Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• Why is composable infrastructure important and what are its uses?

  The ideal function of composability is to make IT infrastructure more flexible, manageable and scalable than ever. It isn't for everyone, however; at least, not yet. Continue Reading

• Open source virtualization expands VM hardware and OS options

  Dive into open source virtualization software with VirtualBox, KVM or QEMU. Each offers customizable VM management capabilities and legacy hardware support. Continue Reading

• Yes, pertinent, cost-effective hyper-converged platforms for SMBs exist

  Why the simplicity and potential cost savings of a hyper-converged infrastructure from the likes of DataCore, Scale Computing and StarWind may be the way to go for some SMBs. Continue Reading

• A guide to hyper-converged data resiliency options and requirements

  What you need to find out from HCI vendors to architect a resilient hyper-converged environment that will protect data against failure, error and attack. Continue Reading

• 4 considerations for choosing a private cloud provider

  Key features to look for from a private cloud provider include interoperability, scalability and how familiar admins are with the provider's technology. Continue Reading

• 4 essential composable infrastructure questions answered

  Learn how composable IT works, and find out when this highly flexible, programmable infrastructure model makes sense for your servers, network, and storage and when it doesn't.Continue Reading

• What is HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged with Composable Fabric?

  SimpliVity with Composable Fabric incorporates HPE's software-defined networking technology for implementing, managing and automating a fully connected and composable mesh fabric.Continue Reading

• Data center GPU market set for growth, AI workflows

  As GPU adoption increases, vendors and organizations are consistently addressing challenges in hardware installation and software development. Even so, the market is poised for growth in 2019.Continue Reading

• Which GPU specs are most important?

  When selecting GPUs, look at processing power, memory and OS support. These factors ensure hardware compatibility and effective performance in the data center.Continue Reading

• A rundown of server hardware vendors and the server options

  There is no shortage of server options available on the market today. Discover the leading vendors in these in-depth overviews of the blade, rack and mainframe computers available.Continue Reading

• Buy server hardware with these key functions in mind

  Find the right server hardware for your data center by evaluating what leading vendors offer in terms of processors, memory, storage, connectivity, hot swapping and security features.Continue Reading

• HCI storage advancements require network technology upgrades

  Flash storage options make HCI scalability easier, but they also require newer network hardware. Data center admins are looking at NVMe-based fabrics as a possible fix.Continue Reading

• Admins now require data center skills 'a mile wide'

  The role of a data center professional is changing in the face of cloud, the internet of things and evolving security. One hiring manager talks about the changes and why admins need broader skill sets.Continue Reading

• HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged FAQs get answered

  When HPE bought SimpliVity in 2017, it raised questions about the two company's HCI products, even though they were existing partners. We answer some of those questions.Continue Reading

• What you need to know before buying hyper-converged technology

  Learn how to determine your organization's need for hyper-converged infrastructure and to evaluate offerings from top HCI vendors to find the right fit.Continue Reading

• Weighing open converged infrastructure against composable

  OCI and composable infrastructure are both touted as the latest in convergence, but it is important to know how they differ before making an IT buying decision.Continue Reading

• Choosing the best OS: Linux server vs. Windows Server

  When determining the best server OS for a data center, you have Windows Server and multiple Linux options. For both, you'll want to look at vendor support, cost and functionality.Continue Reading

• How to successfully perform a data center upgrade

  When data center hardware becomes outdated, there are a few options. Here are ways that admins can ensure that a migration is efficient and downtime is minimized.Continue Reading

• What does GPU hardware do in the data center?

  Once part of the gaming industry, GPUs are gaining traction in data center infrastructures. Learn why the power of GPUs makes them fit virtualization and data-heavy applications.Continue Reading

• Evaluate Linux server distros for your data center

  Linux is known for its reliability and flexibility in the data center. To select the proper distribution for your servers, you'll need to evaluate your application and support needsContinue Reading

• Is hyper-convergence infrastructure becoming stratified?

  As more options for converged or hyper-converged IT types come to market, organizations may find themselves siloed into an option by size.Continue Reading

• Secondary storage structure is based on workload needs

  Using secondary storage can improve the performance of mission-critical applications, but deciding what data is secondary in importance isn't as easy as it seems.Continue Reading

• Pivot3 HCI: 7 things you should know

  Where did Pivot3 first target its hyper-converged storage systems, and where is it focused today? Find out answers to these and other frequently asked questions.Continue Reading

• Navigate data center management software selection

  Software evaluation can be a lengthy process, especially with both open source and commercial options. Functionality and support can help you form a short list of possibilities.Continue Reading

• 7 hyper-converged secondary storage questions answered

  Combining HCI and the use cases of secondary storage, such as data recovery and archiving, was a challenge, but a few companies took up that task and launched a new market.Continue Reading

• Examples of hypervisors and how they're supported in HCI products

  Hypervisor support in hyper-converged infrastructure has evolved over time. Find out how as we assess the past and current place of individual hypervisors in these architectures.Continue Reading

• Definition of hyper-converged infrastructure evolves, as do products

  Defining hyper-convergence can be a challenge. Focus instead on learning about hyper-converged infrastructure product options and how they fit your data center and cloud plans.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged product comparison: What leading HCI vendors offer

