Amazon Web Services customers include NASA, the Obama Campaign, Pinterest, Kempinski Hotels, Netflix and the CIA – yes, that’s how serious the offering and the infrastructure is!

Amazon Web Services also offers a certification program. This is especially useful for professionals looking to build a career in the cloud and cloud-related services, especially in the United States.

Last week, Amazon expanded its cloud certification portfolio with the beta launch of its newest professional-level certification, the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer. Let’s take a close look at Amazon web services certification portfolio in general and this new credential in particular.

AWS Certifications

AWS Certifications recognize IT professionals who possess the skills and technical knowledge necessary for designing, deploying, and operating applications and infrastructure on AWS. Earning certification helps you gain visibility and credibility for your proven experience working with AWS, as well as contributes to your organization’s proficiency with AWS-based applications.

AWS Certifications designate individuals who demonstrate knowledge, skills and proficiency with AWS services. AWS Certification exams validate the technical knowledge and skills necessary for building and maintaining applications and services on the AWS Cloud. Exams are delivered by Kryterion in over 750 locations around the globe.

Earning AWS Certification enables you to:

• Demonstrate you have expertise to design, deploy, and operate highly available, cost-effective, and secure applications on the AWS platform
• Gain recognition and visibility for your proven skills and proficiency with AWS
• Foster credibility with your employer and peers

Currently, AWS offers the following credentials:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
• AWS Certified Developer – Associate
• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (Beta)

Now, to the newest credential. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional (Beta)

According to Amazon official website, the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional exam validates technical expertise in provisioning, operating, and managing distributed application systems on the AWS platform. Exam concepts you should understand for this exam include the ability to:

• Implement and manage continuous delivery systems and methodologies on AWS
• Understand, implement, and automate security controls, governance processes, and compliance validation
• Define and deploy monitoring, metrics, and logging systems on AWS
• Implement systems that are highly available, scalable, and self-healing on the AWS platform
• Design, manage, and maintain tools to automate operational processes

Eligible candidates for this exam have:

• Achieved AWS Certified Developer – Associate or AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
• Two or more years’ experience provisioning, operating, and managing AWS environments
• Experience developing code in at least one high-level programming language
• Experience in automation and testing via scripting/programing
• Understanding of agile and other development processes and methodologies

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional Beta Exam Info

• Required Prerequisite: status as AWS Certified Developer – Associate or AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
• Multiple choice and multiple answer questions
• 170 minutes to complete the exam
• Beta exam Registration fee is USD 150

Interested? Be the first in your organization to obtain the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional credential.

What is Oracle WebLogic Server? Oracle WebLogic Server is a benchmark solution for Java application servers, and the “Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) – Oracle WebLogic Server 12c Administrator” is a global standard for WLS administrators. This credential validates the holder’s skills and capabilities of setting up server environments, tuning performance, providing troubleshooting and more.

Like other Oracle exams, The Oracle WebLogic Server 12c: Administration I exam (1Z0-133) can be taken through the network of Pearson VUE testing centers. The 1Z0-133 exam takes 2 hours and consists of 77 multiple choice questions. 1Z0-133 minimum passing score is 64%. Click here to register for the exam.

Oracle WebLogic Server 12c: Administration I Certification Exam (1Z0-133) Topics

Overview of WebLogic Server

• Explain the WebLogic Server terms: domain, server, machine and cluster
• Explain the difference between the administration server and the managed servers.
• Describe the administrative tools: Administration Console, WLST, WLDF, Monitoring Dashboard

Installing and Patching WebLogic Server

• Determine supported configurations for WebLogic Server
• Install WebLogic Server in graphical mode
• Install WebLogic Server silently
• Describe the installation directory structure
• Apply a patch to WebLogic Server by using OPatch

Creating Domains

• Describe a domain’s file system
• Create a domain by using the Configuration Wizard
• Configure machines, servers, and clusters by using the Configuration Wizard
• Copy a domain to another computer with the pack and unpack utilities

Starting Servers

• Start and stop servers with standard scripts
• Identify and resolve problems with server startup
• Customize start and stop scripts, including the CLASSPATH
• Restart a failed server on a different machine

Using the Administration Console

• Access the WebLogic Server Administration Console
• Identify the components of the Administration Console
• Update Administration Console preferences
• Use the Administration Console change center
• Create and configure servers by using the Administration Console

Configuring JDBC

• Describe WebLogic Server’s JDBC architecture
• Describe WebLogic Server’s JNDI architecture
• Compare the different types of data sources
• Compare the different data source transaction options
• Create and configure a generic data source
• Tune a data source’s connection pool
• Create and configure a GridLink data source

Monitoring a Domain

• Configure WebLogic Server logs
• Interpret a server log file entry
• Create and apply a log filter
• Enable WebLogic Server debugging output
• Monitor WebLogic Server health and performance
• Monitor JDBC data sources
• Access diagnostic charts in the Monitoring Dashboard

Node Manager

• Describe the architecture and capabilities of the Node Manager
• Create a Node Manager with the Configuration Wizard
• Configure properties for the Java Node Manager
• Describe the Java Node Manager directory structure
• Enroll a Node Manager with a domain
• Start and stop a Node Manager
• Start and stop managed servers by using the Administration Console

Deploying Applications

• Deploy an application
• Start a deployed application
• Stop a deployed application
• Undeploy an application
• Redeploy an application
• Use the test links for an application supplied by the Administration Console
• Monitor a deployed application
• Use the Monitoring Dashboard’s built-in application view
• Load test an application with The Grinder console given a script

