Tips

Tips

• What HTTP/2 means to the data center and its security

  A new hypertext protocol promises better performance for complex and demanding websites.  Continue Reading

• Resolve a network bottleneck with these techniques

  Data center network performance problems will disappear with fixes from a simple reorganization through a strategic overhaul.  Continue Reading

• Make the mainframe system part of your business continuity process

  Mainframe systems need comprehensive preparations to maintain business continuity during a disaster. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to accommodate the mainframe in BC.  Continue Reading

• Virtualized firewall servers and other bad ideas

  Virtualization is a great idea, but not for everything in the data center. Even if your goal is 100% virtualization, leave these servers off the list.  Continue Reading

• What to expect from application performance monitoring tools

  Performance monitoring tools preemptively thwart run-the-business application problems, but only when you have the right APM tool for the job.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery as a service wipes out traditional DR plans

  Disaster recovery planning and infrastructure builds vex IT managers. Cloud services offer lower costs and more flexibility, but not without risk.  Continue Reading

• Find the right data center support for any IT organization

  Most of the IT budget goes to maintaining the data center hardware and software. Consider outsourcing for better support.  Continue Reading

• Identify risky data center providers before it's too late

  These tips from a data center design expert will keep you from partnering with an inadequate cloud hosting or colocation provider.  Continue Reading

• Take data center efficiency to the max on three-phase power

  Three-phase circuits provide considerably more power efficiency to data center equipment, but phase balancing can trip up deployments.  Continue Reading

• How to choose between cloud computing and virtualization

  When it comes to cloud and virtualization, asking the right questions will help your IT org choose between the two or support a combination.  Continue Reading

• Master Linux service management on System V and systemd

  Managing services on Linux is an essential task for administrators. Learn to work with either System V or systemd.  Continue Reading

• Power and cooling checklist for a better data center PUE

  Data center power consumption eats up a large portion of operating costs. These cooling and power changes can help cut back energy use without lessening IT performance.  Continue Reading

• Five IT infrastructure projects to tackle in 2015

  The right upgrades are essential to the ongoing, timely delivery of critical IT services -- if the infrastructure falls behind, so does the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Five tips to prep for a Sarbanes-Oxley audit

  For IT organizations in public U.S.-operating companies, SOX audits are a fact of life. Look forward to a compliance audit with these immediate and long-term preparations.  Continue Reading

• Micro data centers keep businesses competitive from next door

  A fleet of micro data centers can conquer the latency and resiliency of one centralized data center. Is the edge model right for your enterprise?  Continue Reading

• Five career-advancing information technology skills

  IT pros want to advance their careers. See which IT skills will enhance your worth this year, and the training and certifications that will propel you forward.  Continue Reading

• Avoid growing pains with infrastructure capacity planning

  Follow these guidelines to expand data center capacity without the terror of wasted space or, even worse, tight capacity after move-in.  Continue Reading

• Pair up NFV and SDN with physical networking for standardization

  For an adaptable, modern network, combine SDN and NFV to tackle traditional flaws. Together, they fully integrate network components.  Continue Reading

• Buy the right cloud hardware for your IT applications

  Cloud applications typically rely on x86 scale-out servers. You can optimize a cloud data center deployment and buy hardware for special use cases.  Continue Reading

• Must-know x86 processor features of 2015

  Processor design philosophies are changing, and new instruction sets are adding speed and security so long as the software on top knows to take advantage.  Continue Reading

• Master the art of RFP writing for data centers

  Writing a biased RFP is a great way to get everything you want, and nothing you need. If you want to address an IT or business demand, sometimes it pays to leave out specifics.  Continue Reading

• Eight data center technologies to test in the new year

  As the hype from 2014 dissipates, the new year rings in hot new technologies. IoE, hybrid clouds and other tech innovations make the data center run more efficiently.  Continue Reading

• Linux network configuration turns positively wicked

  Wicked replaces a lot of old Linux network configuration commands and utilities in SLES 12, making the OS more cloud friendly.  Continue Reading

• Implement these data center security best practices

  Proper data center security standards help prevent dangerous, costly breaches to the business. Follow these steps for a safe and secure facility.  Continue Reading

• This data center cost calculator keeps you on budget

  Calculating every data center expense can be challenging, but with the right spreadsheet -- and formulas -- you will accurately assess the total cost.  Continue Reading

• Data center maps lead IT to server treasure

  Can't find the server that needs repairs or the right reboot button when the host blue-screens? A data center map is vital when disaster hits.  Continue Reading

