Xen and the art of Virtualization Certification
You know who you are, you’re the Xen-o-phile who backs Citrix to the utmost degree. You are committed not only to the solution but taking things to the next level. Certification.
Well, I’ll be the first to tell you – the value of certification is what you get out of them, and that’s often compounded by what you PUT into it. But you can’t get value until you understand what lay before you. Citrix has a number of tracks and strategies to address this with the Administrator (CCA), Engineer (CCEE) and Architect (CCIA) roles.
Administrator (Falls into two tracks, Enterprise and Platinum)
| CCA for Citrix XenServer Enterprise Edition 5 | CCA for Citrix XenServer 5 Platinum Edition |
| The CCA for Citrix XenServer 5 Enterprise Edition certification is designed to certify breadth of knowledge across Citrix XenServer 5 Enterprise end-to-end solutions. This certification is attained by passing the Implementing Citrix XenServer Enterprise Edition 5.0 exam, in which exam-takers demonstrate their knowledge and skills necessary to install, configure, and administer Citrix XenServer 5.0 Enterprise Edition in an enterprise environment | The CCA for Citrix XenServer 5 Platinum Edition certification is designed to certify breadth of knowledge across Citrix XenServer 5 Platinum end-to-end solutions. This certification is attained by passing the Implementing Citrix XenServer Enterprise Edition 5.0 exam and one (1) exam in a XenServer Platinum component product. |
| Pass Exam A09 Implementing Citrix XenServer 5.0 |
Pass pre-requisite exam: A09 Implementing Citrix XenServer 5.0 |
| Prepare with: CXS-200-1I – Implementing Citrix XenServer Enterprise Edition 5.0 CXS-201-1W – Implementing Citrix XenServer Enterprise Edition 5.0 |
Pass 1 exam from the list below: A06 Implementing Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0 (or) 900 Citrix Provisioning Server 4.5: Administration |
As you can see, the Enterprise exam is a good start in your path to being a Citrix Xen Master, and then it builds upon that with skills of the Platinum track to becoming an Engineer.
Engineer
| CCEE for Virtualization | CCEE for Virtualization Upgrade Path |
| The Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer for Virtualization certification is designed to certify breadth of knowledge across Citrix Delivery Center virtualization solutions. The CCEE offers experienced IT professionals the opportunity to develop and validate their ability to combine the coordination of operational planning efforts with tactical design expertise and integration know-how. The requirements and recommended steps to certification are as follows | Individuals who hold a current Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator (CCEA) or Citrix Certified Integration Architect (CCIA) for XenApp (Presentation Server 4), MetaFrame Access Suite 3.0 or MetaFrame XP Presentation Server can update to the CCEE for Virtualization by meeting the requirements below. Please note: This update path will be available to candidates who hold a CCEA or CCIA for MetaFrame Access Suite 3.0 or MetaFrame XP Presentation Server until 6/30/2010 only. After this point, these candidates will be required to meet the full CCEE for Virtualization requirements. |
| Attain Administrator Series Certification for each product below:
Citrix XenApp |
Gain Administrative Experience:
It is recommended that update path candidates possess experience administering the products which comprise the Citrix virtualization solution – XenApp, XenServer and XenDesktop. In addition, the content in the CCEE for Virtualization is based on XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008 and experience in and/or knowledge of Windows Server 2008 is highly recommended. To deepen product knowledge, candidates can pursue product-specific Administrator Series certifications as needed. |
| Pass Advanced Administration Exam:
A08 Advanced Administration for Citrix XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008 |
Pass Engineering Exam:
A15 Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution (Q4 2009) Prepare With: (Q4 2009) CVE-400-1I Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution |
| Pass Engineering Exam:
A15 Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution (Q4 2009) |
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| Complete CCEE Program documentation: To complete this certification, candidates must: Agree to the CCEE for Virtualization program agreement available in Certification Manager (Q3 2009) |
Complete CCEE Program documentation: To complete this certification, candidates must: Agree to the CCEE for Virtualization program agreement available in Certification Manager (Q3 2009) |
As you can see there is an extended amount of effort and testing required in order to be seen as a Citrix Engineer, only to be rivaled by stepping up to the Architect level!
Architect
| CCIA for Virtualization | CCIA for Virtualization Upgrade Path |
| The Citrix Certified Integration Architect for Virtualization certification focuses on best practices for analysis and design of Citrix virtualization technologies. By testing a range of skills used to design strategic approaches to virtualization, the CCIA certifies the knowledge required for successful deployments, while providing recognition and credibility to IT professionals. In addition to the required exams, a minimum level of real-world experience is recommended for candidates who choose to pursue this certification. As the most advanced Citrix designation, CCIA expertise helps organizations lower implementation costs, increase implementation success rates and reduce implementation time *Please note: The content in the CCIA for Virtualization is based on XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008 and experience in and/or knowledge of Windows Server 2008 is highly recommended. |
Individuals who hold a current Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator (CCEA) or Citrix Certified Integration Architect (CCIA) for Citrix XenApp (Presentation Server 4), MetaFrame Access Suite 3.0 or MetaFrame XP Presentation Server can update to the CCIA for Virtualization by meeting the requirements below.
Please note: This update path will be available to candidates who hold a CCEA or CCIA for MetaFrame Access Suite 3.0 or MetaFrame XP Presentation Server until 6/30/2010 only. After this point, these candidates will be required to meet the full CCIA for Virtualization requirements. |
| Attain the following Engineer Series Certification:
Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer (CCEE) for Virtualization |
Pass Engineering Exam: A15 Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution (Q4 2009) Prepare with: CVE-400-1I Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution (Q4 2009) |
| Gain Architect-level field experience (recommended): Successful candidates for this certification will have extensive field experience related to architecting Citrix virtualization-based solutions. Detailed information on this recommendation will be available in Q3 2009. |
Gain Architect-level field experience (recommended): Successful candidates for this certification will have extensive field experience related to architecting Citrix virtualization-based solutions. Detailed information on this recommendation will be available in Q3 2009. |
| Pass Architecting Exam:
A16 Architecting a Citrix Virtualization Solution (Q4 2009) Prepare with: |
Pass Architecting Exam:
A16 Architecting a Citrix Virtualization Solution (Q4 2009) Prepare with: |
| Complete CCIA Program documentation: To complete this certification, candidates must: Agree to the CCIA for Virtualization program agreement available in Certification Manager Complete online profile questionnaire available in Certification Manager |
Complete CCIA Program documentation: To complete this certification, candidates must: Agree to the CCIA for Virtualization program agreement available in Certification Manager Complete online profile questionnaire available in Certification Manager |
With the tracks above, and your own desire to make yourself more credible, tangible and experienced – You should be set to be your own personal Admin, Engineer or Architect of the future of Virtualization! There are many paths to pursue in the realm of Virtualization and they all tend to overlap one way or another which will bode infinitely useful when it comes to your experience.
Good luck out there, Get trained, Get Certified and Get Virtual!