Evaluate
Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.
Evaluate
Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.
A data center design certification appraisal
Data center design certification isn't always straightforward. Don't fall for self-certification; stick to Uptime and other reputable titles. Continue Reading
The past, present and future of top data center components
Data centers have come a long way, and we still have pretty far to go. Take a look through data centers then and now, and see what's ahead. Continue Reading
A data center migration checklist to mitigate risk
Alleviate the pain points for IT upgrades, consolidation or mergers with this 10-step data center migration checklist. Continue Reading
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How to choose a micro data center in rugged locations
Rather than a big container setup, the micro data center fits a whole compute system onto 23U, with fire and climate protection built in. Continue Reading
Green data centers fail to live up to cost-savings promise
Green data centers promised significant cost savings, but that has been a dream deferred. So far, power-efficient chips have proved more effective. Continue Reading
Curbing colocation costs
With a little forethought, planning and savvy infrastructure decisions, organizations can keep colocation costs as low as possible.Continue Reading
Open-source server, hardware additions energize Open Compute Project
A number of Open Compute Project members are breathing new life into server hardware designs, including big names traditionally focused on software.Continue Reading
What big data opportunities mean for your data center
The onset of big data is shifting the data center's infrastructure. The SearchDataCenter Advisory Board weighs in on paths the enterprise can take.Continue Reading
What colocation customers should know about data center tiers
Colo providers use data center tiers as a quick, recognizable way to market their facilities' reliability and uptime, but that isn't the whole story.Continue Reading
Cloudification denotes opportunity, not despair, for mainframes
Migrating applications and workloads onto cloud resources frees up mainframe MIPS. With the right approach, IT won't sacrifice security or control.Continue Reading
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Applications and services forging new information technology strategy
IT analytics tools bring big data to work in the data center
Solid-state data storage devices increase the use of tiering
Hardware and software advances, like flash memory technology, are changing the way tiered storage is used in the enterprise.Continue Reading
Used servers live longer with virtualization, updates and support
Server refresh cycles can be more nuanced than a rip and replace of used servers. Consider these options for longer server lifecycles.Continue Reading
Take another look at your data center cooling methods
Data center cooling is one of the most common trouble spots for data center facilities managers; overheating servers and under-rated cooling systems can lead to performance problems and failures, but best practices for cooling your data center can ...Continue Reading
New CTO offers guidance on VMware software-defined data center
VMware's newest CTO discusses the right starting point for the software-defined data center, and the company's software integration strategy.Continue Reading
Legacy IT vendors transform to survive the mobile, cloud evolution
BlackBerry, Dell, IBM, Microsoft and other major IT vendors must transform to survive the cloud and mobile era. Will IT buyers invest in their vision?Continue Reading
Why the perfect DCIM software is still a dream deferred
There is a lot of hype surrounding DCIM monitoring tools, but DCIM has inherent limitations. Here are the top five challenges hampering DCIM adoption.Continue Reading
Intel pitches scale-up x86 as big data architecture for IT shops
Intel's Xeon E7 v2 processor performs in-memory analytics in up to 32-socket servers, promising faster enterprise big data analytics.Continue Reading
The truth about server memory voltage
Higher voltage means lower memory performance, right? Not anymore. On today's DIMMs, more is better.Continue Reading
Is LRDIMM the best memory option for an enterprise server?
Load-reduced DIMM allows for more memory and decreased latency than on-server memory typically has. So how does it compare to other DIMM designs?Continue Reading
Server memory features beyond ECC and sparing
With virtualization expanding throughout the data center, server memory features are integral for efficiency. And it's not just ECC anymore.Continue Reading
Getting started with ITIL service management
Promised cost savings, alignment with business, and operational efficiency are encouraging more organizations to take up ITIL service management.Continue Reading
Colocation services vs. cloud hosting -- which should you choose?
