VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN Study Guide 2025: Updated Prep Materials
Get ready for the VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN certification with our comprehensive 2025 study guide. Updated with the latest exam objectives, study strategies, and expert tips to help you pass on your first attempt.
Exam Quick Facts
Why This 2025 Guide?
Prepared with the latest exam objectives and proven study strategies
2025 Updated
Reflects the latest exam objectives and content updates for 2025
Exam Aligned
Covers all current exam domains with accurate weightings
Proven Strategies
Time-tested study techniques from successful candidates
Fast Track Path
Efficient study plan to pass on your first attempt
Complete Study Materials
Comprehensive 2025 study guide for VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN
Complete Study Guide for VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN (5V0-22.23)
The VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN certification validates your expertise in implementing, managing, and troubleshooting VMware vSAN hyper-converged infrastructure. This professional-level certification demonstrates your ability to architect, deploy, and optimize vSAN storage solutions in enterprise environments. It is highly valued for professionals working with software-defined storage and VMware virtualization infrastructures.
Who Should Take This Exam
- VMware administrators managing vSAN environments
- Storage administrators transitioning to software-defined storage
- Infrastructure architects designing hyper-converged solutions
- IT professionals working with VMware vSphere environments
- Cloud infrastructure engineers
Prerequisites
- Solid understanding of VMware vSphere 7.x or 8.x
- Experience with VMware ESXi administration
- Knowledge of storage concepts (RAID, storage protocols, disk types)
- Familiarity with networking fundamentals
- Hands-on experience with vCenter Server
- Understanding of high availability and fault tolerance concepts
Official Resources
VMware Certification Overview
Official VMware certification homepage with exam registration and requirements
View ResourceVMware vSAN Documentation
Comprehensive official documentation for vSAN architecture, deployment, and management
View ResourcevSAN Design and Sizing Guide
Official design guidelines and best practices for vSAN deployments
View ResourceVMware vSAN Technical Resources
Central hub for vSAN technical documentation, guides, and whitepapers
View ResourceVMware Hands-on Labs
Free hands-on lab environments to practice vSAN configuration and management
View ResourceVMware Learning Zone
Official learning portal with training paths and certification information
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Recommended Books
VMware vSAN Deployment and Management Guide
by VMware Press
Comprehensive guide covering vSAN architecture, deployment strategies, and operational best practices for hyper-converged infrastructure
View on AmazonMastering VMware vSAN
by Various Authors
Advanced topics in vSAN including troubleshooting, performance tuning, and real-world implementation scenarios
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
VMware Hands-on Labs - vSAN
Free, browser-based lab environments with pre-configured vSAN scenarios for hands-on practice without hardware requirements
View ResourceVMware vSAN ReadyNode Sizer
Tool for designing and sizing vSAN clusters, helpful for understanding capacity planning and architecture decisions
View ResourceVMware Test Drive
Free trial environments where you can explore vSAN features and configurations in a guided environment
View ResourcevSAN Observer Fling
Free tool from VMware for deep performance analysis and troubleshooting of vSAN clusters
View ResourceVMware Learning Zone Practice Tests
Official practice questions and exam simulators to test your knowledge before the actual exam
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
VMware Technology Network (VMTN) Community
Official VMware forums with dedicated vSAN sections for technical discussions, troubleshooting help, and best practices
Join Communityr/vmware Subreddit
Active Reddit community discussing VMware products including vSAN, with study tips, exam experiences, and technical discussions
Join Communityr/vsan Subreddit
Dedicated subreddit for vSAN-specific discussions, troubleshooting, and community support
Join CommunityVMware vSphere & vSAN Blog
Official VMware blog with technical articles, announcements, and deep-dive posts on vSAN features and updates
Join CommunityYellow Bricks Blog
Popular independent blog by VMware experts covering vSAN architecture, troubleshooting, and real-world implementations
Join CommunityVirtuallyGhetto Blog
Technical blog by William Lam covering advanced vSAN topics, automation, and unique use cases
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Hands-On Practice
