Tips

Tips

• The CICS transaction gateway server basics and tuning

  This tip will cover some CTG server basics including a few breadcrumbs about tuning and problem determination.  Continue Reading

• Testing a new Linux kernel while keeping the old one

  This article describes how you can test out the most recent kernel release safely by creating a dual-boot system with two Linux kernels.  Continue Reading

• Migrating applications from Linux/Unix to Windows (or vice versa)

  If you're planning a Win-to-Lin migration, it's important to consider how factors like platform-specific and -independent apps and source-ported apps will affect your future.  Continue Reading

• Top ten considerations for data center SLAs

  Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are a hot topic in any organization. Many organizations are rolling out SLAs in an attempt to match IT infrastructure availability with the business objectives of the organization.  Continue Reading

• Mainframe virtualization: Old friends are often best

  Mainframe virtualization is more attractive than ever, according to Big Iron guru Wayne Kernochan.  Continue Reading

• Installing and running Linux on IBM p5 systems

  Mixing Linux with p5 architecture can help your IT shop reap rewards in support, gain the capacity to run on a 32-way system and more.  Continue Reading

• Managing multiple desktops in KDE

  Ever felt like you had a million applications open at once and no way to easily juggle them? Virtual desktops are the answer! In this tip, Mike McCallister explains how to use virtual desktops with KDE.  Continue Reading

• Running PostgreSQL in a cross-platform environment

  PostgreSQL is a great open source database management tool that's compatible across platforms. This article by Robert Treat explains how PostgreSQL facilitates cross-platform development and points out various tools within PostgreSQL that help ...  Continue Reading

• YaST: Setting up a local SUSE Linux update server

  Find out how Novell's SUSE Linux YaST utility can set up your client and server machines to collect updates as well as acting as the installation source for your desktops.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 data center operating procedures

  Every data center needs to define its policies, procedures, and operational processes.  Continue Reading

• The mystery of the missing mail merge

  Seeking a simpler mail merge solution for OpenOffice 2.0? This tip guides you through selecting your starting document, data source and the fields to insert.  Continue Reading

• Deploying Linux: Should you pre-compile binaries or roll your own?

  The completion of precompiled packages and maximizing machine performance are two powerful incentives for Windows admins to use Linux and compile an OSS package.  Continue Reading

• Quick guide: Knoppix, other tools that ease Windows-to-Linux PC moves

  Get insights on software and resources for assessing the fitness of a specific hardware configuration before you commit to doing away with Windows in favor of Linux.  Continue Reading

• How-to: Working wonders with OpenOffice 2.0's Web Wizard

  The OpenOffice 2.0 Web Wizard wowed this reviewer. Find out how to use it to open a whole new world of Web publishing without having to mess with DreamWeaver.  Continue Reading

• Using DFH$MOLS with CMF performance records

  For every transaction run on your system you can also see, among other things, CICS Monitoring Facility (CMF) performance records are very comprehensive and detailed. The transactions can show how much CPU it consumed under each TCB, how long it ...  Continue Reading

• Step-by-step how-to, part one: OpenOffice 2.0's new mail merge tools

  OpenOffice 2.0's vastly improved Mail Merge Wizard 2.0 has the chops, and it's pretty cool, says OpenOffice expert Solveig Haugland. Find out how to use it in this step-by-step tour.  Continue Reading

• How to get reports on OpenOffice 2.0 Base, part one

  Learn how to use OpenOffice's 2.0 Base tool create a simple report and modify the report layout to your own taste and specifications.  Continue Reading

• Connecting to existing databases in OpenOffice.org 2.0

  In OpenOffice 2.0, how do you link to the perfectly good data you've got lying around? Here's how to do it, even if your data is living in Access, and it's not that hard.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 things to review when developing a hardware scalability plan

  Developing a plan for scalability for an application is based on many complex variables and requires a detailed analysis of the applications, operating systems, and hardware platforms to be used. Here are the top 10 items to include in your ...  Continue Reading

• Managing Samba-3.0.21: The pdbedit utility, part 1

  If you're migrating from Windows to Linux, or remotely managing Samba-3, knowing how to prepare and use Samba-3 PDC is a must.  Continue Reading

• Managing Samba-3.0.21: The pdbedit utility, part 2

  The pdbedit tool in Samba-3 is the only one that can manage account security and policy settings important to businesses that must comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. If you're migrating from Windows to Linux, or remotely managing Samba-3, ...  Continue Reading

• Managing Samba: Configuration for remote management, part 1

  Find out how Samba-3's configuration tools help IT admins create transparency between Windows clients and Linux servers in this tip by Samba team co-founder John H. Terpstra.  Continue Reading

• OpenOffice 2.0 tips: Creating database forms

  OpenOffice expert Solveig Haugland explains table relations and how to create a data entry form linking separate tables.  Continue Reading

