Q and A

How can your training help me to become VMware Certified Professional?
Are you authorized by VMware to give VMware online courses?
How do I take an online course?
What kind of computer setup must I have to take the HTML-based courses?
How do I get VMWare VCP certified?
Can I have access to ESX 4 Server if I sign up for access to the VMWare practice lab?
If I sign up with one account, will I be able to do all the labs?
Can I instll Virtual Machines, application servers, and some other 3rd party software like SQL server, Exchange?
Can I download the movies to my local computer?
After payment can I reserve lab anytime whenever I want on booking or only one session/lab is provided?
How much does it cost?
Can I contact support 24×7?
Tell me about billing
Do you offer an SLA?
How many times I can install or re-install my testing environment – can I do repeated LABS in one month?
How can I make a payment from India?
If after payment I haven’t received my user ID and password, who should I contact?
Is there another way to pay other than credit card?
Check Payments?
After how many days the infrastructure is available since payment?
How many people can log in with one registered account?
How do I view all of the movies?
How do I cancel my subscription?
Can I take these courses on my Macintosh computer?
What modem speed is recommended for these courses?
Can I bookmark the last page accessed so I can return directly to it the next time?
What happens if I forget my password?
After clicking the Do It button while taking a Course from the Internet, I am taken to a white page. Why?
The orientation or lesson introductions aren’t loading. Why?
After clicking the Done button, I was taken back to the Login page? Why?
After entering my User ID and Password, I click the Submit button, but nothing happens. What should I do?
Part of the screen is missing or I have to scroll on most pages. How can I prevent this?
I’d like to report an error in one of the courses. Who should I contact?
Is this service providing real full control of all infrastructure equipment?
How do I connect to the Practice Lab infrastructure?
Is full licensed software available in the infrastructure?
How can I put some software I need inside the infrastructure?
Could you burn my data on DVDs or Hard-drives and send them to me through ordinary mail?
Can the internet connection inside the Practice Lab be used for browsing or other Internet activities?

 

Question: To become VMware Certified Professional, a VMware authorized instructor-led course is required. How can your training help me?

Answer: The tutorials on VIADMIN.COM and the vSphere Practice Lab are meant to prepare you to take on the real life challenges of a Systems Administrator or Virtual Infrastructure Administrator by providing the ability to gain real-life systems engineer experience at an affordable price tag. Although we do not provide training or exams to achieve VMware certification of any level, we work with Authorized VMware training partners to deliver the required training. The skills students have learned as they watch vsphere videos with voice on our website can then be applied and tested on real ESXi servers in a VMware vSPhere Practice lab built to reflect real enterprise IT environment. This way our studentsare involved in a hands-on training instead of just listening to the instructor and watching demos with limited number of hours to practice. Each student who signs up for our VMware vSphere Lab for testing and practicing will have that opportunity to practice installing and administering VMware vSphere virtual infrastructure and ESXi Servers on each topic discussed in the training on real dedicated physical servers and SAN storage by remotely logging in to our dedicated practice lab for a full week, 24×7.

Question: Are you authorized by VMware to give VMware online courses?

Answer:

We are not VMWare Autorized Training Center (VATC) but we work with partner training centers that are authorized to deliver the official VMware training. Depending on the type of certification that you are trying to achieve we will deliver the training through one of our partner training centers which are either VMware authorized training center or VMware IT academy.

N
one of our instructor-led courses are being priced over $1000, because we strongly believe vmware training and practice should be priced to provide opportunities – not to take them away.

 

Question: How do I take an online course?

Answer:

With Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.1/9.0 or higher, login on the top right hand corner of this page.

Question: What kind of computer setup must I have to take the HTML-based courses?

Answer:

The following are the minimum user system requirements necessary to enjoy maximum access to the Instructor-led courses:

Adobe Flash plug-in is used for course presentations and it’s required to run the courses. It can be installed the first time you take a course by following the instructions shown on Adobe’s Web page. The Macromedia Flash Player is used for course introductions and activities, but is not required to run the courses. It can be installed the first time you take a course by following the instructions shown at login. Netscape and AOL browsers are not supported.