Colocation facilities have a reputation as just a roof over your servers' head, so why move into colocation space when you could go straight to cloud?Continue Reading
New vendor options when buying a server
Would you approach buying a server in the same way you buy a laptop? Open-source hardware is placing the spotlight on ODM server manufacturers.Continue Reading
Options for building a data center quickly
With the sometimes unpredictable nature of business IT, a modular data center could fit right into IT's plans -- if you know which kind to pick.Continue Reading
Data center infrastructure can make or break a big data strategy
The amount of data available to modern businesses is skyrocketing, and it is quickly becoming unmanageable. To tap into big data as a business resource, IT professionals need to understand the computing, networking and storage demands of a big data ...Continue Reading
Resilient processor technologies combat server failure
A new generation of processors uses sophisticated combinations of techniques to prevent server failures in enterprise data centers.Continue Reading
Flash technology infiltrates the data center with SSD systems
Companies weigh SSDs' increased performance against higher costs as they attempt to cope with rising storage requirements.Continue Reading
Unix command line quiz
Do you know how to move a file or get a list of current users from your Unix servers? Take our Unix quiz on essential commands for system admins.Continue Reading
SAN snapshot configuration options for virtual environments
Choices you make in configuring SAN snapshots and array disks will affect your storage capacity and performance, so choose wisely to avoid file loss.Continue Reading
Why you should evaluate software-defined networking now
Software-defined networks help shape traffic patterns, keep reins on virtual machines and can transform the private cloud into a hybrid model. But what is the maturity level of SDN? What do you need to do to prepare your IT personnel and ...Continue Reading
Can DCIM bring facilities and systems management together?
The latest technologies for DCIM and other building systems management promise better integration between systems performance monitoring and facilities operations. With these tools, IT admins can gain a better view of data center functions, but the ...Continue Reading
Attention IT shoppers: How to find the right colocation provider
Many businesses turn to colocation providers when they need flexible IT facility space and services. But what should you look for in a provider?Continue Reading
IBM cuts bait on Intel server line, Lenovo bites
After two weeks of mounting speculation, IBM sold its System X series to Lenovo for $2.3 billion. Company will focus more on cloud, software and big data.Continue Reading
TechWatch: Why your data center might need a fuel cell generator
You may know fuel cell technology from following NASA space missions, but that same clean, quiet generator could help your data center's power demand.Continue Reading
IT pros suffer OpenLDAP configuration headaches
Between the frustrations of installing OpenLDAP and annoyances with configuration problems, some IT pros are questioning its merit.Continue Reading
One company's rip-and-replace journey from cost cutting to better IT
MTS Systems took its IT motto from 'cut costs' to 'grow business.' The data center had to become reliable, agile and efficient.Continue Reading
Consider flash for your next enterprise storage system
Flash-based enterprise storage systems offer read-cycle speeds that databases crave, but consider write-cycle and connectivity options before you buy.Continue Reading
What’s the true cost of helium disk drives?
The IT industry talks the talk on green computing, but talk is cheap. New helium disk drives promise better capacity, but at what environmental cost?Continue Reading
How to manage cloud workloads and resources from the data center
Why hybrid cloud? The added flexibility and scalability of public cloud lets enterprises make the most of their owned resources, if managed correctly.Continue Reading
What's available in columnar databases
Four main vendors offer columnar database appliances for business analytics and big data processing. Each product has its own approach and tradeoffs.Continue Reading
Why columnar database technology should matter to IT
Columnar databases could be saving you storage space, data processing time and management headaches. Get to know your options.Continue Reading
What should you do with old servers and outdated data center equipment?
Complications arise when replacing nonfunctional data center equipment. Decide what to do with the old equipment and how to handle retrofits.Continue Reading
Five best Linux applications for enterprises
These five applications will improve the lives of enterprise IT and business management by increasing functionality and reducing costs.Continue Reading
RISC vs. CISC explained for data center systems
The role of RISC processors in data center equipment is hotly debated, but new RISC designs are proving that it isn't just a CISC game.Continue Reading
Are IT automation tools your ladder to the cloud?
Can older rack cooling technology handle higher server density?
