Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• Using cryptography on the mainframe: An amateur's guide

  Cryptography on the mainframe protects sensitive data and aids organizations' compliance to security regulations such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. This tip discusses the hardware and software available for cryptography on the... Continue Reading

• How to identify and remediate data center hot spots

  Data center hot spots can cause equipment failure and system outages. Find out how to identify the source of data center hot spots and how to fix the problem in this tip. Continue Reading

• Should you pay for support on all Linux servers in your data center?

  Free Linux distributions are gaining popularity, but choosing whether to adopt paid or free Linux depends on your support staff's level of expertise and the workloads you expect the Linux distro will handle. Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Logical Volume Manager boot problems

  If Logical Volume Manager (LVM) boots incorrectly, logical volumes are inaccessible and you can't manage server disk space. In this LVM how-to, we offer some simple steps to troubleshoot boot issues with LVM. Continue Reading

• Linux provisioning automation with Cobbler

  Learn how to set up and run, Cobbler, an install and provisioning server. It holds OS images and manages PXE booting, network configuration and deploys and installs them. It supports a wide variety of platforms including Red Hat, Ubuntu, Debian, ... 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

• Avoid common pitfalls when calculating data center power load

  For data center pros trying to size an air conditioning system or UPS, accurately estimating data center power load is critical. But there are many common pitfalls to avoid.Continue Reading

• How to install and get started with OpenQRM

  Learn how to install and use OpenQRM, a free and open source pluggable framework for automatic application deployment, management, and monitoring. It supports a range of virtualization tools and works with Nagios and Puppet.Continue Reading

• Open source mainframe software: Two perspectives

  Would open source mainframe software allow systems programmers to make their systems work better and fix the mainframe pricing problem? Or would it open up shops to self-inflicted problems for IBM to fix?Continue Reading

• Cleaning under the raised-floor plenum: Data center maintenance basics

  How do you clean under the raised-floor plenum in your data center? Find out the best practices and pitfalls for raised-floor plenum maintenance in this tip.Continue Reading

• Comparing Unix versions: AIX, HP-UX and Solaris

  In this comparison of the top Unix versions, learn what distinguishes the file systems, management tools and virtualization products in Sun Solaris, Hewlett-Packard HP-UX and IBM AIX file systems.Continue Reading

• How to install and use RRDTool to speed up MRTG monitoring

  When monitoring a large number of hosts or devices with the MRTG graphing tool, the system experience frequent CPU spikes. In this RRDTool tutorial, learn how to install RRDTool and convert MRTG to use RRD storage to avoid system overload.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Linux boot problems

  If your Linux server fails to show the login screen at startup, you have a boot problem. Learn some tricks on how to diagnose and fix a Linux server boot problem from Grub failure to init and runlevels.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

• Recovering your Linux server with a Knoppix rescue disk

  Learn how to recover data on your Linux server if it doesn't boot properly using Knoppix, and how to mount the Linux file systems on your server with step-by-step instructions. How to troubleshoot and interpret server data from the fdisk -l command ...Continue Reading

• Top 50 universal Unix commands

  Learn about the top 50 most helpful Unix commands for administrators out of the thousands that exist. Use case examples are provided, along with links to other resources.Continue Reading

• Keys to successfully running Samba in a production environment

  Running Samba in a heterogenous production environment with Linux/Unix and Windows systems is critical to business. Learn best practices for configuration, backup, and support. Proper implementation of change control, keeping an updated version of ...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

• Air flow management strategies for efficient data center cooling

  To achieve efficient data center cooling, you must reduce your facility's air flow waste. In this tip, an expert outlines air flow management strategies and best practices that can improve data center air flow, including the installation of blanking...Continue Reading

• Preventing a data center power outage

  Today's data centers run a greater risk of running out of power and experiencing outages. In this tip, an expert discusses how to monitor data center power and strategies to reduce power demand, such as virtualization, colocation, and ...Continue Reading

• Understanding green IT and data center energy-efficiency regulations

  With many green IT and data center energy-efficiency regulations already in place and more on the way, it's important to understand these policies and their effects on your business. In this tip, learn about current and pending IT environmental ...Continue Reading

