Data Center Infrastructure

Modern Infrastructure: We’re mobile. Now what?

BYOD has shifted the balance of power for IT teams, and often stretched their resources thin. This Modern Infrastructure cover story looks at how IT can manage and support mobility without wasting time and resources. This issue of MI also covers the evolution of Linux, along with high-performance computing in the cloud and other news and analysis.E-Zine

Use Kickstart to automate a Red Hat Enterprise Linux OS installation

Sysadmins who want to streamline Red Hat Enterprise Linux OS installation can use a modified Kickstart file by following these tips.Tip

The server lifecycle: Is it time for that aging server to go?

The server lifecycle of a data center may vary. Knowing yours can ease the upgrade decision and benefit the business in the long term.Tip

System V init's successor, Linux Upstart, isn't tough to master

Used to System V init from previous Linux distributions? Never fear. Here are a few tips to get started with its successor, Linux Upstart.Tip

IPMI can remedy remote server access issues in your data center

IPMI can help with server management across many servers when proprietary tools can't do enough.Tip

Tweak Linux swap to improve server performance

Many administrators ignore or underutilize the Linux swap settings but making the proper adjustments will make for better system performance.Tip

Overheard at the Red Hat Summit: Nyancat and the cloud

Attendees at the 2012 Red Hat Summit brought many different perspectives. Here are a few witty quotes to get you thinking.News | 29 Jun 2012

Btrfs grows up with Linux kernel 3.4

Linux kernel 3.4's changes to the btrfs file system and new tools may spur some to update servers without waiting for Linux to play catch-up.News | 25 May 2012

Resource allocation with Linux cgroups helps optimize performance

The Linux cgroups feature lets you make a profile to manage resources to keep your system under control.Tip

It’s an easy fix to clean up a GRUB error on your Linux server

A GRUB error will stop a Linux server cold, but following these steps should get you back on track.Tip

The incredible shrinking desktop: Have Apple and consumerization finally broken the back of Wintel?

April's Modern Infrastructure cover story delves into Apple and consumerization's effects on the long-standing Windows domination in the enterprise. What are consumer devices, mobility and changing user behavior doing to the traditional IT infrastructure? This issue of MI also examines a problem plaguing IT teams trying to use VDI: the storage issues that are commonly coming up. Hybrid storage arrays and solid-state disk are finding a key role. The emerging concept of identity management in the cloud rounds out the April MI feature well. These stories will examine trends and offer advice, along with MI's regular departments covering trends, news and expert guidance.E-Zine

Core parking helps drive down energy costs

Core parking can save significantly on server energy use, but sys admins need to decide when to use it, since system performance will take a hit.Tip

Tips for improving Active Directory performance on servers

Striking the right balance of memory and disk performance can help optimize Active Directory performance.Tip

Avoiding access issues with Microsoft Network Access Protection

Configuration problems can make Microsoft Network Access Protection overly zealous and lock out users who need data center access.Tip

The server lifecycle: Is it time for that aging server to go?

The server lifecycle of a data center may vary. Knowing yours can ease the upgrade decision and benefit the business in the long term.Tip

single point of failure (SPOF)

A single point of failure (SPOF) is a potential risk posed by a flaw in the design, implementation or configuration of a circuit or system in which one fault or malfunction causes an entire system to stop operating.Definition

Popular Linux automation tools embrace Windows

CFengine now natively supports Windows, and Opscode Chef does too. But will Windows shops accept their advances?News | 27 Oct 2011

Hot summer reads: From systems management to server hardware

Don’t miss out on our top data center tips and guides from this summer. This top content on systems management, data center planning and server hardware are worth a second look.Must reads

SearchDataCenter.com Products of the Year 2011 nominations

SearchDataCenter.com's annual Products of the Year awards recognize innovation and performance in data center technologies. Nominate a product today!Feature

Oracle’s not alone on poor heterogeneous stack support

Oracle says it won’t support multivendor stacks unless the problem originates with Oracle, but Microsoft and IBM don’t cover themselves in glory either.News | 06 Sep 2011

Gray market equipment saves money but requires due diligence

Businesses may choose to make due with gray market equipment when platform updates simply won't work or older systems require continued support.Answer

Why should I look at Open Compute servers?

The Open Compute Project aims to bring streamlined servers to data centers of all sizes to make technology refreshes less painful.Answer

Data center titans line up in support of Open Compute Project

Facebook's Open Compute Project has caught on, with AMD and Intel developing motherboards for the project's Open Rack infrastructure.News | 17 Jan 2013

'Big data' shops eye cheaper four-socket Intel Xeon servers

Open Compute Project brings open source to server design

The Open Compute Project pushes new server hardware models developed to ease deployments and lower costs for large data centers.Tip

Low-power server market awaits 64-bit ARM chips and ARM-based servers

ARM-based servers march onward toward data center markets with support from Hewlett-Packard and Dell, but not as much support from Intel.News | 05 Sep 2012

IBM adds solid-state hard drive maker to arsenal, beefs up PureSystems

IBM's recent acquisition of solid-state hard drive manufacturer TMS will add to its converged infrastructure portfolio. Will others follow suit?News | 20 Aug 2012

Facebook Open Compute Project a role model for data centers

Data center experts say most enterprises can’t imitate Facebook’s Open Compute Project, but they could reap the benefits over time.News | 17 May 2012

