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.
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
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
How outdated practices harm data center grounding systems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
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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
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
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
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
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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Immersion cooling and other source-of-heat options for cooling data centers
Source-of-heat cooling can be energy-efficient and free up data center design. Immersion cooling, a new source-of-heat option, has its pros and cons.Continue Reading
Physical building properties to evaluate during server room design
Does your server room have space to grow? What's the best mechanical system for it? Start with these questions to develop a good server room design.Continue Reading
Vendors must meet enterprise data center requirements
Converged infrastructure vendors struggle to entice enterprise customers
Top virtualization vendors lead VM management tools race
VMware market share overshadows competing virtualization vendors
Microsoft, VMware favorites among private cloud vendors
Programming thread-safe mainframe applications with the CICS ENQ command
Thread safety in mainframe applications means better vertical integration. Take full advantage with the CICS ENQ command.Continue Reading
Server cabinet cooling options from hot/cold aisles to full containment
Server cabinet cooling strategies range from hot and cold aisles to partial and full containment designs, and each pays off in energy savings.Continue Reading
Adding application performance monitoring tools to systems management
Application performance is a key metric for cloud infrastructures. But few companies use application performance monitoring tools or use them well.Continue Reading
How to implement SNMP monitoring to augment network monitoring tools
Network monitoring tools put agents on the devices they track. Augment this data by enabling SNMP monitoring on devices that don't support agents.Continue Reading
Uncomplicated server updates with the Spacewalk Linux management tool
Linux server management software helps refine patching and organization. Choose the Spacewalk Linux management tool or enterprise-grade options.Continue Reading
How to improve network performance via advanced NIC options
Ethernet networks often struggle with modern data center workloads, but emerging NIC technologies are here to help improve network performance.Continue Reading
Is a cryogenic cooler a viable option in the data center?
The high cost and increasing compute densities in server racks make it difficult to implement a cryogenic cooler in the data center.Continue Reading
Embrace power management and DCIM tools
Use CFD tools with existing infrastructure to target hotspots
New automation, virtualization tools aid VM provisioning
Increased automation and better tools are accelerating virtualization adoption and enhancing the approaches to VM provisioning.Continue Reading
Consider HTML5 application development for mobile devices
Setting traps with SLIP, king of the mainframe debugging tools
How to use SLIP, one of the best mainframe debugging tools, to set traps for annoying bugs.Continue Reading
Get the right applications to manage your system
This guide will help administrators find the best way to provision, monitor and manage the performance of virtual workloads across the data center.Continue Reading
Strategies for mainframe application modernization
Mainframe application modernization, re-engineering or distributed integration can maintain support for business-critical applications.Continue Reading
Changing vendors: Avoiding pitfalls, IT vendor contract negotiations
Negotiating IT vendor contract terms is crucial for protecting business continuity, physical property and intellectual assets when contracts end.Continue Reading
Using open source tools to monitor Apache Web Server performance
Much of today’s business relies on smooth operation of Web servers. Explore these three open source tools to monitor performance, security and traffic on Apache Web servers.Continue Reading
Evaluating mainframe system monitoring tools
There are many system monitoring tools available for mainframes. This tip can help administrators analyze and choose the tool that fits their needs.Continue Reading
Server refresh options: When to rent a server vs. when to buy
Companies looking to replace old hardware must consider long-term goals and evaluate financing options when deciding whether to buy or rent a server.Continue Reading
Choosing UPS systems for the data center
Selecting the right UPS for data centers is complex. This buying guide can help you sort through the features offered by today's UPS systems.Continue Reading
Server benchmarking tools and stress testing
Admins should turn to several tools to perform benchmark testing and compare results to verify accuracy. This tip outlines the role of stress testing and lists several tools available to engineers.Continue Reading
The causes and costs of data center system downtime: Advisory Board Q&A
System downtime may be unavoidable, but planning and training can help restore operations sooner and mitigate the impact on most organizations.Continue Reading
Comparing the advantages of zshell over bash shell in Linux
Linux admins interested in using zsh instead of bash shell will learn what is similar and what is different. Zshell offers new features for tab completion and typo correction and others that would be much more complex in bash.Continue Reading
Best practices for accurately measuring data center power consumption
Knowing when and where to measure data center power consumption is important for calculating power use effectiveness and improving efficiency.Continue Reading
Data center security concerns with contractors: Advisory Board Q&A
Maintaining physical data center security when allowing outside contractors into a facility takes caution and common sense.Continue Reading
The future of mainframe systems and the x86 platform
X86 server virtualization is developing features similar to traditional mainframe systems, and while the two are drawing closer together, there are important differences.Continue Reading
The power of traditional mainframe technology
Mainframes are still much more powerful than virtualized distributed systems clusters.Continue Reading
Traditional mainframe systems vs. x86 'software mainframe'
X86 server virtualization is developing features similar to traditional mainframe systems, and while the two are drawing closer together, there are still key differences.Continue Reading
The resiliency of mainframe systems
Traditional mainframe systems continue to outperform, and are more secure, than even the most bleeding-edge x86 virtualization software.Continue Reading
X86-based private clouds offer cost savings
x86-based private clouds offer cost savings when compared to traditional mainframe systems.Continue Reading
Data center construction alternatives
Data center construction can be a huge expense, but with today’s colocation alternatives, a new facility isn't always the best answer to the needs of growing enterprises.Continue Reading
Choosing the right server for mission-critical applications
Planning ahead when selecting a server for mission-critical applications can help you recognize virtualization opportunities and identify potential points of failure.Continue Reading
Changes in data center jobs and economy: Advisory board Q&A
The outlook for data center jobs is cautiously optimistic for those with the right mix of skills.Continue Reading
Data center management using DCIM tools
DCIM tools can help facilitate data center management and energy monitoring, but DCIM software does not come without its own set of challenges and limitations.Continue Reading
Using DCIM tools to monitor data center power
Although DCIM tools include many capabilities for monitoring data center power and facilitating data center management, you should know their associated costs before implementing projects.Continue Reading
Five tips for negotiating IT support contracts with vendors
With IT budgets slashed, now is the time for vendor negotiation to get the most bang for your contract buck. These five approaches can help lower IT support contract costs.Continue Reading
Nagios notifications: Setting up alerts in the network monitoring tool
In this tip on the open source network monitoring tool Nagios, learn how to set up custom configurations that can send Nagios notifications to admins at any time of the day.Continue Reading
Getting the IT and facilities relationship on track
Expert advice on bringing together the IT and facilities departments can improve efficiency and save the company money.Continue Reading
Linux security guide: Linux, open source security tools and tips
Start hardening your Linux servers with this guide to essential tools and applications for Linux security, including SELinux, Nagios, firewalls and more.Continue Reading
Data center 2010 spending slideshow
In 2010, companies resuscitated data center spending but also prioritized purchases designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency and automation, and handle increased capacity.Continue Reading
Best practices for choosing a colocation data center
Incorporating colocation into your IT strategy eliminates the expense of building or upgrading your own facility, but choose your colocation data center wisely, as providers vary greatly in terms of service costs, connectivity and service-level ...Continue Reading
Containerized data centers: Is a box a good fit?
