Features

Features

• SD-WAN benefits branch networks with simplicity, automation

  Traditional branch networks haven't adapted well to new technologies. But a mature SD-WAN market can bring distributed networks up to speed with simplicity and automation.  Continue Reading

• Composable infrastructure creates new path to SDDC nirvana

  Shiny new products like composable infrastructure and on-premises cloud platforms could offer a way to achieve software-defined infrastructure -- but beware the pitfalls.  Continue Reading

• Colocation price comparison tools aim to ease IT research

  New procurement services, such as Inflect and UpStack, offer a central location to compare prices, services and features from colo companies for easier buying decisions.  Continue Reading

• Master RHEL 7.3 before you consider RHEL 8

  RHEL 7.3 offers high security, reliability and performance. Discover how to navigate GRUB 2 and system, and learn which distros work best for Docker, among other tips.  Continue Reading

• Words to go: HCI platforms

  Implementing HCI systems in the data center is a big undertaking for IT. Learn the basics of this emerging technology and its components before you make the leap.  Continue Reading

• Software-defined memory trends yield speed, high performance

  A new class of memory technologies is coming to the data center landscape. Educate yourself on the emerging tech, including tools you'll want to consider.  Continue Reading

• Explore uses for virtual data center architecture with VMC on AWS

  The popularity of a virtual data center has risen because of the VMware Cloud on AWS announcement at VMworld 2017. But which enterprises should be in line to use it?  Continue Reading

• The mainframe environment: A thing of the past or the future?

  It made its name in a long-ago era, but even in the time of virtualization and cloud computing, the mainframe hasn't disappeared yet. The IBM z14 aims to keep it that way.  Continue Reading

• In the edge data center, opportunities and challenges await

  To really make IoT and similar edge computing initiatives pay off, an IT organization needs to distribute essential data center resources far and wide.  Continue Reading

• IBM Strategic Imperatives mark a transition into software and services

  IBM's Strategic Imperatives are slowly morphing the server hardware stalwart into a software and services company. But IBM still needs hardware to complete the transformation.  Continue Reading

• HCI appliances embrace containers, more flexible pricing

  As the hyper-converged market develops, container support, more flexible pricing schemes and other enhancements come to the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Streamline Linux system management with these five tips

  Linux systems can be complicated, so efficient management makes all the difference. Learn how tools such as systemd and open source PowerShell can make an admin's life easier.  Continue Reading

• Top data center industry news stories so far in 2017

  The data center market moves quickly, so it's important to stay abreast of the latest news. See which product launches and emerging IT strategies made headlines so far this year.  Continue Reading

• Distributed data centers boost resiliency, but IT hurdles remain

  Distributed data center architectures increase IT resiliency compared to traditional single-site models, with networking, data integrity and other factors all playing critical roles.  Continue Reading

• Assess and compare DCIM software options in the market

  DCIM software can improve the management and operation of your data center. Choose the right vendor for your company to control costs, manage energy and track activity.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate DCIM software and its impact on the data center

  Buyers must know how to evaluate DCIM software to ensure it meets their requirements for asset tracking and management, power and cooling optimization and real-time reporting.  Continue Reading

• IT infrastructure automation lessens the load for data center teams

  Network, storage and server management can be overwhelming and time-consuming tasks. Evaluate automation techniques to simplify everything from documentation to system uptime.  Continue Reading

• Four options to optimize SSD performance in the data center

  As more organizations adopt SSDs, practices for storage optimization need to evolve. Learn how tactics, such as disabling defragmentation and using the write cache, can play a role.  Continue Reading

• Modern load-balancer options reflect the virtualized environment

  Load balancing means something different in a virtualized IT department. Operational agility is now a mainstay, and it will only get more complex in the future.  Continue Reading

• Learn efficiency lessons from hyperscale cloud providers

  Enterprise data center teams can learn important lessons from hyperscale cloud providers. Rethink redundancy strategies and consider technologies like SDN to increase efficiency.  Continue Reading

• The DCIM tool and its place in the modern data center

  As their data centers become more complex, admins should look to a DCIM tool to better manage disaster prevention, capacity planning, and asset and energy management.  Continue Reading

• Sharpen your server management and monitoring strategy

  Effective server management requires monitoring, documentation and, sometimes, a move off premises. Discover top server management tips and how to apply them to your data center.  Continue Reading

• The background of DCIM tools and their role in the enterprise

  DCIM tools now play a critical role in keeping data center operations running reliably and efficiently, so buyers should pay close attention to their deployment.  Continue Reading

• Software-based networking brings new automation perks, challenges

  More data center teams have moved to software-defined networks. And while the technology brings new benefits around automation, it also brings a host of implementation challenges.  Continue Reading