Not every facility requires costly cooling upgrades after a server refresh. Use these tips to keep server rack density in line with cooling options.Continue Reading
Green data centers: Identifying truly energy-efficient data centers
Energy-efficient data centers reduce facility costs and help protect the environment, but many data centers are fabricating truths about being green.Continue Reading
Various paths define server roadmap in 2013
It's hard to name a single server trend when new servers take several -- sometimes conflicting -- paths. Find out what defined the server in 2013.Continue Reading
How outdated practices harm data center grounding systems
Isolated grounds are a solution lacking a problem. In fact, isolated grounds create problems for data center cabinet power and add expense all around.Continue Reading
Creating a reliable and fast SAN network design with iSCSI
There are three tenets of designing an iSCSI network correctly. Proper iSCSI deployment yields affordable and reliable network access for the SAN.Continue Reading
Inside the mainframe architecture of IBM Netezza, DB2 BLU Acceleration
The newest higher-performance mainframes from IBM prove to be cost-effective and advantageous, but may not be ready to function for heavy updates yet.Continue Reading
Google, Microsoft and Apple data center projects use renewable energy
Hyperscale data centers -- owned by Google, Apple and Microsoft -- are attacking high energy costs with renewable power generation on-site.Continue Reading
Which IT infrastructure strategy is best for your company?
Each IT infrastructure strategy has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choosing one model is confusing. And none can succeed without good tools.Continue Reading
Modernizing the IT governance framework for fun and profit
IT governance frameworks should protect the business, but they're often barriers to innovation. It's time to rethink governance mandates.Continue Reading
Evaluate your data center requirements and data security issues
Winner: Bright Idea Impact Award
Find out the winner of the first-ever Modern Infrastructure Bright Idea award -- a product that promises to reduce or eliminate IO bottleneck problems.Continue Reading
Winner: Best hybrid flash storage product
The best hybrid flash storage array has been determined by Modern Infrastructure readers in the technology Impact Awards.Continue Reading
Winner: Best converged infrastructure product
The Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards evaluated converged infrastructure products to arrive at the winner.Continue Reading
How to approach cloud computing for business workloads
Hybrid clouds let businesses keep some workloads at home and still capitalize on public cloud platforms. Here's how to get the best of both worlds.Continue Reading
Changes in SDN technologies can improve network management
SDN is evolving to ease anxieties caused by complicated network provisioning. Enterprises will be able to manage their networks more efficiently.Continue Reading
IT priorities in 2014 move beyond virtualization to cloud, automation
IT priorities and budgets have shifted toward software, cloud and automation to get the most from data centers in 2014.Continue Reading
Improving mainframe performance with runtime and compiler optimization
Reducing mainframe CPU usage should be a priority. Learn how to tune IBM LE options for better performance without source code changes.Continue Reading
TCP offload's promises and limitations for enterprise networks
TCP offload products free up limited CPU resources in network-intensive data centers. But TCP offload is no panacea and can introduce more problems.Continue Reading
SUSE's SLES 12 OS and computing roadmap
With SLES 12, some changes are in store for Linux admins, including a new default file system and bootloader. Here's the lowdown on SUSE's OS roadmap.Continue Reading
Majority of IT positions filled by women in 2013, career limits remain
The IT job market expanded this year, hiring more women and rewarding IT pros across the board for certifications and skills.Continue Reading
Building blocks of converged infrastructures
The unifying theme of unified computing is vendor lock-in: one vendor for all or most components. But what are those pieces and what are your options?Continue Reading
Following both sides of the decentralized vs. centralized IT debate
Consumerization and cloud have pulled technology control away from IT. But management issues may push enterprises back to a centralized IT model.Continue Reading
Wintel servers gain favor in cloud era, putting RISC at risk
Wintel servers have become the darling of the data center, pushing RISC systems out of favor. But the server hardware battle isn't winner takes all.Continue Reading
Major changes in data center fire suppression standards NFPA 75 and 76
Fire standard changes can add a lot of work and expense to a data center operator's job, but the updates to NFPA 75 and 76 address real safety risks.Continue Reading
NSA issues highlight need for renewable data center power planning
With on-site energy generation -- and a heliport -- Niobrara is designed to never lose data center power.Continue Reading
Shifts in business, SSD and cloud create data-tiering confusion
With how quickly business data and the storage systems that hold it can change, data-tiering adoption has lagged -- and new options are on the scene.Continue Reading
