Features

Features

• Will we ever need 400 Gigabit Ethernet enterprise networks?

  With 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet so new, what could possibly drive the need for 400 Gigabit Ethernet in the enterprise? Hint: It’s not just the WAN.  Continue Reading

• Backend as a Service players, users and trends

  Today, Backend as a Service (BaaS) vendors vie with alternatives for mobile apps that must deftly integrate back and front ends.  Continue Reading

• Experts weigh in on Platform as a Service adoption

  Amid claims that PaaS adoption will take off in the coming year, our cloud experts weighed in on its pros and cons -- and what the future will hold.  Continue Reading

• The storage-for-VDI equation: Capacity, IOPS, TCO, ROI and persistency

  A virtual desktop project can bring savings and efficiency to IT operations, but storage for VDI is a complex issue, and the wrong choices can hobble the project.  Continue Reading

• Protecting petabytes: Best practices for big data backup

  How do you protect the massive data sets? Learn the best practices and products used for big data backup disaster recovery.  Continue Reading

• Public vs. private cloud applications: Two critical differences

  Private cloud applications are similar to public cloud applications, but there are a few key considerations, experts warn.  Continue Reading

• Define SSD: Top terms you need to know

  How do you define SSD? Check out this list of important SSD terms. The list includes terms you should know and some that may seem obscure.  Continue Reading

• Five data protection guidelines for business continuity

  Storage expert Jon Toigo offers data protection guidelines to help storage admins achieve the best possible results when protecting data in their care.  Continue Reading

• API learning guide

  The expansion of Web services, mobile, cloud and SaaS platforms has altered the realm of APIs. This guide offers the latest in API developments.  Continue Reading

• Choose an integrated stack for efficiency, easy storage implementation

  An integrated stack bundles servers, storage and networking in a preconfigured product and is easy to install and manage.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Exchange Online explained

  With all the chatter around hosted services these days, it pays to know about Exchange Online. Get a handle on its benefits and drawbacks.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise storage trends: SSDs, capacity optimization, auto tiering

  Several enterprise storage trends are emerging at big and small storage vendors. Find out why certain technologies are trending and what they can do for your storage environment.  Continue Reading

• Hospital system addresses IBM SVC performance, stability problems with alternative configuration

  Spectrum Health breaks up IBM SVC eight-node cluster, taking uncommon tiered approach to improve stability and performance of storage virtualization system.  Continue Reading

• Case studies show the benefits of virtualization

  These case studies demonstrate how businesses have deployed virtual machines to improve efficiency and add computing power, while also saving money.  Continue Reading

• The SharePoint content repository: It's just a database

  SharePoint's lifeline is the content repository, where all the content is housed. Learn how the database works as well as its challenges.  Continue Reading

• Piecing together VMware's cloud strategy

  Can VMware's lead in server virtualization translate to cloud supremacy? A bevy of challengers will make VMware's goal of bringing cloud to the enterprise a difficult one.  Continue Reading

• Auto-tiering software set to boost adoption of SSDs

  Discover why auto tiering could make expensive SSDs a more viable option, and about improvements to sub-LUN auto tiering and available auto-tiering options.  Continue Reading

• Sub-LUN tiering: Five key questions to consider

  IT shops must consider five areas before adopting sub-LUN tiering as offerings vary in number of tiers, block size, analysis period, policies and monitoring  Continue Reading

• Top 10 cloud computing providers of 2011

  Which cloud computing provider leads the pack? This top 10 list takes all the big names and ranks their impact on the cloud world.  Continue Reading

• Comparing four cloud computing strategies

  It's important for prospective cloud adopters to know what the key vendors are planning. Our expert explains what to expect from four different offerings.  Continue Reading

• NetGear ReadyNAS review: A look at the ReadyNAS 2100

  This NetGear ReadyNAS review takes an in-depth look at the ReadyNAS 2100. Learn about the ReadyNAS 2100 features, setup and configurations to determine if it's right for your environment.  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) implementation case studies

  Learn how three firms tackled management issues in a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) implementation; case studies detail potential turf wars, restructuring.  Continue Reading

