Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• 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

• 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

• A disaster recovery report uncovers the errors that led to chaos

  In this disaster recovery report, discover the failure points that led to catastrophe and learn how to make decisions that will lead to data center success.Continue Reading

• What happens when disaster recovery policies go up in smoke

  Starting with an alarm and ending in disaster, one data center fire nearly wiped out an entire operation. Ultimately, poor design and budget choices were to blame.Continue Reading

• Find alternatives to rip-and-replace with a server upgrade checklist

  As storage and network technology advances, a server upgrade can be a more effective approach than a complete replacement.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

• Weigh these SaaS pros and cons for your IT landscape

  The cloud service most akin to packaged software, SaaS options are easy to consume but hard to customize. Here's what it means for IT.Continue Reading

• Machine learning examples crop up for data center management

  Machine learning implementations are finally making their way to the enterprise -- and the data center seems to be a perfect match.Continue Reading

• HCI can pave the way to a software-defined platform

  To achieve a true software-defined data center, IT teams need to piece together multiple technologies. Hyper-converged infrastructure might be able to help.Continue Reading

• Choose the right IT operating model for the business

  Enterprise IT organizations face operating model transitions as they work to meet cost and execution demands of the business. This could mean an on-premises, cloud or outsourced IT model.Continue Reading

• Latest SSD and HDD trends trigger transition in data centers

  In capacity and cost comparisons of SSD and HDD storage, solid-state is favorable. Find out what the transition will mean for data centers as the future of HDD looks grim.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

• Users, experts speak out about DCIM tools

  Users and experts explore their thoughts on the usefulness and future of DCIM tools.Continue Reading

• Two server memory types shaking up performance expectations

  Memory manufacturers are getting creative for high performance. High Bandwidth Memory and Hybrid Memory Cube modules could appear in the next generation of servers.Continue Reading

• Get to know server memory types in the evolving IT space

  Understanding server memory reliability, performance and configuration can pay off in the data center, especially with advanced technologies on the market.Continue Reading

• Get in the know about data center Ethernet

  Bring yourself up to speed on what's happening in the realm of data center Ethernet with this quick guide covering advances in standards, speeds and cabling.Continue Reading

• Cloud data transfer remains sticking point in hybrid cloud model

  The blending of in-house and public clouds is challenging, but special attention to networking and data management ensures a smooth implementation to the hybrid cloud model.Continue Reading

• PaaS examples prove apps dictate infrastructure choices

  PaaS is the least-known XaaS category. However, it is a great way to bootstrap custom app development and increase IT productivity.Continue Reading

• Blade server architecture under threat by hyper-convergence

  Blade servers were the original converged IT hardware box -- so how do they stack up to the converged offerings on the market today?Continue Reading

• The evolution of data center storage architecture

  At the forefront of how IT infrastructure evolves to tackle new applications and emerging workloads are the changes in data center storage architecture.Continue Reading

• The real value of DCIM tools

  Data center infrastructure management, also known as DCIM, means different things to different organizations. At the core of the concept is the idea that a company can more effectively manage its data center by bringing together IT and facilities ...Continue Reading

• Software-defined applications and infrastructure explained

  The inner mechanics of today's software-defined applications and infrastructure reveal an interconnected web of isolated components and scalable resources, supervised by automated management.Continue Reading

• As turnkey data center options grow, so do deployment challenges

  Businesses need to deploy new IT systems quickly. Gradually, vendors have found ways to integrate IT and energy components in the pursuit of a truly turnkey data center option.Continue Reading

• Are public cloud or managed colocation services better for DR?

  Is it better to use a managed colocation provider or should I go with a public cloud provider for disaster recovery?Continue Reading

• Allocate IT resources for big data and IoT-based projects

  Companies embarking on new big data and IoT-based projects would do well to critically examine the necessary processing power, memory, storage and networking resources involved, and how to best make use of the required capacity.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between hosted colocation and DRaaS?

  Enterprise IT organizations know the importance of disaster recovery. But which fits the budget, in-house expertise and testing requirements: hosted colocation or DRaaS?Continue Reading

• The right infrastructure for fast and big data architectures

  Learn the differences between fast and big data architectures before buying new software and hardware for the data center.Continue Reading

• Build a big data and internet of things data center roadmap

  Many data centers make the mistake of diving into new technologies, such as big data and internet of things, too quickly. Pacing yourself and assessing requirements will pay off.Continue Reading

• Is it better to build or buy data center hardware?

