbook with sample values.
Key Focus:
Hardware compatibility
Accurate DNS and network planning
Workbook data = deployment blueprint
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for reading requirements, 2 for workbook walkthrough
Day 2 – Deploying the Management Domain with Cloud Builder
Daily Goal:
Understand the full workflow of deploying the management domain using Cloud Builder.
Tasks:
Study how to deploy the Cloud Builder appliance and access its web UI.
Learn how the workbook is imported and validated.
Understand what happens during deployment:
ESXi host installation
vCenter Server deployment
NSX Manager cluster setup
SDDC Manager deployment
Create a flowchart outlining the full deployment sequence step-by-step.
Key Focus:
Order of component deployment
Workbook validation errors
Time expectations and prerequisites
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for concept learning, 1 for sequence flow, 1 for error scenarios
Day 3 – Creating and Managing Workload Domains in SDDC Manager
Daily Goal:
Learn how to deploy new VI Workload Domains and manage them using SDDC Manager.
Tasks:
Study the steps for Workload Domain creation:
Host selection
Assigning VLANs and IPs
Deploying vCenter and NSX
Understand the options for Tanzu-ready domains.
Learn how to monitor WLD health and status in SDDC Manager.
Try sketching a deployment plan for two WLDs with different VLANs and purposes.
Key Focus:
Each WLD = self-contained vCenter + NSX instance
Flexible sizing for different workloads
Isolation between domains
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for reading and watching demos, 1 for sketching, 1 for flashcard creation
Day 4 – Password, Certificate, Backup and Restore Management
Daily Goal:
Understand how VCF ensures secure operations through credentials, certs, and backups.
Tasks:
Study how passwords are rotated automatically or on demand using SDDC Manager.
Learn the certificate management process:
Generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request)
Import signed certificate
Apply to vCenter or NSX
Explore the backup and restore process for SDDC Manager:
Backup schedule
Storage targets (NFS, S3-compatible)
CLI restore command example
Simulate a workflow: “Rotate expired certs + trigger backup + validate success.”
Key Focus:
Secure lifecycle operations
Centralized certificate handling
Automated backup system
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 1 each for passwords, certs, backups, and scenario planning
Day 5 – Lifecycle Management and Drift Detection
Daily Goal:
Learn how VCF upgrades and patches all major components and detects config drifts.
Tasks:
Study the update workflow in SDDC Manager:
Online/offline bundle download
Pre-check validation
Sequential component upgrades (ESXi > vCenter > NSX > vSAN)
Understand drift detection:
What is drift?
How does VCF identify unsupported versions or configuration mismatches?
Practice writing an upgrade plan for:
One Management Domain
Two Workload Domains
Key Focus:
SDDC Manager LCM (Lifecycle Management) features
Upgrade sequence and rollback
Maintaining platform integrity
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 2 for lifecycle reading and examples, 1 for flashcards and summary
Day 6 – Spaced Repetition Review + Operations Simulation
Daily Goal:
Reinforce all installation and administrative processes from the week.
Tasks:
Review all flashcards related to deployment and SDDC Manager tasks.
Take a 20-question multiple choice quiz covering:
Installation steps
Workload Domain creation
Certificates
Lifecycle
Simulate an upgrade + cert rotation + password change scenario on paper.
Write a troubleshooting plan for a failed WLD upgrade due to drift.
Pomodoro Tip:
Use 2 Pomodoros for quiz + correction
Use 2 Pomodoros for simulation writing
Day 7 – Light Practice or Reflective Recap
Option A – Lab Simulation (If Available):
Access VMware Hands-On Lab for SDDC Manager or vSphere lifecycle demos
Go through upgrade or password rotation tasks virtually
Option B – Light Recap and Reflection:
Reflect: What installation/configuration step do you still find confusing?
Write a “VCF Admin Playbook” entry:
How to deploy
How to patch
How to rotate a certificate
Review flashcards for 10–15 minutes
WEEK 5: Daily Operations, Monitoring, Troubleshooting, and Identity Management
Weekly Goal:
To master the key day-to-day administrative tasks in a VMware Cloud Foundation environment, including vSphere/vSAN/NSX configuration, monitoring tools, logging, and identity integration.
By the end of this week, you should be able to perform core admin functions, interpret performance issues, and describe how to automate routine tasks.
Day 1 – vSphere Administration and Resource Management
Daily Goal:
Understand how to manage clusters, VMs, DRS/HA settings, and template workflows in vSphere.
