Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Data center monitoring best practices simplify software choice

  Metrics are essential to keep any data center operating smoothly. With monitoring software and best practices, admins can simplify their workflows and get usable data. Continue Reading

• What to know before selecting DCIM software

  Your DCIM needs will dictate what type of software is best for your workflow. Be sure to evaluate usability, expandability and which areas need monitoring. Continue Reading

• Web server management best practices and essential features

  There are a lot of tools on the market for web-based server management. To find the best product, look for functions that automate workflows and add security. Continue Reading

• Top 4 advantages of a command-line interface

  With the simple look of the command-line interface, organizations don't always realize the advantages it brings to systems through pointed, accurate commands. Continue Reading

• Get to know SIEM software basics and benefits

  Security information and event management tools give organizations enhanced network management functionality, such as automatic reporting, data stream analysis and anomaly detection. Continue Reading

• Assess network device monitoring capabilities with these tips

  Organizations considering new network device monitoring software should evaluate the alerting capabilities and extensibility of several different tools before making a purchase.Continue Reading

• Decide which application monitor software is right for you

  Organizations that want to implement application monitoring tools should consider how the tool gathers and reports information, as well as the purchase and licensing costsContinue Reading

• Guide to buying server performance monitor software

  Integration, storage and vendor support all affect whether a performance monitoring tool is right for an organization. Mull over these ten factors to choose the right one.Continue Reading

• Should my organization consider systems management services?

  IT staff have a lot on their plate, so outsourcing systems management to a third party might be appealing. But organizations must choose a reputable provider that meets their needs.Continue Reading

• Organizations don't have to pick private or public cloud

  Organizations don't necessarily have to decide between using a public or private cloud. For some companies, the answer is both. For others, it's neither.Continue Reading

• Are hyper-converged infrastructure appliances my only HCI option?

  Preconfigured hyper-converged appliances aren't your only option anymore. Software-only and build-your-own hyper-converged infrastructure have unique pros and cons.Continue Reading

• Evaluate read-intensive and write-intensive SSD use cases

  Consider write wear, performance and other factors when choosing between read-intensive, write-intensive and mixed-use solid-state drives.Continue Reading

• What Linux storage benchmarking tools are best?

  Several tools and commands can come in handy to storage admins looking to benchmark I/O performance on Linux systems. But not all benchmarking tools are created equal.Continue Reading

• Future data center trends hinge on the edge, cloud and staffing

  Edge computing, colocation, cloud and IT staffing issues lead the way as industry analysts make their predictions for the future of data centers into 2018 and beyond.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged infrastructure cloud backup brings many benefits

  Public cloud backup offers a low-cost solution to data protection challenges in hyper-converged infrastructure shops, but disaster recovery poses a new set of issues.Continue Reading

• What to expect with pervasive encryption on IBM mainframes

  Increased IBM mainframe security comes by way of pervasive encryption. Understand this new feature, and consider cost and performance concerns before you use it.Continue Reading

• Features freshen up the future of IBM z mainframes

  IBM's latest additions to mainframes attempt to keep a declining market afloat. Containers, security and deep learning top the highlights of IBM's recent mainframe updates.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

• HCI software platforms come with challenges, benefits

  HCI vendors offer software-only options that allow IT to steer clear of lock-in and scalability concerns. However, commodity hardware that matches HCI software can be hard to come by.Continue Reading

• Is your data center certification knowledge up to date?

  While the Uptime Institute was once the standard for data center certification, challenges from Switch, OSDA and others threaten to shake up the market. Take this quiz to certify your knowledge.Continue Reading

• Five questions to guide a cloud vs. on premises debate

  Don't blindly jump on the cloud bandwagon. Before you move a workload to cloud vs. on premises, ask yourself these five questions, and prevent a complicated reverse migration.Continue Reading

• Optimize data center processes without hyper-converged

  IT can simplify tasks, including storage provisioning, VM lifecycle, data protection and others, with automation to create better data center efficiency.Continue Reading

• Tailor HCI appliance options to your workload requirements

  Different workloads require different HCI system configurations. Compare offerings from Nutanix, Dell/EMC and HPE SimpliVity to make the right call for your data center.Continue Reading

• Red Hat Ansible uses grow as integration options expand

  Ansible is a valuable configuration management tool for many IT shops that use Red Hat products. But there's still room for deeper Red Hat-Ansible integration down the line.Continue Reading