  Choosing converged systems or ODM servers for data center hardware depends on the capabilities of your in-house IT staff.Continue Reading

• Two key disaster recovery colocation questions to ask

  Choosing a disaster recovery colocation provider may seem daunting. However, knowing what to look for beforehand can help you make the right choice.Continue Reading

• How to succeed in an ops career without really trying

  An ops career can be stressful if you don't approach decision makers, vendors and end users with flexibility and realistic expectations.Continue Reading

• Future-proof your colo data center choice

  Figure out which colo data center will meet your current and future needs. Be sure to take into account power draw, cost, security and additional services.Continue Reading

• Three server security tools you might not know

  The security of the individual data center server can get lost in the shuffle of protecting enterprise networks. These server security tools will help.Continue Reading

• These IaaS examples show data centers can share the load

  Not every IT workload belongs directly under your control in the data center. Consider these IaaS pros and cons for example workloads.Continue Reading

• IT certification programs to get in-demand skills for 2016

  IT certification programs offer important skills for evolving technological needs. Data center pros will find a lot of clouds on the skills horizon, and can get these certifications to excel.Continue Reading

• Four paths to a cloud bursting architecture

  The lack of capable infrastructure hinders a typical cloud bursting architecture. Choose one of these four paths to better implement cloud bursting.Continue Reading

• The right apps capitalize on IT scalability from HCI

  Hyper-converged infrastructures give IT organizations easy, fast scalability when correctly implemented.Continue Reading

• Growing cloud capabilities influence IT capacity planning

  IT capacity planning must take into account the decrease hardware space requirements, ramping up densities and the potential to interface with cloud services.Continue Reading

• Impact Awards honor best IT products, companies of 2016

  The voters have spoken. From DevOps to cloud, Modern Infrastructure readers have recognized the best IT products in the 2016 Impact awards.Continue Reading

• Server market share shows enterprise buyers aren't forgotten

  If there was concern that interest in the server market was waning among IT pros in a software-dominated world, the latest batch of analyst reports should ease those worries.Continue Reading

• Evaluating the uses for converged infrastructure

  Now that we have significant exposure to converged infrastructure and hyper-converged products, more is known about how -- and where -- these products work best. This three-part guide looks at potential uses for converged infrastructure (CI) and ...Continue Reading

• Innovation, automation keep down outsourced data center bills

  Renewals for data center outsourcing deals during the past year reveal a drop in prices, thanks to increases in automation, and server and storage demand.Continue Reading

• IBM's zEDC brings hardware compression to z systems

  Hardware compression is still vital to many enterprises with mainframes. IBM's zEDC hardware data compression feature enables compression for mainframe workloads at potential cost savings.Continue Reading

• Trip back to earth solves a cloud vs. data center debate

  When the leader in online deals started to hit the big time, the company realized cloud computing was no longer its best option and began to move into its own data center space.Continue Reading

• Containers transform steel mill into modular data center

  Stacking containers inside a former steel mill creates a new modularly designed data center with abundant power.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

• Explore data center procurement decisions

  IT buyers know that other IT pros often are the best sources for data center procurement advice. Survey results suggest what's important in server, storage and other important requisitions.Continue Reading

• New data storage methods broaden IT horizons

  Data center managers have more choice than ever with SSDs, object storage and more, which means evolving ideas about the best methods of data storage.Continue Reading

• Budgets prompt data center vs. colocation discussion

  Rather than spending another budget cycle struggling to fund the data center, start outsourcing selectively -- and improve at the same time.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

• The new IT security threat coming to your data center

  The latest and greatest in technology opens new opportunities for hackers to penetrate sensitive corporate data.Continue Reading

• A data center design guide to get it right the first time

  Corporate moves, rapid IT refreshes, virtualization initiatives and other factors affect your data center design. Use this data center planning guide for a facility that lasts.Continue Reading

• Dell Quest, SonicWall users face another acquisition deal

  SonicWall and Quest Software users, who endured Dell's acquisition three years ago, face more uncertainty, as Dell reportedly considers the sale of those companies to reduce debt.Continue Reading

• IT cost management shaped by data center spending

  Reduce server costs and data center operations expenditures by investing in the right areas, such as networking and storage.Continue Reading

• Enterprise server architectures headed for a shake up

  After a few humdrum years, server architectures are in for big changes to close out the decade.Continue Reading

• Try a hyper-converged infrastructure setup alongside servers

  Introducing a hyper-converged infrastructure setup in your data center doesn't have to be an all-in endeavor.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

• A clear vision of the future data center in 2020

  By 2020, what will the future data center look like? Take a peek at how networking, servers and storage will evolve in the next five years.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

• Essential Linux server software for enterprises

  Businesses can deploy a mix of Linux server software offerings to take advantage of the cost and flexibility benefits of open source.Continue Reading

• Cost-cutting tricks for your data center labs

  These IT cost-cutting tricks applied in data center labs can result in big savings.Continue Reading

• What is the best SSD for server storage improvement?

