Offered at *no charge* this live-defense based certification aims to set the bar even higher, by testing a wider variety of knowledge. For example, you must have “X”-level knowledge of at least two hypervisors of your choice (vSphere, Hyper-V or KVM), “X”-level knowledge of the Nutanix platform, familiar with web-scale concepts, plus the world-class architect and soft consulting skills required for successful global enterprise deployments.
I was lucky enough to be involved in the creation of the NPX program, along with more than a dozen other Nutanix consulting architects, solutions/performance engineers, SEs, and other staff. The bar we set for the minimally qualified candidate is high, comprehensive, and will be a challenge ready for conquering by the brightest minds in the IT industry.
The NPX process consists of two parts: Developing a Nutanix-based enterprise-ready design consisting of a number of documents (see the handbook for more details but this includes a CV, references, emerging technology essay, current state review, migration plan, architecture guide, etc.), submitting that design for review, and then if minimal scoring is met, being invited to defend in front of a live panel. The actual defense will consist of three parts: solution design presentation (90 minutes), hands-on troubleshooting exercise (40 minutes), and quizzing of a 3-tier-to-web-scale migration and second hypervisor solution stack (60 minutes).
During this defense the following skills will be assessed:
Consultation skills
- Discovery of business requirements
- Identification of risks and risk elimination or remediation
- Identification of assumptions and constraints and removal or accommodation in the solution design
- Incorporation of Web-scale technologies and operational models
- Evaluation of organizational/operational readiness
- Migration and transition planning
Conceptual/Logical Design Elements
- Scalability
- Resiliency
- Performance
- Manageability and Control Plane Architecture
- Data Protection and Recoverability
- Compliance and Security
- Virtual Machine Logical Design
- Virtual Networking Design
- Third-party Solution Integration
Physical Design Elements
- Resource Sizing
- Storage Infrastructure
- Platform Selection
- Networking Infrastructure
- Virtual Machine Physical Design
- Management Component Design
- Datacenter Infrastructure (Environmental and Power)
I was very impressed with the PhD from Alpine Testing that guided us through the rubric creation process, and feel that the result is very fair, relevant, yet obtainable by the right candidate. While there are a set of recommended third-party certifications that the NPX suggests you have passed, there is not a hard requirement to have passed any other third-party certification exam. You must have passed the Nutanix NPP, though.
Click on the graphic below to expand it, and take a look at the recommended primary and secondary certifications. For example, if you wanted to defend on vSphere and Hyper-V, then you should have the skills of a MCSE-Private cloud and VCDX (DCV, DT or Cloud). Again, this is a self-assessment and there is not a hard requirement to have passed these certifications to apply for NPX. But be assured the screening process will weed out those falling short, so don’t think you can fudge it and get NPX certified. Be brutally honest in your self-assessment. 
Personally, I would recommend you actually take and pass the recommended third-party certifications. For example, I found going through the VCDX program to be invaluable on many levels. But Nutanix realizes for various reasons sometimes people can’t sit for those exams (or find little value in multiple choice tests), and we didn’t want that to be a barrier but that in no way lowers the bar since our screening process is very rigorous. Our minimally qualified candidate standard is very high so don’t just throw a 50 page design together and think it can pass.
Other performance based “X” level certification enterprise documentation packages can take months to prepare and run in excess of 200 pages and the NPX certification will be no different. This certification is NOT about showing off your technical prowess, and throwing every possible solution into your design. You shouldn’t include every Nutanix platform in your design, nor should you throw the entire ecosystem of hypervisor products into it either. It’s all about meeting business requirements in an efficient, simple, and easy to manage methodology using a web-scale approach.
To get started on your NPX certification just go to the registration page here. By registering you can download the free NPX Design Review Preparation Guide and the NPX Program Application. You can also contact Mark Brunstad, the NPX Program manager, at np*@Nu*****.com.
If you are aspiring to be an NPX, be sure to check out Rene Van Den Bedem’s NPX Link-o-Rama.
Good luck!