Tasks:
Study how to configure and manage:
Hosts in clusters
DRS and HA settings
Resource pools and affinity rules
Learn the process of creating:
VM templates
Custom content libraries
Linked clones (optional)
Simulate the deployment of 10 VMs using templates and placement rules.
Key Focus:
Cluster and resource pool configuration
HA/DRS logic and thresholds
Template-based deployments for speed and consistency
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 2 for study, 1 for diagramming cluster/template workflow
Day 2 – vSAN Administration and Performance Monitoring
Daily Goal:
Manage vSAN storage, apply policies, and interpret performance charts and health alarms.
Tasks:
Review how to edit and apply SPBM policies to VMs:
- Change FTT, RAID level, or space reservation
Learn how to monitor vSAN performance in:
vCenter Performance tab
Aria Operations (formerly vRealize)
Simulate identifying a performance issue (e.g., high latency or component rebuild).
Review how to respond to disk failure alerts.
Key Focus:
SPBM policy changes
Understanding latency, IOPS, throughput metrics
Rebuild and resync behavior in vSAN
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for policy practice, 1 for metrics review, 1 for failure handling
Day 3 – NSX Administration and Security Policy Configuration
Daily Goal:
Understand how to manage NSX logical networking, edge services, and apply distributed firewall (DFW) rules.
Tasks:
Learn how to:
Create segments and assign them to workloads
Configure Tier-1 and Tier-0 routing
Use NAT, VPN, and Load Balancer
Review DFW setup:
Create security groups and tags
Write firewall rules for East-West and North-South traffic
Simulate securing a 3-tier app with firewall rules and NSX tagging.
Key Focus:
NSX logical topology
Tiered gateway function
Micro-segmentation best practices
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for NSX network flow, 2 for security rule creation
Day 4 – Logging, Diagnostics, and Troubleshooting Tools
Daily Goal:
Learn how to access and analyze logs from vCenter, NSX, ESXi, and SDDC Manager.
Tasks:
Study how to generate:
vCenter support bundles
NSX Manager diagnostics
SDDC Manager log bundles
Understand how to configure remote logging to:
vRealize Log Insight (now Aria Operations for Logs)
Syslog servers
Simulate a failure (e.g., WLD fails to upgrade) and outline the troubleshooting steps:
Log locations
What to look for (error keywords)
Key Focus:
Log collection and filtering
Centralized logging with Aria
Troubleshooting flow and common failure points
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for log collection steps, 1 for visualization, 1 for writing a troubleshooting guide
Day 5 – Automation, CLI, and Identity Integration
Daily Goal:
Learn how to script and automate tasks using PowerCLI and VCF APIs, and configure identity access control.
Tasks:
Explore PowerCLI:
Connect to vCenter
List VMs
Check host status
Learn about VCF REST APIs:
Authentication
Lifecycle operations
Querying WLD info
Study how to integrate with Active Directory/LDAP:
Configure identity sources in vCenter and NSX
Apply roles and groups with RBAC
Simulate setting up SSO + assigning roles to "CloudAdmin" and "NetworkOperator".
Key Focus:
PowerCLI and API scripting
LDAP and AD integration
Role-based permissions
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 1 for PowerCLI practice, 1 for API study, 2 for access control setup and scenario design
Day 6 – Spaced Repetition Review + Troubleshooting Simulation
Daily Goal:
Reinforce what you’ve learned and simulate a real-world scenario.
Tasks:
Review all flashcards from Week 5 (vSphere, vSAN, NSX, CLI, logs).
Take a 25-question quiz covering all advanced admin tasks.
Simulate this scenario:
A WLD fails to upgrade due to certificate mismatch and NSX drift
Outline steps to:
Validate logs
Collect precheck results
Roll back or retry
Open a support ticket with bundle
Key Focus:
Linking tools to troubleshooting workflows
Recognizing symptoms and root causes
Using logs + commands to recover
Pomodoro Tip:
Use 2 Pomodoros for quiz + correction
Use 2 Pomodoros for troubleshooting flow design
Day 7 – Hands-On Mini Lab or Written Review
Option A – Practice Lab (If Available):
Run PowerCLI or REST API calls
Test configuring DFW rules or creating a segment in NSX
Option B – Written Review and Reflection:
Write a cheat sheet or SOP for:
Collecting logs
Performing upgrades
Assigning NSX roles
List your most challenging topics this week and flag them for review in Week 6
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 2–3 Pomodoros for either lab or written summaries
WEEK 6: Full Review, Reinforcement & Exam Readiness
Weekly Goal:
To consolidate all previously learned content, identify weak spots, strengthen them with targeted revision, and simulate real exam conditions.