• IBM z/OS Connect boosts mainframe communication with apps

  IBM's z/OS Connect is a fresh way to tie in mainframe processing with Internet applications. See what it does and how it overlaps with existing software.  Continue Reading

• Vendor lock-in still issue in new data center servers

  With converged infrastructure, data center servers are stepping back to the mainframe ideals of self-contained computing -- with a few differences.  Continue Reading

• Comparing vendors' chassis server architecture scalability

  The Cisco UCS and IBM/ Lenovo Flex System approach network architecture in significantly different ways. What do you need from a chassis server?  Continue Reading

• SLES 12 anchored in enterprise Linux server availability

  SUSE's latest version of its enterprise Linux server OS defaults to Btrfs, with several features targeting always-on service.  Continue Reading

• Vulnerability scanner tools in the data center

  If you're wondering whether to use a software- or hardware-based network vulnerability scanner, take a look at your budget and network deployment.  Continue Reading

• How does an Open-IX data center cert stack up to Uptime Tiers?

  The Open-IX data center certification aims at resiliency through self-declared certification and an annual renewal process, rather than proprietary oversight.  Continue Reading

• COTS servers signal better TCO than converged systems

  Enterprise IT shops have new choices: Converged systems simplify management and scaling, while commercial off-the-shelf servers tailor resources without vendor lock-in.  Continue Reading

• DAS vs. SAN cost debate revised with new cloud options

  DAS is cheap, SAN is expensive, and neither quite meets the needs of most enterprise data centers. Storage admins can look to cloud and virtualization for a little relief.  Continue Reading

• MLAG installs flatten network without a forklift upgrade

  Hierarchical networks cause undue latency as well as bandwidth and port loss. MLAG removes potential STP problems and gives you a flatter pre-fabric network.  Continue Reading

• Five new IT metrics fill the gaps in data center tracking

  Traditional data center metrics don't follow the "no man left behind" rule. Gaps in IT metrics let some costs fall by the wayside.  Continue Reading

• The virtual GPU offloads intense processing to the data center

  Whether adding virtual GPU is going to be an expensive nicety or a core support pillar for the business comes down to the applications using it.  Continue Reading

• FC over Ethernet lowers costs by merging SAN/LAN data centers

  Fibre Channel over Ethernet simplifies the data center and lowers costs by merging storage and data networks. And it doesn't take an all-or-nothing upgrade strategy.  Continue Reading

• IBM mainframe pricing gets a mobile discount

  IBM offers a 60% discount on mainframe transactions from mobile devices. Here's how to segregate mobile CPU usage and get into the program.  Continue Reading

• Meet the application-minded IT infrastructure architecture

  A core-and-pod architecture segments the data center's resources by application. Could your IT organization benefit from the scalability and automation that pods promise?  Continue Reading

• Are you getting swindled on the price of storage arrays?

  At some point, you will need to carry out a forklift upgrade, but a little scrutiny during purchasing can ensure that this is the exception, not the rule.  Continue Reading

• A data center checklist for facility design and IT ops

  Choose the right data center provider or facility now, and prevent costly errors and inadequate services later.  Continue Reading

• Changes down the pipe for data center chiller operation

  What goes into your data center chiller might be warmer than expected, as energy use reduction efforts threaten the capacity of CRAHs and other cooling systems.  Continue Reading

• Create a SAN with the Linux LIO iSCSI target

  With the LIO iSCSI target service, Linux shops have an affordable SAN option that ranks up there with expensive proprietary storage solutions.  Continue Reading

• In-rack and in-row cooling options for any data center

  Say no to CRAC and consider more selective data center cooling options. In-rack and in-row cooling systems are efficient and optimally dispel heat.  Continue Reading

• Get to know Open IX's requirements for data centers, IXPs

  Open IX's stringent standards keep workloads safe from natural and human disasters, but what's missing is a business climate that demands such rigor for outsourced workloads.  Continue Reading

• Weigh your various data center cooling options

  Not interested in moving to Antarctica? Consider other cooling options by analyzing these pros and cons for methods like in-row coolers and free cooling.  Continue Reading

• It's time for new data center servers

  Outdated data center servers can set your IT organization back, stifling business innovation and productivity. It's almost 2015 -- don't get caught with old hardware.  Continue Reading

• IBM's CICS TS update ties mainframe into mobile

  IBM CICS TS 5.2 includes several updates and options designed to attract mobile-friendly applications onto the mainframe for back-end processing.  Continue Reading

• Five urban legends that scare a Linux beginner

  The Linux server platform is fundamentally open. Admins migrating from Unix will run into a lot of misinformation when they start out.  Continue Reading