Windows

  • 1.4GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 or faster CPU
  • Windows XP/7/8/8.1 (32-bit/64-bit)
  • 1GB of RAM for Windows XP, Windows 7 or Windows 8
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, 9, 10, 11; Mozilla Firefox; Google Chrome
  • Adobe® Flash® Player 11.2+

Mac OS

  • 1.83GHz Intel™ Duo or faster CPU
  • 1GB+ RAM recommended
  • Mac OS X 10.7.4/10.8/10.9
  • Mozilla Firefox/Apple Safari/Google Chrome
  • Adobe Flash Player 11.2+

Linux

  • Linux Ubuntu 12.04; RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise) Linux 6; OpenSuSE 12.2
  • No Add-in support for Linux. Users on Linux can attend meetings in the browser.
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Adobe Flash Player 11.2+

Mobile

  • Apple supported devices: iPhone 5S, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad with Retina display, iPad 3, iPad 2, iPad mini, and iPod touch (4th & 5th generations)
  • Apple supported OS versions summary: iOS 6 and higher
  • Android supported devices: Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Samsung Galaxy S3 & S4, Nexus 7 tablet
  • Android supported OS versions summary: 2.3.4 and higher

 

 

Question: How do I get VMWare VCP certified?

Answer:

The tutorials (videos with voice) available on VIADMIN.com are meant to prepare you to take the VMware VCP (VMWare Certified Professional) certification test, but that is not enough. One of the prerequisites of VMWare VCP certification and exam is to have hands on experience with VMware vSphere and ESXi Server, that is what we provide at viadmin.com. We provide you with an opportunity to gain real life VMWare system administration experience by setting up and administering all the components of an enterprise-level Virtual Infrastructure (vCenter Server, ESXi Server, Virtual Machines, access to shared SAN, vMotion, HA, DRS, etc.). Another prerequisite is to attend VMware authorized course through one of the VMWare Authorized Training Centers (VATC). We work with VATC to deliver the VMware Install, Configure, Manage course to satisfy VMware’s requirements. After attending an instructor led course and do after course reading and studying you should be ready to schedule your exam. Once you feel you are ready to take the certification tests you can go to www.vue.com to register and take the test. VUE is a completely independant company and is not affiliated with VIADMIN.com. Most VUE tests cost a little over $100 to take whether you pass or fail. VIADMIN.com does not guarantee that you are able to pass the test and does not refund money for failed tests.

 

Question: Can I have access to ESX/ESXi 4.x or 5.x Server if I sign up for access to the VMware practice lab (vSphere Lab v5.5)?

Answer:

We support all versions of ESX Server starting with ESX 4.0 (with or without all patches and updates) and ESX 4.1 in our lab. The current version in place is VMware vSphere 5.5 but if you require any of the previous versions please let us know by emailing at support AT viadmin.com.

 

 

 

Question: If I sign up with one account, will I be able to do all the labs?

Answer:

When you sign up for access to VMWare vSphere Practice Lab, you get one dedicated DELL/HP Blade Server, and access to a cluster of ESXi Servers, also a shared iSCSI storage for setting up vmotion, HA, DRS, etc. You can install VMWare ESX Server or ESXi Server of your choice (we support ESXi 3.5/4.0/4.1,/5.0/5.1 and 5.5) on your own physical host using HP iLO and then configure it and change any setting you’d like. You can also install Windows or Linux VMs using the ISO images we have on the shared LUN. Alternatively you can download and install packages of your choice from Microsoft or VMWare’s website. For labs that require two ESX physical hosts you need to join the cluster and to do so you should strictly follow the documentation. All IP addresses need to be exactly as pointed out in a handout that you will receive after you sign up in your welcome email. Service Console IP, Virtual Machines (VMs) IP addresses and iSCSI kernel IP address, VLAN settings need – all need to be set up as pointed out in the vsphere practice lab documentation provided after you sign up. With one account you can do all the labs, we are not aware of labs that do require more than two ESX Servers to complete, but if you require such configuration you need to purchase access to two or more ESX Host. To request such arrangement please send an e-mail to support AT viadmin.com

 

 

Question: Can I install Virtual Machines (application servers) and some other 3rd party software like SQL server and Exchange?

Answer:

You can install any VMware compatible application or Operating System (Microsoft Windows, Linux, SQL Server, Exchange, SharePoint, Microsoft Office, etc.) you would like to run as long as you have an evaluation or full license for these operating systems or applications. We do not provide licensing for Operating Systems, Applications, VMs, VM appliances, or any other licenses you may be required or need to use in your testing environment.

 

Question: Can I download the movies to my local computer?

Answer:

You have to be online in order to view the tutorials. You cannot download the tutorials to your local computer for offline viewing.

 

Question: After making a payment of $97 for the lab, would this enable me to reserve lab anytime whenever I want on booking or only one session/lab is provided for $97 and how long would that be for?

Answer:

When you subscribe at $97/week for the VMware vSphere practice lab you get one week of access (24/7) to our ESX Server Testing Lab/environment. By default you are being scheduled to start using the practice lab within two business days after we receive your payment. You should book whenever you are ready to use the practice lab.

Question: How much does it cost?

Answer:

The cost of renting one ESX or ESXi Server per week is $97 each.

Question: Can I contact support 24×7?

