The VCDX Podcast

EP13 – Defending Remotely

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 20:14:42 +0000

In episode thirteen of The VCDX Podcast, I am joined by two special guests who share their experiences of defending remotely and offer up plenty of great advice on how to tailor your preparation for a remote defense.

News & Updates

New VCDX’s

Congratulations to the newly minted VCDX’s since our last episode. All VCDX’s can be found in The VCDX Directory

VCDX #291 – Pawel Piotrowski – Poland – (DCV)
VCDX #292 – Asaf Blubshtein – US – (DCV)

Important Dates

The forthcoming online VCDX Workshop:

Friday, Feb 26th, 2021 – Register Here

Up and coming application deadline for the June 2021 VCDX Defenses:

Thursday, April 8th, 2021 (Don’t wait until the deadline to submit!!)

All important VCDX dates can be found on The VCDX Calendar

Interview Notes & Links

This episode’s special guests are:

Products discussed in the episode:

Q&A

As always, if you have any questions you want answering on the Podcast, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

I’m always looking for feedback and ways to improve the podcast, so please, contact me with any thoughts and feedback you might have. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to subscribe (using the links below) and let others know about it on social media.

EP12 – Observations From The Other Side

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 19:42:40 +0000

In episode twelve of The VCDX Podcast, I am joined by two special guests to talk about their recent experiences of being observers in the latest VCDX defenses.

News & Updates

The forthcoming online VCDX Workshop

Friday, December 4, 2020 – Register Here

March 2020 Defense Applications close on Monday, January 4th. Don’t wait until the deadline to submit!!

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guests are:

Phoebe Kim (VCDX #288)
Marco van Baggum (VCDX #223)

Q&A

As always, if you have any questions you want answering on the Podcast, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

EP11 – It’s Not Just About VMware Technology

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 19:51:37 +0000

In episode eleven of The VCDX Podcast, My special guest talks about how the skills they gained throughout their VCDX journey, has helped their career, even in a job that isn’t using VMware technologies.

News & Updates

The forthcoming online VCDX Workshop

Friday, April 24th 2020 – Register Here

June Defense Application Entry Opens on Thursday 30th April. Don’t wait until the deadline to submit!!

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Faisal Hasan (VCDX #254)

Q&A

As always, if you have any questions you want answering on the Podcast, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

What Is The VCDX Podcast?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 02:47:00 +0000

Hey guys, I just wanted to bring to your attention a new project that I am working on called The VCDX Podcast. Yep, another Podcast.

As a VCDX panelist, I get asked a lot of questions related to the VCDX certification and the overall process. So I decided, instead of answering every question individually, I would answer them on a Podcast for all to hear and learn from.

The Podcast currently consists of 4 sections and this will probably change as the Podcast matures.

VCDX News and Updates
Special Guest Interview – With a mixture of VCDX panelists, mentors, and certification holders
Common VCDX Mistakes
Q&A

Episode 1 – Welcome To The VCDX Podcast was released last week and can be listened to or downloaded below.

The Podcast should be available where ever you get your Podcasts. Here are some quick links to the common platforms.

As with everything I write about, please provide feedback or ideas on how to improve the Podcast. If you have questions that you want answering, you can either message me on Twitter: @SimonLong_ or you can send me an email via my Contact Simon page

EP10 – Learn From Previous Mistakes

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:45:22 +0000

In episode ten of The VCDX Podcast, My special guest will share some of the common mistakes that they see regularly as a VCDX panelist, in the hope that future candidates don’t make the same mistakes as those who went before them.

News & Updates

Congratulations to the newly minted VCDX’s since our last episode:

VCDX #286 – Igor Zecevic – France (DCV)
VCDX #287 – Katsuhiko Niino – Japan – (NV)
VCDX #288 – Phoebe Kim – US – (NV)

The forthcoming online VCDX Workshop

Friday, Febrary 28th 2020 – Register Here

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Paul McSharry (VCDX #234)

Talking Points:

1. Risk Management & Mitigation – “Risk is accepted by the business”
2. Too many constraints that limit the ability to show design expertise
3. Not enough logical design
4. Lack of diagrams both in design and in whiteboard for defense
5. Looking for a slide that answers the question, when a answer or drawing helps.
6. “I would use this tool (ie vROps,vRNI)“, without the how , why and impact.

