News

September 10, 2009 10 Sep'09
Aussie financial firms dump Unix, Windows for Linux on the mainframe

Three Australian financial firms consolidate distributed Unix and Windows server environments onto Red Hat Enterprise Linux on IBM mainframes.
September 08, 2009 08 Sep'09
Big IT shops look to rent data center facilities

Exorbitant costs have forced IT organizations to reconsider the wisdom of buying data center facilities.
September 03, 2009 03 Sep'09
Red Hat outlines roadmap for RHEL 5.4

Red Hat Vice President Tim Burke says the RHEL roadmap will focus on large-scale virtualization and management features with the release of RHEL 5.4.
September 03, 2009 03 Sep'09
Sun Chemical builds two data centers to handle SAP integration

Merging dozens of little IT departments into an SAP infrastructure in two data centers posed challenges for ink supplier Sun Chemical.
August 24, 2009 24 Aug'09
Uptime Institute opens data center availability tiers

Uptime's is ready to update its tier system, which has been the de facto standard for data center availability. But will the changes address criticisms that existing tiers were outmoded and rigid?
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August 24, 2009 24 Aug'09
Data center humidity levels source of debate

Keeping your data center humidity at the right level can prevent system failure, but at what cost?
August 18, 2009 18 Aug'09
CentOS users remain faithful despite developer shakeup

CentOS users shake off concerns sparked by the reclusive ways of a key CentOS figure and say the OS is poised to move on with or without Lane Davis.
August 14, 2009 14 Aug'09
Four ways to extend data center UPS battery life

Proper purchase, maintenance, monitoring and use of flywheels are four ways for data center managers can keep UPS batteries juiced a bit longer.
August 07, 2009 07 Aug'09
Why SunGard uses flywheel UPSes in its data centers

For its data centers, SunGard has chosen flywheel uninterruptible power supplies. A SunGard executive explains why the company chose flywheels over battery-based backup.
August 05, 2009 05 Aug'09
Neon Software CEO rejects IBM warnings on mainframe licensing issues due to zPrime

Neon Enterprise Software says its zPrime software doesn't violate IBM intellectual property or licensing agreements, which Big Blue warned customers about in a recent letter.
July 30, 2009 30 Jul'09
Healthcare data centers face deadline pressure

Healthcare data centers are under a federal mandate to use electronic health records by 2014. But some companies may struggle to make the window.
July 27, 2009 27 Jul'09
In measuring data center power use, more (info) is more

Large corporations and colocation companies measure data center power consumption throughout their facilities, and now other companies are following suit.
July 27, 2009 27 Jul'09
Amazon data center facility engineer touts radical cooling tactics

Amazon Web Services data center facility guru James Hamilton says data center pros need to get out of the dark ages when it comes to cooling servers. Hamilton recommends airflow containment systems and air-side economizers to improve data center ...
July 14, 2009 14 Jul'09
Mainframe savings with zIIP, zAAP could go beyond DB2 and Java

By using mainframe specialty engines for more than just DB2 and Java workloads, mainframe users could save millions of dollars a year.
July 13, 2009 13 Jul'09
Moving apps off mainframe may have unintended results

Migrating apps off the mainframe may result in unintended negative consequences, as illustrated by this hypothetical account of a capacity planning meeting.
July 07, 2009 07 Jul'09
IT managers offer tips on cutting data center costs

The recession is a good excuse to re-negotiate tech vendor contracts, tighten up energy policy to cut data center costs over 12 to 18 months, according to IT pros.
June 30, 2009 30 Jun'09
Microsoft to open two mega data centers: News in brief

Microsoft will open two mega data centers, one in Chicago and one in Dublin, Ireland; Oracle adds new management capabilities to its Oracle Enterprise Manager software; and more.
June 29, 2009 29 Jun'09
Hot-aisle vs. cold-aisle containment: Liebert and APC face off

If you're considering hot-aisle containment or cold-aisle containment for your data center, you need to listen to this faceoff between Liebert and APC on which approach is better.
June 26, 2009 26 Jun'09
Dell launches Energy Star PowerEdge servers: News in brief

In today's news in brief, Dell launched its first PowerEdge servers that meet the EPA's Energy Star server specifications, IDC delivers grim server sales prediction and more.
June 22, 2009 22 Jun'09
Hedge fund tosses Tibco for memory virtualization startup

Memory virtualization startup RNA Networks pools memory resources to improve performance, replacing Tibco at a large hedge fund company
June 18, 2009 18 Jun'09
Itanium processor delays put HP's plans in question