• Learn about, compare and choose the right DCIM software

  DCIM tools let admins manage their data centers and monitor their networks and energy levels, among other capabilities.Continue Reading

• Software-defined memory spurs mix of IT challenges, opportunities

  The expanding role of NVDIMM and DRAM and the emergence of software-defined memory will bring more flexibility to enterprise data centers -- but not without some challenges.Continue Reading

• Emerging data center workloads drive new infrastructure demands

  Big data, IoT and AI offer enterprises a number of new opportunities. But first, IT teams need to ensure their infrastructures are ready for these emerging data center workloads.Continue Reading

• Encryption, speed push the modern mainframe into the future

  Many IT professionals consider mainframe computing to be a relic of an earlier IT age. But capabilities in the IBM z14 could challenge that conventional wisdom.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

• Uptime Institute tier classification system faces new rivals

  Because the Uptime Institute focuses primarily on power and cooling, alternative data center certifications have emerged. Their chances of replacing Uptime, however, seem slim.Continue Reading

• How to convince execs they need HCI products

  Is your enterprise considering a move to HCI? Evaluate scalability, automation and cost concerns, and be ready to discuss them with management to get the HCI ball rolling.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

• All-flash HCI storage requires new management tools, techniques

  Although they bring performance benefits to the data center, all-flash HCI systems require IT teams to shake up their storage management and analytic tool sets.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

• Ensure a load-balancer failover in a virtualized environment

  Businesses can't afford to let load balancing fail them in a critical spot. Load balancers are evolving to keep up with the demands, but that means more complexity too.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

• 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

• A converged infrastructure strategy requires a when as well as a why

  A converged system's appeal comes from having an optimized platform that removes significant complexity from an IT environment. But when is CI the right move to make?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

• Manage colocation costs to avoid billing surprises

  If colocation is in the cards for your organization, investigate your provider's SLA, set a firm budget and continually monitor costs to avoid unexpected fees.Continue Reading

• Tips and tools to deploy Linux for IoT devices

  As IoT adoption grows, more IT teams will consider running Linux for IoT devices. Learn the key steps and components involved, including the cross compiler toolchain.Continue Reading

• How hyper-converged systems change IT management

  Implementing a hyper-converged infrastructure product is a big decision and one that needs to include a discussion about how you'd manage it after it arrives in the data center.Continue Reading

• Find the right data center cooling systems for hyper-converged

  Hyper-converged infrastructure can cause new data center cooling challenges. Before implementation, determine which temperatures and cooling units will work best.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

• Optimization among the key benefits of converged infrastructure

  A converged system's appeal comes from having an optimized platform that removes significant complexity from an IT environment. But when is CI the right move to make?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

• 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

• 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

• SD-WAN architecture demands new network management approach

  SD-WAN is becoming a crucial part of data center infrastructure, helping admins reduce manual configuration efforts. Ensure your network management strategy reflects that shift.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

• Consider these Linux I/O scheduler options for storage performance

  To optimize Linux performance, IT teams should examine the I/O scheduler currently in use, and evaluate alternatives, such as deadline and Completely Fair Queuing.Continue Reading

• Build a data center shutdown procedure to prepare for the worst

  A data center shutdown checklist helps IT teams focus on backup, testing and system verification before pulling the plug and losing valuable information.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

• Building a disaster recovery architecture with cloud and colocation

  Creating a robust disaster recovery plan is no small task for IT teams. Explore how cloud and colocation can bolster an enterprise DR strategy and help IT prepare for the worst.Continue Reading

• Three new colocation market trends for IT pros to tap into

  Competition is surging in the colocation market, and providers are adding new features to differentiate. IT pros should look for new services around cloud connections, green energy and more.Continue Reading

• Workload optimization tips for hyper-converged technologies

  When using hyper-converged systems, workload optimization isn't in the cards for all enterprise apps. Start with ROBO configurations and VDI, and assess from there.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

• The CICS mainframe program leans toward cloud, DevOps with TS 5.3

  The latest update for the CICS mainframe program comes via Transaction Server 5.3, with a focus on increased agility, efficiency, and cloud and DevOps support.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

• Evolving DCIM market shows automation, convergence top IT's wish list

  Growth continues in the DCIM market, but shows signs of slowing down, as IT teams look for a new generation of tools that can help them consolidate management tasks.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

