Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• AWS, Microsoft and Google should retire these cloud services

  Nothing lasts forever. Whether they've been supplanted by newer offerings or simply outlived their usefulness, these cloud services on AWS, Azure and GCP are ready to be retired. Continue Reading

• What's new in vCloud Director 10

  Version 10 of vCloud Director, aims to make cloud configuration easier for tenants and providers. Read about its HTML5 UI, sizing policies and NSX-T integration. Continue Reading

• What matters most in an Agile organizational structure

  Forcing an Agile approach onto team members causes more problems than it solves. 'Doing Agile Right' distills real-world experience into advice -- including when to delay change. Continue Reading

• Pick a data center layout: Raised floors vs. overhead cabling

  There's no definitive design when it comes to data center infrastructure. Cost, manageability and cooling effectiveness are all factors during the selection process. Continue Reading

• Q&A: Recounting the rough-and-tumble history of PowerShell

  Today, PowerShell is a key tool for many Windows administrators, but its developers had to battle to get it launched. Don Jones talks about PowerShell's tumultuous start. Continue Reading

• 6 converged infrastructure vendors' product options compared

  Converged infrastructure systems help reduce hardware deployment risks by providing a preconfigured software stack, which greatly reduces the risk of configuration errors.Continue Reading

• VMs vs. containers: What Windows admins need to know

  VMs have high resource overhead, but they're dependable. Containers can scale dramatically, but they require a different mode of management. Which is right for your workloads?Continue Reading

• Computational storage may ease edge storage efforts

  Before diving into storage at the edge, ensure your organization can meet the technology's lofty space and resource requirements. Computational storage can help.Continue Reading

• HCI vs. SAN: How to choose between them

  There are many factors to consider when deciding between a SAN and hyper-converged system. Learn how they differ, which might be best for your organization and more.Continue Reading

• Proxmox VE 6 and later offers container features, better security

  Proxmox VE, an open source virtualization management product, provides admins with several features, such as VM live migration, backup abilities and high availability.Continue Reading

• Traditional vs. converged vs. hyper-converged infrastructure setups

  HCI clusters, converged infrastructure and rack servers all offer benefits for a data center. Still, figuring out which is easier to set up requires evaluation and planning.Continue Reading

• How 6 new midrange storage arrays from top vendors stack up

  Leading storage vendors have recently released midrange all-flash arrays that provide the scalability, high performance and high reliability of enterprise-class offerings.Continue Reading

• DBmaestro vs. Liquibase: Database DevOps tools square off

  DevOps has reached databases, which means yet another option to consider in your toolchain. Learn what matters in a database DevOps tool, and what sets apart Liquibase and DBmaestro.Continue Reading

• Identify the Google Cloud developer tools you need

  Developers want more from their cloud than APIs and services; they want tools to accelerate and improve the app dev lifecycle. Use this rundown to assess Google Cloud's developer tool set.Continue Reading

• Insight into Big Blue key to better IBM ELA renewals

  Before negotiating a renewal of your IBM enterprise license agreement, get to know Big Blue's sales strategy and which factors influence its deal-making process.Continue Reading

• Use a Windows Server 2019 domain controller or go to Azure?

  Administrators must dig into the details to see if a swap from on-premises Active Directory to the Azure equivalent makes sense for their organization.Continue Reading

• How AI is changing the storage consumption landscape

  Deep learning, machine learning and neural networks are drastically changing how storage is consumed. Find out why this is happening and what products are helping meet this need.Continue Reading

• Data center liquid cooling market heats up

  As organizations increase server rack density, more C-level execs investigate liquid cooling technology. Industry experts see these systems as an operational and cost necessity.Continue Reading

• Considerations for SIEM logging software and storage

  SIEM systems aggregate a lot of data across all types of infrastructure. For regular audits, admins should address notification settings, analysis protocols and storage locations.Continue Reading

• 3 options to use Kubernetes and containers for edge computing

  While every deployment is unique, these general guidelines can help IT teams determine whether -- and how -- to incorporate Kubernetes and containers into an edge computing strategy.Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2019 RDS updates a boon for remote work needs

  Enhanced security, improved end-user experience and cloud integration are just a few of the perks for organizations that move to Windows Server 2019 RDS.Continue Reading

• Dell EMC vs. NetApp: Comparing converged infrastructure systems

  The Dell EMC VxBlock and NetApp FlexPod converged infrastructure platforms can help IT reduce the complexities of implementing and maintaining data center systems.Continue Reading

• Which Agile contract type fits your project and budget?