• Optimizing server energy efficiency

  Reducing data center energy consumption is a hot topic in the IT industry, but server energy efficiency has only recently become a focus of discussion. Improving server efficiency means optimizing the main components that impact a server's overall ...Continue Reading

• Using CICS dump tables to manage problems in online systems

  The CICS dump table feature, which maintains tables for transaction and system dumps, can be useful for diagnosing and managing problems in online systems when the information you need isn't available through default channels.Continue Reading

• Using flywheel power for data center uninterruptible power supply backup

  Using flywheels for data center uninterruptible power supply backup can offer benefits over traditional power storage, including less restrictive cooling and ventilation requirements, a longer lifespan, less maintenance, and more.Continue Reading

• Five common Linux security vulnerabilities you may be overlooking

  Contrary to popular belief, Linux has security risks, that if not addressed can lead to malicious attacks of your system. Linux system administrators need to make security vulnerability testing a priority.Continue Reading

• Server cluster failure considerations to maintain a fault-tolerant data center

  Server clustering can help you achieve a fault-tolerant data center, but cluster failures can cause problems if your heartbeat monitoring system is on the same network as your production workload. An expert discusses the problems he encountered with...Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of brand-name vs. black-box servers

  Are servers from brand-name manufacturers worth the cost, or do generic black-box servers offer more bang for your buck? Users should weigh price, features and support options.Continue Reading

• Manage CICS workloads with transaction classes

  Using transaction classes is a great way to manage CICS workloads that come in varying or unpredictable increments. Learn how to define transaction classes, calculate a maximum active number and get examples on how to use transaction classes in this...Continue Reading

• When to use Solaris vs. Linux: Operating system comparison

  When should you go with Solaris and when should you go with Linux? What about OpenSolaris – what is it exactly and where does this fit into the mix? Ken Milberg describes the advantages of the three operating systems, and suggests how each may...Continue Reading

• Linux distributions ranked for speed, security, support, performance: Whirlwind Tech Tour

  How do Linux distributions compare in terms of performance, support services, security and speed under different enterprise conditions? Linux experts compare Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise and Ubuntu against these criteria.Continue Reading

• Using z10 HiperDispatch for vertical CPU management

  The new HiperDispatch feature for the IBM z10 mainframe manages CPU vertically instead of horizontally. This new feature could boost performance on large transactional workloads.Continue Reading

• Solve the startup error 00161 and 00163 with IBM TP600?

  Error 00161 on an IBM TP600 may be due to a faulty CMOS battery, and 00163 may relate to your version of utility PS2 EXE.Continue Reading

• Print Partitioned Data Set (PDS) sequentially

  The IEBPTPCH utility on MVS can help you to print the members of a Partitioned Data Set (PDS) together in a sequential data set.Continue Reading

• FTP, JCL to append several files simultaneously

  Use FTP and the Job Control Language to place several files on the same directory and append them all to the mainframe.Continue Reading

• Improving data center cooling capacity with chilled water plants

  With a chilled-water plant, you can improve your data center cooling capacity and possibly prevent more drastic measures, such as having to build a new facility.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

• Repairing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server using a Rescue CD

  SUSE Linux Enterprise Server offers a Rescue CD for repairing the system if your hardware causes a crash at reboot. This tip shows you how to use it.Continue Reading

• Ensuring server time synchronization with NTP on SLES

  Synchronize your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server times using NTP time server. Two servers are recommended for enterprise situations, as redundancy will save the day in case of a disaster.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

• Business continuity planning consultants: Are they worth the money?