By the end of this week, you should feel confident in your ability to understand, apply, and explain all four domains of the exam—and be mentally and technically ready for test day.
Day 1 – Full Review of Domain 1: IT Architectures, Technologies, and Standards
Daily Goal:
Revisit the foundation. Make sure you're crystal clear on core infrastructure concepts, virtualization layers, and standards.
Tasks:
Read and review your notes or flashcards on:
Compute, storage, and network components
Virtualization types (server, storage, network)
HA, DRS, vMotion
Security and compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST, Zero Trust, RBAC)
Re-draw from memory:
A traditional data center layout
NSX micro-segmentation model
Self-test:
Write 5 short answer questions for yourself
Take a 10-question quiz
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3 Pomodoros: 1 for concept review, 1 for diagrams, 1 for test/quiz
Day 2 – Full Review of Domain 2: VMware by Broadcom Solution (VCF Platform)
Daily Goal:
Master the structure and purpose of VCF and its major components.
Tasks:
Review:
VCF architecture layers
vSphere (compute), vSAN (storage), NSX (network/security), SDDC Manager (automation)
Management Domain vs Workload Domains
Tanzu and Kubernetes integration
Redraw:
Full VCF architecture diagram
Lifecycle and upgrade workflow in SDDC Manager
Self-test:
Describe how each VCF component supports hybrid/multi-cloud use
Take a 15-question quiz on Domain 2
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 3–4 Pomodoros: 1 for review, 2 for diagramming, 1 for quizzing
Day 3 – Full Review of Domain 3: Plan and Design the VCF Solution
Daily Goal:
Be able to plan and justify a VCF deployment from scratch.
Tasks:
Review:
Design methodology (requirements, constraints, risks)
Sizing formulas (vCPU:pCPU, memory overcommit)
Storage planning (FTT, RAID, deduplication)
Network planning (VLANs, overlays, NSX edges)
Practice:
Design a small-scale VCF environment: 2 workload domains, 10 hosts
Write your reasoning: why vSAN, what redundancy, how you meet HA goals
Quiz yourself:
10-question design challenge
Label a blank diagram from memory
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 1 for reading, 2 for scenario planning, 1 for self-check
Day 4 – Full Review of Domain 4: Install, Configure, Administrate
Daily Goal:
Be able to clearly describe and simulate every phase of deployment and daily operations.
Tasks:
Review:
Deployment Workbook: know every field's purpose
Cloud Builder: workflow, errors, validation
SDDC Manager: Workload Domain creation, backup/restore, upgrades
vSphere/vSAN/NSX administration tasks
Practice:
Write out an “installation playbook” from scratch: prerequisites > deployment > validation
Identify possible failure points and how to detect them
Quiz yourself with:
- A 20-question comprehensive test (covering lifecycle, upgrades, DFW, logging)
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for review, 1 for writing flow, 1 for quiz/test
Day 5 – Full-Length Mock Exam + Mistake Analysis
Daily Goal:
Experience the pressure and pacing of a real VMware exam.
Tasks:
Take a full-length mock exam:
60 questions
90-minute time limit
No notes or breaks
After finishing:
Review every incorrect answer
Write a brief explanation for each: why you got it wrong and what the right answer was
Identify weak areas for your final review tomorrow
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4–5 Pomodoros: 3 for exam, 2 for error review
Day 6 – Targeted Review + Spaced Reinforcement
Daily Goal:
Fix the final cracks. Reinforce hard topics using repetition and mental recall.
Tasks:
Go back to:
Any flashcards or notes flagged as "uncertain" or “needs review”
Weak areas from the mock exam
Re-practice:
NSX firewall tagging and rule design
Lifecycle upgrade decision-making (rollback, drift, pre-checks)
Storage policy creation (SPBM) and capacity math
Review:
- All Week 5 CLI/PowerCLI/Log collection flows
Pomodoro Tip:
- Use 4 Pomodoros: 2 for review, 2 for simulations and reinforcement
Day 7 – Rest, Focus, and Mindset for Exam Day
Daily Goal:
Prepare your mind, not just your notes.
Tasks:
Light flashcard session (15–20 minutes max).
Read over:
Your cheat sheets and summary diagrams
Common mistakes from mock exams
Prepare:
Exam login, ID check, testing environment
Mental strategy (read questions carefully, eliminate wrong answers, manage time)
Rest:
Sleep early
Do something relaxing and confidence-building