  A contracts expert shares common agreement types for Agile software development project outsourcing, and where companies tend to go wrong.Continue Reading

• The coronavirus effect on enterprise technology practices

  Effects of COVID-19 on enterprise IT go well beyond enabling remote workforces. Coronavirus is also changing approaches to IT staffing, projects/initiatives and budgets/spending.Continue Reading

• Understand the differences in VM vs. container vs. serverless

  VMs, containers and serverless computing provide organizations with application development flexibility, but they add management complexity.Continue Reading

• COVID-19 speeds SD-WAN evolution to elastic infrastructure

  The next phase of SD-WAN requires elastic infrastructure and distributed edge access to better support remote workers. The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating that evolution.Continue Reading

• What is the self-driving data center and how does it work?

  Self-driven data centers require little intervention to handle daily operations. Explore their inner workings, benefits, and what HPE and VMware are doing to make them a reality.Continue Reading

• Pair programming pros and cons for network automation

  Pair programming is an Agile software development technique that reduces bugs and produces better software. Can pair programming work between networking experts and programmers?Continue Reading

• Flash vendors tap admin experience features to stand out

  Customers evaluating storage platforms are looking for a little something extra from vendors -- and it isn't necessarily the latest flash development.Continue Reading

• A comprehensive guide to Open vSwitch and its capabilities

  Distributed multilayer switches are essential to managing several network connections between VMs. Open vSwitch offers admins automated and dynamic network control for virtual systems.Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud ecosystem enables digital transformation

  The digital economy has led to a dramatic increase in not just cloud adoption but on-premises data and workloads. Hybrid clouds seamlessly move applications and data between them.Continue Reading

• Storage and database innovation evolve in tandem

  Faster storage means faster database operations. Discover how developments and innovation in storage improves the performance and flexibility of database technology.Continue Reading

• Optimize your VM monitoring strategy with these tools

  Keeping track of hundreds of VMs and applications can be difficult. However, monitoring tools such as OpManager and vSphere can help admins ensure successful system performance.Continue Reading

• Remote access best practices emphasize security, ease of use

  COVID-19 has forced companies to determine the best way to keep remote employees supported. Not sure which way to proceed? Consider these remote access best practices.Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of SD-WAN and remote access

  SD-WAN could be a compelling option for enterprises that require remote access for mission-critical jobs. But IT teams should be aware of cost, training and implementation barriers.Continue Reading

• Kotlin vs. Swift: An open source programming language face-off

  Take a look into what Kotlin and Swift have to offer in terms of cross-platform capabilities, library support and ease of use. Also, review their major strengths and limitations.Continue Reading

• Reduce IT burdens, costs with on-premises storage as a service

  Most organizations automatically associate storage as a service with the cloud -- but emerging, on-premises STaaS offerings can benefit IT ops and the business just as much, if not more.Continue Reading

• VSphere Standard Switch vs. Distributed Switch: The differences

  Explore the differences between vSphere's two virtual switches: vSS and vDS. One works best on a small scale, while the other can help manage networking across a large business.Continue Reading

• Open Systems' SASE tech wins TechTarget innovation award

  Open Systems' SASE platform helped tens of thousands of workers gain secure remote access during the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about our new Network Innovation Award winner.Continue Reading

• Consider Office 365 MFA to thwart attacks

  More remote users are working on their own equipment, which opens an organization to a hack attempt. Office 365 customers can use multifactor authentication to lower this risk.Continue Reading