• Test your knowledge of fiber optic cables

  When it comes to data center networking, fiber optic cables are becoming the standard rather than copper. Take this quiz to see how much you know about fiber optic technology.Continue Reading

• Manage Btrfs snapshots with the SUSE Snapper utility

  Learn how to use Btrfs snapshots with Linux utilities, such as Snapper and GRUB2, to revert back to previous states in the event of a configuration mishap.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

• Use SLA monitoring to detect service provider shadiness

  Whether for colocation or cloud, service-level agreements can be filled with jargon. Use this FAQ to wade through the confusion and know what to expect when you sign up for a service.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

• What to know before using li-ion battery technology in a UPS system

  Lead-acid batteries were the norm for most UPS systems, but lithium-ion batteries are an attractive alternative. Here's what to know before bringing them into your data center.Continue Reading

• Simplify mainframe storage management with IBM SMFLIMxx

  By offering a more flexible, rule-based approach, SMFLIMxx can help mainframe programmers get a better grasp on virtual storage.Continue Reading

• Weigh the pros, cons of three Linux load balancer options

  Nginx, HAProxy and Linux Virtual Server are three different Linux load balancer to consider for multiserver, high-traffic requests in the data center.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

• SDS products present new performance, budgeting hurdles

  Software-defined storage presents data center managers with new options, but they aren't free from challenges, particularly around hardware limitations and budgeting cycles.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

• Before leaving a system administrator job, don't burn any bridges

  Leave on good terms from your system administrator job to avoid burning bridges and to keep a good reputation in the industry. Here are some things to consider before your move.Continue Reading

• SDDC planning should focus on scalability, integration

  The ability to control everything through software is an appealing characteristic of software-defined data centers. But integration, scalability and other considerations should shape your SDDC plan.Continue Reading

• New IEEE network standards nudge data centers toward 25 GbE

  Two new IEEE network standards that will accommodate 25 GbE are 802.3bq and 802.3by. But what changes will you need to make in the data center to support them?Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of useful Linux commands with this quiz

  Think you're an expert on useful Linux commands for network and server management? Try your hand at this Linux command quiz to see how much you know about 10 Linux utilities and their use cases.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

• Xeon E5 v4 workload and upgrade considerations for admins

  Increased compute capabilities in the Intel Xeon E5 v4 and E7 v4 family help accommodate cloud and scale-up workloads -- but not everyone should rush to upgrade.Continue Reading

• Three interface options for remote server monitoring, management

  Remote server management interfaces, such as IPMI, iDRAC and iLO, give data center admins a central location to monitor fan speeds, power supply status, temperature and more.Continue Reading

• New IT jobs emerge to target user experience, service delivery

  Experts in user experience and IT as a service are becoming critical in the enterprise, especially as the gap narrows between IT and business teams in new IT jobs.Continue Reading

• Three types of mainframe monitoring tools to track performance

  Mainframe users face a variety of options when it comes to system monitoring tools. Determine if a real-time, near-time or post-processor tool is the best fit for your IT needs.Continue Reading

• Get to know ASHRAE 90.4, the new energy efficiency standard

  ASHRAE recently released its new 90.4 energy efficiency standard. Here's how it differs from 90.1, and what data center managers need to know.Continue Reading

• New data center metrics to gauge energy, cooling efficiency

  New data center metrics go beyond power usage effectiveness to determine the overall efficiency of infrastructure, focusing on more than energy and cooling.Continue Reading

• Test the water before a data lake implementation

  Before rushing into a large-scale data lake implementation, start small and treat the technology as an extension to your existing analytics systems.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

• Five tools to enable Linux automation, monitoring and backup

  When it comes to Linux data center tools, there is no shortage of options. For automation, backup and monitoring, consider these five Linux tools first.Continue Reading

• Leaf-spine architecture meets new data center traffic demands

  Leaf-spine architectures are becoming more popular as businesses attempt to ease data center traffic flow, reduce latency and minimize bottlenecks.Continue Reading

• A closer look at SDN vs. traditional networking

  Software-defined networking, or SDN, allows network engineers and admins to respond quickly to changing business environments. When it comes to SDN vs. traditional networking, the latter is often viewed separately from SDN. While a typical data ...Continue Reading

• Construct a winning data center project plan

  Before embarking on new data center projects, such as an upgrade or move to the cloud, clearly define all goals and expectations -- and not just for IT.Continue Reading