  Before you purchase a hyper-converged infrastructure system, use the criteria and factors examined here to evaluate 10 leading HCI products.Continue Reading

• Composable architecture options versus CI and HCI

  While converged, hyper-converged and composable infrastructures all share some degree of similarity in convergence, important differences can affect your IT architecture choices.Continue Reading

• Answers to NetApp FlexPod commonly asked questions

  Wondering which version of FlexPod is ideal for your situation? In this FAQ, find out the answer to this, as well as other common NetApp and Cisco FlexPod questions.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged products offer big benefits to IT environments

  Hyper-converged technology offers benefits such as scalability to help reduce the storage footprint, and enables organizations to pick the hardware and configuration to best suit their needs.Continue Reading

• Datrium open converged infrastructure makes HCI flexible

  Datrium calls its less rigid form of converged infrastructure open convergence to highlight its greater scaling flexibility versus converged or hyper-converged infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Converged data center migration practices to avoid data loss

  Refreshing data center hardware is no simple task, especially for organizations with multiple workflows. Before completing an upgrade, make a plan for backups and workload management.Continue Reading

• Nutanix hyper-converged Flows into multi-cloud and more

  With the introduction of Flow, Beam and Era, Nutanix has made a clear statement that it's aiming for a comprehensive Nutanix enterprise cloud OS.Continue Reading

• Accelerated processing units advance data center performance

  As you come across more complex data center workflows, you can begin exploring options for accelerated processing, such as GPUs or TPUs.Continue Reading

• How do I integrate storage into a blade server architecture?

  Blade servers come in a variety of configurations. In order to effectively manage your data center, you'll want to consider your storage needs, blade location and types of data workflows.Continue Reading

• Composable infrastructure platform FAQs get answers

  While the goal of hyper-converged infrastructure and composable infrastructure are much the same, the way they achieve that objective of on-demand IT infrastructure differs.Continue Reading

• Building and implementing a true SDDC platform

  Data center technology must keep up with changing infrastructures. With a software-defined data center, organizations can gain flexibility and automation.Continue Reading

• GPUs, FPGAs increase software-defined data center performance

  Some applications in your SDDC might need special hardware so they can function at their best. GPUs and FPGAs are an effective way to increase performance.Continue Reading

• New vSAN 6.7 features boost failover, ease management

  The latest version of vSAN puts the hyper-converged storage software into a wider range of use cases with better support for failover and a smoother management user interface.Continue Reading

• Four top open source SIEM tools you should know

  Open source SIEM software offers organizations a way to test capabilities and augment existing functionalities for analytics and log management. Get started with these options.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged infrastructure software aids IT flexibility

  Implementing a software-based hyper-converged platform can make it easier to scale components separately, but it has drawbacks as well, like multiple support sources.Continue Reading

• How hyper-converged secondary storage fits in the HCI world

  When converged secondary storage was added to hyper-convergence products, a new market sector was created that reduced the complexity of managing data retention systems.Continue Reading

• Craft a converged secondary storage strategy with care

  Secondary storage vendors have been offering converged technologies and products for a few years now, and the systems have become more feature-rich and cloud-capable.Continue Reading

• How to ensure hyper-converged infrastructure security

  To secure data in an HCI system, it requires tools and techniques that account for the unique features of hyper-convergence, such as shared resources and virtualized management.Continue Reading

• Agile workflows shift admins' IT procurement strategy

  Changing business needs and the move toward Agile workflows affect how data center managers make decisions about daily operations and IT purchasing.Continue Reading

• Your Red Hat Hyperconverged Infrastructure questions answered

  Red Hat HCI is software only, based on open source applications and is aimed for IT operations that want to use existing hardware in a DIY implementation.Continue Reading

• Why data centers need log management tools

  Log files contain rich and useful management data. With the right software tools and a few navigation tips, you can maximize and implement the information that logs provide.Continue Reading

• 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

• Find out answers for FAQs about Nutanix AHV and Acropolis

  Check out these answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Nutanix's Acropolis and AHV core hyper-converged infrastructure software products.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

• Test your Storage Spaces Direct hyper-converged system smarts

  Windows Server 2016 took Microsoft into the HCI game, with hyper-convergence features based on Storage Spaces Direct, the upgrade from Windows Server 2012's Storage Spaces feature.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

• Test your hyper-converged infrastructure storage knowledge

  Storage in a hyper-converged infrastructure is not limited to whatever disks the vendor decides to put into its base appliance. Test your knowledge of HCI storage with our quiz.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

• Certain solid-state storage characteristics benefit HCI most

  Depending on the workload demands, there are features of solid-state storage that can greatly enhance the performance of your hyper-converged infrastructure system.Continue Reading

• Which Windows Server deployment features work best with HCI?