Repeated Intel Itanium delays have some HP Integrity server shops wondering whether the company should re-think its processor options.
June 17, 2009 17 Jun'09
Server users ponder Sun's hardware future

With reports that Sun Microsystems' next-generation processor has been axed, what does the fate of UltraSparc mean for the rest of Sun's server hardware?
June 17, 2009 17 Jun'09
Dell offers data center consulting, updates PowerEdge: News in brief

In today's news in brief, Dell introduces data center consulting services and updates its PowerEdge servers, while IDC says server slump will continue.
June 16, 2009 16 Jun'09
Data center managers plan for power density jumps

A survey by the Data Center Users Group finds that data center managers are designing facilities to accommodate twice as much power per rack than they do on average today.
June 10, 2009 10 Jun'09
Cisco's hopes its Extend Memory technology will boost UCS

Cisco Systems' Extend Memory technology is designed to boost memory capacity at lower cost and entice customers to its Unified Computing System (UCS).
June 08, 2009 08 Jun'09
Schneider: IT and energy management control systems bring efficiency

A new Schneider Electric initiative offers green data center design templates and encourages IT to work more closely with energy management control systems.
June 03, 2009 03 Jun'09
Cisco Systems adds rackmount server option to UCS

Cisco Systems will offer its Unified Computing System as rackmount and as blades servers. Cisco also launched new UCS training programs and certifications for channel partners.
May 28, 2009 28 May'09
Via Nano co-creator dishes on CPU technologies

Glenn Henry, a former IBM fellow and Dell CTO, discusses the lower-power, low-cost philosophy of his company's new Via Nano chip and on competing with big guys AMD and Intel.
May 27, 2009 27 May'09
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.
May 26, 2009 26 May'09
Should you move apps on or off the mainframe to cut costs?

In this era of stringent cost cutting, what should IT do: move more apps to the mainframe or move all apps off it? This tip weighs the total cost of ownership for mainframe and non-mainframe applications.
May 22, 2009 22 May'09
Data center operations and maintenance best practices for critical facilities

This tip discusses best practices associated with the operations and maintenance (O&M) processes for data center facilities, including the physical aspects of critical infrastructures, staffing considerations, and appropriate O&M processes, tools, ...
May 21, 2009 21 May'09
EPA releases Energy Star server specification

After two years of work, the Environmental Protection Agency has released its Energy Star spec for servers.
May 19, 2009 19 May'09
Consider cost-effective mainframe upgrades in down economy

Organizations typically defer software and hardware upgrades during a down economy, but cost-effective mainframe upgrades can pay back in a year or less and can be key to your company's competitive advantage.
May 18, 2009 18 May'09
Grow a green business: Cut costs and improve energy efficiency with green IT

In an effort to help companies reduce their carbon footprint, author and green IT expert John Lamb explains how organizations can improve business flexibility while reducing environmental impact with numerous energy-saving solutions such as ...
May 15, 2009 15 May'09
'Anticompetitive' practices may damage Intel's reputation

The European Union's antitrust findings may tarnish Intel's reputation and give rival AMD a boost, say IT observers.
May 14, 2009 14 May'09
Data center air recycling saves cash-strapped greenhouse

By recycling server air, a university's high-performance computing (HPC) department to protect a historic greenhouse from shutting down.
May 13, 2009 13 May'09
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.
May 12, 2009 12 May'09
Fujitsu launches new blade system: News in brief

In today's news in brief, Fujitsu's new blade system includes virtualization management software and Yahoo nears a decision on where to place its Northeast regional data center.
May 12, 2009 12 May'09
New statistics for CICS Transaction Server 3.2

Mainframe expert Robert Crawford outlines several new statistics found in CICS Transaction Server 3.2 for enthusiastic performance tuners.
May 11, 2009 11 May'09
Linux's position in cloud computing efforts

The role of Linux in cloud computing is becoming more clear as the technology advances. The open source platform beats its rivals in cost, and is an undisputed leader in the space. The Linux Foundation released a white paper, positioning Linux at ...
May 11, 2009 11 May'09
Avoid data center relocation failure: Top five pitfalls

Data center relocations are a risky proposition. Here are five pitfalls to avoid if you're considering moving your data center.
May 10, 2009 10 May'09
CA updates 143 mainframe products. Yes, 143!

