Earlier this year, I worked to identify some goals for myself. Along the lines of those goals was to figure out what my next certification would be. You might have figured it out by the title of the post… it’s time to get in that #NSXMindset!

Why NSX?

There’s a ton of other certifications out there that may be beneficial to my career. Cybersecurity is a huge topic and seems to be desirable in the industry. I could continue down the Datacenter Virtualization path and work on my VCAPs. There’s many, many others.

First – I’m pretty bad at networking. Admittedly. I understand concepts. I’m pretty rough when it comes to implementing and managing them. I have no CCNA or similar certifications. I figure that learning NSX will give me a better foundation for networking while also moving me deeper into the VMware suite of products.

Second – I want to better understand the product. I understand (fundamentally) the micro-segmentation use-case. I know that NSX allows the use of policies to manage the network (similar to how vSAN or VVols use policies to manage storage).

Lastly – It’s something fairly important at work. It’s time to get learning!

“Wait, isn’t NSX only available in VMware’s Hands-On Labs? Those don’t let you install. You can only manipulate an already-created cluster. Won’t you need to learn from the ground up?”

…have you heard of this thing called VMUG Advantage?

For those of you that don’t know – VMUG Advantage offers a tremendous amount of savings for the VMware-focused person. The number one reason to snag VMUG Advantage is for the EVALExperience. This will get you a 1-year license to a whole host (Ha!) of software from the VMware portfolio. Need to test that upgrade to 6.5 in a test environment? Want to play around in the home lab? This is where you need to be.

“Enough with the pitch. What’s the big deal?”

 In early April, Chris McCain announced the VMUG NSX Community. He helped give away a ton of different swag and training packages for those that were engaged and helping others learn. A few weeks later, an announcement is made that NSX is part of EVALExperience. Follow that up with vRNI a week or so later. That same training that Chris was giving away is now exclusively available for purchase!

Why does that matter to me? Honestly, I didn’t feel like I could be active in the NSX Community. I didn’t know anything about NSX. How could I have possibly added input for others’ benefit?

This gives me the opportunity to learn and to get my boss to pay for it. That’s important.

The VMUG Advantage NSX Training Package

 Requirements –

• Be a current VMUG Advantage subscriber (purchases process same-day, I believe)
• Purchase the training package before 6/30 (YOU ONLY HAVE TEN DAYS!)

NSX Training & Certification Package –

• VMware NSX: Install, Configure, Manage [V6.2] – On Demand Class
• VMware NSX: Install, Configure, Manage [V6.2] – On Demand Labs
• VMware Certification Exam Prep: vSphere 6 Foundations Exam
• VMware Certification Exam Prep: VCP6 – Network Virtualization Exam V6.2
• VMware vSphere 6 Foundations Exam Voucher
• VMware Certified Professional 6 – Network Virtualization Exam Voucher

I’m trying to convince my boss (after just having taken training) to approve me for this package. It’s important to my career development. I want to learn.

When I priced these out individually they came out at somewhere around $4000. Through VMUG Advantage, I can pick it up for $1995! The boss will definitely like that.

The deal gets even better!

 Remember Chris McCain? He really wants people to get into the #NSXMindset. Enough so that he’s giving some people an opportunity to earn their VCIX-NV (VMware Certified Implementation Expert – Network Virtualization) for free!

Just shy of a month ago (May 24 to be exact), Chris dropped the video below on Twitter.

I’ll be honest, it hasn’t received enough traction. Not enough people know. I’ve thrown out some tweets. I talked it up at the recent #BOSVMUG UserCon… Hey, that’s just good news for you. This is legitimately a career-changing opportunity. That’s why I’m so hungry for it.

Too lazy to watch the video? Here’s what the VMUG NSX Ninja opportunity entails:

• VMware NSX: Troubleshooting and Operations [V6.2]
• VMware NSX: Design and Deploy [V6.2]
• VMware Certified Advanced Professional – Network Virtualization Deployment Exam Voucher

(Note: Only the VCAP-NV Deploy exam is needed to earn VCIX-NV as no VCAP-NV Design exam is currently available.)

“Whoa! Alright, I’m ready to explode my career. How do I get in on the opportunity for a free VCIX-NV?”

 The easiest part – Purchase the VMUG Advantage NSX Training Package

The hardest part – Pass the VCP6-NV. (You and I both know that this round of VCP exams are no joke!)

The part that’s out of your hands – Be one of 12 people selected for the #NSXNinja program.

This is a crazy opportunity. The worst thing that happens is that you don’t get into the #NSXNinja program, but you learned some new skills.

“I’ve got this. I’m all in! Where do I sign up?”

First, you have to pick up VMUG Advantage.

Second, sign up for the NSX Training Package before 6/30!

 Note: Purchase both of these using the same email that you used for your VMware myLearn account. The two accounts are associated automagically by VMUG. If you’re down to the wire on purchasing the training package, I recommend calling VMUG Member Services to expedite the process.

Lastly, get into the #NSXMindset and learn your ass off. I know I’m going to.

If you have some questions, fire them over to Twitter @jamesmuellerIT and I’ll do my best to help you out. Here’s to hoping that I see you in one of those #NSXNinja advanced classes!