Q&A

AS always, if you have any questions you want answering on the Podcast, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

EP9 – There Is More To Networking Than Networking

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 04:18:49 +0000

In episode nine of The VCDX Podcast, My special guest will be answering some of our listener questions around the VCDX-NV certification.

News & Updates

Up and coming VCDX Application deadline

January 3rd – Deadline for March 2020 defense applications

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Joe Silvagi (VCDX #175)

Q&A

AS always, if you have any questions you want answering on the Podcast, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

EP8 – Expect The Unexpected

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 19:59:47 +0000

In episode eight of The VCDX Podcast, we’ll be hearing from our special guest about their recent VCDX defense experience and how it was actually quite a bit different from the experience they were expecting.

News & Updates

Congratulations to the 2 new VCDX’s:

#284 – Raymond De Jong (NV)
#285 – Pankaj Verma (NV)

Up and coming VCDX Workshops

Phoenix VMUG UserCon on Wednesday, October 30th. Register here for VMUG
VMworld Barcelona on Monday, November 4th. Register here for the VCDX Workshop
Online VCDX Workshop on Friday, November 15th. Register here for the VCDX Workshop

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Veronica Davis (VCDX #280)

Common VCDX Mistakes

“That was planned for phase 2 of this project” or “That was out of scope for this projcet”
- Provided by VCDX panelist Paul McSharry and Joe Silvagi

Q&A

AS always, if you have any questions you want answering on the Podcast, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

EP7 – If At First You Don’t Succeed

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 15:15:59 +0000

In episode seven of The VCDX Podcast, we’ll be offering some advice on ways to recover from failing your latest VCDX certification attempt.

News & Updates

There will be a VCDX Workshop at the Boston VMUG UserCon on Wednesday, September 25th. Register here for the VCDX Workshop

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Mike Brown (VCDX #71)

Q&A

AS always, if you have any questions you want answering on the Podcast, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

EP6 – Neon Pens At The Ready

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 02:46:21 +0000

In episode six of The VCDX Podcast, we’ll be discussing everything VCDX related that we can expect to see at VMworld 2019 which is just around the corner. And in our guest interview, I’ll be finding out about a new Lightboard series that’s aimed to help you prepare for your VCDX.

News & Updates

This week’s special guest was Karl Childs
There will be a VCDX Workshop just before VMworld US on Sunday, August 25th. Register here for the VCDX Workshop
There will be a VCDX Panel session during VMworld US in the Certifications area – Preparing for Your VCDX: What You Need to Know [EDU3683U] – Wednesday, August 28, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guests are Johan van Amersfoort & Jeffrey Kusters
The ITQ Twitter Account
The ITQ YouTube Channel

Q&A

If you have any questions you want answering, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

I’m always looking for feedback and ways to improve the podcast, so please, contact me with any thoughts and feedback you might have. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to Subscribe (using the links below) and let others know about it on social media.

EP5 – Slacking Is Encouraged

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 15:00:36 +0000

In episode five of The VCDX Podcast, I’ll be chatting to my special guest about the VCDX Prep Slack Team, finding out what it is and how you can use it to help yourself or others prepare for their VCDX.

News & Updates

There will be a VCDX Workshop at the Indianapolis VMUG on Tuesday, July 16th. Register here for the Indy VMUG

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Gregg Robertson
The VCDX Prep Slack Team

Common VCDX Mistakes

There are too many constraints in some VCDX designs, which limits the panelist’s ability to score the candidate in certain areas.
Provided by VCDX panelist Paul McSharry

Q&A

If you have any questions you want answering, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
Or find me on The VCDX Prep Slack Team

I’m always looking for feedback and ways to improve the podcast, so please, contact me with any thoughts and feedback you might have. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to Subscribe (using the links below) and let others know about it on social media.