  When embarking on business continuity planning for your data center, the first step is deciding who will lead the process. In-house personnel may be qualified, but if not a consultant is what you need.Continue Reading

• The future of the mainframe in healthcare: Two scenarios

  Mainframe use in the healthcare industry may look different depending out the outcome of the 2008 presidential election. Each candidate has a different healthcare system proposal that would be a change from the present system.Continue Reading

• Which database is best for multiple platforms: Windows, Linux and Unix

  Linux expert Ken Milberg offers advice on database selection for the heterogeneous data center, and recommends Oracle based on market share, support and technical abilities.Continue Reading

• How to troubleshoot RHEL performance bottlenecks

  This tip provides a step-by-step approach to application-tuning, troubleshooting bottlenecks and enhancing performance on RHEL 5 systems.Continue Reading

• Data center commissioning: Data center construction runbook, Chapter 4

  Selecting a data center commissioning agent may be just as important as the design firm you select. Chapter 4 of the data center construction runbook outlines the commissioning process, how to select a commissioning agent and common pitfalls to ...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

• Chilled-water production optimization for data center cooling

  Optimizing chilled-water production is a little-noticed practice that can reduce data center energy consumption. This article outlines optimal configuration of the water chiller system, control strategies and equipment selection, which is the first ...Continue Reading

• Using External Call Interface (EXCI) to access CICS

  In this CICS tip, mainframe expert Robert Crawford outlines how to use External Call Interface (EXCI) to access CICS from anywhere on the mainframe.Continue Reading

• Solaris 10 Trusted Extensions vs. SELinux

  Solaris 10 Trusted Extensions and SELinux are best suited to different system requirements and administrator skill sets. Our security expert explains the distinction and recommends when to implement each.Continue Reading

• Using OpenSSL to create and manage certificates

  Establishing an independent certificate authority with OpenSSL enables you to create public key certificates and to verify that these public keys are authentic and that email messages are secure.Continue Reading

• IBM z10 mainframes and event-driven architectures: Pull the trigger

  The mainframe is becoming better able to support service oriented architectures (SOAs), and therefore EDAs, than ever before. Enterprise driven architecture's (EDA) ability to offer real-time decision support will make it the next "big thing," and ...Continue Reading

• Using CICS event monitoring points (EMPs) for tuning and debugging

  Event monitoring points (EMPs), part of the CICS monitoring facility (CMF), allow for detailed data gathering when the CMF isn't enough. With EMPs, you can insert personalized code into CMF for application-specific tuning or debugging. This tip ...Continue Reading

• Build your own iSCSI SAN appliances, save money

  An open source storage area network (SAN) is a flexible, highly redundant failover option for the budget-conscious. But consider requirements like iSCSI, DRBD and monitoring softwareContinue Reading

• Implementing CICS managed data tables

  CICS has an I/O buffering technique that is well-suited for small referential datasets, known as CICS managed data tables. Learn which datsets work best, and how to implement CMDTs on your system.Continue Reading

• Solaris system performance tuning

  Solaris 10 systems need tuning and optimization in order to give the best performance given a certain system configuration and workload. The methods mentioned here are applicable to earlier Solaris versions and some other UNIX-based operating ...Continue Reading

• Uninterruptible power supply load bus synchronization: Yes or no?

  Should you consider paying the additional cost of a Load Bus Synchronization system for your uninterruptible power supply? Data center experts Syska Hennessy weigh in.Continue Reading

• Clonezilla: Not such a monster with expert guidance

  If your system crashes, the image server Clonezilla on Ubuntu can circumvent time-consuming troubleshooting procedures during recovery.Continue Reading

• Selecting a general contractor: Data center construction runbook, Chapter 3

  When you're building a new data center, it pays to bring the general contractor onboard early, rather than bidding out the process and ending up with unqualified subcontractors on your project.Continue Reading

• Settings to optimize an XFS file system

  To improve system performance, explore this guide oin XFS file system program settings.Continue Reading

• Are you prepared for the Unix 2038 problem?