• Data center storage architecture moves toward software-defined memory

  New IT developments converge storage and memory into a hybrid approach. Consequently, the idea of software-defined memory starts to become more of a reality.  Continue Reading

• Words to go: Data center colocation services

  Don't jump feet first into the colocation pool. First, make sure you understand the different options for colocation services and agreements, using these key terms below.  Continue Reading

• Mainframe tools for better monitoring, capacity planning and more

  There are a variety of tools and strategies to optimize mainframe performance, from capacity planning to more efficient virtual storage management and more.  Continue Reading

• When to consider converged infrastructure technologies

  Converged and hyper-converged systems simplify an IT environment and boost performance. Here's how to decide if they are right for your business's data center.  Continue Reading

• GPU-accelerated computing makes its way into the data center

  Once viewed narrowly as a gaming technology, GPUs have made their way into enterprise data centers, fueling initiatives around machine learning, artificial intelligence and more.  Continue Reading

• Chapter excerpt: Master the Linux boot procedure in RHEL 7

  GRUB 2 and systemd are two new additions to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7. Use this chapter excerpt to overcome common challenges when using these features during the boot procedure.  Continue Reading

• Advisory board: Learn from these top data center challenges

  For many, time is the ultimate teacher. Explore the top data center challenges and lessons learned from our advisory board members in 2016, and how they plan to move forward.  Continue Reading

• Update your data backup policy with new options

  The server backup market first evolved to protect VMs, but now it's undergoing another transformation. Find out how it's evolved and what you need to know for the future.  Continue Reading

• To reap the benefits of hyper-convergence, manage it right

  Use a policy-based approach to manage hyper-converged infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Develop an IT budget plan to maximize lifespan and not break the bank

  Proper IT budget planning and cost optimization can extend the life of your infrastructure, help guide refresh decisions and prepare you for software-defined architectures.  Continue Reading

• Compare the best Linux distros for enterprise servers

  Any of the popular Linux distributions can run on enterprise servers, but here's how to decide which is best for you. Compare SUSE, Red Hat, Oracle and Ubuntu Linux OSes.  Continue Reading

• Five tips for more effective data center network management

  To effectively manage a data center network, IT teams need to start with a smart topology, brush up on the latest standards and weigh the impact of technologies like SDN.  Continue Reading

• Brush up your data center facilities management strategy

  An inefficient data center can break the bank. Prevent cooling failures and update battery technology to remain efficient and keep your data center cost-effective.  Continue Reading

• Top data center market news stories of 2016

  Outages, acquisitions and server innovations piqued the interest of enterprise IT shops in 2016. Here's a look back at five of the biggest data center news stories from this year.  Continue Reading

• Examine data collection problems with big data, IoT in mind

  Networking challenges and data collection problems can occur when IT tries to deploy IoT and big data into a data center. Understand how to move data without limiting security.  Continue Reading

• Challenges of IoT include big data, data analysis for enterprise

  Implementing big data and IoT is difficult for enterprise IT teams due to major challenges on the network. Here's how IT can understand the relationship and prepare for the change.  Continue Reading

• A hyper-converged data center offers SDDC opportunity, IT scalability

  Hyper-convergence can increase scalability and pave the way toward software-defined infrastructure. Use these five tips to learn how and to see if the technology is right for you.  Continue Reading

• Navigate recent changes to data center networking architecture

  Thanks to hybrid cloud and containers, data center networks are tougher to crack than ever. But IT can succeed if it follows a simple path.  Continue Reading

• How a transition to the cloud reshapes capacity planning, DR and more

  Before transitioning to the cloud, admins often need to address many questions related to everything from SaaS apps to DR and capacity planning. Here are some tips to get started.  Continue Reading

• In a colocation provider, look for security, a solid SLA

  As colocation providers expand their services, look for companies that offer features you need not just for today, but years down the road. Then, get ready for the big move.  Continue Reading

• Advisory Board Q&A: Three edge data center predictions

  With the rise of IoT, more organizations are considering an edge data center. The SearchDataCenter Advisory Board predicts the biggest benefits and challenges IT teams will face.  Continue Reading

• IT career advice to wow future employers

  There are many ways to land your dream IT job, but knowing what interviewers are going to ask, what new roles are emerging and how to talk business are especially important.  Continue Reading

• Stand-alone servers on treacherous ground in data center

  Stand-alone servers are getting phased out of data centers in favor of converged and hyper-converged systems. But not all legacy IT infrastructure is on its way out the door.  Continue Reading