  Should data centers use SAS- or PCIe-based on-server flash devices? What options are out there for SSDs on servers?Continue Reading

• After a long slump, IT certification pay bounces back

  Largely vendor-driven IT certifications decreased in value for a seven-year stretch, until a recent turnaround, with security getting a renewed focus.Continue Reading

• SUSE makes Btrfs stable, flexible SLES file system of choice

  Btrfs proves a viable and more flexible file system for production Linux servers, with proper configuration and setup.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

• IT benchmarking incorporates more than server performance

  While a server performance test is a key IT benchmarking metric, it coexists with prices and the target workloads to yield a true IT performance benchmark.Continue Reading

• TSA packs bags tight with data center consolidation initiative

  The TSA is overhauling its IT infrastructure with equipment upgrades, virtualization and cloud as part of a major data center consolidation initiative.Continue Reading

• Should I use a battery cooling system in the data center?

  Do battery cooling cabinets save money over cooling batteries within the whole data center?Continue Reading

• Do I need another VM host server?

  Operations manager Adam Fowler explains the many factors that determine a VM host server's ability to increase its workload and whether you need to buy additional equipment for your VMs.Continue Reading

• Get the best mix of servers and storage in the data center

  A fleet of servers is only as good as its connected storage. The right storage design for your data center depends on cost, simplicity and performance requirements.Continue Reading

• Compare HCI from SimpliVity vs. Nutanix vs. VMware

  Before you buy SimpliVity, Nutanix or VMware's EVO:RAIL hyper-converged infrastructure, learn what resources and scalability each line offers.Continue Reading

• IBM delivers Linux mainframes to the open source world

  IBM opens the doors of its proprietary mainframes, delivering two Linux-only boxes and significant code contributions to the open source world.Continue Reading

• Expect big changes from Red Hat Satellite 6

  Red Hat overhauled its Satellite server management tool in version 6, which means a lot more functionality and features but a complex adjustment period for server admins.Continue Reading

• Stonebraker: IT pros fall for big data hype

  Big data marketing hype has included a constantly evolving message, and IT pros keep falling for it, said 2014 Turing Award-winner Michael Stonebraker.Continue Reading

• Can I use Mikrotik vs. Cisco switches in a data center?

  I'm purchasing rack-level access switches for an enterprise data center, and weighing Cisco vs. Mikrotik, which is less expensive.Continue Reading

• Tighter security tops RHEL 6.7 updates

  New security features and predictive analysis of performance issues are two of the new features users will find in RHEL 6.7.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

• Moving out to a colocation provider

  Colocation has solidified itself as an attractive outlet for IT, and, unlike the cloud, allows admins to continue to manage their own systems. Colo customers can also take advantage of services that mimic outsourcing, from basic offerings to full-on...Continue Reading

• Uptime certification misuse leads to big changes

  The Uptime Institute's tier-level certification will now only be handed out to constructed projects that meet the standards, not for designs.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

• What factors should I consider when buying server networking gear?

  We're looking to expand our 10 Gb Ethernet networks on servers, and I'm trying to figure out which way to go. What are people deploying?Continue Reading

• Is CEEDA a better energy-efficiency certification than ISO 50001?

  Are there reasons that I would select CEEDA certification versus ISO 50001 certification to show that the data center is energy efficient?Continue Reading

• RHEL developer preview moves ARM servers closer to reality

  RHEL on ARM servers has developers envisioning new apps, but the hardware and software ecosystem for 64-bit ARM is still just a vision.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 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

• Server performance and benchmark testing guide

  The right back-end servers, tuned for maximum efficacy, make the difference in business-critical applications and services.Continue Reading

• What can I expect from data center infrastructure management tools?

  Should facilities and IT teams agree on one cohesive DCIM tool for everything in the data center? Are DCIM vendors offering that?Continue Reading

• Matching applications to the right converged technologies

  Users in the data center share how the converged technology they chose -- from hyper-converged infrastructure to appliance -- meets the needs of a given application.Continue Reading