CA aims to improve usability and make software deployment easier with its Mainframe 2.0 upgrades; users say it's better than the bad old days.
April 30, 2009 30 Apr'09
ITIL vets turn to SaaS-based tools to ease upgrade hell

Implementing or upgrading an IT service management suite can be a nightmare, but these ITIL veterans have turned to IT management using Software as a Service.
April 29, 2009 29 Apr'09
IBM/Brocade deal reeks of Cisco hostility

Cisco Systems' entry into the server market caused friction with partners that in turn released competing systems and tightened relationships with Cisco rivals.
April 28, 2009 28 Apr'09
Oracle acquires Sun: What does it mean for mainframes?

How will Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems affect mainframes? According to a mainframe expert, the merger will have an indirect and positive impact on the mainframe market.
April 27, 2009 27 Apr'09
Lowering data center cooling costs with airflow modeling and perforated raised-floor tiles

The wrong data center cooling strategy can waste thousands of dollars. In this tip, learn how airflow modeling and the correct placement of perforated raised-floor tiles can reduce bypass airflow and create a more efficient, cost-effective data ...
April 23, 2009 23 Apr'09
Sun shops prefer Oracle to IBM, but worries persist

An Oracle-owned Sun Microsystems leaves customers wondering about the fate of Sun's hardware and open source software portfolio.
April 21, 2009 21 Apr'09
Unisys launches new servers: News in brief

In today's news in brief, Unisys launches Nehalem processor-based servers that support VMware's vSphere virtualization; Texas Memory Systems now ships 5 TB flash solid-state disks.
April 20, 2009 20 Apr'09
Oracle's Sun acquisition raises hardware, MySQL concerns

The $7.4 billion Oracle acquisition of Sun Microsystems leaves IT pros wondering about Oracle's long-term plans for software and hardware.
April 20, 2009 20 Apr'09
HP's Bladesystem Matrix to challenge Cisco's Unified Computing System

Hewlett-Packard's response to Cisco's Unified Computing System is a unified blade server system called the BladeSystem Matrix -- and it's already shipping.
April 17, 2009 17 Apr'09
Cisco finally offers Unified Computing System details

Cisco's Unified Computing System includes virtualization-friendly features, but observers wonder whether UCS can set Cisco apart in an already crowded server market.
April 09, 2009 09 Apr'09
Green Grid tool assesses free cooling potential

The Green Grid's new free online calculator can help data centers determine how much free cooling they can get through air-side and water-side economizers.
April 06, 2009 06 Apr'09
Blade server benefits overshadowed by gotchas

Blade server adoption has grown, but IT pros complain about heat, cost and vendor lock-in.
April 06, 2009 06 Apr'09
An intro to CICS Transaction Server 4.1: Upgrades and features

IBM recently announced CICS Transaction Server 4.1, which includes new Web applications, a useful business event processing feature, new Java and CICS MQ interface support, and more.
April 03, 2009 03 Apr'09
FBI raids Dallas data center colocation company

In today's news in brief, the FBI raided Core IP Networks, a data center colocation company, and Facebook is reportedly seeking up to $100 million to build new data centers.
April 02, 2009 02 Apr'09
Ubuntu server adoption slow but steady in the data center

Ubuntu's data center market-share is greatest in Europe, in small companies. Anticipated Hewlett-Packard and other hardware certifications along with innovative cloud tools in Ubuntu 9.04 should boost adoption. The Linux distribution is luring new ...
March 31, 2009 31 Mar'09
Intel Nehalem chips make entrance amid server market slump

Intel's next-generation Xeon processor, Nehalem, makes its entrance, but many IT pros won't upgrade until the chip matures and the economy improves.
March 27, 2009 27 Mar'09
Virtualization be damned: Power-efficient servers best bet for some

While many IT pros use virtualization to contain server sprawl and cut power costs, others prefer to add efficient hardware as needed.
March 27, 2009 27 Mar'09
How data centers cope with the economic downturn

With the economic downturn, data centers face serious budget cuts. Recent survey data indicates they have turned to server virtualization to reduce server spending and power consumption as well as IT automation to address staff reductions.
March 25, 2009 25 Mar'09
Windows on a mainframe: Hypervisor on top of hypervisor

Mantissa's bid to run Windows on IBM System z looks like a hypervisor running on top of a hypervisor. But end users are skeptical.
March 18, 2009 18 Mar'09
Reports of IBM, Sun buyout roil data center waters