No faults here: Advanced techniques to attain more reliable servers
A new generation of reliability features can keep busy servers running in the face of serious fault conditions.Continue Reading
Reintroducing the RISC processor for data center servers
Will energy and processing efficiencies in RISC processors be enough to oust x86 chips from servers, or will RISC stay stuck in a niche?Continue Reading
Modern processor design means integration, efficiency
The quest for improved integration, energy efficiency and performance is taking processor designs in new directions.Continue Reading
The educated approach to outsourced data center services
Careful and systematic adoption policies can help businesses avoid serious problems with IT service providers.Continue Reading
SATA Express marries PCI-e, SATA for faster direct-attached storage
With the speed and power improvements introduced by SATA 3.2 specifications, SATA drives are making a comeback for direct-attached storage.Continue Reading
Why DCIM software and hardware tools need a place in your data center
Analyzing changes in IPv6 vs. IPv4 for data center networks
Dual-stack network environments make things a lot more interesting, which is why you need to be ready for IPv6 today.Continue Reading
Novelty or necessity? Storage, server optimization in data centers
Data centers can't function on spinning disks and dedicated physical servers any longer. Cloud, virtualization and SSDs bring computing up to speed.Continue Reading
Promising and misleading trends in data center power design
Not all trends in data centers will benefit your specific data center, and this is certainly true in power design. Sometimes, vendor hype is to blame.Continue Reading
From the ToR switch to data center containers: Design and layout fads
Of all the hot trends in IT, changes to data center design and layout run the gamut from small to revolutionary. And some are here to stay.Continue Reading
Trends in data centers: Adiabatic cooling, DP humidity control and more
Could your data center benefit from free cooling or intelligent power strips, LED lighting or SSD storage? Let's parse the latest data center trends.Continue Reading
OpenLDAP configuration for Linux made easy
OpenLDAP is a simple, free, fully functional alternative to Active Directory. Follow these steps to set up OpenLDAP on Linux platforms.Continue Reading
Modern data center cooling systems: No muss, no fuss, no waste
If old school data center cooling strategies leave your energy bill sky high, try more modern systems and bring it back down to earth.Continue Reading
Coping with integrated infrastructure deployment problems
Despite management gains, integrated infrastructures come with a slew of headaches, such as vendor lock-in. Should your data center risk it?Continue Reading
Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards 2013
Find out which products won top honors in the Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards, which recognized cutting-edge technology in eight categories.Continue Reading
Chief digital officer IT jobs emerge to bridge IT and end users
Traditional IT job roles are evolving, and new jobs like the chief digital officer have emerged to help companies move to mobile and cloud computing.Continue Reading
The right questions to ask about data center locations
Data center relocation brings up a lot of questions. Here's how to determine the best locations for proprietary operations or colocation.Continue Reading
Does SSL decryption deserve a place in the enterprise data center?
Many companies use SSL decryption to monitor network traffic and add another layer of security, but what does it actually do for data centers?Continue Reading
Keep outsourcing decisions in-house
Outsourcing data center operations can simplify IT’s job, save on the cost of power, cooling and space, and provide a company with greater flexibility. However, with all the outsourcing models and providers out there, it can be easy to make ...Continue Reading
On-premises build offers better data center costs, security and control
When it came time for a new data center, VSE decided -- after much research -- to build rather than outsource, and repurpose its old equipment for DR.Continue Reading
An administrator's Ubuntu server guide: Unique Ubuntu Linux challenges
Specific challenges arise in Ubuntu server administration. 'The Official Ubuntu Server Book' wants to help. Take a look at its advice on security.Continue Reading
Unix-based applications hold steady in large enterprises
Large enterprises still count on the Unix OS for critical apps, whether the app is too customized to move, or because the app works well where it is.Continue Reading
Unix vs. Linux debate dies down as Linux risks diminish
The arguments against Linux -- RAS, capabilities and scalability -- are quieting down as the platform matures and lures more Unix to Linux migrations.Continue Reading
Unix platform decline: Some vendors faring worse than others
With Unix use in nearly universal decline, some Unix system vendors are faring better than others, but no one is winning.Continue Reading
New server processors and the lower-power, more-memory IT roadmap
Next time you buy servers, raw clock speed won't matter as much as processor specialization, memory and software support, power draw or security.Continue Reading
Unix-based applications hold steady in large enterprises
Unix platform decline: Some vendors faring worse than others