Another VCIX-NV Fiasco at Pearson Vue

Hi All,

I blogged about my first experience in Jan. 2015 after appearing for this VCIX-NV Exam at Pearson Vue test center. Just came back home after having a very disappointing exam experience at Pearson Vue Exam center and thought to just write about it to have it properly fixed by both parties.

Today I went for VCIX-NV (VCXN610) after confirming my appointment yesterday. Drove 30 mins to get there and finished the security procedures on time. Proctor took me inside the exam room and logged me in for the exam and I've started the exam and first surprise, "can't even login to Control Center"...booooom. This happened to me for the first time as appeared for the other similar exams before  (e.g. VCAP exams), but never had this exact issue.

Soon after reading the error, raised the hand,and proctor came and he stopped the exam, called the support person right away.  After 10 mins of remote troubleshooting, they gave a green signal to proceed as its been checked by the support person so Proctor gave me the credit of lost time and I've started the exam again and same thing happened again, the RDP connection was not setting up to the Control Center and getting the same error  "Contact the Testing center administrator or VSS administrator". Called the proctor again.

As the testing was NOT done properly by the support person (who was from Pearson), now Pearson Vue support person engaged VMware Certification support person on the phone. He tried and couldn't fix the powercli error and decided to move me to another station and start the exam again. 

I started on a different station and it took 20-30 seconds just to connect to Control Center through RDP session (or their jump box). Once logged in opened firefox browser and opened few tabs to work optimally to do multitasking. But later realized that was a bad move.

Latency was all over the place and also a square grid was coming up on the whole screen which was not clearing even after refreshing the screen or changing tabs in the browser. The whole connection is so sluggish and feels like its running on 14.4 Kbps modem connection as you can see the page is loading frame by frame. Upon asking Pearson Vue representative, he mentioned that that is being handled by VMware Certification and its in their Lab Latency so they cant do anything locally about it. Even when switching between the tabs n the browser the screen does NOT even load within few seconds. I did not expect this and I am sure if I continued with it and could not even finish 5 questions within the whole Exam Time.

So I called the proctor and he stopped the lab again. He called the Pearson support again and who in turn engaged VMware support. The whole circle started again and no "corner" of resolution found as its a circle.

And while waiting to hear back from the support staff, it's already more than an hour from the start time and I could not even connect properly to the Lab Infrastructure, so they gave me the incident number and asked to reschedule the exam. Glad I did not have to pay for the exam again as there is a policy they have where, if they cant fix the technical issue within 30 mins then, attempt is not considered and candidate can appear for that exam again at the next available schedule.

Now the trouble not stopped here..called up Pearson Vue after coming out of the center as they dont want to call the scheduling staff and I could not even call them from within the center. I just dont wanted to keep the matter in limbo after leaving the testing center but the proctor suggested that with the incident number the scheduling co ordinator should be able to pull up your details and help you reschedule the exam. So I called up and got a person who informed me that their system is in under maintenance, please try calling again after 15 mins.

Tried calling 4 times on 15 mins interval but and their system was still down and no one could help me to reschedule as they don't have ETA from their IT Team. Finally decided to call once reached (after 45 mins of drive) home, and now on hold for more than 1.45 mins and yet no one is available to take the call. Still listening to their hold music. 

What a latest technology Pearson is having that no outbound calls allowed to notify the caller on when the system will be in working status or even to just send an email to the caller that system is back up so please call in to reschedule. Now that the call center moved to India, not sure how they are going to attend the callers after their system maintenance with increased inbound calls.

No IVR notification about "system maintenance for exam rescheduling" so that the caller can just listen to it and hung up without wasting time to get the rep on the phone and then he verifies the identity and eventually states the system is down.

And on top of that each time you call you must listen to their 3-4 mins of greeting and there is no way to skip it either. So looks like Pearson Vue believes, everyone else have free time so really no care been taken. Recent changes of merging with VMware Certification, not sure how the portal looks like or which features are available but will find out soon once they finished the merge as still don't see "Manage Account" or "Schedule Exam" buttons under myVMware portal.

Now in this whole waiting game. my personal schedules are totally messed up and which affected my daughters class schedules too and I'm sure Pearson won't do anything about it. If they really care then someone may call and at least discuss about the hassles I had to go through and offer something to make a better future experience/service. And I am sure its not a lot I am asking :-).