• Shutterstock CIO shares SDDC architecture lessons learned

  David Giambruno is leading his team toward an SDDC architecture -- for the second time. In this Q&A, Shutterstock's new CIO shares his greatest challenges and lessons learned.  Continue Reading

• Open source technology gains steam in data center, but challenges loom

  Despite new developments with the Open Compute Project and other groups, challenges remain when it comes to open source implementation in the data center. Explore them with these FAQs.  Continue Reading

• Words to go: SDDC planning

  Administrators are pursuing software-defined data centers to take their IT strategy to new heights. But before getting started, learn these 10 essential terms.  Continue Reading

• Data center monitoring tools and tips to keep IT in the know

  It's important to monitor your data center to ensure the highest security, performance and scalability. Learn how to make the process as efficient as possible with these five tips.  Continue Reading

• IoT projects and other data center capacity planning tips

  Whether you use mainframes or the cloud, data center capacity planning remains critical to ensure you have the IT resources you need down the road.  Continue Reading

• Full SDDC architecture adoption remains in the distant future

  Why are most organizations not adopting full SDDCs yet? Find out what's blocking their road to an SDDC architecture and how some companies are overcoming those challenges.  Continue Reading

• New DBMS products open the door for a once dormant market

  Start-ups are breathing new life into the DBMS market, as organizations look to manage unstructured data from social media, big data and the internet of things.  Continue Reading

• A big data, IoT project brings unique storage demands

  With the proliferation of IoT and big data, the amount of data in the enterprise increases every day. Find out how to meet storage demands for these new IT initiatives.  Continue Reading

• Data center strategies to extend your facility's life span

  When a data center is running at its limits, an organization has tough calls to make. To buy time and plan what's next, consider some modest upgrades to cooling, power and more.  Continue Reading

• Lack of open source support continues to pose IT challenge

  Open source software and hardware continue to infiltrate the data center, but the lack of professional support remains a top business and IT concern.  Continue Reading

• Consider these SD-WAN architecture pitfalls before adoption

  The return on investment for SD-WAN can be high, but there are a range of factors to consider, including optimization and existing SLAs, before implementation.  Continue Reading

• Five IT troubleshooting tips to beat storage, network bottlenecks

  When something goes wrong in the data center, there are many possible culprits, ranging from the network to storage. Here are some tips to identify and solve common bottlenecks.  Continue Reading

• Don't overlook these crucial enterprise CPU updates

  Despite its critical role in cloud application performance, the enterprise CPU is often overlooked. Learn about next generation hardware, and why it's important to cloud.  Continue Reading

• Open Compute servers bring innovation to everyday IT

  Lower prices and increased efficiency are driving Open Compute servers toward more mainstream IT adoption.  Continue Reading

• Settle unanswered questions about your DCIM system

  Researching DCIM can trigger a lot of questions. Here's how to evaluate DCIM tools to avoid post-purchase remorse.  Continue Reading

• CI and disaggregated server tech can converge after all

  Converged IT and disaggregated servers are trends that work together. Learn how you can use both to optimize the performance and cost-efficiency of data center infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Falling back on bad habits in a DevOps organization

  In a DevOps organization, can you still set boundaries? How do you pick the right tools? Learn from these experiences before you make the switch.  Continue Reading

• Read this before attempting network microsegmentation

  Microsegmentation makes network security more flexible with software-defined policies rather than manual configuration work, if implemented with forethought and the right tools.  Continue Reading

• Microsegmentation lets software define network security

  Microsegmentation enables software-defined network security at a granular level, simplifying data center networks and traffic without risking breaches.  Continue Reading

• Curiosity didn't kill the mainframe systems programmer

  Mainframe systems programmer Robert Crawford explains the lasting relevance of mainframes, his mixed feelings on certifications and how curiosity continues to help him.  Continue Reading

• Server SSDs open up storage possibilities in data centers

  We've reached a point where it's easy to justify equipping servers with SSDs: the performance gains they offer enable new workloads, and improve end-user satisfaction with response time and run time. In many cases, SSDs pay for themselves by ...  Continue Reading

• The 10 biggest data center news stories of 2015

  Data center teams modernized and adapted throughout 2015, with help -- and hindrance -- from major changes in the IT industry, which ranged from new job demands to transitions among providers.  Continue Reading

• The best server hardware to maximize IT performance

  Get the latest tips on compute, networking and storage to choose the best server hardware to tackle IT workloads.  Continue Reading

• Six steps to better data center skills

  Head into 2016 with a positive outlook, a plan for new projects, and a well-rounded set of data center skills.  Continue Reading

• Simpler management motivates Ethernet SAN investments

  Blending LAN and SAN networks cuts a lot of management headaches -- and miles of cable -- out of the data center.  Continue Reading

• IT pros react to Dell's EMC acquisition plan

  The Twitterverse chimes in on the mega Dell-EMC deal, as three major traditional IT vendors -- Dell, EMC and VMware -- plan their futures.  Continue Reading

• A who's who of white box switch vendors

  White box networking gives IT organizations more freedom of choice for network hardware and OSes. It's a young and changing market, with a mix of vendor involvement.  Continue Reading

• Can your cluster management tools pass muster?