• Rootkit levels of infection and mitigation

  PaX team developers Ed Tittel and Justin Korelc describe St. Jude and St. Michael intrusion detection systems as coutermeasures against hackers' exploitive use of rootkit.  Continue Reading

• OpenOffice tip: Everything about envelopes

  OpenOffice expert Solveig Haugland walks users through the printing, formatting, and design processes for making a custom envelope.  Continue Reading

• Managing Samba-3: User rights and privileges

  Samba expert John Terpstra explains how to manage the Samba-3 equivalents of administrative security controls in the Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.  Continue Reading

• Assuring your third-party data center is secure

  The costs are generally lower and the bandwidth abundant, but are third party data centers secure enough to protect your data?  Continue Reading

• Windows-to-Linux desktop migration tips: Why to switch, how to plan

  Versora CTO Jon Walker provides the why and how of migration from Windows to Linux. Why, in a nutshell: Better technology.  Continue Reading

• Connecting Excel to Linux databases

  A major interoperability challenge for Linux users is transferring data from Microsoft Excel spreadsheets into Linux databases. In this tip, Ken Milberg presents some ways to overcome the challenge using various open source and third-party products.  Continue Reading

• Database tip: Understanding joins and set theory

  Sybase expert Mich Talebzadeh provides an excerpt from his book explaining set theory and different types of joins.  Continue Reading

• Learning Linux security administration

  Learning Linux, especially Linux security administration, can seem particularly tricky for those only well-versed in Windows. Here, security expert James Turnbull offers some pointers for getting up to speed.  Continue Reading

• Database tip: All about subqueries

  A continuation of Mich's response to a user's question about different types of joins.  Continue Reading

• Configure your RHEL4 network

  Learn how to use Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 commands and utilities to configure your network from a GUI or command line.  Continue Reading

• System panic: Get a serial console log

  How to create a serial console log of a system panic.  Continue Reading

• Rsync and Amanda: Keeping your data safe with open source backup

  Rsync and Amanda are two straightforward open source products that can simplify your backup procedure.  Continue Reading

• Knoppix Hacks: Use Knoppix to rescue Windows

  In "Knoppix Hacks," author Kyle Rankin explains how the Knoppix CD can be used as an indispensable, multi-purpose tool for administrators. One of the many things Knoppix can accomplish is rescuing Windows. In this e-mail exchange, Rankin provides ...  Continue Reading

• Minimize outsourcing risks: Best practices in security

  Offshore outsourcing can cut costs, but if you fail to analyze a vendor's certifications, methodologies and security procedures, it'll cost you more than money in the long run.  Continue Reading

• Excavating ancient abbreviations in Linux

  Courtesy of Unix developers' creativity, Linux contains a legacy of bizarre terms with a history all their own.  Continue Reading

• Samba-3: Windows file and directory ACLs

  Discover the parallels between files and directories in Windows and Unix and challenges to transparent interoperability. This tip proposes solutions to common problems using Samba.  Continue Reading

• Consolidation and virtualization: The same, but different

  While they're similar, these two approaches are also fundamentally different. Managers need to explore how to use both if they want to end server sprawl.  Continue Reading

• UPS management checklist

  UPS management checklist: Business continuity efforts will end in a fizzle if your power fails. Here are ten ways to make sure your data center is always plugged in.  Continue Reading

• Sequence number differences between Oracle and MySQL

  Nigel McFarlane points out some essential differences between Oracle and MySQL sequence numbers.  Continue Reading

• A date with CICS

  Putting a CICS application together and you need date and time information? Try the ASKTIME and FORMATTIME commands. This tip explores how they are used.  Continue Reading

• Solaris-to-Linux porting, part two

  In part two of his series on migrating from Solaris to Linux, Ken Milberg shares his favorite porting methods.  Continue Reading

• Fast Guide to Fibre Channel basics

  This Fast Guide to Fibre Channel basics has everything you need to get up-to-speed on the speediest (not to mention one of the most expensive) of the storage interconnects.  Continue Reading

• Comparing Windows and Linux: Systematic file storage

  The architecture of Windows and Linux file systems is similar in some points, but diverges greatly when tools are considered. Here's a quick comparison.  Continue Reading

• Keep an eye on Linux processes with ps

  Use this simple command-line tool to check out what's running on your Linux server.  Continue Reading

• How to keep an eye on Linux performance

  Need to monitor Linux performance without purchasing a pricey diagnostic package? Try these simple, built-in command line tools.  Continue Reading

• Netstat: A small but powerful tool for administrators

  Learn how to check for network spies using the netstat command.  Continue Reading

• Get the full command line argument of any running process with bash

  Get the full commandline arguments of any running process with this tip.  Continue Reading