Answer:

Support is open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST). There are a few ways of getting in touch with us. You can email us directly at support AT viadmin.com or you can submit a ticket by logging in to the support website at support.viadmin.com. Both methods will be attended to quickly by our support staff.

We do not provide phone support at this time.

Question: Tell me about billing

Answer:

Billing is handled weekly based on the day your account was created. Services added during a billing cycle are prorated for the remainder of the week, services removed are credited back to your account. Credit cards are processed via PayPal and we do not handle customer data, we take your security and privacy VERY seriously. You can also prepay your account should it be more convenient. We have a 10% prepayment bonus available.

To get it, make a payment that is the greater of 6x your current weekly bill of $97 or more.

Examples:

Weekly bill: $97 – a payment of $594 or more to get the 10% bonus

Question: Do you offer an SLA (Service Level Agreement)?

Answer:

Not for servers/networking and here’s why: most hosting SLA agreements are just plain silly. They promise things like 99.9% uptime, but downtime excludes: scheduled maintenance, network outages, hardware failures and software trouble. Well what exactly is left to cause downtime? Here’s our SLA: we’ll do our best to keep your machines running smoothly for as long as possible and get them up ASAP should something go wrong.

Question: How many times I can install or re-install my testing environment – can I do repeated LABS in one month?

Answer:

When you sign up for access to the VMWare Practice Lab you will have online access to your ESX Server and the VMWare testing environment (a cluster of ESX Servers sharing the same network and storage) 24 hours 7 days a week for a period of one week. You can do all labs as many times as you want or you can do just some of them whenever you choose to. There is no official schedule or requirement for doing any or all of the labs in particular order or within particular time-frame, neither there is a restriction on how many times you can install, re-install, delete, move, remove, copy and set up ESX Server, Virtual Machines (VMs) and the applications within these Virtual Machines.

Question: How can I make a payment from India?

Answer:

PayPal account is the way to pay for an VIADMIN.com subscription. You can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover with PayPal. All our credit card payments are processed by PayPal. You may be required in order to use PayPal to open up an account with PayPal if you don’t have one. You can also pay through a Bank transfer if you’d like. Send us an order (purchase order) via e-mail at billing@viadmin.com and we will send you an invoice with all details for wire transfer. If wire the money into our account, we must wait for it to clear the bank. This option is suggested for customers without credit card or PayPal account. You can also send us a check, more info on how to do that is available at Check Payments section.

Question: If after payment I haven’t received my user ID and password, who should I contact?

Answer:

Keep in mind that access to infrastructure isn’t available immediately after payment. It usually takes anywhere between few hours to two business days to set up your account after we receive your payment and booking is confirmed. In case you haven’t received your account or you have support-related questions about a specific class, practice lab, technical issue or related, please navigate to the support area using the menu at the top of the site, or simply visit support.viadmin.com and submit a support request. Alternatively you can obtain account assistance, by sending us an email at support AT viadmin.com.

Question: Is there another way to pay other than credit card?
Answer:

PayPal account, Credit or Debit card is the way to pay for an VIADMIN.com subscription. You can use Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. All our credit card payments are processed by PayPal. You may be required in order to use PayPal to open up an account with PayPal if you don’t have one.

 

You can also pay through a Bank transfer if you’d like. Send us an order (purchase order) via e-mail at billing AT viadmin.com and we will send you an invoice with all details for wire transfer. If wire the money into our account, we must wait for it to clear the bank. This option is suggested for customers without credit card or PayPal account.

 

 

Check Payments

Please fill out the check payment form and send it to us with your check. If you send us a check, we must wait for it to clear the bank.

VIADMIN.COM
93 S Jackson St # 22495
Seattle, Washington 98104-2818

 

 

Question: After how many days the infrastructure is available since payment?
Answer:

One to two business days after payment will be confirmed.

 

Question: How many people can log in with one registered account?
Answer:

One registered user account is good for one user to log in and view the movies and access the Practice Lab. Multiple users cannot log in with the same account.

 

Question: How do I view all of the movies?
Answer:

In order to view all of the movies you must set up a login account. Click here to set up a login account.

 

Question: How do I cancel my subscription?
Answer:

You can cancel at any time by logging in to your account at support.viadmin.com and clicking on the “Cancel” link at the bottom of the course page. Then check the box to cancel and click the submit button.

Question: Can I take these courses on my Macintosh computer?
Answer:

We do not formally support our courseware on the Macintosh platform. If you choose to try to use the courses on a Macintosh, you need to be aware that they will not have full functionality, specifically within the Remote Desktop Connectivity and the supplied files. However, if you are a Macintosh user and make use of a Windows emulator, Remote Desktop and supplied files may function. Since we do not test with Macintosh or Windows emulators, we cannot guarantee our courses on the Macintosh platform.