  The right designs and cluster management tools ensure your clusters don't become a cluster, er, failure.  Continue Reading

• Switch to white box networking brings choice, disruption

  White box switches separate two long-intertwined data center components: Networking hardware and the network operating system that runs on it. With such a marked change, it's no wonder open networking isn't for everyone.  Continue Reading

• Server energy efficiency benchmark takes holistic view

  Benchmarks from the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation show your server energy efficiency.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery cost savings trump efficiency

  IT organizations face an impasse, requiring fast RTOs and high efficiency but balking at the high disaster recovery cost.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged vs. converged IT infrastructures explained

  More integration means less work for data center IT administrators, but is integration, convergence or hyper-convergence the right path for your IT systems?  Continue Reading

• Data storage companies add intelligence to on-site arrays

  Data-aware storage yields new insights and management capabilities. But challenges include meeting IT organization's needs, tying in with existing systems and the cloud alternative.  Continue Reading

• Data awareness gives storage pros new insights

  Early adopters of data-aware storage arrays see better management and analytics, as well as compliance assurance from the technology.  Continue Reading

• Impact Awards: Vote for the best Software-Defined Infrastructure Product

  Vote here for the best Software-Defined Infrastructure Product in the 2016 Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards.  Continue Reading

• Impact Awards: Vote for the best Converged/Hyper-Converged Product

  Vote for the best Converged/Hyper-Converged Product in the 2016 Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards.  Continue Reading

• Five ways to beef up your Internet of Things infrastructure

  How are IoT trends affecting data centers? From security and storage to data management and even physical location, Internet of Things infrastructure is changing data centers for good.  Continue Reading

• Memristor technology brings about an analog revolution

  Are we ready for memristor-based artificially intelligent infrastructure in the enterprise data center?  Continue Reading

• Who controls big data implementation?

  In the rush to capitalize on big data, enterprises can pitch a battle against their own IT departments. In these conflicts, no one comes out the winner.  Continue Reading

• Enterprises have options for big data infrastructure

  Many in the IT industry remain wary of big data's effect on infrastructure. Here's why.  Continue Reading

• Data center water usage whets appetite for change

  Will drought dry up the digital economy? With water scarcity a pressing concern, major data centers are re-examining water use for cooling.  Continue Reading

• Stop being IT heroes and take the low-key approach

  It's fun for IT to save the day, but a low-key approach is the most effective way to get things done.  Continue Reading

• Modern Infrastructure 2016 Impact Award Categories

  Here are the categories for the 2016 Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards.  Continue Reading

• 2016 Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards nomination form

  Nominate technology products here for the 2016 Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards.  Continue Reading

• Big data projects geared toward higher profitability

  Learn how organizations make big data decisions, and if their loyalty lies with the same vendor.  Continue Reading

• Improve data center energy management with this guide

  The revised 2015 version of the E.U.'s best practices guide for data centers provides up-to-date tips on data center energy management for everyone.  Continue Reading

• Early days for WAN virtualization vendors, adoption

  It's too soon to tell how the WAN virtualization market will shake out, but that's not stopping enterprises from embracing vWAN for remote offices.  Continue Reading

• Connectivity to remote offices drives vWAN development

  Remote offices demand connectivity with the central data center, data-rich services, and cost-effective IT deployments. Enter the vWAN.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization's random I/O rewrites the data center storage script

  Should data center managers pine for the good old days of direct-attached storage? Or is adding a little flash the way to counter-act the fundamental storage changes wrought by virtualization?  Continue Reading

• Red Hat support evolves with new Access Insights services

  Good vendor support must be predictive, agile, interactive and dynamic. Red Hat claims its support is all of that, but not everyone agrees.  Continue Reading

• Five quick data center best practices

  Some controversial topics leave data center managers with lingering questions, but DCIM and power and cooling queries were met with best practice tips at AFCOM.  Continue Reading

• Hyperconverged storage challenges the SAN paradigm

  HCI makes local storage cool again -- and it keeps pace with how VMs access and store data better than some traditional storage architectures.  Continue Reading

• Hyperconverged systems prove viable SAN alternative

  Why are IT pros looking to hyperconverged offerings? The architecture and skills required for SANs are some reasons.  Continue Reading