Network Channels and Virtual Hosts

• Configure a WebLogic Server network channel
• Monitor a network channel
• Configure WebLogic Server to use an administration port
• Configure a virtual host for WebLogic Server

Creating and Configuring Clusters

• Describe basic and multi-tier cluster architectures
• Create a cluster by using the Configuration Wizard
• Create and configure a cluster by using the Administration Console
• Create and configure a dynamic cluster
• Create and configure a server template
• Describe how a dynamic cluster calculates listen ports and machines for generated servers

Cluster Proxies and Sessions

• Install Oracle HTTP Server with the Web Tier installer
• Configure Oracle HTTP Server as a WebLogic Server cluster proxy
• List the options for HTTP session failover
• Configure in-memory session replication
• Configure replication groups

Cluster Communication, Planning and Troubleshooting

• Explain the difference between unicast and multicast cluster communication
• Configure replication channels by using the Administration Console
• Describe planning for a cluster
• Monitor a cluster

Transactions

• Explain WebLogic Server’s role in managing transactions
• Configure WebLogic Server transactions (JTA)
• Configure the WebLogic Server default store used for transaction logs
• Configure a database persistent store for WebLogic Server transaction logs
• Monitor WebLogic Server transactions

WebLogic Server Security

• List some of the WebLogic Server security providers and what they do
• Describe basic LDAP architecture
• Configure an external LDAP authentication provider for  WebLogic Server
• Describe how multiple authentication providers can be used with WebLogic Server

Backing Up a Domain and Upgrading WebLogic Server

• Back up a WebLogic Server domain
• Restore a WebLogic Server domain
• Define Managed Service Independence mode
• Describe the process to upgrade WebLogic Server 11g to 12c
• Run the WebLogic Server Reconfiguration Wizard as part of the upgrade process

Many of you have heard about TestKing, a British company that sells IT certification practice tests and study guides. We’ve been following them for quite a while, and the best thing about TestKing is money back guarantee. So, if you plan to take any IT certification exams any time soon, TestKing is worth taking a look at!

Today, however, we are talking about FREE stuff. TestKing has a wide array of their Android apps available for free. You can choose from demo versions of either practice exams or study guides. These demo apps give you sufficient free preview, with a full upgrade option available. Whether or not you decide to purchase an upgrade (we upgraded a few apps and have no regrets), these demo versions provide you with some valuable insights into your certification exam.

Testking offers 2 kinds of apps: Study Guides and Practice Tests. Each demo version of the study guide app contains the first chapter of a comprehensive study guide for respected exam. Demo apps with practice exams contact the first 10 queries of every exam. This includes various query types specific to each vendor and exam, queries with images (you can zoom-in and do everything you need for your convenience).

Having spent time testing the apps, we didn’t run into any problems, all of them are smooth and stable, with no crushes or bugs we all try to avoid.

There are literally hundreds of TestKing apps available on Google Play Store https://play.google.com/store/search?q=testking – as there are hundreds of exams. Here’s the ultimate top 10 that have caught our eye:

1. ITIL Foundation Demo exam
2. EX0-117 Exin ITIL Demo Exam
3. Testking ISC SSCP Demo Exam
4. JN0-643 Juniper JNCIP-ENT Demo Exam
5. CCNP 642-902 Study Guide Demo
6. 70-640 MCITP Demo Exam
7. N10-005 Network+ Demo Exam
8. PMI-001 PMP Study Guide Demo
9. VCP5-DCV VMware VCP5 Demo Exam
10. Cisco 200-120 Study Guide Demo

Explore FREE Android apps from TestKing to boost your exam preparation.

What do you think about Microsoft Press publications? While these resources can be useful, many candidates just do not want to pay for them. After all, why purchase a pricey book that is highly likely to be tucked away to a top shelf a few weeks later? And since certification exams are expensive enough as they are, we just don’t want to pay for official publications. But what if we told you that you can get Microsoft press books FOR FREE?

Get free Microsoft eBooks in PDF, ePub and Mobi formats directly from Microsoft Press here.

From technical overviews to drilldowns on special topics, free Microsoft Press ebooks cover the following areas:

• Windows Server
• Windows Azure
• Windows
• App Development
• Microsoft System Center
• Other subjects

These are our top choices:

Microsoft System Center: Network Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Mitch Tulloch with Nader Benmessaoud, CJ Williams, Uma Mahesh Mudigonda
March 2014
This brief book identifies some key usage and deployment scenarios for cloud computing to provide some deep technical background on the Microsoft SDN solution, enabling IT professionals to quickly learn the internals of HNV, how it works from end to end, and where and how it should be used.

Introducing Windows Azure for IT Professionals
Mitch Tulloch with the Windows Azure Team
October 2013
Get a high-level overview of Windows Azure—and get a running start with this flexible cloud platform. Designed for IT professionals, this guide introduces core features and functionality, with technical insights and advice from a Microsoft MVP and members of the Windows Azure team. Topics include Windows Azure solutions, Compute services, Network services, Data services, and App services

Introducing Microsoft System Center 2012 R2
Mitch Tulloch with Symon Perriman and the System Center team
January 2014
Get a high-level overview of System Center 2012 R2—and get a running start transforming your datacenter and cloud-optimizing your business. This guide introduces core features and functionality, with technical advice and under-the-hood insights from a Microsoft MVP and members of the System Center team at Microsoft.

Click here to explore free Microsoft eBooks, and be sure to test your newly acquired knowledge with the latest braindumps from our IT Certification Community.