• Sonatype Nexus vs. JFrog: Pick an open source security scanner

  Chances are your organization relies on open source code. But how do you manage code vulnerabilities? Find a product best suited for your needs in this Sonatype Nexus vs. JFrog comparison.Continue Reading

• AWS ARM-based chips could shift microprocessor market

  Amazon confronts cloud rivals with microprocessor designs. AWS ARM-based A1 instances offer high processing for lower costs and improved utilization.Continue Reading

• Network automation book shares recipes for success

  In this network automation book excerpt, discover how automation frameworks NAPALM and Ansible can provide network teams with vendor-agnostic network management capabilities.Continue Reading

• Network pros need NAPALM, Ansible network automation skills

  Network pros need network automation skills in NAPALM and Ansible because the two modules together can enhance multivendor environments and streamline network management tasks.Continue Reading

• 5 free virtual appliances for data analysis, app creation

  Virtual appliances can execute specific IT tasks, such as data analysis and application creation. There are several free offerings available, but admins must be wary of risks.Continue Reading

• Remote access is just one of many COVID-19 IT challenges

  The coronavirus outbreak stretched many in IT to the limit of their abilities to find ways to accommodate the surge in remote workers.Continue Reading

• Review hybrid cloud offerings that bring the cloud on premises

  Check out this roundup of hybrid cloud tools and services from AWS, Microsoft and Google that extend public cloud platforms into on-premises environments.Continue Reading

• 5 container security tools to safeguard apps, environments

  Learn how five container security vendors monitor and protect container delivery and implementation, regardless of where the container sits in the application lifecycle.Continue Reading

• PowerShell ForEach-Object cmdlet picks up speed

  Administrators get extra incentive to switch to PowerShell 7 after an existing cmdlet acquires a performance enhancement to run multiple iterations in parallel.Continue Reading

• Git version control helps remote teams with integrated builds

  Organizations with remote development teams should use Git repositories and Git version control while developing integrated software builds.Continue Reading

• Amazon and VMware unveil RDS on VMware

  Amazon and VMware teamed up to create RDS on VMware. It should appeal to VMware users and has some compelling features, but it still faces several barriers to widespread use.Continue Reading

• SD-WAN, 5G remote work technologies enable future networks

  In this roundup of networking blogs, learn how SD-WAN and 5G can benefit business continuity plans for network infrastructure and whether split tunneling is necessary -- or safe.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes vs. VMware: Drive the choice with IT architecture

  It isn't easy to classify Kubernetes as the superior product for managing VMs and containers compared to vSphere 7. The decision depends on how widely admins use containers.Continue Reading

• Outsourced DevOps brings benefits, and risks, to IT shops

  Lack certain DevOps skills? Consider outsourcing as a way to fill the gaps, but be sure to understand the potential risks, which vary with each DevOps pipeline stage.Continue Reading

• How zero-touch IT operations can be a burden, not a benefit

  In their pursuits of end-to-end automation, IT operations teams should be careful not to downplay the importance of human staff.Continue Reading

• Quickly repurpose HCI hardware for hosting virtual desktops

  Virtual desktops are tailored for remote work situations, and hyper-convergence makes a great VDI host that stands up quickly in a pinch. Consider these factors, though.Continue Reading

• The future of quantum computing in the cloud

  Quantum computing is the latest technology to catch the eyes of developers and cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft, but analysts predict it could still be years away from practical use.Continue Reading

• A comprehensive test automation guide for IT teams

  This one-stop test automation guide walks through the benefits and challenges, how to craft an automated testing strategy and how to compare tools.Continue Reading

• National Instruments SD-WAN case study: Bandwidth up 1,500%

  In this SD-WAN case study, learn how Cisco Viptela technology transformed one enterprise WAN for the better -- from decreased costs to increased performance.Continue Reading