• RAID level comparison chart: A free download

  Download our free RAID level comparison chart, where the most important RAID levels are defined, along with information about the pros and cons of each RAID level.  Continue Reading

• Ten cool iPhone apps for Windows admins

  Are you an admin on the go? Check out some of the best iPhone apps available for Windows server and network management.  Continue Reading

• How RAID storage systems protect your application data

  RAID storage systems improve application performance and data availability. Learn about RAID levels and choosing the right RAID technology.  Continue Reading

• Refresh, Recompose and Rebalance - VMware View: Chapter 10

  Mike Laverick explains the VMware concepts of Refresh, Recompose and Rebalance as the three main tasks that may need to be carried out on your linked clones.  Continue Reading

• Implementing an electronic records retention system

  Learn the components of an electronic records retention system and best practices for implementing an electronic data discovery policy. Don't risk e-discovery request errors.  Continue Reading

• 10 Gigabit Ethernet for iSCSI storage, NAS storage still hinges on cost

  While 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) offers greater bandwidth for iSCSI storage or NAS storage, IT shops still have to justify upgrade costs with their needs.  Continue Reading

• Virtual appliances and the OVF format: The new software packaging

  Thanks to the Open Virtualization Format, virtual appliances are the new way to deliver software -- say goodbye to boxes and CDs.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for reusing data backup tapes

  W. Curtis Preston answers common questions about reusing backup tapes in this Q&A.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing resources center

  Cloud standards organizations, open source cloud projects, cloud computing and social media and more, all explained in this compendium of cloud resources.  Continue Reading

• LTO tape technology continues to evolve with LTO 5

  W. Curtis Preston, TechTarget executive editor and independent backup expert, outlines how LTO tape differs from other tape media, discusses the various generations of LTO tape, and the pros and cons of LTO in this Q&A.  Continue Reading

• Recovering an Active Directory root domain in a multiple domain forest

  Imagine your entire forest root domain failed. What would you do? This case study explores the steps taken in such a situation.  Continue Reading

• Archiving storage vs. data backup storage: The dos and don'ts of using backups and data archives

  Learn the differences between data backup software and data archiving tools and the dos and don'ts associated with each in this FAQ with Curtis Preston.  Continue Reading

• Avaya-Nortel acquisition: Infamous end; questionable beginning

  The Avaya-Nortel acquisition was one of the more notable top networking stories of 2009, marking the end of a legacy player and a questionable beginning for Avaya as it struggles with whether to integrate the Nortel data networking portfolio.  Continue Reading

• Adaptation in project management through agile

  Project managers often focus on following the test plan versus agile leaders who expect change and are prepared to adapt on the fly, learn how to transition quicly in this chapter from Agile Project Management by Jim Highsmith  Continue Reading

• Forcing the removal of a Windows Server 2008 domain controller

  Need solutions for Microsoft Active Directory 2008? This excerpt from "Active Directory Domain Services 2008 How-To" explains how to force the removal of a Windows Server 2008 Domain Controller and how to perform a metadata cleanup.  Continue Reading

• Symantec Veritas NetBackup best practices: Using the maximum jobs per client setting

  This is the second in a multi-part series discussing Symantec Corp. Veritas NetBackup best practices to help you make the right choices for your data backup system.  Continue Reading

• Windows Distributed File System (DFS) Namespace primer

  This excerpt from "The Complete Guide to Windows Server 2008" goes over the basics of Distributed File System Namespace (DFSN). Learn the applications, components and mechanics of DFSN, as well as what's new with Windows Server 2008.  Continue Reading

• Quest Authentication Services

  Quest Authentication Services allows organizations to extend Active Directory (AD) to Unix, Linux and Mac platforms and enterprise applications. It enables the unification of identities and directories for simplified identity and access management.  Continue Reading

• How to solve abend code 4038

  A user faces the abnormal ending abend code 4038 in the process of migrating from VS COBOL runtimes to LE.  Continue Reading

• COBOL, VS-COBOL-II and MFCOBOL: What's the difference?

  The original COBOL compiler grew into greater addressability with VS- COBOL-II MFCOBOL and increased functionality in MFCOBOL.  Continue Reading

• Override a SYSIN DD DSN in the proc from the JCL?

