Tips

Tips

• Try a hyper-converged infrastructure setup alongside servers

  Introducing a hyper-converged infrastructure setup in your data center doesn't have to be an all-in endeavor.  Continue Reading

• Today's top IT skills extend far beyond the data center

  Microservices, virtualization, cloud, and other shifts in IT mean traditional deep technical skills are fading from importance. Broad expertise and communication are now the top IT skills.  Continue Reading

• Two key aspects to consolidating data centers after an acquisition

  When consolidating data centers after a corporate merger, scrutinize custom software applications and security. You may improve IT operations.  Continue Reading

• Data center humidity recommendation falls dramatically

  An ASHRAE study's conclusions are disproving the conventional wisdom around data centers' relative humidity levels.  Continue Reading

• Essential Linux server software for enterprises

  Businesses can deploy a mix of Linux server software offerings to take advantage of the cost and flexibility benefits of open source.  Continue Reading

• Adopt this battle-tested IT implementation plan

  New business initiatives live or die by the quality of their IT implementation plan. Experienced IT teams share their methodology.  Continue Reading

• Are you stuck in a legacy data center state of mind?

  Legacy data centers with proprietary code and outdated business practices are familiar, labyrinthine and difficult to leave behind.  Continue Reading

• Automated infrastructure management untangles cabling

  Cable management typically requires cumbersome manual approaches. As the pace of data center operations accelerates, automation must infiltrate the cable infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Linux mount command reveals storage device access path

  New Linux server administrators will find mounting storage devices very different than they have seen on Windows servers.  Continue Reading

• SUSE makes Btrfs stable, flexible SLES file system of choice

  Btrfs proves a viable and more flexible file system for production Linux servers, with proper configuration and setup.  Continue Reading

• IT benchmarking incorporates more than server performance

  While a server performance test is a key IT benchmarking metric, it coexists with prices and the target workloads to yield a true IT performance benchmark.  Continue Reading

• Managing shadow IT risk to the business

  With more users turning to external IT platforms to meet business needs, IT professionals must take steps to start managing shadow IT.  Continue Reading

• A cloud migration plan for conservative data centers

  Enterprises migrating to the cloud prefer a slow and considered approach that protects sensitive data and ensures performance levels.  Continue Reading

• Shape mobility plans with the COBIT 5 framework

  The COBIT 5 framework helps IT organizations bring online new enterprise platforms like mobility without compromising data security and control.  Continue Reading

• Network bottleneck looms when data center storage improves

  The high-IOPS, low-latency potential of SSDs moves bottlenecks to the network. SDN offers provisioning adjustments to avoid any slowdown in the data center.  Continue Reading

• Is IT service continuity only for the rich?

  Technologies like cloud and virtualization mean IT service continuity no longer requires an extra data center or two.  Continue Reading

• External penetration testing still critical in cloud

  By moving to the cloud, a business can offload some responsibility for lost or stolen data, but external penetration testing in the data center remains critical.  Continue Reading

• Get the best mix of servers and storage in the data center

  A fleet of servers is only as good as its connected storage. The right storage design for your data center depends on cost, simplicity and performance requirements.  Continue Reading

• Compare HCI from SimpliVity vs. Nutanix vs. VMware

  Before you buy SimpliVity, Nutanix or VMware's EVO:RAIL hyper-converged infrastructure, learn what resources and scalability each line offers.  Continue Reading

• Expect big changes from Red Hat Satellite 6

  Red Hat overhauled its Satellite server management tool in version 6, which means a lot more functionality and features but a complex adjustment period for server admins.  Continue Reading

• Software testing techniques to address distributed databases

  Data that lives across multiple IT infrastructures makes software testing difficult. New technologies in virtualization offer some relief.  Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• How to buy a server

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

• 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

• 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

• 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