  There are features in Windows Server 2016 that are specific to hyper-converged infrastructure, but many of the more basic functions also can be used to customize and improve HCI.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

• Hyper-converged software: Eight things you need to know

  What are some commonly asked questions about the choice to build a DIY software-only HCI platform? Below are FAQs about the benefits, drawbacks and option of buying HCI software.Continue Reading

• Test your hyper-converged infrastructure use cases knowledge

  Our quiz is all about how different workloads and applications require choosing different hardware and software options in a hyper-converged infrastructure platform.Continue Reading

• Inline deduplication fits well with hyper-converged IT

  Of the two main types of deduplication, most HCI vendors choose inline over post-process because of the performance benefits and lower levels of total storage required.Continue Reading

• Cohesity's hyper-converged secondary storage takes on data growth

  An out-of-the-box secondary storage strategy to deal with the coming deluge of file and object data promises to overcome scalability, management and capacity limits of NAS.Continue Reading

• Composable architecture keeps hardware flexibility

  With composable systems, an IT admin can get more choice from the devices on the back end and more choice on the devices it delivers the virtualized resources to.Continue Reading

• Use Windows Server deployment for feature-filled HCI

  Windows Server 2016 not only supports a hyper-converged infrastructure implementation, but brings with it a rich set of features for both performance and security.Continue 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

• Take the converged vs. hyper-converged infrastructure quiz

  Before you start the decision-making process over which IT approach you should take, quiz yourself on your hyper-converged and converged platform knowledge.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

• Three solid-state storage advantages that boost HCI performance

  There are many advantages to including solid-state storage in your hyper-converged infrastructure plans, such as better performance and lower power costs.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged IT options should match your workload needs

  Moving to a hyper-converged infrastructure requires a great deal of study and planning. That starts with knowing what workloads you plan to run on the HCI system.Continue Reading

• Business needs define your hyper-convergence technology choices

  Base your HCI products of choice around the workloads you run, the architecture they run on and any present or future cloud plans you have for them.Continue Reading

• How software-defined networking layers work with HCI

  The network function of a hyper-converged infrastructure has been the most difficult to virtualize, but adopting an SDN approach can make it easier for your organization.Continue Reading

• Make the most of the hyper-converged cloud

  Hyper-converged infrastructures are similar to public cloud platforms in the way they use virtualization of resources. That makes them obvious partners in an IT architecture.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

• Hyper-converged computing and VDI fit together well ... mostly

  The flexibility and ease of use of hyper-convergence fit the needs of VDI, but you should also consider other benefits and drawbacks of HCI in a VDI platform.Continue Reading

• The hyper-converged network becoming more common in HCI

  Virtualizing the network in a hyper-converged system has been the toughest part, but there are products on the market that achieve some of that function.Continue Reading

• Converged secondary storage for data protection carries risk

  Using converged infrastructure for the secondary storage in your data protection plan can be valuable, but you need to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before choosing that path.Continue Reading

• Match your hyper-converged hardware pick with your workload

  Overall workload demands and growth projections, not just user applications, should be top of mind when you choose among the hardware options in hyper-converged appliances.Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2016 hyper-converged options are here

  The latest edition of Windows Server from Microsoft includes options for implementing a hyper-converged infrastructure in a Microsoft-only IT operation.Continue Reading

• Virtualization layer is HCI's secret sauce

  Knowing how virtualization software turns separate hardware components into pools of shared resources will help you plan and manage an HCI implementation.Continue Reading

• Match your hyper-converged infrastructure appliance to your apps

  Planning a hyper-converged appliance purchase should start with determining which application it will run and which configuration options will meet apps' needs.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

• IT infrastructure planning key for converged, hyper-converged platforms

  Whether you're planning to deploy CI or HCI, infrastructure planning is critical to the project's success. Without proper planning, you could end up with poor performance.Continue Reading

• What's the future of data storage technology and the IT pro?

  Several enterprise data storage trends are all about getting rid of storage as an IT silo. That will have consequences for both the industry and IT pros who work in it.Continue Reading

• Build the right hyper-converged cloud for your apps

  Picking the right hyper-converged hardware and software for your application workload requires understanding how the elements of HCI can best be combined for your needs.Continue Reading

• Spectre, Meltdown vulnerabilities put SDS, HCI at risk

  Spectre and Meltdown patches should be applied to hyper-converged and other software-defined storage products that run on hosts with user installed application processes.Continue Reading

• Hypervisor software and your hyper-converged infrastructure

  The hypervisor layer in HCI is becoming an expected feature, but it is important to know what role it plays and how it can affect the rest of the components.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged vs. converged labels don't apply to some products

  Converged and hyper-converged infrastructure labels are becoming less clear as vendors such as NetApp and Datrium introduce products that allow for scaling components separately.Continue Reading

• How Red Hat assembled an open source hyper-converged platform

  By combining Gluster Storage with its Red Hat Virtualization software, Red Hat has thrown its own cap into the software-only HCI ring with an open source offering.Continue Reading

• The role of HCI in the hyper-converged cloud

  HCI and the cloud have virtualization at their cores, which makes the two platforms a good combination for organizations planning a hybrid cloud IT architecture.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

• 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

• 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

• Seven hyper-converged software options for DIY HCI

  If your company already has hardware that you want to turn into a hyper-converged infrastructure stack, you can do it with one of these software-only options.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

• 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

• 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