• Find the right software testing methods for your dev process

  Many organizations want to do more automated testing, but which tests solve specific problems? Here's a breakdown of the key test types and how they might fit your test strategy.Continue Reading

• Expand your knowledge of Hyper-V virtual switch types

  Admins can create three Hyper-V virtual switch types: external, internal and private. The need for internet access and a secure network can help admins decide which one to use.Continue Reading

• Evaluate 3 ways to run Kubernetes locally

  A local Kubernetes deployment -- enabled by Minikube, MicroK8s or K3s -- is a great option to test code or simply learn the container orchestration technology.Continue Reading

• Find the right automation test cases

  One piece of software might be well-suited for test automation while another won't. Here are the factors to look for when you need to settle on your test strategy.Continue Reading

• 7 questions to ask before you select software testing tools

  Before you select software testing tools, you need to know how to evaluate them. Explore trial versions, research the vendors and assess your organization's needs and capabilities.Continue Reading

• VMware licensing changes set to have long-term cost effects

  VMware assured admins they would see little to no effect on costs in the short term with its switch to per-core licensing, but these changes could have long-term cost effects.Continue Reading

• What to include in an SD-WAN security checklist

  SD-WAN security encompasses more than integrated security functionality. Find out which capabilities enterprises should look for when evaluating SD-WAN and security.Continue Reading

• Container data storage's emerging role now and in the future

  See how application workload and cloud portability requirements are driving container storage preferences in the latest research from the Taneja Group.Continue Reading

• Can a SASE architecture deliver better network performance?

  Learn how the emerging technology called Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, outperforms traditional architectures to deliver a more secure, better performing network.Continue Reading

• Find value in real-time application monitoring

  What started as a way for administrators to know if a system went offline has morphed into a broad combination of monitoring that involves admins, engineers and operations staff.Continue Reading

• Compare the top automated functional testing tools

  This roundup of top automated functional testing tools, including Selenium, Micro Focus UFT and TestComplete, will guide you to pick the best choice for software testing needs.Continue Reading

• How SASE architecture integrates with network infrastructure

  SASE architecture offers a compelling value proposition, as it converges networking and security services onto a single cloud platform. Explore how it works with existing infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Software-based routing on its way to become the new normal

  SD-WAN took the networking world by storm, and software-based routing aims to do the same in the router market. Here's what to expect from the move to software.Continue Reading

• Why SASE adoption requires a paradigm shift

  Enterprises preparing to adopt Secure Access Service Edge should understand how the architecture presents organizational and architectural challenges for network and security teams.Continue Reading

• Advances in server hardware components speed up data centers

  Server hardware has consistently evolved since the 1980s. Now, IT professionals can implement the latest in CPU and GPU technology in their ever-growing data centers.Continue Reading

• An overview of how AWS changed Lambda for the enterprise market

  Learn how AWS Lambda has been updated over the years to address shortcomings in its serverless computing platform, and how enterprises have become savvier about when to use it.Continue Reading

• Improvements in CPU features help shape selection

  CPUs have evolved to meet ever-increasing technology demands. We look at the way performance and power characteristics have shifted in recent years.Continue Reading

• Weigh test automation's advantages and disadvantages

  Automated testing can add speed and completeness to the software development process, but be sure you've considered the tradeoffs. Let's look at the pros and cons.Continue Reading

• Dive into the quantum computing qubit with IBM's Bob Sutor

  The quantum computing industry is entering a new era. IBM's Bob Sutor discusses the technology's importance and how his latest book can help readers better understand the qubit.Continue Reading

• Know when to choose automated vs. manual testing

  Vendors have inched toward automated application testing for a long time, yet there is still room for growth. Software tester Amy Reichert offers her insights.Continue Reading

• HPE Primera storage makes Synergy, Composable Rack more intelligent

  See how intelligent all-flash Primera storage with InfoSight predictive analytics brings a more cloud-like resilient, agile, scalable experience to HPE composable infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Open Compute Project influence, open source hardware gain momentum

