Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Microservices vs. SOA: Choose the right app architecture

  This primer explains the ins and outs of a microservices vs. SOA architecture: when and where to use either one, and how both are evolving, thanks to containers. Continue Reading

• How the Container Storage Interface can aid Kubernetes use

  Compared to in-tree plugins, the Container Storage Interface simplifies Kubernetes integration with storage devices, but thorough testing of CSI drivers is a must. Continue Reading

• Enterprises look to formalize WFH network architecture

  As work-from-home programs prove they're here to stay, enterprise network teams are assessing their network designs to ensure adequate support and performance for home offices. Continue Reading

• Dive into DigitalOcean Droplets and App Platform

  DigitalOcean vies with AWS, Azure and others by targeting developers and startups. See what it has to offer and how it competes with other VM instances and PaaS tools. Continue Reading

• How microservices and containers work, apart and together

  Microservices and containers are two methods that enable companies to more efficiently create and deliver applications. Here's how they work -- and when they're best used together. Continue Reading

• Microservices vs. APIs: How they differ and work together

  Enterprises still rely on monolithic systems, but apps increasingly require speed, scale and flexibility. Here's how microservices and APIs achieve that, separately and together.Continue Reading

• Low-code app platforms prove essential in times of crisis

  During the pandemic response, leading low-code platforms have been pressed into service to quickly deliver apps for testing, scheduling and prioritizing high-risk groups.Continue Reading

• Demand proliferates for low-code app development platforms

  ServiceNow's Gregg Aldana discusses the explosive demand for business apps, the pressures on enterprises to keep pace and the benefits low-code application platforms provide.Continue Reading

• BGP vs. OSPF: When to use each protocol

  BGP and OSPF are two of the most common routing protocols. While BGP excels with dynamic routing for large networks, OSPF offers more efficient path choice and convergence speed.Continue Reading

• Differences between Kubernetes Ingress vs. load balancer

  To manage Kubernetes cluster traffic, admins have a few choices. Compare Kubernetes Ingress vs. load balancers, as well as the NodePort and ClusterIP service types.Continue Reading

• Experts discuss stretched VLAN use cases, MEC and more

  In this networking blog roundup, experts give reasons to stretch VLANs, discuss benefits of deploying private MEC with 5G, and differentiate between junior and senior IT engineers.Continue Reading

• Advantages of low-code platforms: Speed, agility, collaboration

  ServiceNow's Gregg Aldana discusses the role of low-code platforms in speeding application development, easing the app developer shortage and creating hybrid development teams.Continue Reading

• Learn about ambient temperature sensors for data centers

  Ambient temperature sensors can help you keep track of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and airflow in your data center so you can avoid downtime.Continue Reading

• Should you migrate your on-premises app or go cloud-native?

  Learn how cloud-native application development differs from traditional architecture, as well as the benefits and challenges in making the switch.Continue Reading

• Ace the Google cloud engineer certification with this prep

  This quick 12-question quiz will help you assess exactly where you stand in your preparation to take the career-making Google Cloud certification exam.Continue Reading

• Explore the evolution of Intel and AMD server processors

  Intel and AMD server processors are used in a variety of systems, including converged and hyper-converged infrastructure. Explore the improvements in their technologies.Continue Reading

• Next-generation PCIe key to composable infrastructure progress

  High-performance computing and AI environments are just two strong uses for composable architecture. Explore benefits and drawbacks of PCIe in composable systems.Continue Reading

• Condensed Agile sprint timeline pros and cons

  Is a condensed Agile sprint possible for your dev team? Here's how to shave off some sprint time and what perils to look out for in a smaller Agile sprint window.Continue Reading

• A Red Hat Hyperconverged Infrastructure deep dive

  Hyper-converged infrastructure is a popular platform for compute, storage and networking. So where does Red Hat fit in with its variety of HCI offerings?Continue Reading

• Increase vSphere security with VMware Carbon Black products

  To successfully install and setup VMware Carbon Black, you must have at least vSphere 6.7U1 and VMware Tools' CBHelper and CBLauncher for successful deployment.Continue Reading

• Boost array performance with Optane-ready products

  Explore a group of Optane-ready products to improve storage performance. In addition, there are other options beyond self-managed hardware for the same purpose.Continue Reading

• Quiz yourself on the latest IT trends from 2021 so far

  From a string of acquisitions to companies embracing DevSecOps, 2021's news cycle hasn't slowed down. Do you know the top stories? Find out with this quiz.Continue Reading

• Work around NVMe storage controller drive limitations

  Innovation in the storage and memory market helps with the challenge of NVMe drive limits. Be sure to make the right comparisons and scale out effectively.Continue Reading

• Compare ARM templates vs. Terraform for infrastructure as code

  ARM templates and Terraform are popular infrastructure-as-code options. Check out an Ubuntu Server VM example in each approach and learn the pros and cons of these tools.Continue Reading

• Explore storage orchestration services, benefits, challenges

  Orchestration and automation can aid storage management. Here, dive into technical details of orchestration, including containers and Kubernetes, and how it can help.Continue Reading

• Will DevOps spell the death of the CMDB?