  All 32-bit Unix/Linux-based systems store the system clock time internally as the number of seconds since the "Epoch." The latest time and date that can be represented as seconds-since-the-Epoch in that 32-bit signed integer is 3:14:07 UTC on ...Continue Reading

• Taking advantage of the CICS workload dispatch ratio

  CICS and its task control blocks (TCBs) are dispatchable units of work to the system. While priority may change a task's position on the chain it usually does so at the expense of others. CICS monitoring facility (CMF) records keep track of how long...Continue Reading

• Data center cooling optimization in the virtualized-server world

  How many hamburgers can you cook on a blade server? If your servers are literally cooking there are a variety of systems to consider to keep your equipment cool.Continue Reading

• Sys admin recommended reading: Improve your skill set

  If your bookshelf is crowded with technical manuals, it might be time to make room for books that will help you develop as an IT professional. From social networking to statistics, valuable reading awaits.Continue Reading

• When to use Unix or Linux?

  Unix-Linux expert Ken Milberg guides you through the increasingly complex task of choosing what operating system best suits your needs.Continue Reading

• CICS 3270 bridge tutorial, part 2: Using DFHL3270

  According to CICS expert Robert Crawford, using DFHL3270 is not as hard as it looks.Continue Reading

• What are the top skills for systems administrators?

  Do you have the skills to compete in the systems administrator job market? What are the top technical and nontechnical skills you need to get hired?Continue Reading

• Installing a secure instant messaging server on Linux

  Did your company ban instant messaging for security reasons? Free up email resources and bring back real-time communication with this secure IM server.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery runbook--Chapter One: Planning

  Data center disaster recovery and business continuity are necessary components to successful data center implementations and business execs would be wise to hop on this bandwagon in an increasingly electronic world. This section of our disaster ...Continue Reading

• Clarifying the GPL: Why Linux distros cannot be copyrighted

  Confused about copyrights? Our expert explains how Linux can be copyrighted, but proprietary plans for Linux distributions are a pipe dream.Continue Reading

• Managing hardware RAIDs with Adaptec Storage Manager and Ubuntu

  Manage disaster recovery (DR) by monitoring hardware RAIDs with Adaptec Storage Manager 64-bit on Ubuntu Linux 64-bit. This tip explains how to ensure the stability and validity of your servers' storage devices with proactive DR.Continue Reading

• Hash table how-tos for mainframe programmers

  The idea behind hashing is to transform the table key into a number that can be used to directly access an entry. Mainframe guru Robert Crawford explains.Continue Reading

• Which MQ Queue is related with which CICS transaction?

  CICS expert Robert Crawford offers advice on determining the connection between CICS transactions and MQ Queue name.Continue Reading

• United Parcel Service's Tier 4 data center goes green

  The facilities team at United Parcel Service's data center in Alpharetta, Ga., has gotten green data center operations down to a science. Learn how they did it in this two-part case study. Here in part one, we focus on how UPS identified wasted ...Continue Reading

• Do dual-power supply servers increase redundancy?

  Implementing servers with dual power supplies is a common practice in mission-critical environments. But improper implementation can result in a false sense of power redundancy. This tip explains what can go wrong in your data center.Continue Reading

• Comparing Unix operating system vulnerabilities

  In this tip, SearchDataCenter.com looks at operating system vulnerability advisories from Secunia in 2007 for the three major Unix operating systems – AIX, HP-UX and Solaris.Continue Reading

• Oracle on RHEL 5: Installation and configuration

  Install and configure Oracle 10 on RHEL 5. This tip shows how to set up a database with Oracle's Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) and Oracle Enterprise Manager.Continue Reading

• CICS socket interface

  IBM's socket interface is a faster, lower-overhead alternative to Systems Network Architecture for TCP/IP services.Continue Reading

• Creating a VPN appliance with Ubuntu and Openswan

  Make an enterprise-ready, scalable VPN appliance on Ubuntu Linux via Openswan with this expert's instructions.Continue Reading

• SUSE Linux Enterprise troubleshooting: Fixing boot problems by repairing a broken initrd

  Having a problem booting SUSE Linux Enterprise on your server? It may be that you have a problem with your initial RAM disk. Expert Sander van Vugt troubleshoots the problem with this step-by-step guide to fixing a broken initrd.Continue Reading

• Using SETools to manage SELinux policies

  SETools can help SELinux administrators with the daunting task of writing, managing and reporting on policies with the help of tools such as apol, sediff, seaudit and sechecker. Our expert shows you how to setup SETools on your system and introduces...Continue Reading

• Data center disaster recovery considerations checklist

  Data center disaster recovery planning expert Bill Peldzus discusses IT staffing, infrastructure issues, operations planning and more in this data center disaster recovery checklist.Continue Reading

• Data center cooling and humidity control: CRAC or AHU?

