My Journey Through the VMware Cloud Foundation 9 Administrator Exam

Recently, I had the opportunity to take the VMware Cloud Foundation 9 Administrator Exam, and I’d like to share my experience, preparation strategy, and key takeaways for those planning to pursue this certification.

🧪 Exam Format & Structure

The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, covering a wide range of topics across the VCF ecosystem. I found the exam to be well-balanced, with questions spanning:

• VCF Deployment, Configuration, and Upgrade

• vSphere 8 to VCF Conversion

• License Management

• VMware Kubernetes (VKS) Deployment and Configuration

• VCF Operations

• VCF Automation

• VCF Operations for Network

• VCF Operations for Logs

Each section tested both conceptual understanding and practical knowledge, making hands-on experience essential.

📚 How I Prepared

To build a solid foundation, I followed a structured learning path:

1. Completed VMware Official Trainings:

   • VCF 9: Build, Manage, and Secure – This course gave me a deep dive into the core components and lifecycle management.

   • VCF 9: Automate and Operate – Focused on automation workflows and operational best practices

2. Hands-On Labs:

   • I made sure to complete all labs associated with the above trainings.

   • Additionally, I performed hands-on deployment and configuration of VKS based on the exam guide, which proved extremely helpful.

🔍 Key Takeaways

• Practical experience is crucial. The exam doesn’t just test theory—it expects you to understand how VCF works in real-world scenarios.

• Cover all components. Don’t skip over areas like licensing or automation; they are well-represented in the exam.

• Use the exam guide as your checklist. It helped me identify areas to focus on and guided my lab work.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The VCF 9 Administrator Exam is a great way to validate your skills in managing and operating VMware’s hybrid cloud platform. If you're planning to take it, invest time in both training and labs, and make sure you understand the end-to-end lifecycle of VCF.

If you have any questions or need guidance on preparing, feel free to reach out!