  While CMDBs still have value, they no longer dominate IT management. See what CMDB integration options remain and why IT admins should look beyond the repository software.Continue Reading

• Sole Black VMware principal engineer aims to diversify tech

  VMware's only Black principal engineer talks about his rise in the cloud-native world, how to bring in a new generation of minorities and the future of technology.Continue Reading

• 3 best practices for network observability

  Research shows a correlation with NetOps success and network observability. Following best practices of network observability can facilitate this success.Continue Reading

• Static vs. dynamic typing: The details and differences

  What are the key differences between static typing and dynamic typing, and what role do their differences play in the decision to use one programming language over another?Continue Reading

• Evaluate 3 application performance monitoring strategies

  There is more than one approach to performance monitoring, and each comes with its own advantages. Compare these three strategies to find the right fit for your organization.Continue Reading

• Benefits and drawbacks of AI in cloud computing

  AI and cloud computing work hand in hand to improve upon various processes, but the combination of these technologies comes with a price.Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of Palo Alto Networks' SASE platform

  Palo Alto Networks is commonly mentioned in SASE discussions. While the vendor has strong security capabilities, it also brings integration complexities and PoP limitations.Continue Reading

• Don't limit observability to 3 pillars

  Logs, metrics and tracing are the pillars of observability but fall short in system health comprehension. Learn why data source tracking gives better insight into your environment.Continue Reading

• Evaluate edge computing software for device management

  Managing a variety of devices at the edge can create a complex challenge for organizations, but software-based edge management platforms can help.Continue Reading

• Understand the pros and cons of VMware DRaaS architecture

  Before you implement any cloud DR service, you should first understand its architectural nuances to ensure the product fits your migration and DR needs.Continue Reading

• Hardening sprint: Scrum anti-pattern or necessity?

  Are hardening sprints a burdensome necessity or a Scrum anti-pattern? Let's explore how to make these iterations less exacting and how Agile organizations can avoid them altogether.Continue Reading

• 5 ways SDDCs, virtualization management change business ops

  The use of software-defined data centers alters business buying criteria, removes traditional IT team silos and requires organizational investment in admin skill sets.Continue Reading

• Is integration platform as a service right for you?

  Is iPaaS a helpful platform for your enterprise software integration needs or just an unnecessary tool that adds complexity to the environment?Continue Reading

• Event-driven vs. message-driven: It comes down to complexity

  While the goal doesn't change, how do message-driven and event-driven design approaches really differ? More importantly, how do you choose the right approach?Continue Reading

• How to pick the best network security service provider

  Managed security service providers have different levels of expertise. Be sure to match your organization's security needs with the right network security provider.Continue Reading

• Experts say Open RAN deployment is on the rise

  Networking experts examined Open RAN revenue surges as the industry shifts toward the open model. Meanwhile, enterprises should consider the long-term benefits of switching vendors.Continue Reading

• Should IT organizations use a SaaS management platform?

  The proliferation of SaaS has created a real challenge for IT teams trying to get a handle on all their apps. See why a SaaS management platform might be the right fix.Continue Reading

• Review these top enterprise iPaaS benefits and challenges

  Have you considered using an iPaaS to integrate your various apps? Understand where iPaaS works, and runs into challenges, to help prepare for a successful iPaaS implementation.Continue Reading

• The reasons to use (or not use) sidecars in Kubernetes

  Sidecar containers provide a great relief to developers who need to manage large clusters of containerized applications at scale. But is it always the right approach?Continue Reading

• AI augments capacity planning with machine learning smarts

  With lower costs and better task optimization, AIOps can revolutionize IT infrastructures. Learn why this approach is a must-have for enterprises.Continue Reading

• Cloud vs. DevOps: What to know for your next career move

  Cloud and DevOps can go hand in hand, but they don't have to. Learn the differences so you can see which path is best for your future IT role.Continue Reading

• The migration to enterprise network as a service

  Enterprise network as a service is becoming a popular consumption model for networking functions. But, as with any emerging technology, it's important to weigh the options carefully.Continue Reading

• Build self-healing IT systems for data resilience

  With an autonomous approach to system infrastructure, companies can save time and costs. Learn why IT admins should adopt this type of automation and how to implement it.Continue Reading

• 6 trends in corporate campus networks

  Networks are evolving, and that evolution includes enterprise campus networks. Trends like network automation, 5G and machine learning are modernizing campus networks.Continue Reading

• Cloud-based network management leads 2021 network investments

  A recent ESG survey shows that many enterprises speeding their digital transformation plans are also increasing 2021 network investment, emphasizing cloud-based network management.Continue Reading

• The role of DevOps practices in application design

  Fancy architecture diagrams and aesthetically pleasing code are nice things to have. But they don't mean much without the support of DevOps-centric design practices.Continue Reading

• Do the disadvantages of service-oriented architecture matter?