Already ranted once about the latency in 2014 when I gave the exam for the first time. But both, Certification team at VMware and Pearson have to really think about some solid solution as I'm sure this is not the first time happening or I'm not the only one faced the issues multiple times with exam scheduling/rescheduling and Lab latency.

Its hard to believe that this is not even 1% of what they are able to do with the technology available on their hands in today's world.

I am going through just plain simple "pain". Irony is even after a year, we are still at the same status with Pearson Vue and nothing improved from the user experience perspective nor in the area of stability of the lab environment. They point to VMware when the issue occurs, so my request here is to sort this out for a vast community out there who are using their technology to make the career and sustain the family or for any other valid/genuine purpose. Please respect people time and money they are investing and don't let them go through this situations as I am sure this can be solved by putting necessary efforts and if required, I am ready to provide feedback and can also request other members of VMware community to come up and do the same.

At this time still waiting on the phone after 2.30 hours of hold time as need to get this exam rescheduled and not sure which date will be available at the soonest. Hopefully by tomorrow I will get someone as cant hold overnight :-).

===

Update:
To my surprise I just now received the Exam Score Report even if I did not attempt a single question, and still was able to score 100 marks.

This doesn't look right to me and needs to be fixed.

Update (at 3.15 p.m. CST):

So a responsible Program Manager of Pearson called me today morning who read this blog post too, and assured to take care of the issue through his back channel at VMware.

In the mean time as per their policy I had to contact VMware Team who issued me a Voucher and I rebooked the Exam for April at the same center. So hoping VMware will fix the issue specifically for this exam before that day by doing required testing and investigation.

Thank you for your time.

Please share and care !

vExpert 2016

Hi,

By now the news is already spread in the community and everyone knows who is the vExpert for 2016.

I am really thankful to the VMware Community and the Program Manager Corey Romero (@vCommunityGuy) who made this possible with his and his team's enormous efforts every year.

https://blogs.vmware.com/vmtn/2016/02/vexpert-2016-award-announcement.html

One can visit the above link and check out who made it to the list.

This is 4th year for me and its really amazing to see how much the program grown up.

With more than 1300+ vExpert this year which is making the program at the top.

Wishing all the vExpert Congratulations and good luck for next year.

Share and care !!

Cheers.

Cisco Champion 2016

Hello,

I was just working on something and suddenly saw an email landing in my Inbox with a Title of

"Welcome 2016 Cisco Champions!"

So for a second, I thought the result was not announced so what it should be ?

Curiosity drove me to open the mail and indeed it was the email from the Cisco Community Program Manager and the Team.

Brandon Prebynski (@prebynski), Program Manager

Lauren Friedman (@lauren), DC, EN, Cloud, IOT Lead

Kim Austin (@ciscokima), Collaboration Lead

Brian Remmel (@bremmel), Security Lead

I was awarded for 2015 and now for 2016 so this is my 2nd year getting this Award.

I am really thankful to the Team and the Program Manager Brandon, for giving me such recognition and hopefully continue to contribute more and more for the community.

Wish all other Cisco Champions who made to the list of 2016.

I may know some and may not others but when it comes to the community contribution, it really doesn't matter who, where, why, how?

I am doing similar contribution for other communities as well which is keeping me strong and helping people out is a major objective here which helps me being consistent.

Hopefully see all Cisco Champions some time at some event and wishing everyone Good luck for 2017.

Cheers...

Share and care !

Recommendation on Linkedin - Yes, I need it !

Hi All,

I never thought about this before to write a blog post of about requesting the community members and friends and others who are in touch with me one or the other way, to provide recommendation to me through Linkedin.  Now  a days Social media is the way to reach out to mass and seems to be very effective too.

After serving 8 years at VMware, now I am in a position where I am searching for a new challenge so at the same time feeling necessity about having Recommendation of my Work done in that duration.

If my contribution / reply / update / pointers helped you in any way or at least put you in the direction you want, then please just take few minutes to provide a Recommendation as its very valuable for me a lot. I would say it will be priceless.

As everyone knows Linkedin is the platform for all professionals to be in touch with each other and this is a most respective way in our professional world where one can find out everything about other person in this very space.

