Tips

Tips

• PostgreSQL or MySQL: Which is faster?

  There isn't always a clear-cut answer in the race between dueling databases, PostgreSQL and MySQL, says an expert. Find out his thoughts and how the two compare.  Continue Reading

• Cable remediation in the data center

  Cable remediation in the data center is a viable strategy for ameliorating inefficiencies caused by years of data center server add ons, moves and changes.  Continue Reading

• Unix-Linux printing

  Interoperability is easier than separating systems your systems and isn't something you should be afraid of, says one expert. Find out how to set up printing between Unix and Linux using Linux's LPR utility and Unix's SMIT in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Mainframe capacity planning: More than MIPS

  Capacity planning is a well understood, strategic exercise. But data center managers need to consider strategic versus tactical performance planning to keep high-priority workloads running without problems.  Continue Reading

• Linux clusters vs. grids

  Can Linux clusters outperform grid computing? Expert Ken Milberg compares them -- covering Beowulf, HPC, Linux Virtual Server and the Globus Toolkit for grids -- and chooses a winner.  Continue Reading

• Bastille Linux: Introduction and installation

  Bastille Linux is an automated security tool, ideal for cross-platform environments. Get started here with an introduction and instructions for installation.  Continue Reading

• Data center consolidation, virtualization: Ultra-dense server deployments

  Combining blade server, virtualization and SAN technologies in the data center leads to ultra-dense server deployments, which can save on hardware costs and power.  Continue Reading

• Printer sharing between Windows and Linux

  Figure out how to connect your Windows machines to a shared printer as a network device from your Linux box in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Is there a mainframe skills shortage?

  As baby-boomer IT professionals retire over the next five to seven years, mainframe shops are going to have great difficulty managing their mainframe environments. But how serious is the mainframe skills shortage?  Continue Reading

• CICS program list tables: PLTPI and PLTSD programs

  CICS expert Robert Crawford describes the two types of program list tables (PLT)  Continue Reading

• Managing high-volume CPU processes with Bash

  Learn how to use and modify a simple Bash script to alert you when CPU processes reach abnormally high levels.  Continue Reading

• SUSE Linux administration: How to set up a cluster file system

  Setting up OCFS2 as a shared file system in a cluster environment helps when multiple nodes have to write to the same file system concurrently. Learn how to do it with SLES10.  Continue Reading

• Mainframe Linux vs. Unix

  Discover how Linux on the mainframe -- in this case, the IBM System z Server -- compares with Unix, in terms of its availability, features and performance.  Continue Reading

• Linux/Unix commands: How to get copy, conversion power with dd

  Learn how to use dd, a Linux command for handling convert-and-copy tasks. An expert shows how to clone your hard drive, create a backup of your Master Backup Record and increase your swap space.  Continue Reading

• Easing SUSE Server administration from the command line

  Sander van Vugt, author of "The Definitive Guide to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server" expands upon the uses of SUID and SGID, how to make device sharing easier and ways to manage files that live in more than one place.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise redundancy using VRRP

  Get started using Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), a standard used in enterprise environments where routing redundancy is necessary for host stations. VRRP can provide additional availability to help reduce router failure on your Linux ...  Continue Reading

• RHEL4 administration tools: ifconfig, arp, tcpdump and iptraf

  Master network integration in your existing RHEL4 infrastructure with the use of command-line tools like ifconfig, arp, tcpdump and iptraf.  Continue Reading

• CICS trace: Getting started, formatting and externalizing

  CICS expert Robert Crawford describes the handy CICS trace tool and gives code for externalizing its output.  Continue Reading

• Managing events with Nagios Event Broker

  Use modules with Nagios Event Broker, a server event output and integration tool, for receiving events and executing code on them. In this tip, you'll learn how NEB functions, what modules are available and how to find other modules.  Continue Reading

• Data center cooling strategies: Overheating server prevention

  Five strategies from Syska Hennessy data center cooling experts, Christopher Johnston and Vali Sorell, for preventing servers from overheating.  Continue Reading

• Running Windows as a VM on Linux with VMware Server

  If you don't want to spend money on an expensive Citrix setup for running Windows and Linux, then try running Windows as a virtual machine (VM) on Linux with VMware Server.  Continue Reading

• Migrating Microsoft Internet Information Server to Apache on Red Hat Linux

  If you're moving to Apache server from Microsoft Internet Information Server, be aware that this migration involves more than just copying files. In this tip, users will learn how to move a site from IIS to Apache on Red Hat, although this is ...  Continue Reading

