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Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

• Best practices for data center risk assessment

  Data centers contain risks such as height, environmental and electrical hazards. Keep your staff safe by assessing the level of risk and creating a comprehensive safety plan. Continue Reading

• TCO (total cost of ownership)

  Total cost of ownership (TCO) is an estimation of the expenses associated with purchasing, deploying, using and retiring a product or piece of equipment. Continue Reading

• Data center security compliance checklist

  In five steps, create a security compliance plan for your data center. Discover different standards, learn audit schedules and develop procedures to align with compliance. Continue Reading

• An introduction to using diff and patch together

  Use the diff command in Linux to discover subtle differences between code files. Then, use the patch command to update those code files to match. Continue Reading

• Considerations for sustainable data center design

  To design a green, sustainable data center, consider methods to improve energy conservation and efficiency. Then, look into green -- or greener -- energy source alternatives. Continue Reading

• Use colocation and cloud together

  Rather than deciding between cloud or colocation, consider using both cloud and colocation. Colocation can support a hybrid cloud environment and help cut down on cloud costs.Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of on-site power generation for data centers

  Organizations considering a move to on-site power generation should weigh drawbacks -- such as cost -- against benefits, including sustainability and increased control over power.Continue Reading

• 8 green computing best practices

  As climate change becomes a more pressing issue, these sustainability best practices can help your data center go greener, which benefits both your business and the environment.Continue Reading

• Top data center software certifications for admins

  Certifications prove an admin has a specific level of expertise. Assess the top training courses and certifications in software systems for data center admins.Continue Reading

• Colocation data center market moves closer to the edge

  Data center co-location provides companies a way to expand and diversify their infrastructure. The market is growing to increase data distribution and help advance edge use cases.Continue Reading

• 5 considerations for proper mainframe decommissioning

  As organizations decide to retire mainframe systems, IT pros should develop a plan that addresses application migration, program replatforming, data security and hardware removal.Continue Reading

• Data center facility management team-building checklist

  A good data center facilities team and strategy can ensure the rest of your company runs smoothly. Here are the steps you should take when putting that team together.Continue Reading

• Explore hot and cold aisle containment for your data center

  Explore hot aisle and cold aisle containment for the data center, a practice that can reduce energy costs by helping better manage environmental factors.Continue Reading

• Explore the benefits of data center as a service

  For organizations that might struggle to purchase and maintain their own data centers, they can turn to DCaaS, which enables them to lease data center facilities from a provider.Continue Reading

• Data center contactless tech beyond the pandemic

  No-touch tech like haptics and LiDAR became commonplace during the coronavirus pandemic, but such technology can increase demands on the data centers supporting it.Continue Reading

• What does a data center facility manager do?

  Data center facility managers are responsible for the data center at large -- from the outside of the building to the infrastructure it houses.Continue Reading

• Does your data center need a smart PDU?

  A smart PDU can help you monitor and manage power flow more efficiently than a traditional PDU. Here's what you should consider before deciding whether to adopt.Continue Reading

• IT industry standard training for data center admins

  Axelos, IDCA and the Uptime Institute each offer training courses and certifications for data center admins to increase their knowledge of common data center standards.Continue Reading

• 4 key ways to prevent server sprawl

  Take steps to cut back on costly and hard-to-manage server sprawl: consolidate your hardware, virtualize your servers, consider software-defined infrastructure and stay organized.Continue Reading

• Top considerations for HPC infrastructure in the data center

  Determine whether HPC is right for your organization by understanding the compute, software and facilities requirements and limitations for supporting HPC infrastructure.Continue Reading

• CRAC design upgrades simplify HVAC maintenance

  CRAC/CRAH hardware updates make data center cooling more efficient. And these new systems are easier for admins to maintain and they reduce dust accumulation across infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Modular UPS systems provide flexible power management options

  UPSes can provide backup power scalability and efficiency. Admins should consider modular setups for extra redundancy, mixed capacity modules and cost savings.Continue Reading

• Get a template to estimate server power consumption per rack

  Admins can struggle with power consumption estimation as infrastructure gets more complex. The kW-per-rack metric can help provide an accurate calculation of server power use.Continue Reading

• Hidden colocation cost drivers to look out for in 2021

  These unexpected charges and fees can balloon colocation costs for enterprise IT organizations.Continue Reading

• Colocation data center outage response and support

  Navigating data center malfunctions when hardware is off premises can be tricky. Organizations must have strong SLAs with their colo provider to ensure appropriate response times.Continue Reading

• Your guide to avoiding server rack setup issues

  Not all data center servers are created equal. Before you attempt a server racking project, double-check size specifications and account for fastening hardware and cabling needs.Continue Reading

