Tips

Tips

• Let's get white box servers straight

  What's the difference between white box servers and Open Compute servers? What's the risk involved without brand-name server features?  Continue Reading

• Extend UPS battery life, avoid catastrophic data center failure

  Are you managing your UPS battery life expectations? Just because the warranty says it will last doesn't mean you should take their word for it.  Continue Reading

• Learn mainframe SIMD instructions for the IBM z13's processor

  SIMD instructions in the z13 vector extension facility accelerate processing of social media and big data workloads.  Continue Reading

• Create an efficient data management process in the enterprise

  Big data can lead to bigger problems, as enterprises struggle to process, store and organize information of varying levels of importance and ownership.  Continue Reading

• Matching applications to the right converged technologies

  Users in the data center share how the converged technology they chose -- from hyper-converged infrastructure to appliance -- meets the needs of a given application.  Continue Reading

• How the brave virtualize DNS, AD and other core IT services

  Critical IT infrastructure services -- DNS, DHCP servers -- don't need to live in the physical realm.  Continue Reading

• Build Linux from scratch to improve admin skills

  There's a sure-fire way to increase your knowledge about the Linux kernel and how to troubleshoot Linux servers: Build one yourself.  Continue Reading

• How does a wholesale data center differ from retail?

  One offers more control, while the other offers more flexible space. If you're considering a colocation facility, how do you decide between wholesale and retail?  Continue Reading

• Five COBOL interview questions to land a new job

  Time for a new job on the mainframe? Brush up on your COBOL basics and prepare for these strategic interview questions.  Continue Reading

• Checklist of IT KPIs for responsive data center ops

  The right metrics, aligned with business needs, strengthen data center monitoring and capacity planning. KPIs orient IT performance to specific goals.  Continue Reading

• Give the Linux quagga router a try for SDN

  The open source quagga router is garnering attention as a flexible choice for SDN. It's easy to set up with the right hardware.  Continue Reading

• What's the best flash storage choice for your data center?

  All-flash data centers are futuristic concepts, but there are many ways to implement server-side or array-based flash storage in a data center today.  Continue Reading

• Suss out, solve pesky server utilization problems

  If it's time to tune your data center hardware, consider fixes like DRAM expansion, SSDs or container virtualization.  Continue Reading

• The FPGA server promises flexible app acceleration

  FPGAs offload tasks from server processors more flexibly than other accelerator options. Hyperscale data centers are keen to deploy the technology.  Continue Reading

• New eco UPS systems save energy, minimize operational risks

  Eco UPS installations promise higher energy efficiency in the data center, with new designs that respond quickly to an outage.  Continue Reading

• Small updates meet big data center requirements

  Not all IT infrastructure projects require a large budget and lengthy schedule. These relatively inexpensive updates boost performance and reliability.  Continue Reading

• The ARM-based server vies for first in your data center

  Are the alluring functions of ARM servers enough to cause a reshaping of data center operations? Or will the x86 server continue its domination?  Continue Reading

• How to tell if OpenStack infrastructure is right for you

  Your data center may -- or may not -- need a flexible open-source cloud. Is your facility ready to handle the infrastructure overhaul of storage and hardware?  Continue Reading

• Fill in skills shortages with mainframe outsourcing

  New deeply skilled mainframe staffers won't pop up overnight, so use a mix of in-house and outsourcing tactics to support another decade on big iron.  Continue Reading

• Address common problems in mainframe testing concepts

  Accurate mainframe testing data is hard to obtain. This overview covers testing concepts, problems and tool options for improving test data management.  Continue Reading

• Avoid common server racking issues

  Increasing physical demands of modern IT gear can pose problems for classic rack enclosures. Watch for these factors when buying new racks or equipment.  Continue Reading

• Data center improvements extend its life 10 more years

  Space, power, cooling and equipment improvements give your data center design new life. Do it right to keep costs down.  Continue Reading

• Master Red Hat, Debian approaches to Linux package management

  Whether you use Red Hat or Debian package manager, get informed on the repositories and commands for easier Linux management.  Continue Reading

• Outsource IT support without losing control

  Secure a highly available IT platform by ensuring you have the best data center support. Without precautions, you may suffer from greedy resellers and vendors.  Continue Reading

• Modern data center cooling systems cut out energy waste

  Better data center cooling techniques and technologies exist, so it's up to IT to identify the correct approach for their organization.  Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• A data center migration checklist to mitigate risk

  Alleviate the pain points for IT upgrades, consolidation or mergers with this 10-step data center migration checklist.  Continue Reading

• How to choose a micro data center in rugged locations

  Rather than a big container setup, the micro data center fits a whole compute system onto 23U, with fire and climate protection built in.  Continue Reading

• Companies that outsource find they need to keep some IT work in-house

  Geography and jurisdiction, rather than technology, complicate IT outsourcing considerations for businesses.  Continue Reading

• What data center Tier levels can and cannot tell you about uptime

  When it's time to go colo, it's important to know what level of facility uptime you need, as well as the data center operator's specific procedures.  Continue Reading

• The civilized way to use Linux kill signals to shut down processes

  When a process fails, go for the kill. You know how to start and stop Linux services, but what happens when you need to kill one?  Continue Reading

• New administrators' primer: Linux vi commands

  New Linux administrators will need to master a core cadre of vi (or vim) text editor commands. Start with the basics, then explore other vi commands.  Continue Reading

• How silicon photonics is helping to reshape servers and racks

  Optical interconnects turn server designs inside out. The use of silicon photonics will send optical signals on a long-distance journey without loss.  Continue Reading

• Mount Global File System 2, avoid corruption in RHEL High Availability

  You have a working cluster, now what? Red Hat's GFS2 will help you avoid file system corruption. Learn how to mount the default cluster file system.  Continue Reading

• Getting started with ITIL service management

  Promised cost savings, alignment with business, and operational efficiency are encouraging more organizations to take up ITIL service management.  Continue Reading

• Colocation services vs. cloud hosting -- which should you choose?

  Colocation facilities have a reputation as just a roof over your servers' head, so why move into colocation space when you could go straight to cloud?  Continue Reading

• SELinux commands you should know before giving up hope

  Rather than giving up on SELinux and allowing permissions you shouldn't, use these SELinux commands to troubleshoot problems.  Continue Reading

• New vendor options when buying a server

  Would you approach buying a server in the same way you buy a laptop? Open-source hardware is placing the spotlight on ODM server manufacturers.  Continue Reading

• Six steps to create a highly available Apache Web service

  When a Red Hat cluster goes into production, you can protect it by configuring a supported high-availability service. Here's how.  Continue Reading

• Basic Linux commands for new Linux server administrators

  To manage Linux servers, administrators need a set of basic commands to view and start processes, as well as utilities that make life a little easier.  Continue Reading

• Five best Linux applications for enterprises

  These five applications will improve the lives of enterprise IT and business management by increasing functionality and reducing costs.  Continue Reading

• RISC vs. CISC explained for data center systems

  The role of RISC processors in data center equipment is hotly debated, but new RISC designs are proving that it isn't just a CISC game.  Continue Reading

• Creating a quorum disk and fencing for Linux high availability nodes

  The quorum disk and fencing on a Linux high availability cluster let its nodes know when they are operational and shut them off if they are not.  Continue Reading

• Creating a reliable and fast SAN network design with iSCSI

  There are three tenets of designing an iSCSI network correctly. Proper iSCSI deployment yields affordable and reliable network access for the SAN.  Continue Reading

• Which IT infrastructure strategy is best for your company?

  Each IT infrastructure strategy has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choosing one model is confusing. And none can succeed without good tools.  Continue Reading