  While it doesn't carry the shiny appeal of microservices, there's no reason to believe that SOA is totally down for the count. In fact, sometimes it's an essential approach.Continue Reading

• VMware SDN enhances network service allocation automation

  VMware's Modern Network framework helps spur NSX to be a viable contender in the SDN market.Continue Reading

• Try before you buy with free tiers in cloud

  Cloud services aren't cheap, and you don't want to get stuck using one that isn't the right fit. This is where the 'try before you buy' options come in.Continue Reading

• Learn how to configure NSX firewall rules

  VMware NSX users can configure firewall rules into specific policies to protect individual VMs, regardless of their location in the virtual infrastructure.Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere Bitfusion accelerates ML and AI workloads

  VMware's Bitfusion integration enhances vSphere's usage and utility with GPU virtualization to offload both ML and AI processing within VMware systems.Continue Reading

• Build a cloud-ready, global distributed file system

  Organizations that want to extend traditional network file shares across data centers, branch offices and public cloud infrastructure have many options.Continue Reading

• Compare VMware cloud offerings for AWS, Azure and Google

  With VMware cloud offerings, enterprises can integrate on-premises and public cloud infrastructures into a common IT environment. Explore the offerings from AWS, Azure and Google.Continue Reading

• SCCM peer caching matters more now than ever

  The three peer-to-peer technologies in System Center Configuration Manager smooth out traffic over the network, but one might be a better fit for your organization than the others.Continue Reading

• Consider these container-native storage features, vendors

  Container-based applications have a major effect on storage. It's important to assess the benefits, functionalities and providers of container storage.Continue Reading

• Understand cloud abstraction for your IT needs

  Cloud users must select a cloud abstraction layer that meets their business requirements. Consider factors such as level of control and security when choosing SaaS, PaaS or IaaS.Continue Reading

• Data storage management advantages and challenges explained

  Although establishing a data storage management strategy can be difficult, with increasingly distributed and complex systems, it offers several benefits to the organization.Continue Reading

• Top network IT investments include 5G, smartNICs, cloud

  Market analysts showed interest in 5G and smartNICs during an ONUG conference panel on enterprise IT investments. And don't forget the seemingly inevitable mention of cloud.Continue Reading

• VMware's DRaaS following Datrium acquisition expands current offerings

  VMware's Datrium acquisition helps bolster its DRaaS portfolio with VM replication to AWS. This helps protect VMs that remain on object storage before moving to VMware Cloud on AWS.Continue Reading

• Routed optical networking tactic could be game changer

  A new routing architecture could help eliminate management and service headaches stemming from routing IP traffic on optical networks.Continue Reading

• Develop 5G ecosystems for connectivity in the remote work era

  Adopting a 5G ecosystem could enable enterprises to better compete in offering edge computing and remote work options without sacrificing connectivity.Continue Reading

• Top types of cloud testing organizations need to perform

  Move to cloud-based testing to reduce overhead and avoid production missteps. Learn about testing types and some notable vendors to get your IT team started.Continue Reading

• Google aims to bolster VMware cloud migration tools

  CloudSimple enables organizations to migrate on-premises VMware workloads to Google Cloud, but Google must extend its product offerings to compete against AWS and Azure.Continue Reading

• A glimpse into Python network automation and APIs

  This chapter excerpt from 'Mastering Python Networking' dives into the importance of APIs and network state when working with Python network automation and intent-based networking.Continue Reading

• Advice on intent-based networking and Python automation

  In his book, 'Mastering Python Networking,' Eric Chou provides network practitioners with the concepts they need to understand APIs, intent-based networking and automation.Continue Reading

• IDC analyst: Serverless tech will change the future of IT ops

  IDC's Mary Johnston Turner discusses how the development and increasing maturity of serverless technology and AI will upend how IT operates.Continue Reading

• Google Anthos features and updates

  Review the latest improvements to Google's hybrid cloud platform, such as bolstered multi-cloud and on-premises support. Here are the Anthos updates you won't want to miss.Continue Reading

• How to choose between Azure Files vs. an on-prem file server

  Many organizations still need a file server, but some of the advantages of Microsoft's cloud storage option might persuade companies to make the switch.Continue Reading

• Compare design thinking vs. Agile for QA

  Design thinking helps a team figure out what problems to solve, while Agile is a framework that helps a dev team build better software faster. Let's compare the two approaches.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between AI and IT automation?