• How to determine data center cabling requirements

  What is the best choice for data center cabling? With many data center cabling standards now defined, the choices are clearer.  Continue Reading

• Calculating costs of data center cabling infrastructure

  In part two of our series on data center cabling decisions, data center infrastructure expert Carrie Higbie offers a cost calculator for determining TCO on a cabling project.  Continue Reading

• OpenOffice Base: Converting data and files from Access

  Consider switching to OpenOffice's Base, an open source alternative to proprietary Microsoft Access. In this tip, an expert tells how to convert Access files to Base and discusses some helpful hints for working with Base.  Continue Reading

• Securing GRUB on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  Keep your Red Hat server safe from attackers by securing your GRUB boot loader with a password that will prevent unauthorized access to your hosts after a reboot.  Continue Reading

• Nagios: Balancing passive and active checks

  The author of "Network monitoring with Nagios" suggests a workaround for balancing active and passive checks and explains the impact of service failures.  Continue Reading

• Defining event rules in Simple Event Correlation

  Simple Event Correlation is an open source tool designed for reading incoming data feeds and performing actions based on user-defined rules. In this tip, we'll learn about defining different types of rules associated with events and correlation.  Continue Reading

• Simple Event Correlation installation and configuration

  Simple Event Correlation is an open source tool designed for reading incoming data feeds and performing actions based on user-defined rules. Learn how to install and configure this small- to medium-sized enterprise appropriate tool.  Continue Reading

• Triggers and mutating table errors in MySQL

  Discover what can trigger mutating table errors MySQL and learn about the differences between statement and row triggers.  Continue Reading

• Combining OpenOffice.org text documents using master files

  Using OpenOffice's master documents function allows you to make page numbering consecutive and generate a table of contents. Simplify your document dealings with this tip.  Continue Reading

• Using the data pilot: OpenOffice.org Calc's answer to pivot tables

  The data pilot, the OpenOffice equivalent to Excel pivot tables, is a useful feature that lets you apply functions and slice and dice data to see different parts of it in different ways. An expert demonstrates the basics of the data pilot, two ...  Continue Reading

• Unix to Linux: Migration steps and porting

  Initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing must be considered when migrating from Unix to Linux. In this tip, an expert describes the issues involved in each of these phases and then discusses technical implementation.  Continue Reading

• Exporting data from an OpenOffice.org Base database

  There is no clear-cut method for exporting data from OpenOffice 2.0's Base database, but you can learn how and get some handy shortcuts in this tip. In a snap, you'll get table data into a Writer document and turn it into a spreadsheet or delimited ...  Continue Reading

• Mainframe outsourcing trend beginning to reverse

  For the last 15 years, the overall trend in IT has been towards outsourcing – but that trend is apparently beginning to reverse.  Continue Reading

• Migrating Active Directory into Linux: Many roads to Rome

  Although Windows and Linux can provide similar functionality, you won't find one-to-one matching features when you are migrating an Active Directory repository to Linux. In this tip, an expert describes two methods for migrating user information ...  Continue Reading

• Planning your server environment

  In this excerpt from TechTarget's upcoming book, "Servers and Storage," two experts discuss the support necessary for applications and clients, as well as financial implications when choosing between Windows and Linux/Unix.  Continue Reading

• OSSEC: The server and agent model

  Get the benefit of regular alerts and status reports from configuring open source IDS/IPS OSSEC to run as a server and agent model.  Continue Reading

• Sybase ASE: Performance benefits of DPL and DRL

  Take advantage of data page locking (DPL) and data row locking (DRL), two categories of data only locked (DOL) tables in Sybase ASE. These functions offer improved table scans, decreased logical I/O consumption and more.  Continue Reading

• Linux on 64-bit blades: Choosing the right servers and distributions

  Mix Linux and 64-bit blades well, and you'll get super performance, stability and flexibility, says consultant Patrick Green. Here, he offers tips on how to avoid compatibility mishaps.  Continue Reading

• Host intrusion detection with OSSEC

  Keep your corporate network secure with open source OSSEC, an intrusion detection and prevention services tool that provides host agent and file integrity agent capabilities on Windows and Linux. In this tip, a security expert provides a walkthrough...  Continue Reading

• PostgreSQL vs. SQL Server, Oracle: Enterprise-ready and able to compete

  Why pay licensing costs and maintenance fees for proprietary databases when you can get open source RDBMS PostgreSQL for free? Discover the drawbacks and advantages to using PostgreSQL over Oracle or SQL Server.  Continue Reading

