VMware Specialist: VMware vSAN 6.7 Study Guide

This will be central my page for resources whilst studying for the the VMware vSAN 6.7 Specialist Exam 2019 Digital Badge.

Blueprint

The official VMware blueprint can be found here . Unfortunately the official blueprint does not provide a lower level of detail that the objectives.

Section 1 - vSAN Architectures and Technologies

• Objective 1.1 - Describe vSAN requirements
• Objective 1.2 - Demonstrate how vSAN stores and protects data
• Objective 1.3 - Define vSAN space efficiency features
• Objective 1.4 - Define vSAN stretched cluster architecture requirements
• Objective 1.5 - Compare the architectural requirements of a vSAN 2-node cluster and a stretched cluster

Section 2 - Products and Solutions

There are no testable objectives for this section.

Section 3 - Planning and Designing a vSAN Solution

• Objective 3.1 - Define and demonstrate vSAN design considerations
• Objective 3.2 - Design a vSAN cluster
• Objective 3.3 - Use vSAN design and sizing tools
• Objective 3.4 - Explain interoperability with vSphere features
• Objective 3.5 - Define which VMware solutions integrate with vSAN

Section 4 - vSAN Installation, Configuration, and Setup

• Objective 4.1 - Configure and validate a vSAN configuration
• Objective 4.2 - Create and manage disk groups
• Objective 4.3 - Configure and validate vSAN services
• Objective 4.4 - Configure vSAN stretched cluster and 2-node configurations

Section 5 - Performance-tuning, Optimization, and Upgrades

There are no testable objectives for this section.

Section 6 - Troubleshooting and Repairing a vSAN solution

• Objective 6.1 - Identify failure scenarios
• Objective 6.2 - Interpret vSAN Health warnings
• Objective 6.3 - Determine vSAN Health using vSphere Host Client, ESXCLI, and RVC
• Objective 6.4 - Evaluate performance information in the UI and using CLI
• Objective 6.5 - Manage hardware replacement

Section 7 - vSAN Administrative and Operational Tasks

• Objective 7.1 - Create, update, and modify vSAN policies and apply to objects
• Objective 7.2 - Describe vSAN data placement changes
• Objective 7.3 - Interpret vSAN capacity terms
• Objective 7.4 - Evaluate vSAN performance metrics
• Objective 7.5 - Describe effects of maintenance mode options
• Objective 7.6 - Explain how to add capacity to a vSAN cluster
• Objective 7.7 - Patch or upgrade a vSAN cluster
• Objective 7.8 - Describe the operational characteristics/differences between vSAN 2-node architecture and stretched cluster
• Objective 7.9 - Explain encryption processes
• Objective 7.10 - Explain how to utilize TRIM and UNMAP from vSAN and guest perspective

Official Documentation

• VMware vSAN Documentation
• VMware Storage Hub

Official Courses

• VMware vSAN: Deploy and Manage [V6.6]
• VMware vSAN: Troubleshooting Workshop [V6.x]
• VMware vSAN: Deploy and Manage plus VMware vSAN: Troubleshooting Workshop [V6.6]

Hands on Labs (HOL)

The following VMware HOL are available for VSAN:

• HOL-1708-SDC-1 - Virtual SAN 6.2 from A to Z
• HOL-1708-SDC-2 - Virtual Volumes and Storage Policy Based Management
• HOL-1708-CHG-3 - Virtual SAN 6.2: Challenge Lab
• HOL-1731-SDC-1 - vSAN v6.5: What’s New
• HOL-1731-SDC-2 - vSAN v6.5 Advanced: Operations
• HOL-1808-01-HCI - vSAN v6.6 - Getting Started
• HOL-1808-02-CHG - vSAN v6.6 - Challenge Lab
• HOL-1845-01-SLN - Modernize Infrastructure - Build Your Own SDDC

Community Resources

• Comac Hogan’s Blog - https://cormachogan.com
• Duncan Epping’s Blog - http://www.yellow-bricks.com