Data centers in shipping containers caught on as Microsoft deployed a data center in the equivalent of a parking garage. But should you be considering this option in your future data center design? Learn what two experts think about data center ...Continue Reading
Weird data center locations: Bahnhof's underground bunker
This first weird data center location houses Bahnhof's network operations, and is a former underground bunker in Sweden.Continue Reading
Weird data center locations: Ozarks' hidden gem
This third weird data center location is located in the carved out side of a mountain in the Ozarks, right outside of Branson, Mo.Continue Reading
Weird Data Center Locations
In this slideshow on weird data center locations, see some of the unusual spots where some companies are deciding to house theirs.Continue Reading
DC power in the data center: A viable option?
DC power is being actively investigated for use in the data center, but the alternative to the ubiquitous AC power platform hasn't yet been proven more effective for the data center. Learn the advantages to DC power as well as the drawbacks from two...Continue Reading
Finding the best capacity planning tool for your data center
A capacity planning tool can benefit data centers by collecting data, managing virtual machines and preventing bottlenecks. Keep these considerations in mind when choosing and implementing a capacity planning tool.Continue Reading
APC's data center hot-aisle containment
APC, meanwhile, sells a prepackaged hot-aisle containment product. Recently, officials from both Liebert and APC duked it out over which is better: hot-aisle containment or cold-aisle containment.Continue Reading
Linux networking: Using ip tool instead of ifconfig
If your server was configured manually, make sure the Linux network is set up with the correct IP configurations and the ip tool is being used to monitor your systems.Continue Reading
Modernizing mainframe applications: Why and how
Learn how a mainframe application modernization strategy lowers costs and adds flexibility that can put your organization at a competitive advantage.Continue Reading
How to choose the right uninterruptible power supply for your data center
This tip discusses how to choose the right-sized uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for your data center. It also explains common mistakes in UPS sizing and why UPS power ratings can be so confusing.Continue Reading
Linux tools
Learn about different tools, tips, programs and resources from every genre of Linux tools, and learn how to deploy and configure the tools that suite your needs.Continue Reading
Linux command line tools: The top 50
The most popular and useful Linux command utilities and programs, like sudo, chmod, exec, rpm, to name a few.Continue Reading
How to install and configure MRTG, an essential sys admin tool
Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) is an essential tool that allows systems administrators to monitor and graph network traffic and more. In this tutorial, an expert explains how to install and configure MRTG on Solaris 10.Continue Reading
Lower disaster recovery costs with open source replication tools
Lower the cost of disaster recovery replication with open source DR tools like Rsync and distributed replicated block device, or DRBD.Continue Reading
Choosing the best x86 server for your data center
All x86 servers are not equal. What are the criteria for buying x86 servers? Consider application characteristics, memory, power usage and other factors when selecting a commodity server vendor.Continue Reading
Capacity planning tools tutorial for Linux and Unix
Effective capacity planning is a proactive way of ensuring that your data center servers will not prematurely run out of space or horsepower. Learn the tools available to help you, both native to Linux and Unix platforms including Solaris, Red Hat, ...Continue Reading
How to solve abend code 4038
A user faces the abnormal ending abend code 4038 in the process of migrating from VS COBOL runtimes to LE.Continue Reading
Comparing blades with rack servers on price, performance
Are blades or rackmount servers more cost-effective? Several experts weigh in on the factors to consider, including space constraints, power consumption, and performance.Continue Reading
Use DFHLS2WS to expose CICS applications as a Web service
DFHLS2WS is one of the Web services assistants that allows traditional CICS applications to provide or consume Web services without significant changes and without getting into the details of SOAP or XML coding.Continue Reading
Essential tools for mainframe operation and management
Working on the mainframe can be slow and tedious, but there are tools that can improve your mainframe efficiency. Robert Crawford shares his favorite tools: cut and paste, HSSF, SAS, MXG and REXX.Continue Reading
Disaster recovery on the mainframe: New options for site recovery
Disaster recovery on the mainframe now includes data recovery support such as redundancy and failover. But disaster recovery planning still requires some strategic effort to properly execute a site recovery.Continue Reading
Mainframe change management tools ease compliance burden
Mainframes host a bulk of the critical data important to compliance auditors, but data center managers have had to rely on brute force and aging tools.Continue Reading