• The lurking dangers of managed server hosting

  Under the allure of outsourcing the data center, IT spending changes radically and infrastructure control slips from your staff's tight grip. Are you ready?  Continue Reading

• COBOL compilers improve big data, OLTP applications

  Application development tools optimize code only so much. For the most efficient code on intense apps, a COBOL compiler is still the go-to tool.  Continue Reading

• New rules of engagement for corporate data backup

  In the old days, all data was created -- and protected -- equally. In today's data center, ever-changing rosters of VMs and LUNs call for a new data backup arsenal.  Continue Reading

• Converged infrastructures belong on IT budgets this year

  Despite its initial cost, a converged infrastructure prevents a lot of the frustration of a heterogeneous data center, saving money long-term.  Continue Reading

• Five ways to maximize HPC applications' performance

  High-performance computing systems pump up the processing power in enterprise data centers, but can be hard to keep in peak condition. Five steps put HPC applications into beast mode.  Continue Reading

• On-server GPU additions help with big data, VDI

  GPUs offload the burden of demanding computational tasks from central processors. Integrate GPU into enterprise servers to manage intense computing.  Continue Reading

• Self-directed work teams encourage collaborative IT

  No one clings to hierarchy like the data center team, but with DevOps and cloud architectures, SDWTs are finding their way into the racks.  Continue Reading

• Four benefits of agile DevOps on the mainframe

  Agile DevOps may be a new term in the old world of mainframes, but big iron benefits from the productivity and reliability it brings.  Continue Reading

• It's time for a software-defined networking architecture

  How do you prepare IT personnel and infrastructure for network virtualization? How do you ensure implementing SDN will pay off in saved time and effort? Start today.  Continue Reading

• It's time for a denser server rack design

  A few of the server racks in your data center went over 8 kW/rack, and the world didn't end. So what's next?  Continue Reading

• Centralized versus rack-mount UPS in telecom rooms

  How does a rack-mount UPS stack up against a central data center UPS for telecom rooms? Money doesn't necessarily mean power.  Continue Reading

• Set accurate service-level agreement metrics

  SLAs do no good collecting dust in an office drawer, nor are penalties effective. Make sure your SLA fits with the business' present and future needs.  Continue Reading

• SUSE YaST takes guesswork out of Linux administration

  In an open-source world, it's hard for one Linux feature to make a difference in the distribution. So, why is YaST so important?  Continue Reading

• Don't pull the trigger without a converged infrastructure comparison

  A lot goes into the decision to use converged infrastructure. Some factors are subjective while others involve straightforward cost calculations.  Continue Reading

• A flexible data center layout made for the new standard

  Data centers aren't the center of the IT universe anymore. With plenty of resources for hosting dynamic workloads -- cloud, colocation, as a service, or data center -- the on-premises facility layout must become equally flexible.  Continue Reading

• SDN networks set cloud apart from the old data center

  SDN networks are dynamic, automated and segmented by software rather than physical routing. And they solve several common data center networking problems.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting TLS certificates on Linux servers

  Got certificate problems causing your servers' connections to fail? Here's how to find out what's causing them harm and how to fix it.  Continue Reading

• What you need to know about memory channel storage

  MCS is changing the way memory and storage mix. Integrate this storage technology onto servers to enhance big data and other intense apps.  Continue Reading

• Security metrics examples to protect your data center

  Security isn't easy to quantify, like PUE or server utilization. But it is possible to apply metrics to improve data center gateway safety.  Continue Reading

• Turn server repair hours into minutes

  Do you know where that Unix server's documentation is? How much the spare parts will cost? How to automate service delegation? The clock's ticking.  Continue Reading

• How to stop an SSH server from kicking you off the connection

  SSH connection inconveniences can make remote server management a pain. Here's what do when your SSH server frequently disconnects.  Continue Reading

• Uptime's guide to data center assessment and optimization

  Even the best data center design drifts from its opening day to the present. Uptime shares its recommendations to map cooling power to today's IT load.  Continue Reading

• What to look for when buying data protection software

  A data center's value is in the corporate information it stores and protects. Buy tools that support a data-centric, compliance-oriented architecture.  Continue Reading

• A data center regulatory compliance primer

  Regulatory compliance puts rigorous and sometimes unclear demands on the data center. Here's how to approach regulations like SOX, HIPAA and PCI DSS.  Continue Reading

• Does data center size matter in virtualization, DCIM decisions?