  AI and automation go hand in hand, but there are important differences between them. Learn the basics and how an IT org can combine them to improve workflows.Continue Reading

• Network-as-a-service business model options take shape

  As network as a service gains traction, enterprises and service providers must consider multiple deployment models. SD-WAN, SASE, SDN and policy management could all play a role.Continue Reading

• Elastic vs. AWS highlights open source monetization dilemma

  The fight between AWS and Elastic over the commercial usage of Elasticsearch highlights how open source software vendors need to change in the era of cloud computing.Continue Reading

• Explore the challenges, benefits of provisioned IOPS storage

  IT admins who want the flexibility to provision IOPS independently from capacity can turn to certain software-defined storage and cloud services offerings.Continue Reading

• A Selenium IDE vs. WebDriver comparison

  Selenium IDE and WebDriver play their own roles in test automation. It's important to know how the two tools differ and how they complement each other.Continue Reading

• Why microservices and IoT apps are perfect together

  The development of IoT apps certainly presents its fair share of challenges, but the benefits that microservices bring might be an antidote to those struggles.Continue Reading

• Evaluate Azure CLI vs. PowerShell for resource management

  Compare two popular resource management tools for Azure -- Azure CLI and PowerShell -- to determine if one, or a combination of both, is right for your cloud environment.Continue Reading

• Will codeless test automation work for you?

  Simple and repeatable -- that's the appeal of codeless test automation. But just how useful is it? Find out in which circumstances the method can be most effective.Continue Reading

• Data processing units accelerate infrastructure performance

  DPUs often run on networking packets to move information in the data center, instead of supporting processing workflows. Get an overview of the technology and the main vendors.Continue Reading

• Azure MFA NPS extension boosts authentication capabilities

  With help from the Network Policy Server extension, organizations can expand their on-premises authentication features by tapping into Microsoft's cloud.Continue Reading

• Choose the right serverless container service

  Many IT pros consider serverless containers to be largely hype, while others say it offers real advances in serverless computing. See how the major cloud providers take their swing at this class of service.Continue Reading

• How cloud-native networking will transform infrastructure

  Cloud-native networking aims to prioritize business needs and enable networks to become more efficient. Learn more about the potential benefits and challenges in this expert Q&A.Continue Reading

• The role of network observability in distributed systems

  Network observability sounds like a new term for an existing practice, but is that the case? This chapter excerpt lays out what observability is and everything you need to know.Continue Reading

• A close look at NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for Google Cloud

  Compared to other versions of the NetApp Cloud Volumes Service, the software-defined edition on Google Cloud has some key distinctions that IT admins should note.Continue Reading

• SASE options for the branch of one -- work from anywhere

  More than ever, enterprises need to support individual employees that make up a branch of one. These setups require reliable connectivity, application performance and security.Continue Reading

• What is container management and why is it important?

  Container management refers to a set of practices that govern and maintain containerization software. Container management tools automate the creation, deployment, destruction and scaling of application or systems containers.Continue Reading

• Open source cloud platforms and tools to consider

  Although the most popular cloud platforms are proprietary, open source options can enhance the agility and cost-effectiveness of your overall cloud strategy.Continue Reading

• Here's why Amazon's global expansion won't come easy

  Amazon would like to strengthen its global footprint, but the e-commerce giant faces roadblocks and challenges today that did not exist in the company's formative years.Continue Reading

• VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud optimizes edge device connectivity

  VMware's SD-WAN product provides optimized edge device connectivity to deliver workloads and data to end users, but a few issues dampen its benefits.Continue Reading

• How Amazon became a force in SMB lending

  Amazon has upped its game with small business lending and credit options for its top merchants, showing more willingness to partner with financial services' biggest names.Continue Reading

• How are network operations center responsibilities changing?

  If your network operations center responsibilities haven't changed yet due to evolutions like DevOps and edge computing, they likely will soon. Here's what you need to know.Continue Reading

• application service provider (ASP)

  An application service provider (ASP) is a company that offers individuals or enterprises access to applications and related services over the internet.Continue Reading

• Set up persistent storage for containers in the cloud

  All the major cloud vendors offer containers as a service. There are various ways IT admins can enable persistent storage for these flexible environments.Continue Reading

• Diagrams.net vs. Lucidchart: A few things to consider

  While UML diagramming is a relatively universal approach, not all visualization tools are made for the same crowd. Diagrams.net and Lucidchart offer a good example of this.Continue Reading

• Understand IT change management vs. configuration management

  When examining change management vs. configuration management, it's easy to confuse them. These examples illustrate how they intertwine, but still address different areas.Continue Reading

• Key questions to consider about pipeline as code

  A pipeline as code entails writing in code the processes a development team uses to build and deploy code to production. To properly adopt the approach, study up on CI/CD and more.Continue Reading