 

Question: What modem speed is recommended for these courses?
Answer:

The courses play well through 156 KB link. Of course, play is faster as connection speeds increase. The traditional HTML-based courses are designed for highly efficient, real-time presentation with an average page size under 20 K. The Skills Video courses use streaming media at a rate of 15 Frames Per Second. The media is sent in a continuous stream and is played as it arrives rather than waiting for the complete file to download.

 

Question: Can I bookmark the last page accessed so I can return directly to it the next time?
Answer:

You can bookmark within the traditional HTML-based courses by clicking the exit button when finished with your course session (there is no need to create a browser favorite). Using the pause button within a Skills Video course allows you to save your place for the next session.

 

Question: What happens if I forget my password?
Answer:

You can reset your account password at support.viadmin.com by clicking on this link. Alternatively you can obtain password assistance, by sending us an email at support AT viadmin.com

 

Question: After clicking the Do It button while taking a Course from the Internet, I am taken to a white page with an Authorware Web Player link. Why?
Answer:

Authorware Web Player (formerly Shockwave Authorware) is a plug-in that expands the functionality of the browser. Some courses make limited use of Authorware Web Player in order to more closely simulate the actual application. These product simulations are optional, so you don’t have to download this plug-in. If you decide to run the simulations, download Authorware Web Player by clicking the Authorware Web Player link on the white page. Follow the instructions for downloading and installing the version of Authorware Web Player appropriate for your browser version.

 

Question: The orientation or lesson introductions aren’t loading. Why?
Answer:

The Macromedia Flash Player is used in traditional HTML-based courses for course introductions and activities, but is not required to run these courses. It can be installed the first time you take a course by following the instructions shown at login.

 

Question: After clicking the Done button to answer a question while taking a Course from a web server or the Internet, I was taken back to the Login page? Why?
Answer:

At the beginning of each training session using traditional HTML-based courses, you must go to the login page and enter your userid and password. The questions will not work if this login page is bypassed.

 

Question: After entering my User ID and Password at the Course Login page, I click the Submit button, but nothing happens. What should I do?
Answer:

This appears to be a browser configuration issue. It is necessary for JavaScript or ActiveX Scripts to be enabled. Also, the courses open in a second browser window. Check your taskbar for another instance of your browser.

 

Question: I’m trying to review the course, but part of the screen is missing or I have to scroll on most pages. How can I prevent this?
Answer:

Change your screen resolution in the control panel to 800 x 600 or higher, if possible. You can also turn off the browser toolbars to provide more viewing space. If you use a 640 x 480 screen resolution, you will need to scroll on some pages.

 

 Question: I’d like to report an error in one of the courses. Who should I contact?
Answer:

Please use the Technical Support Form located at support.viadmin.com or email to support AT viadmin.com.

 

 

Question: Is this service providing real full control of all infrastructure equipment?
Answer:

Yes. Full control is granted to physical servers, virtual network switches and assigned SAN zones..

 

 

Question: How do I connect to the Practice Lab infrastructure?
Answer:

Please be advised that it usually takes two to three business days after we receive your payment to set up your account. You’ll receive a username and password once an accunt has been set up for you that you can use to connect to your own Management Station PC through Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

 

 

If you are connecting from a none-Windows based computer, you can use one of these RDP Clients:

* Linux/Solaris/BSD: rdesktop
* Mac OS: TSclientX

Question: Is full licensed software available in the infrastructure??
Answer:

No. Customers have to provide their own trial or full licenses for products used in the infrastructure.

Question: How can I put some software I need inside the infrastructure?
Answer:

You can download needed software directly from inside the Lab Infrastructure, through a fast Internet access. Only certain websites are allowed for browsing and download. Allowed websites are only those sites that are related to the Practice Lab purpose (e.g. to learn how to Install, Configure and Manage VMWare ESX Server, such sites are www.vmware.com and www.microsoft.com. Alternatively you can connect your own hard-drives through RDP session.

 

 Question: I completed my VIADMIN Practice Lab, and I’d like to save my virtual machines. Could you burn them on DVDs or Hard-drives and send them to me through ordinary mail?
Answer:

This option is only available for Linux Virtual Machines and requires additional payment, depending on the number of virtual machines and the amount of data required to burn.

Question: Can the internet connection inside the Practice Lab be used for browsing or other Internet activities?
Answer:

No. Internet connection is not granted in any case, VIADMIN.COM is not responsible for loss of connectivity before or during a testing session. You can download software and access web pages from certain websites only. Allowed websites are only those sites that are related to the Practice Lab purpose (e.g. to learn how to Install, Configure and Manage VMWare ESX Server Virtual Infrastructure, such sites are www.vmware.com and www.microsoft.com.