  Data center physical environment expert Robert McFarlane discusses the best temperature and humidity control choices for a reader's data center.Continue Reading

• Managing Software on Ubuntu Server Edition

  Ubuntu Server Edition's package management utilities can be intimidating but can be easily navigated at the command line and with Synaptic's GUI package manager.Continue Reading

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 performance tuning: Monitoring and maximizing your system

  Contributor Ken Milberg explains how to optimize Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 to yield great results without jeopardizing your system.Continue Reading

• Linux-to-Unix migrations: Why, when and how to make the move

  Porting from Linux to Unix is not as common as the inverse, but there are reasons for making the move. In this tip, learn how to make the migration successful.Continue Reading

• How to use SSH Public/Private keys in PuTTY

  In this article, you'll learn how to make communication between Linux Server and PuTTY more secure by using SSH public/private keys.Continue Reading

• Data center facility control systems

  Data centers are mission-critical environments with serious consequences for failure, but many employ the same commercial-style control systems as office buildings. Contributor Steve Blaine discusses why data centers can benefit from industrial PLC/...Continue Reading

• Recovery time and recovery point objectives in disaster recovery

  The next time you're reviewing your disaster recovery RTOs and RPOs, think about what you want to accomplish and what metrics, tracking and approaches could help you to achieve or exceed those objectives successfully.Continue Reading

• Debugging Samba: Deciphering Access Denied

  When a user presents an Access Denied error message and says Samba is the culprit, is the blame warranted? Here's how to determine whether the error is the fault of Samba.Continue Reading

• Control CICS and CPSM with IBM Rexx interface

  The Rexx Library interface to CPSM is strange but powerful. It gives CICSPlex the functionality that allows enterprises to control CICS and CPSM both from TSO and batch.Continue Reading

• SELinux on other distros (not just Red Hat)

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• Integrating Nagios with Netcool

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• How to manage software on Ubuntu Server with 'aptitude' and 'apt-get'

  Learn how to use the commands "apt-get" and "aptitude" to perform package management from the command line.Continue Reading

• CICSPlex System Manager basics

  In this brief overview of CPSM, CICS expert Robert Crawford describes the risks and rewards of using it for system management, automation and workload management.Continue Reading

• Securing your Linux server with iptables

  Harden your Linux server security with this tutorial on configuring the rules for iptables in your firewalls. See samples of code for rules and iptables, as well.Continue Reading

• Setting up SSH2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  Find out how to set up SSH2 (Secure Shell) on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), using encryption keys instead of passwords in this tutorial. You can use this with either RHEL 4 or RHEL 5.Continue Reading

• SPARC/Solaris vs. Intel/Linux

  A Unix-Linux migration expert describes the differences between Solaris on SPARC as compared to. Linux on Intel.Continue Reading

• Dual booting vs. virtualization: Using Windows and Linux on the same server

  Interoperability between Linux and Windows can be achieved in two ways: one, by installing each operating system separately via dual booting -- which allows both operating systems to run on the same hardware -- and two, by running one system inside ...Continue Reading

• Alert vs. log in the Snort /var/log/snort directory

  A Linux security expert explains that the difference between the Snort alert and log logs in the Snort /var/log/snort directory is based on how rules are written.Continue Reading

• Intrusion detection with Snort on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

  Snort is a popular open source intrusion detection system (IDS). Learn how to install this security tool and configure it with MySQL on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. This is also applicable to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, CentOS 4 and 5 and Fedora Core...Continue Reading

• HP UNIX performance monitoring fundamentals

  UNIX system performance monitoring involves more than just keeping an eye on the amount of free space or the number of users who are logged in. With the right system performance monitoring know-how, you can look into various files to find out ...Continue Reading