  Override the SYSIN DD Domain Name Source (DNS) in proc using the Job Control Language (JCL) this code syntax.  Continue Reading

• ISCSI SAN FAQ

  ISCSI storage area networks (SANs) are frequently touted as a solution for small-midsized businesses (SMBs) moving to networked storage. But, why not just use Fibre Channel? Terri McClure, analyst with Enterprise Strategy Group, discusses the pros ...  Continue Reading

• Downloading and Installing Windows PowerShell

  In this excerpt from "Essential PowerShell" you'll learn the steps and procedures for downloading and installing Windows PowerShell. You'll also go over the process of taking WPS for a test run in interactive mode and script mode.  Continue Reading

• For an SMB, what are the advantages and disadvantages of an in-house email archiving system vs. a ho

  There are a lot of pros and cons for both at all business sizes. But SMBs tend to be more price and administration sensitive. In other words, if you are a company that has an annual IT budget from $10,000 to $100,000, you simply can not go out and ...  Continue Reading

• A guide to storage virtualization

  Few technologies are more confusing than storage virtualization. Without a guide to explain the different storage virtualization solutions, storage administrators who want to deploy this technology will be lost.  Continue Reading

• Database grooming for System Center Operations Manager 2007

  This excerpt from "System Center Operations Manager 2007 Unleashed" takes you through the process of grooming your operational, data warehouse and ACS databases in SCOM 2007  Continue Reading

• Host bus adapter (HBA) architecture explained

  HBAs are integral pieces of a SAN environment -- they connect the server to the SAN -- but few storage administrators know how to configure them.  Continue Reading

• Certification pros and cons: Readers speak out

  Some are strongly against certification, saying nothing can replace real-world experience, while others see it as one thing that can improve your odds for being hired or promoted.  Continue Reading

• Exchange Server and Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS)

  Learn to install, configure and secure Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) for Exchange Server email communications with these tips, tools, and tutorials.  Continue Reading

• How to get process information with Windows PowerShell

  In this column, Christa Anderson explains how to use Windows PowerShell's get-process cmdlet to retrieve information about the processes on your computer and how to kill the unnecessary ones.  Continue Reading

• Hacking for Dummies: Test your firewall rules

  Before someone else hacks your firewall, test your firewall rules during the self-hacking process to test your network's security. Learn about the tools involved in this excerpt from Chapter 9, "Network Infrastructure," from, Hacking for Dummies,...  Continue Reading

• LUN management at the heart of SAN configuration

  LUNs are the basic vehicle for delivering storage, but provisioning SAN storage isn't just a matter of creating LUNs or volumes; the SAN fabric itself must be configured so that disks and their LUNs are matched to the appropriate servers. Proper ...  Continue Reading

• Filtering output from Windows PowerShell

  With PowerShell, it's pretty simple to browse Windows Management Instrumentation classes without cheating by filtering the content -- all it takes is a new cmdlet and working with variables.  Continue Reading

• What are some of the best practices for managing the growth of unstructured data?

  It starts with corporate policies around data management ...  Continue Reading

• Do dual-corded servers connected to separate uninterruptible power supplies draw power from both?

  Dual-corded servers are intended to share the load from UPS systems for overload protection. But do they really work? Expert Robert Macfarlane discusses dual-corded equipment and why data center managers need to be careful when shopping for them.  Continue Reading

• What is the minimum ceiling height in a data center?

  Assessing appropriate ceiling height in the data center can be tricky. It depends on, obviously, how much space you have to work with and factors such as your fire suppression system and cabling. Expert Robert Macfarlane offers some advice.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between InfiniBand, SAS and iSCSI and where does each technology fit?

  InfiniBand is an interface; just like Fibre Channel (FC) or Ethernet. As an interface, InfiniBand carries different protocols...  Continue Reading

• Wi-Fi vulnerability assessment checklist

  Vulnerability assessments can help you find and fix WLAN weaknesses before attackers take advantage of them. But where do you start? What should you look for? Have you covered all the bases? This checklist will help to answer these questions.  Continue Reading

• Most popular viruses and hacking tools

  Here are 2004's most popular hacker tools, viruses, remote tools, adware, spyware, Trojans and worms.  Continue Reading