• Transform your infrastructure to support parallel processing

  Quick, real-time data analysis is a boost to any organization's operations. With the right hardware and software, you can support parallelization in your data center.Continue Reading

• CMDB (configuration management database)

  A configuration management database (CMDB) is a file -- usually, in the form of a standardized database -- that contains all relevant information about the hardware and software components used in an organization's IT (information technology) ...Continue Reading

• Admins eye on-premises and cloud hybrid IT management

  Most organizations now support a mix of on-premises and cloud infrastructure. This has vendors and analysts reshaping tools that can address hybrid IT requirements.Continue Reading

• 4 ways data center operations must adapt to the cloud era

  The role of the traditional data center has changed dramatically as enterprises adopt cloud services, but IT operations professionals can evolve to remain relevant.Continue Reading

• Learn SELinux commands for management and troubleshooting

  SELinux provides a more secure way to run Linux servers. Key commands for status, file management and troubleshooting can help you run SELinux smoothly on your infrastructure.Continue Reading

• 6 tools to know for private cloud monitoring and reporting

  Cloud reporting helps admins address capacity issues and reduce outages. Effective tools should include role-based dashboards and track virtual and physical hardware.Continue Reading

• Set your strategy to get the right liquid-cooled data center

  As data center rack densities increase, liquid cooling's benefits are becoming more apparent. Before purchasing, IT teams must consider technology type, cost and upkeep.Continue Reading

• COVID-19 puts IT infrastructure spending in flux

  As the pandemic continues, research firms state that organizations must realign IT budgets to support projects that maintain operations and put nonessential initiatives on hold.Continue Reading

• Adjust these 4 server BIOS settings to improve performance

  You can configure BIOS settings to get more productivity out of servers, but some high-performance settings could increase power consumption or put reliability at risk.Continue Reading

• Build an effective IT asset disposal process

  Whether vendor guidance or internal analysis prompts asset disposal, managers must decide how to transfer data, map hardware-supported workflows and reduce downtime.Continue Reading

• IT asset retirement in the data center

  Is your data center equipment starting to show signs of aging? These performance metrics can evaluate hardware health and help you decide if assets should be maintained or retired.Continue Reading

• How to prevent and recover from server failure

  Hardware, software and facility issues can lead to server failure. With the right protocol and preventive maintenance, you can reduce failure amount and troubleshoot time.Continue Reading

• Tools and tips to track server power consumption

  Server power requirements differ for each organization, but it's still essential to monitor peak loads and track how much power your servers consume to avoid outages.Continue Reading

• 7 top open source network monitoring tools

  Network is an essential part of infrastructure health and requires constant monitoring. To meet specific OS and hardware requirements, open source tools can be the best fit.Continue Reading

• Essential components and tools of server monitoring

  Server capacity management requires a list of infrastructure components to watch and the right tools. A workflow with these concepts ensures uptime and helps usage predictions.Continue Reading

• Data center power infrastructure essentials prevent downtime

  Power infrastructure upkeep is essential to reduce damage in an unplanned outage. UPS and generator maintenance, plus disaster planning, should be a part of regular operations.Continue Reading

• A look at software-defined networking upgrade guidelines

  SDN brings the benefit of a mostly software-based update process. However, admins still must consider which updates are necessary and if a hardware refresh is required.Continue Reading

• Plan for a successful ITIL implementation

  Corporate buy-in and training are essential for organizations that decide to adopt the ITIL framework. Admins should also help decide if the library is the right service option.Continue Reading

• Key components for negotiating an HPC colocation contract

  When it comes to HPC colocation, there are specialized areas to cover in a service-level agreement. Review provider protocols for power, security and network connectivity.Continue Reading

• A guide to data center maintenance outsourcing

  Data centers have a lot of moving mechanical parts to maintain. It's beneficial to leave electrical and fire system upkeep to the professionals instead of doing it all in-house.Continue Reading

• Top infrastructure and operations technology myths of 2019

  Admins are consistently evaluating technology to improve I&O efficiency. Cost, integration and business goals are key components to this process and cutting down any hype.Continue Reading

• Use GRUB to fix Linux boot problems

  GRUB is a handy tool to help admins solve any Linux booting issues. Reinstalling or manually implementing GRUB are two main approaches to getting your system back up and running.Continue Reading

• Guidelines to tackle multi-cloud and hybrid IT management

  Managing infrastructure isn't just the on-premises data center anymore. Software selection, architecture configuration and governance are key components of any hybrid IT setup.Continue Reading