I have provided recommendations to those who needs them time to time and never thought of the need at that time but now I am in the same boat as them. Time is same for everyone and you never know when it will change. As it changed for me, I humbly request to provide the same at your earliest convenience and me and my Family are truly grateful to you for your time and help.

So please feel free to reach out to me if you need the same and I am happy to provide it as well.

This is a general stand I am taking to get the recommendation as it will take lot of time to reach out to people individually (in fact I am doing that too) but as the person might be busy or not checking his linkedin, the message may be sitting there idle. I have seen few messages like that in my inbox which I just acted and agreed that they were requested by the person/s almost a year back. Now providing the recommendation at present, may or may not help as it was not done on time (may be they need at that time) and I have provided today. So please check your inbox for such message and at least let the person know the status about it. Going forward, I will be taking care of it for sure as now realized the importance of it. As everyone has their own priorities to do things so please dont take this as any advice or such. but consider it as a general thought of a person who is in need at the moment.

If you are not in my circle then just send out the request on my way and my doors are open.

If you see any request from me about the recommendation then once again, just requesting few minutes of your busy schedule to provide it.

Community is all about help and hence this blog post.

Hope you will help and also spread the message to others.

Thanks for your time and help

Please share and care !

Wish me luck !

FREE Raspberry Pi - vExpert

YES,

You read it correctly, @SimplivityCorp is offering it FREE to all the vExperts.

@bacon_is_king tweeted earlier today about this promotion on G+ so thought to write few words and post it for others which is kind of motivation too for other who are not yet vExperts but also can try to become one!!

One just need to go this link and register him/herself

Simplivity Promotion for vExperts

Now there are three options available how you can get your Raspberry Pi

1. Pick up at VMworld US
2. Pick up at VMworld Europe
3. Get it mailed at your address

So choose one and there you go !!

Enjoy creating some new innovation with Raspberry Pi and thanks to @bacon_is_king (for heads up) and @SimpliVityCorp for such wonderful Gift for the VMware vExpert Community !!

VMware Community rocks indeed !!

Share and Care !!

CloudCred Gifts

Recently I joined the CloudCred program and found it interesting as there are so many Tasks you can complete and earn some gifts for your self.

This also makes things little challenging when it comes to Team level or attending some Seminar or IT shows or a group skype call or a Google Hangout with other team members.

Now not everyone has enough time/affordability to do the same but there are tasks you can finish and participate active with other members of the VMware community and can use all kinds of Social Media to spread the knowledge/news/information about VMware Technolgy and also about their Partners'.

So far with my contribution I was able to gather some gifts

Next stop is the Hat and then Umbrella.

Update: Got the Hat

Also there are the Prize for being on top which is 2 Passes for VMworld (Barcelona) which will be interesting to get but requires lot of time and efforts.

Enjoy the social connections and spread the CloudCred

Cheers !!

vExpert - Should I go for it or not?

Hi,

Well that was the question I asked my self a year ago when I applied for the same and was denied.

Right after that I blogged about it, for those who did not get the vExpert - what to do next?

For me it was very much clear as the next target and literally I started blogging from 20th April onwards (after the vExpert results announced in 2012) and till date provided lot of information and contributed to the community as much as I can.

Instead of sitting idle and pulling back the string I decided to take up as a challenge on my own and perceived the same as next Year's Target.

And now I am having a space on the vExpert list announced yesterday by none other than our own @jtroyer (Director, Social Media Evagelist at VMware), Corey Romero and the whole Team running this program.
I have to thank him and the team who believed in me and found me worth the Award. I really appreciate the time and efforts he is putting which shows the value of  this program. I bet you won't find such thing anywhere else except VMware. ;-)


I was actually not aware about the same until @Sunny_Dua buzzed me on Twitter.

So I have to suggest only one thing if you want to be a vExpert - "Go for it".

Its not hard to get anything once commit and dedicate your efforts and time management is another key factor here.

@TintriInc is king enough and announced to give each vExpert a T-shirt for which you can register here.

Also there are few lists for vExperts-2013 on Twitter where you can send your information to register as a member.

@Bacon_Is_King has blogged about more information which you can find it here.

Hopefully continue to contribute to the wonderful VMware community in better way and help the people out.

Hardwork always pays off !!

Share and care !