• Bringing data into OpenOffice 2.0's database

  Getting data into OpenOffice Base isn't an intuitive process, but it is an easy one, says expert Solveig Haugland. Learn how to format data for Base, create a database for that data and bring it into Base.  Continue Reading

• Assessing criticality levels in the data center

  Not all downtime has the same impact on business performance. Facilities experts Jerry Burkhardt and Richard W. Dennis provide a model on how to assess the Criticality Levels of your data center.  Continue Reading

• Account locking for Linux via PAM

  Discover how to configure account blocking on a Red Hat host with PAM and prevent a potential denial-of-service attack caused by repeated locking of user accounts.  Continue Reading

• Seven tips for optimizing shell script security

  Inherent weaknesses, a complex syntax and the general lack of consideration for security make writing secure shell scripts difficult. This tip focuses on major issues in shell script security across multiple shells.  Continue Reading

• Does the mainframe play a role in grid computing?

  A grid computing effort that includes the mainframe can focus on improving grid robustness and introducing mission-critical applications to the grid.  Continue Reading

• Sybase: Views vs. stored procedures

  Sybase expert Mich Talebzadeh describes the similarities between views and stored procedures that can lead to differences in the speed of compilation.  Continue Reading

• Enlarging your Sybase database

  In this tip, Dr. Talebzadeh gives helpful examples of removing unwanted transactions and code for boosting your master database capacity.  Continue Reading

• CICS command security

  I'm running z/OS 1.4 and CICS TS 2.2 for CICS. Is there any way to monitor who used CEMT and command (SET,Perform) in CICS?  Continue Reading

• Sybase ASE on Linux: Getting rid of database deadlocks

  Avoid hot spots and heap tables in Sybase ASE, says Sybase expert Mich Talebzadeh. Find out more solutions for detonating your database deadlocks in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Sybase vs. Oracle: 10 reasons to use Sybase on Linux

  Despite its fall from market leadership, Sybase is still a strong enterprise offering, says database consultant Dr. Mich Talebzadeh. In this tip, he gives 10 reasons why Sybase on Linux bests other databases, particularly Oracle.  Continue Reading

• Linux sendfile and Apache servers: How an underused feature can offset overused resources

  The sendfile() system call is an underused tool that can bring surprising performance benefits for an Apache server handling large payload data transfers among multiple clients.  Continue Reading

• Using ASHRAE specs for data center metrics

  Measure proper temperature and humidity using Ashrae's Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments.  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

• 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

• 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

• What's the best way to install a wall vapor barrier?

  We have a 5,000 square foot computer room in the interior of a 40,000 square foot office, which is one floor of multi-story building. The computer room wall is 2HR rated with noise batts.  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

• Best practices: A guide to cable management

  What you will learn from this tip: This tip can help you maximize uptime by limiting bandwidth, distance, latency and congestion issues in your cable plant.  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Vulnerability scanning with Nessus: How to run a system scan

  In the second tip in our series on running Nessus in the enterprise, our contributor takes you step-by-step through the process of running a system scan. View screenshots of the Nessus interface and learn commands for the Unix Nessus GUI.  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 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-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: 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

• DB2's DATE data type

  This article describes how IBM implemented the DATE data type for DB2.  Continue Reading

• Basic DB2 buffering and memory guidelines

  A high-level trip through DB2's memory structures.  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

• Linux virtual address randomization and impacting buffer overflows

  PaX team developers Ed Tittel and Justin Korelc explain how to stop buffer flow exploitation leaks and bolster security with Linux virtual address randomization.  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

• Most important precautions when upgrading COBOL and CICS

  Are you missing the most important precautions when upgrading COBOL and CICS? Search390.com experts Jim Schesvold and Tom Ross will outline the necessary steps to ensure your upgrade goes smoothly.  Continue Reading

• Managing Samba: Windows network identity basics

  Linux administrators keen to manage Samba well should be just as keen on learning the basics of Windows network identity, says Samba team co-founder John H. Terpstra. Understanding Windows networking identity basics can make Samba management a lot ...  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Netfilter and iptables: Understanding how they harden Linux

  Linux firewalls are often more secure than Windows firewalls because of the way they're implemented, according to James Turnbull, author of Hardening Linux. In this tip, he breaks down major components of Linux firewalls -- Netfilter and ...  Continue Reading

• How-to: Integrating Kerio MailServer on Linux with MS Active Directory

  This is a guide to integrating version 6.1 of the Kerio MailServer, which runs on Linux, with Microsoft Active Directory. Kerio MailServer 6.1, released July 18, is being demonstrated at LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in San Francisco this week.  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