• Get eco-friendly with LEED data center certification

  The U.S. Green Building Council helps companies make existing and new data centers eco-friendly. HVAC, lighting and monitoring technology help increase infrastructure efficiency.Continue Reading

• Develop a 7-step server maintenance checklist

  For effective server maintenance, admins must perform proactive hardware and software checks. Any list must include dusting, log review and software patch tests.Continue Reading

• New hardware, use cases shape server benchmarking needs

  Advancements in server hardware help admins address the latest data-intensive use cases. But this brings questions about the place of industrywide benchmarking standards.Continue Reading

• A look at HCI hardware maintenance

  Resource forecasting, capacity planning and upgrade compatibility are essential components of hyper-converged infrastructure maintenance. Learn why admins must implement them.Continue Reading

• Learn the basics of ACI network technology

  Application-centric infrastructure is one way to support an SDN setup. By learning the basics, admins can manage networks with automation and data abstraction.Continue Reading

• How to maintain your hyper-converged data center

  Data center managers can run HCI once it's out of the box, but the technology still requires performance monitoring and support to bring IT benefits to the organization.Continue Reading

• Continuous HCI platform maintenance ensures system health

  These best practices will help data center managers keep their hyper-converged platform in tip-top shape and make the process of deploying future updates simpler.Continue Reading

• Improve server rack physical security with ISO standards

  Safeguarding information access is essential to data center operations. With ISO Standard 27001 and the right locking mechanisms, you can prevent a security breach at the server hardware level.Continue Reading

• Addendum sets ASHRAE 90.4 as energy-efficiency standard

  The publication of ASHRAE 90.4 in 2016 brought a new set of energy guidelines, but the industry still used Standard 90.1. A new addendum has changed protocol and best practices.Continue Reading

• How to realize the benefits of software-defined infrastructure

  Software-based infrastructure and services can streamline management and application data. Before you add them to your data center, consider workload needs and existing hardware.Continue Reading

• 4 essential components to edge data center maintenance

  Security, connectivity and remote management are integral parts of any edge architecture. Here's how to include them in your infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Decrease legacy hardware security gaps

  Dated infrastructure poses security threats to organizations -- especially with the amount of sensitive data used today. Address these concerns with active inventory audits.Continue Reading

• 3 ways to approach legacy hardware maintenance

  Budget, maintenance cycles and specialized use cases are all reasons to keep legacy hardware. Minimize costs and outages with service contracts and emulation options.Continue Reading

• 5 steps to include on your software update checklist

  Training, testing and automation are all essential components to software updates. Implementing these concepts makes version maintenance a less herculean task.Continue Reading

• 83 useful Linux commands

  Enterprise administrators and managers who use this guide of essential Linux commands, utilities and tools will find ways to manage files, get process status updates and more.Continue Reading

• Flexible consumption models lower IT overhead, help investments

  Flexible consumption lets you track infrastructure usage and decrease tech investment overhead. It may seem similar to the as-a-service model, but there are differences between the two.Continue Reading

• Prepare your organization for 100G data center Ethernet

  Leaf-spine topologies, Ethernet and optics research are driving the next generation of data center networking infrastructure. Stay ahead of the curve with these technologies.Continue Reading

• How machine learning in data centers optimizes operations

  Machine learning can help manage your data center more efficiently and address power consumption concerns and hardware maintenance. Today's tools make implementation easy and effective.Continue Reading

• Linux features beyond server management

  Due to its open source nature, Linux is constantly gaining new capabilities. Here's a look at some common use cases and features.Continue Reading

• Use ASHRAE guidelines to get server temperature right

  The main factors that affect server efficiency are inlet air temperature, humidity and contaminants. Follow these ASHRAE guidelines to set up the right facility for your hardware and save energy.Continue Reading

• How to cultivate the ideal IaaS agreement

  As you expand your infrastructure, you might use service providers for certain components. Make sure you get a comprehensive SLA that addresses responsibilities, costs and security.Continue Reading

• A 6-step guide for hardware disposal

  Asset tracking, information logging and security measures should all be a part of hardware decommissioning. Don't miss a step with these considerations.Continue Reading

• How to enhance FTP server security

  If you still use FTP servers in your organization, use IP address whitelists, login restrictions and data encryption -- and just a few command prompts -- to keep them secure.Continue Reading

• Red Hat CTO: Scalability, usability key RHEL 8 components

  Linux software is expanding its use cases for data center and cloud options. Red Hat CTO Chris Wright details how the company is helping improve IT management and visibility.Continue Reading

• Micro data centers build edge computing opportunities

  Organizations can use micro data center deployments to increase on-site data processing. Admins can get their setups right with options from Dell and HPE.Continue Reading

• What are viable Open19 use cases and hardware options?