EP4 – So Many New VCDX’s!

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 16:09:57 +0000

In episode four of The VCDX Podcast, we recognize the newly crowned VCDX’s and I’ll be chatting to my special guest about their VCDX defense experience. What things went well, and what didn’t go so well.

News & Updates

Congratulations to the 5 new VCDX’s:

#279 – Dmitri Tanurkov (NV)
#280 – Veronica Sherin David (NV)
#281 – Chris Porter (DCV)
#282 – Syed Adeel Qamar (NV)
#283 – Fouad EL Akkad (DCV)

And a special congratulations to Jeffrey Kusters #252 – who got his second VCDX (NV). You can see the full list of VCDX’s on the VCDX Directory

There will be a VCDX Workshop at the Indianapolis VMUG on July 16th. Register for the Indy VMUG

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Chris Porter
Toggl – Time tracking software Chris used in his defense prep

Q&A

If you have any questions you want answering, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
My Contact Page: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/contact-simon

I’m always looking for feedback and ways to improve the podcast, so please, contact me with any thoughts and feedback you might have. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to Subscribe (using the links below) and let others know about it on social media.

EP3 – Always Make Time For Game Of Thrones!

Mon, 27 May 2019 15:48:00 +0000

In episode three of The VCDX Podcast, we focus our attention towards preparing for the VCDX defense. How can we find ways to make time in both our busy work and personal lives and then make the most of that limited time we have?

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Chris Porter
Virtual Design Master – https://virtualdesignmaster.io/

Common VCDX Mistakes Links

VCDX – Why Assume Anything?

If you have any questions you want answering, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
My Contact Page: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/contact-simon

I’m always looking for feedback and ways to improve the podcast, so please, contact me with any thoughts and feedback you might have. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to Subscribe (using the links below) and let others know about it on social media.

EP2 – Removing The Stress From The VCDX Defense

Sun, 12 May 2019 18:50:21 +0000

In episode two, we focus mostly on the VCDX Workshop. What the VCDX Workshop is, who should attend and how they can benefit.

News & Updates Links

Online VCDX Workshop (May 24th) -Signup link here: https://upto.com/e/94V4O
VMUG VCDX Workshop Dates
- 6/6 – Philadelphia – Register here: http://bit.ly/2JfUPLg
- 7/16 – Indianapolis – Register here: http://bit.ly/2ViCdMr
- 9/25 – Boston – Register here: http://bit.ly/2VehA3W
- 9/27 – New York/New Jersey – Register here: http://bit.ly/2HgStd2
- 10/4 – Dallas – Register here: http://bit.ly/2JiKZsj
- 10/17 – Nashville – Register here: http://bit.ly/30gIb3W
- 10/30 – Phoenix – Register here: http://bit.ly/2HdhlSS

Interview Notes & Links

This week’s special guest is Chris Mutchler
VCDX Mock Defense video – Defending your design – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb8kjoYGTD4
VCDX Mock Defense video – Design scenario examples – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03cgdD7UYVI

If you have any questions you want answering, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
My Contact Page: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/contact-simon

I’m always looking for feedback and way’s to improve the podcast, so please, contact me with any thoughts and feedback you might have. If you enjoy the podcast, please remember to Subscribe and let others know on social media.

EP1 – Welcome To The VCDX Podcast

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 17:45:09 +0000

Welcome to the first ever episode of the VCDX Podcast.

Episode Summary

In today’s episode;

I explain a little about the VCDX Podcast and why it decided to create it.
A quick news update about an online VCDX Workshop that should not be missed! – Signup link here: https://upto.com/e/94V4O
I am joined by a special guest, me! Simon Long (VCDX #105).
In the Q&A section, I ask a common question regarding the VCDX defense presentation.

If you have any questions you want answering, please send them to me via the two options below:

My Twitter account: https://twitter.com/simonlong_
My Contact Page: http://www.simonlong.co.uk/blog/contact-simon