  With open source hardware more feasible than ever, catch up on how Open Compute Project consortium uses open source to develop more efficient server and infrastructure designs.Continue Reading

• VMware Skyline Health for vSAN improves system check capabilities

  VMware's announcement to merge vSAN Health and Skyline offers admins a comprehensive portfolio of various VMware support technologies under a common umbrella.Continue Reading

• Take a look at 6 top VPN service providers for remote work

  The right VPN connection ensures workers can do their jobs with an efficient and secure connection. Explore the leading options and their pricing and protection details.Continue Reading

• What is Pivot3 Acuity Intelligence Engine for AI and automation?

  The Acuity Intelligence Engine delivers advanced data and performance management to simplify data protection and system administration for Pivot3 hyper-convergence.Continue Reading

• How to evaluate test automation languages

  You have options when choosing a test automation language. Is Java the way to go? What about Ruby or Python? Let's look at the pros and cons.Continue Reading

• Consider the pros, cons of AI-based log analysis tools

  Machine learning can help IT teams uncover new insights in system log files. But these advanced analytics capabilities, especially when achieved through on-premises tools, can be costly.Continue Reading

• The future of flash memory promises unprecedented speed, capacity

  NAND flash's future involves more layers and bits per cell. At the same time, NVMe-oF, storage class memory and other new technologies will fundamentally change memory and storage.Continue Reading

• Follow the evolution of AWS Lambda

  AWS Lambda sparked the rise of serverless computing in the cloud. Explore how the function-as-a-service platform developed over time with this infographic.Continue Reading

• DriveNets' disaggregated router tech wins innovation award

  Networking startup DriveNets is bringing cloud principles to carrier networks with disaggregated router technology that could change how providers manage their infrastructure.Continue Reading

• What the breakup of data management and storage means to you

  There are distinct advantages to abstracting data management from storage. Find out how this new approach makes these operations simpler and cheaper to run.Continue Reading

• Do you need to make Exchange Online backups?

  Microsoft has several protective measures in place to let customers restore deleted mail in Office 365, but backup vendors will say it's not enough to cover every scenario.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged use cases beyond VM stacks: A hardware guide

  Explore best hyper-converged appliance and cluster configurations for containers, machine/deep learning, streaming analytics and specific products supporting each of these workloads.Continue Reading

• 7 Google Cloud database options to free up your IT team

  Moving data to a cloud database is an effective way to optimize cost and performance for applications. Review seven of Google's database services and decide if one is right for you.Continue Reading

• The recent key vSphere vMotion innovations

  VMware vMotion is a function of vSphere that enables live migrations of VMs to ease load balancing and maintenance. Explore the innovations in the most recent update of vMotion.Continue Reading

• What is AI-defined infrastructure, and does it work?

  Software-driven hyper-converged, composable infrastructures and incorporation of AI technologies into compute and storage has brought more intelligence to enterprise IT than ever.Continue Reading

• NOR flash memory proves a good fit for robotics, IoT devices

  As mobility and IoT continue to expand, NOR memory provides fast random reads and long-term reliability, making it suitable for automotive, medical and portable consumer devices.Continue Reading

• What's the latest on NFV and VNFs for enterprises?

  As virtualized network functions become more and more common, will that change NFV and VNF roles in businesses? Probably not, but other roadblocks may hinder further results.Continue Reading

• Set IT vendor selection criteria to evolve with the times

  As enterprises' IT tool sets expand to include more specialized providers for cloud and DevOps deployments, they face new vendor management challenges.Continue Reading

• 802.3cg standard extends single-pair Ethernet range and speed

  IEEE 802.3cg is a single-pair Ethernet standard that aims to support speeds up to 10 Mbps, extend Ethernet range up to 1,000 meters and offer multidrop capabilities.Continue Reading

• Storage class memory makes its way into the enterprise

  The number of SCM products and use cases is growing. Find out which vendors have SSD and memory offerings and how they're being used in various products.Continue Reading