- Build a nested vSAN lab using VMware Workstation or ESXi - this is critical for exam success
- Practice creating and deleting vSAN clusters multiple times to understand the complete lifecycle
- Experiment with different storage policies and observe how they affect object placement
- Break things intentionally in your lab to understand failure scenarios and recovery procedures
- Use VMware Hands-on Labs if you don't have hardware for a home lab
Focus on Storage Policies
- Understand RAID levels in vSAN context (RAID-1 mirroring, RAID-5/6 erasure coding)
- Practice calculating required capacity for different FTT (Failures to Tolerate) settings
- Know the minimum host requirements for each RAID configuration
- Understand the difference between FTT=1 with RAID-1 vs RAID-5
- Study storage policy compliance and how to troubleshoot non-compliant objects
Master the vSAN Health Service
- Memorize the major health check categories and what they indicate
- Understand which health checks are critical vs warning vs informational
- Practice identifying issues through the health service interface
- Know how to remediate common health check failures
- Study the relationship between health checks and actual cluster problems
Networking is Critical
- Understand VMkernel adapter requirements for vSAN traffic
- Know the recommended network bandwidth and latency requirements
- Study network isolation best practices for vSAN
- Understand multicast vs unicast communication modes
- Practice troubleshooting network connectivity issues in vSAN
Capacity Planning
- Learn to calculate usable capacity with different RAID configurations
- Understand slack space and why it's necessary
- Know the capacity thresholds that trigger rebalancing
- Practice using the vSAN sizing calculator
- Understand the impact of deduplication and compression on capacity
Exam-Specific Preparation
- The exam focuses heavily on practical scenarios - think like you're troubleshooting real issues
- Configuration and deployment (30%) is the largest section - allocate study time accordingly
- Understand the 'why' behind configurations, not just the 'how'
- Review VMware KB articles on common vSAN issues before the exam
- Practice identifying correct storage policy settings for given requirements
- Know the differences between vSAN ESA and OSA architectures
- Understand maintenance mode evacuation options: Full, Ensure Accessibility, No Data Migration
Documentation Review
- Read the vSAN Design Guide thoroughly - it contains architectural best practices
- Review release notes for the vSAN version covered in the exam
- Study the vSAN Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) and compatibility requirements
- Bookmark and review key sections of the official vSAN documentation
- Read VMware best practices documents for vSAN deployments
Exam Day Tips
- 1The exam is 135 minutes with 70 questions - you have about 1 minute 55 seconds per question
- 2Read each question carefully and identify what's actually being asked before looking at answers
- 3Watch for scenario-based questions that require you to apply multiple concepts
- 4Flag difficult questions and return to them later - don't get stuck on any single question
- 5Eliminate obviously wrong answers first to improve your odds on difficult questions
- 6Pay attention to keywords like 'minimum', 'maximum', 'recommended', 'supported', 'best practice'
- 7Questions about troubleshooting often have multiple potentially correct answers - choose the best first step
- 8For capacity calculations, remember to account for RAID overhead and slack space
- 9The passing score is 300/500, which means you need approximately 60% correct
- 10Many questions test your ability to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios rather than memorization
- 11Review your flagged questions if you have time remaining
- 12Trust your preparation and don't second-guess too much on questions you've already answered
Study guide generated on January 7, 2026
VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN 2025 Study Guide FAQs
VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN is a professional certification from VMware that validates expertise in vmware certified specialist - vsan technologies and concepts. The official exam code is 5V0-22.23.
The VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN Study Guide 2025 includes updated content reflecting the latest exam changes, new technologies, and best practices. It covers all current exam objectives and domains.
Yes, the 2025 VMware Certified Specialist - vSAN study guide has been updated with new content, revised exam objectives, and the latest industry trends. It reflects all changes made to the 5V0-22.23 exam.
Start by reviewing the exam objectives in the 2025 guide, then work through each section systematically. Combine your study with practice exams to reinforce your learning.
More 2025 Resources
Complete your exam preparation with these resources