  Open19 is working with vendors to make hardware for its open source infrastructure. The goal is to support a growing number of off-premises use cases, such as edge computing.Continue Reading

• Build a comprehensive outline for your data center budget

  Including all necessary data center expenses during budget planning can be daunting. IT managers can start with costs for software licenses, hardware upgrades and cloud migration.Continue Reading

• Top 5 Linux performance commands for system administrators

  Figuring out Linux host performance issues is time-consuming without the right tools. The top, vmstat, iostat, free and sar commands can help get CPU, device and memory data.Continue Reading

• Can IT admins benefit from a DevOps environment?

  Admins might wonder if they need to pay attention to DevOps, but collaboration with developers helps minimize bad code and optimize processing hardware.Continue Reading

• How do I successfully install server GPU cards?

  Adding GPUs to your data center requires testing and research. To get the most out of the hardware, upgrade cooling resources and confirm software compatibility.Continue Reading

• How to get the most out of your SIEM system

  When it comes to threat protection, antivirus software is no longer enough. Data center admins need cloud-based SIEM to ensure their environments are fully protected.Continue Reading

• A data center planning and design guide for IT pros

  Data center design and management now goes beyond servers and networking cables. Defining budget and IT goals helps set an effective roadmap for data center architecture.Continue Reading

• Data center budget process should review business goals first

  Discover four factors data center managers should evaluate when allocating financial resources and areas to address to ensure funding requests meet execs' business goals.Continue Reading

• How to prepare your data center for an HCI appliance

  Vendors tout hyper-converged infrastructure as a plug-and-play offering, but before you install anything in your data center, be sure your network supports the hardware.Continue Reading

• Tips for selecting a data center testing provider

  Finding the right service provider for data center tests can be time-consuming. To pick the right one, be sure to have realistic objectives and a detailed SLA.Continue Reading

• Top server maintenance tips to extend hardware lifespan

  IT administrators can upgrade CPU, RAM and networking hardware to maintain smooth server operations and to maximize resources.Continue Reading

• How mainframe maintenance intersects with x86 server upkeep

  Mainframe maintenance overlaps with some x86 server upkeep tasks. Patching and storage management play a role in keeping mainframes up to date.Continue Reading

• A look at fundamental Linux sed commands

  The Linux stream editor is a useful way to run scripts in the data center. With these command examples, you can start to build your familiarity with sed.Continue Reading

• What are some useful remote server management tools?

  Choosing software for remote server monitoring and maintenance depends on organizational and administrative needs. Here are a few programs to include in your search.Continue Reading

• Minimize downtime during a data center upgrade

  End users don't want their productivity interrupted by IT maintenance. With the right technology, testing and planning, you can reduce or eliminate downtime in the data center.Continue Reading

• What do I need to know about remote server management?

  The ability to manage servers requires evaluating WAN connection options, available repair staff and software capabilities. This tip offers insight into how it all comes together.Continue Reading

• Nvidia partnership bolsters VMware live migration capabilities

  As part of vSphere 6.7.1, admins can now live migrate virtualized workloads supported by vGPUs. The Nvidia and VMware partnership improves high-capacity management capabilities.Continue Reading

• How can I secure my remote server management tools?

  If you monitor a lot of servers, it's important to make sure the tools you use to remotely manage them are secure. Encryption and password best practices can help.Continue Reading

• Which basic Linux file management commands should I know?

  File management is an essential part of working within Linux. Knowing a few basic commands makes it easier to move content and avoid file misplacement.Continue Reading

• Which data center KPIs are the most useful?

  As admins evaluate data center performance, they need ways to look at both short-term and long-term data. KPIs offer one way to evaluate components, such as storage.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

• 14 SIEM reports and alerts to boost security

  Setting up an SIEM reporting infrastructure requires an overall knowledge of what data capture is available. With standard reports and event categories, you can ease implementation.Continue Reading

• What network security methods do I need to keep data safe?

  How can you maintain network security beyond the standard firewall and blacklisting tactics? Encryption and digital rights management can ensure organizational data stays safe.Continue Reading

• How do I protect my OS with Linux security features?

  Linux has a security framework with multiple layers, which makes it hard to maintain permissions and privileges. User-based profiles and whitelisting can help you oversee OS access and give you peace of mind.Continue Reading

• Streamline data center ops by adding functionality to your DCIM tool

  Once you've successfully set up DCIM software, it's important to evaluate what further capabilities you need and the ways you can improve data center planning.Continue Reading

• Ten Linux process management commands that simplify admin workflows

  If you work in Linux, chances are you have to do some process management. Here are some commands to simplify that workflow.Continue Reading