I finally passed the VCAP6-DCV Design Exam after about 4 months of studying. This makes me a VCIX since I passed the VCAP5-DCA last year. I do not recommend anyone to take this exam.

I thought I could be different than the many others that failed the test their first and second attempts. However, I was like a lot of other people. This exam is extremely difficult and has many flaws.

My biggest complaint was on a drag and drop question. I was frustrated because I studied a lot and from many different sources. I was surprised to not be familiar enough to even attempt to answer one question. I eventually figured out why I was not ready for the question. It was based on a 5.5 objective; Describe layered security considerations, including but not limited to Trust Zones. That objective is not on the 6 exam objectives. I used many different sources when studying and no one mentioned this topic. VMware should base the exam on the objectives they list on their site for the respective version of the exam.

I have a smaller example of another flaw. A host is referred to by different words on various questions. Sometimes a host was called a server or node. One question used the word server to refer a host and also for a virtual machine from what I gathered by the context of the question.

On the other hand, the deploy exam was straight forward and a rewarding experience. I gained a lot from it and knew where I stood when studying and taking the exam. The design exam is the complete opposite.

I see why many others, including VMware employees, recommend to not even take the VCAP6-DCV design exam. I completely agree. I highly recommend to take the VCP 6.5 and then take the VCAP on 6.5 if that’s what it takes to avoid the VCAP6 design exam.