Sun Microsystems has struggled since the first dot-com blowout. Loyal Sun IT shops may have much to worry about if IBM buys the company.
March 17, 2009 17 Mar'09
IT pros ponder Cisco's Unified Computing System

IT pros ponder the merits of Cisco Unified Computing System, which combines server, networking and storage workloads.
March 10, 2009 10 Mar'09
Texas Memory Systems increases solid-state disk capacity: News in brief

In today's news in brief, Texas Memory Systems will ship a 450 GB Flash-based solid-state disk on a single PCIe card, and SunGard Availability Services will offer hosting promotions.
March 09, 2009 09 Mar'09
OpenSolaris on IBM System z mainframe will be a niche

OpenSolaris on the IBM System z mainframe is not expected to be as widely adopted as Linux on big iron, but it could carve out its own place on the platform.
March 05, 2009 05 Mar'09
Mainframe users share z/OS 1.10 stories

Attendees at the Share mainframe user group conference in Austin discuss early experiences with z/OS 1.10, which was released six months ago.
March 04, 2009 04 Mar'09
Securing top-down support key to Blue Cross mainframe consolidation

For Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina, securing top executive support for a consolidation project of x86 servers to mainframe Linux was central to project success. And having executives lead the project was even better.
February 20, 2009 20 Feb'09
Is Uptime Institute's data center tier system worth it?

The Uptime Institute's data center tier system has long been a mainstay in determining high availability. But does certification matter, or is it too strict to work?
February 19, 2009 19 Feb'09
SunGard opens new data center, and other facility news in brief

In today's news in brief, SunGard opens a Philadelphia facility for data center disaster recovery; data center colocation prices jump in Europe; and Chatsworth opens a new research and testing center.
February 09, 2009 09 Feb'09
Measuring and reporting data center PUE

Publicizing a data center's energy efficiency with the power usage effectiveness metric involves factors other than facility and IT equipment energy levels.
February 06, 2009 06 Feb'09
Tackling data center airflow, network switch conflicts

Traditional network switch rack units have side-to-side airflow, which wreaks havoc in a hot-aisle/cold aisle data center design. One data center has tackled the design conflict.
January 28, 2009 28 Jan'09
Getting data center buy-in on liquid cooling no small task

Data center liquid cooling is already a tough sell, but retrofitting an existing air-cooled data center is even tougher.
January 27, 2009 27 Jan'09
Data center temperature range expanded: Who cares?

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers has expanded its recommended data center temperature and humidity ranges. But do users care?
January 26, 2009 26 Jan'09
Rackable Systems mini-servers provide virtualization alternative

Rackable Systems new 12-volt mini-servers are designed to run divided workloads within the CloudRack system and serve as an alternative to virtualization.
January 26, 2009 26 Jan'09
Building a Linux infrastructure with maximum automation

Automating Linux system administration with cfengine can be a big task, but automation can pay off with time savings, better documentation, and provide some technical advantages. Nate Campi and Kirk Bauer explain why they rewrote their book in the ...
January 22, 2009 22 Jan'09
Cisco's planned server play sets up vendor cage match

Cisco Systems will tread on partner turf when it enters the server market with a product aimed at virtualized data centers.
January 21, 2009 21 Jan'09
Data center air-conditioning fans blow cost savings your way

It may not be your first thought, but design and speed control of data center air-conditioner fans can generate significant savings.
December 29, 2008 29 Dec'08
Enterprise Linux 2008: The year in review

Linux made huge strides in maturity and ubiquity in 2008, as it delved further into virtualization, cloud computing and use in mission-critical environments. Our Enterprise Linux 2008 year in review notes some of the highlights of Linux growth this ...
December 17, 2008 17 Dec'08
IBM mainframes still have room for improvement

IBM Mainframe columnist suggests areas for IBM and ISVs to improve the mainframe: Better automation, improved maintainability and more innovation on virtualization.
December 16, 2008 16 Dec'08
Data center site selection: Relocate to the Midwest?