  Are you big enough to take advantage of DCIM or virtualization for the power and cost savings? When it comes to certain moves, size is an advantage.  Continue Reading

• Reap the benefits of private cloud, gradually

  Many corporations are switching to a private cloud, which doesn't have to be a dramatic transition. Follow these tips to an easy private cloud move.  Continue Reading

• Mount file system Linux systemd's way

  Forget about /etc/fstab and autofs. There's a new Linux system around. Systemd manages mounting and automounting of file systems differently.  Continue Reading

• Share data at all levels with IBM's name/token service

  IBM name/tokens are popular for sharing data among mainframe programs, but little problems can add up to a performance hit.  Continue Reading

• A few ways to configure Linux firewalld

  The method for configuring Linux servers' firewalls changed with RHEL 7 and other new distributions. Learn how to set up firewalld, and what to avoid.  Continue Reading

• What to look for in a Tier III data center provider

  Don't believe just any sweet-talking colo provider claiming to be Tier III. Make sure you're getting what you pay for with a true Tier III data center.  Continue Reading

• Deploy data tiering for additional insights, reduced storage costs

  As cost and management issues diminish, more enterprises are poised to deploy data tiering technology and curb runaway storage costs.  Continue Reading

• Feast, famine or first-rate data center capacity management

  Ever purchase a server then leave it in the box for weeks, or run low on storage before an app launches? Then focus on just-right capacity management.  Continue Reading

• How a Linux processor on a mainframe beats distributed servers

  Want reliability, availability, security and performance from your Linux processor? The mainframe has more under the hood for Linux workloads.  Continue Reading

• The six best data center careers you've never heard of

  As business acumen gains importance, data centers are hiring compliance officers and DCIM specialists. Maybe it's time to update your resume.  Continue Reading

• How to buy a server

  Upgrade choices, resiliency features and even purchase negotiations determine how much buying servers will actually cost.  Continue Reading

• I don't want a Linux mainframe -- is that OK?

  Linux on System z opens up a new option for Linux workloads in the data center, but the mainframe isn't an automatic improvement for every situation.  Continue Reading

• Kick application latency off your network

  Slow, fussy application? Run through this list of application latency and bandwidth fixes before spending the money to augment network capacity.  Continue Reading

• Linux sshd customization for the safest remote server access

  'Secure' is a relative term when talking SSH remote access to servers. Keep your Linux servers under lock and key with these simple sshd tweaks.  Continue Reading

• Stop fixing every equipment failure in the data center

  Lacking human interaction isn't a bad thing when it comes to data center equipment. A fragile IT approach minimizes humans and maximizes savings.  Continue Reading

• Beware of unforeseen differences between Unix and Linux

  When it comes to migration, the differences between Unix and Linux matter most. Do you know the small and large changes to expect when you migrate?  Continue Reading

• Journald primer for Linux server admins

  The latest Linux distributions all use journald, which means a lot of changes to system logging and management.  Continue Reading

• DevOps and Agile IT save mainframe training from skills quagmire

  The problem isn't that new hires aren't familiar with the complex, custom daily tasks of mainframe ops. The problem is that you're still doing them.  Continue Reading

• DCIM vendors' promises vs. data center realities

  Weigh the cost, integration and staffing implications of DCIM to make a smart buy and put DCIM's monitoring and analytical capabilities to work.  Continue Reading

• Big data strategies live or die by their data center infrastructure

  Have high hopes for big data? A successful analytics and reporting strategy starts from the ground up with these data center infrastructure changes.  Continue Reading

• Protect access layers from BYOD node creep

  Bring your own device doesn't mean bring your own network support. What is BYOD doing to your data center's network resources?  Continue Reading

• A five-pronged strategy to fill mainframe openings

  Organizations are seeking young, enthusiastic talent to fill the big iron team. It's all a matter of attracting and retaining the right staff.  Continue Reading

• Linux boot options in RHEL, SLES help ailing servers

  Is your server not booting correctly? Does it need crucial recovery tasks? Linux boot options with GRUB2 and systemd can help.  Continue Reading

• IT's vendor evaluation criteria change -- again

  IT departments want to shrink their list of suppliers -- but should it be longer? Cloud, mobility and big data have IT rethinking vendor selection.  Continue Reading

• Handing out permissions en masse with Linux ACL settings

  Setting permissions one by one will eat up an administrator's time. Control permissions better with Linux ACLs.  Continue Reading

• The reality of software-defined computing

  Software-defined data centers are a brave new future or a vendor-created hype storm, depending on who you ask. Here's how it's likely to shake out.  Continue Reading