Optimize data center virtualization with strategic capacity planning

Use strategic capacity planning to future-proof your data center's virtualization efficiency and make the most of server hardware.Tip

'Big data' shops eye cheaper four-socket Intel Xeon servers

What once required high-end Intel E7 processors and motherboards now fits into a lower-cost E5-4600 four-socket Intel Xeon system, suitable for scale-out workloads in HPC and big data.News | 14 May 2012

SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 Service Pack 2 targets Solaris shops

SUSE shops are cautious after a long silence from the Novell post-Attachmate deal; experts say Linux has eclipsed Unix generally, but SUSE needs work.News | 28 Feb 2012

single point of failure (SPOF)

A single point of failure (SPOF) is a potential risk posed by a flaw in the design, implementation or configuration of a circuit or system in which one fault or malfunction causes an entire system to stop operating.Definition

Search and replace on steroids: Do more with these sed commands

These tips can help administrators help themselves through advanced text editing with the UNIX Stream Editor (sed) utility.Tip

Oracle’s not alone on poor heterogeneous stack support

Oracle says it won’t support multivendor stacks unless the problem originates with Oracle, but Microsoft and IBM don’t cover themselves in glory either.News | 06 Sep 2011

Oracle support issues overshadow Solaris virtualization milestone

Sparc 2.1’s live migration feature earns plaudits but may not be enough to placate weary Sun shops.News | 14 Jun 2011

Oracle: We have a hardware problem

Happy talk aside, slumping Sun server sales spook software superpower, and Mark Hurd is taking a look.News | 20 Apr 2011

Processor technology for Unix systems: AMD or Intel?

Unix admins have many processor technology options for their environments. An expert compares offerings from AMD and Intel to help you make the best decision for your data center.Tip | 29 Mar 2011

Is IBM next on Oracle's hit list?

With HP Integrity systems out of the way, Oracle has set the stage for discontinuing development on additional platforms.News | 29 Mar 2011

A server refresh guide

When it’s time for a server refresh in your data center, our guide will give you everything you need to know – from selecting the right hardware to capacity planning advice.Guide

Sun server shops keep heading for the exit

The latest research backs up anecdotal evidence that Sun server shops are fleeing Oracle.News | 09 Mar 2011

Are blade servers obsolete?

Blade servers maximize compute density on racks, but are their days numbered?Answer

2013 Data Center Readers' Choice Survey

Submit our vote for our 2013 Data Center Readers' Choice Survey and find out how you match up against your peers.Survey

VCE tweaks Vblock line with low cost converged infrastructure systems

VCE's new lower-cost Vblocks are a step in the right direction, but the converged infrastructure systems may not make a splash in today's data center.News | 21 Feb 2013

SearchDataCenter's top news stories of 2012

From IT personnel contending with a natural disaster to fanfare for a powerful new Intel processor, here are the most popular data center stories from 2012 as chosen by our readers.News | 19 Dec 2012

Dell unveils workloads, features of converged infrastructure offering

Dell bakes Gale Technologies' automation into Dell's Active Infrastructure to speed up deployments.News | 13 Dec 2012

Things to know about blade server technology before you buy

If you're interested in blade server technology as an alternative to towers and racks, sharpen your knowledge with these facts.Tip

Things to know about blade server technology before you buy

If you're interested in blade server technology as an alternative to towers and racks, sharpen your knowledge with these facts.Tip

ARM servers, system on a chip promise efficiency for hyperscale data centers

Though the ARM server market is still small, Red Hat's Fedora for ARM project sees a future in high-density data centers.News | 29 Jun 2012

Server consolidation tempered by tech trends, uptime goals

Going overboard with server consolidation is as bad as not doing enough, but IT trends are keeping unchecked growth under control.News | 18 Jun 2012

Puppet Labs offers bare-metal provisioning to enterprises via EMC

Puppet Labs surprises some IT pros with a new EMC partnership that open-sources automated bare-metal provisioning for servers.News | 23 May 2012

Ways to improve local storage performance on virtual servers

If your enterprise has virtual machines and data storage handled on separate servers, there are a few ways to optimize storage performance.Tip

Optimizing local hard drive configuration for use with virtual servers

Proper hard disk configuration for virtual servers requires attentive server provisioning, optimization and ongoing management.Tip

Flash storage vs. hard drive: Which is best for virtual servers?

Virtual servers add a new dimension to the flash storage vs. hard drive question. Size, speed and connectivity all play a role in the outcome.Answer

Don't let a storage bottleneck clog your data center pipes

The move to SSD and enhanced Fibre Channel speeds can ease storage bottlenecks at endpoints in the enterprise.Tip

Data center technologies to be thankful for

These data center technologies to be thankful for may surprise you. Check out this installment of "Modern Infrastructure"’s Countdown for more.News | 15 Nov 2012

Understanding wear leveling for solid-state disks

Take a look under the hood of flash storage in this detailed definition of wear leveling and solid-state disk.News | 15 Nov 2012

Understanding wear leveling for solid-state disks

Data center technologies to be thankful for

IT pros rethink data center infrastructure to support 'big data'

Predicting your unpredictable capacity needs in the data center

The rise of mobile devices and other advances make capacity planning a difficult proposition for IT professionals.Podcast