Location consultants the Boyd Company has identified the Midwest as one of the best and cheapest places to build a new data center. Google and Microsoft agree.
December 08, 2008 08 Dec'08
Mainframe 2008 year in review

With the release of IBM's z10 and with Linux on the mainframe gaining traction, 2008 was a big year for big iron. But forces such as independent software vendors and the Web itself threaten mainframe vitality.
December 01, 2008 01 Dec'08
With Ubuntu and CentOS support, rPath spreads its wings

Virtual appliance maker rPath now runs on Ubuntu and CentOS platforms, though Red Hat remains a holdout. And now rPath has taken its appliance imaging technology into the cloud.
December 01, 2008 01 Dec'08
Has the sun set on Sun Microsystems? Analysts say no

Despite Sun Microsystems' billion-dollar losses and nearly 6,000 projected layoffs, observers say the company will survive the current crisis.
November 26, 2008 26 Nov'08
After delay, Fedora 10 finally available

After being waylaid a month because of a security breach, Fedora 10 includes features for remote management of servers, storage in the cloud, energy saving and more.
November 24, 2008 24 Nov'08
Experian drills backup water supply to cool data center

When the water main that fed the chiller cooling its data center broke, Experian tapped into a secondary source of water: a well.
November 23, 2008 23 Nov'08
Red Hat offers Linux-wary Unix shops long-term support in Japan

Hoping to spur Unix-to Linux migrations, Red Hat has partnered with Fujitsu in Japan to offer long-term support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
November 19, 2008 19 Nov'08
After Transitive acquisition, will IBM shed translation software beneficial to competition?

IBM plans to acquire Transitive Corp., whose translation software enables applications to run on various combinations of CPU and OS. But will IBM continue to enable translation for non-IBM x86 systems?
November 18, 2008 18 Nov'08
Red Hat Satellite launches first community upgrade

Red Hat Satellite has launched its first upgrade based on community input, where the ultimate goal is speedier, better software. The new version includes RHEL 5 and Oracle 10g.
November 17, 2008 17 Nov'08
Should you deploy a Linux-only mainframe?

While there are benefits to a Linux-only mainframe, there are important pluses when you run z/OS and Linux on the same box.
November 13, 2008 13 Nov'08
Zenoss adds VMware monitoring to systems management suite

Zenoss Inc. has added VMware monitoring to its systems management suite, conslidating data on virtual and physical systems in a single console.
November 12, 2008 12 Nov'08
How will data centers weather the economic downturn?

IT operations will be under increasing pressure in the current economic downturn. Data center professionals and experts offer advice for weathering this financial crunch.
November 06, 2008 06 Nov'08
At ApacheCon, Microsoft jumps on open source bandwagon

Microsoft will make its pitch to the open source community with an appearance at the ApacheCon user conference.
November 06, 2008 06 Nov'08
With IBM blades and VMware, firm shrinks data center footprint, cost

After dumping nearly 100 HP and Compaq servers in favor of IBM BladeCenter servers running VMware, a real estate firm slashed costs, data center footprint and management headaches.
November 06, 2008 06 Nov'08
TPC eyes energy consumption and virtualization benchmarks

The Transaction Processing Performance Council has disclosed plans for new data center metrics, including energy consumption metrics and those for the performance of virtual machines.
November 04, 2008 04 Nov'08
HP announces Dynamic Power Capping for ProLiant servers

The new Dynamic Power Capping feature enables data center managers to set a power threshold based on how much power a server uses.
November 04, 2008 04 Nov'08
Bank refreshes outdated data center with PDUs, new CRAC units

AgFirst has made major data center energy-efficiency improvements switching to PDUs installing new CRACs, fixing hot-aisle/cold-aisle problems and eliminating six truckloads of unnecessary cabling.
November 03, 2008 03 Nov'08
Sun updates ZFS, virtualization in Solaris 10

Sun Microsystems has updated its Solaris 10 operating system to include optimizations for virtualization, Intel Xeon processors and enhancements to the ZFS file system. But the enhancements aren't exactly groundbreaking.
October 27, 2008 27 Oct'08
Data center site selection: An art and a science, says Digital Realty Trust

At Data Center Decisions, Digital Realty Trust warned that, in data center site selection, data centers fail to focus on central factors or focus on irrelevant factors.
October 22, 2008 22 Oct'08
Data center efficiency tools, services litter the landscape

Energy-efficiency tools are supposed to help data centers understand that energy efficiency frees resources for compute-intensive activities and reduces costs. But do they?
October 20, 2008 20 Oct'08
Harley-Davidson unpacks data center myths

At AFCOM's Data Center World conference, Harley-Davidson discussed the five data center myths it dispelled as the company consolidated several data centers and built a new one.
October 20, 2008 20 Oct'08
Welsh data center expected to be Europe's most advanced

Welsh entrepreneurs have recently transformed vacant data center space into the power-packed Next Generation Data Center 1 facility. But once NGD 1 built, will they come?

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