News

We will be presenting Onyku®, IT collaboration through Open Knowledge principles, at the Norwegian VMUG 19 May 2025.

Onyku® is an open-source, vendor-neutral project, originally conceptualized by a VMware IT professional to address real-world challenges. While its roots lie in the VMware ecosystem, Onyku® is designed to be broadly applicable across platforms and vendors.

Sharing Knowledge (POC stage)

This module enables IT professional to create and share Design Guidelines in a standardized format. The design qualities are inspired by the VCDX blueprint. The principles are universally applicable to any IT design.

IT Design (Vision stage)

Born from hands-on experience with VMware Validated Solutions and third-party integrations like Red Hat OpenShift, this module aims to streamline how we create, consume, and share IT designs across solution and vendors.
The goal is ambitious yet simple: if Onyku® can model a comprehensive VMware solution — including third party components like physical networks — it should be capable of supporting any IT design, regardless of technology or vendor.

Next-Gen documentation (Idea stage)

The concept of “Next-Gen documentation” stems from the need for more focused, role-based technical content. While a VMware professional should understand the full stack, most roles benefit from curated, relevant documentation tailored to their specific responsibilities.

Are you planning to attempt the Nutanix Certified Master – Multicloud Infrastructure (NCM-MCI) online? These tips may help you on exam day.
These tips may also be applicable to other PSI lab-based exams.

Preparing for the exam

• Read this post “Preparing for the Nutanix Certified Master – Multicloud Infrastructure 6.5 Exam”. The post below is an extension to it, focusing on the exam itself.
• Use “Test Drive” and the “Demo” in “My Nutanix” to practice. These are good options if you don’t have a lab, although having a lab is still better.

Logistics before the exam

• Use a large screen. With a UWQHD screen (3440 x 1440), i had documentation on the left, instructions in the middle, and the working area on the right. This setup saves time and reduce mistakes.
  If you have a workstation, connect to only one screen.
  If you have a Windows laptop, connect to an external screen and in the display settings, use “Show only on …” and select the large screen.
• Have a mirror ready if you are using a laptop. Before allowing you into the exam, you will have to show your room with the webcam including under your keyboard. When using only the laptop’s integrated webcam, this is not possible. With the mirror, it is possible, even if it still challenging to get the right angle.
• Deactivate sleep mode in power settings. The test allows two toilet break. This setting ensures the laptop will not enter in sleep mode, which may impact the secure browser.
• Disable Windows updates. I do not know if it possible to cancel an automatic update while in the test secure browser. Better to be safe than sorry.
• Stable internet connection. It may be better to take the test from an office rather than from home.
• Consider taking the exam in a test center. If there are technical issues in a test center, I assume that a refund will be possible. I don’t think there will be such a refund when trying from home because the issue could be on the candidate’s side. Check with the test center if they have large screens.

During the exam

• Read carefully instructions on how to reconnect in case of disconnection. I didn’t do this, and unsurprisingly, I had a network issue 15 minutes before the end of the exam. I managed to log back in, but i don’t really know how i was trying many things. There was just one minute before the end and I just had time to click on “complete the exam” without finishing one question.
• Use tab and enter to accept Adobe EULA. I had an issue when launching Adobe in the lab. I could not see and click on the button to validate the Eula, hidden by a “bar” from the secure browser. By using tab and enter i was able to accept it without seeing it.
• Use the advanced search in Adobe reader. Check video linked in the blog referenced in first bullet point.
• Do not use Windows key + direction keys. It doesn’t work in the remote desktop and affects the secure browser instead.

Notes

These tips were tested the 28/04/2025 with a Windows 11 laptop and an external UWQHD screen.
It is not guaranteed that they will work with future PSI lab exam, but i assume they will.

These tips are shared as part of the Nutanix Expert Challenge, with more to come on various topics.

New feature: The Onyku™ proof of concept supports adding diagrams to design question guidelines using Mermaid code.
Onyku GitHub repository

Mermaid, combined with Git repositories, supports Open Knowledge principles.

Benefits

• No Licensing barriers: Mermaid is Open Source.
• Foster collaboration: Diagram codes stored on Git repositories can be easily shared and collaboratively edited. No need to recreate a diagram from scratch if the source file is unavailable.
• Consistent version control: Diagram As Code ensures that diagrams follow the same version control process as the rest of the code, eliminating the need to manage diagram source files separately.

Screenshot of the new form field

It is now possible to add one or more diagrams by clicking ‘Add Diagram.’
A ‘Preview’ button is available to display the resulting diagram directly below the code, removing the need to leave the Design Question Guidelines form (e.g., opening a separate diagram application).

Welcome,

Calvet IT is now public!
Our mission is to promote Open Knowledge in IT consulting, fostering global collaboration.

Key offerings

• IT Consulting for Open Knowledge
  Every IT consulting engagement is an opportunity to discover new knowledge. Unlike other companies, our goal is to share this knowledge with humanity, rather than keeping it as a proprietary asset. Learn more
• Onyku™ open-source project
  Onyku™ is an open-source project aimed at creating an IT design standard, guideline standards, and developing an IT design software that adheres to them. This software facilitates the creation and sharing of knowledge in these standards, leveraging Git repositories to enhance collaboration among IT professionals. Learn more

Goals and upcoming activities in the following weeks

• Onyku™ Open Source Project:
  • Build a community of interested individuals.
  • Determine the appropriate open-source license for Onyku™ and shared knowledge.
  • Collaborate with the community on defining guideline standards for the Knowledge Sharing Module.
  • Improve the Knowledge Sharing module Proof of Concept.
  • Identify and start the process for applying for national and international grants.
  • Engage with sponsors to define sponsoring packages.
  • Identify synergies in Norway and establish partnerships.
• IT Consulting for Open Knowledge:
  • Conduct initial customer engagements.
  • Share knowledge according to Open Knowledge principles.*
  • Establish a lab for training and preparation for customer engagements.
  • Study to refresh or earn new certifications.

Additionally, there will be administrative tasks, such as setting up the international payment platform once the company becomes “MVA pliktlig.”
Please bear in mind that, so far, the founder is the sole employee, so delays may occur.

For any questions, suggestions regarding our missions, or technical issues with the website, please contact us.

* Since Onyku™ Knowledge Sharing Module guideline standards are not yet defined, we will use a pre-Onyku format. We will use Markdown files without a pre-defined format, stored on a public GitHub repository with an open-source license. Later, we will migrate all knowledge to the new standards.