Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• Three DevOps toolchain options refine IT automation

  DevOps tools that don't interconnect form a bottleneck that teams can easily avoid -- or retroactively remedy -- if the CI/CD workflow merits the time commitment. Continue Reading

• DevOps doesn't need stateful containers with storage, but apps do

  DevOps is giving up its hold on the container world, as persistent storage makes the stateless environment work for end-user applications, not just developers. Continue Reading

• Solving enterprise-class storage challenges in the age of convergence

  In this age of data center convergence, with technology evolving faster than ever, planning how to transition from traditional yet rigid environments to more agile software-defined ones is among the trickiest challenges facing IT shops today. ... Continue Reading

• New use cases for flash data storage benefit enterprises

  Adoption of protocols such as NVMe and memory bus-based flash DIMMs helps flash storage devices keep pace with the most demanding use cases. Continue Reading

• Multiprotocol unified storage systems poised for growth

  With support for block, file or both types of data on the same device, unified storage architecture is a flexible storage option for the modern data center. Continue Reading

• Questions to ask object storage vendors before evaluating products

  Before investing in object storage architecture, it is vital to understand your options, including whether you should buy software, hardware or a combination of both.Continue Reading

• How does VMware secure boot protect VMs and ESXi hosts?

  New to vSphere 6.5, the secure boot feature protects VMs and ESXi hosts from viruses, malware and spyware -- and enabling it is as easy as checking off a box.Continue Reading

• Price of cloud storage may be fuzzy

  Cloud storage services offer convenience and can cut IT spending, but not in every case. Make sure to do the math before you commit to putting your critical data in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Seven hyper-converged software options for DIY HCI

  If your company already has hardware that you want to turn into a hyper-converged infrastructure stack, you can do it with one of these software-only options.Continue Reading

• Use AWS Batch -- not Lambda -- for these workloads

  AWS Batch makes it easier to automatically spin up EC2 instances and boost capacity to provision resources for uneven application workloads.Continue Reading

• Compare OpenStack local storage options for now and in the future

  SSDs, HDDs and NVMe can all provide local storage for an OpenStack deployment. But what are the benefits and tradeoffs of each, and how will these technologies evolve?Continue Reading

• When to use Docker alternatives rkt and LXD

  Docker can't meet the needs of every IT scenario. LXD and CoreOS rkt are additional container formats to try out when Docker doesn't make sense.Continue Reading

• Examining what products the leading all-flash array vendors offer

  Although there are many factors to consider when selecting the right all-flash storage arrays for your organization, the first step is to assess your functional specifications.Continue Reading

• Speeds of storage networking technologies rise as flash use spikes

  Speeds of storage networking technologies are rising as faster flash storage is gaining adoption, giving IT organizations more options to meet their performance needs.Continue Reading

• IT asset tracking informs better capacity, management decisions

  Detailed IT asset inventories are a result of granular asset tracking and lead to better server and storage management -- among other benefits.Continue Reading

• Private cloud technology presents promising prospects

  The benefits of a private cloud implementation are becoming increasingly obvious as costs continue to decline and interoperability with its public relatives continues to improve.Continue Reading

• Explore Google XPN for virtual private cloud networks

  Isolated networks strengthen cloud security, but sharing data can become a challenge. Learn how Google XPN enables multiple users or departments to share one virtual private cloud.Continue Reading

• Phase change memory technology: Where is it headed?

  With the release of Intel's Optane, a product based on phase change memory is finally on the market. Where PCM goes is dependent on quite a few factors.Continue Reading

• Your cloud bill climbs due to these five overlooked costs

  AWS, Google and Azure offer tools that help users estimate cloud costs. But overlooked services, usage spikes and outages can cause actual cloud bills to far exceed those estimates.Continue Reading

• Lessons fall from the cloud, changing data center strategies

  The transformative power of cloud computing is long past the point of being news. The cloud model, after all, has irrevocably changed how IT functions. What's interesting to consider is how cloud technologies and methodologies are changing even how ...Continue Reading

• What is the future of networking for enterprises?

  What will be the future of networking at enterprises and organizations operating in 2025?Continue Reading

• A10's Harmony brings app delivery services to a multicloud deployment

  As use of cloud services explodes, A10 Networks is working to add application delivery services to the multicloud deployment process.Continue Reading

• Optane memory: Opening the window on Intel's latest technology

  Now that Optane products are on the market, the future of fast memory for storage and processing looks bright. But will Optane match the claims Intel has been making?Continue Reading

• Log management systems benefit greatly from AI

  Organizations with massive volumes of IT operational data need log management tools that can quickly and adeptly process it. AI embedded into tools might be the answer.Continue Reading

• Why SDN, DevOps don't share automated network missions

  SDN and DevOps may both have a role in automated network device management, but compared to SDN, DevOps has a completely different mission, our expert explains.Continue Reading

• Justify CMDB ROI with these strategies

  IT pros can easily list off CMDB benefits. But when it comes to convincing the business to pay for a CMDB implementation, you'll need to discuss ROI.Continue Reading

• Object storage systems ease data capacity and archival concerns

  If your organization can identify with any of the object storage use cases noted here, it might be time to consider adding this technology to your storage portfolio.Continue Reading

• Build a cloud-based infrastructure one layer at a time

  As enterprise IT teams enter the cloud adoption phase, they must understand the technical underpinnings that comprise cloud infrastructure -- from servers to storage to apps.Continue Reading

• Planning is paramount for a private cloud environment

  Almost any organization of any size can enjoy the flexibility and cost savings that often accompany a private cloud implementation. It's not just for startups.Continue Reading

• Helpful steps toward an easy private cloud implementation

  There are many aspects of an overall private cloud infrastructure that affect your organization's cloud storage plans, and knowing what to look for is vital.Continue Reading

• Quantifying the benefits of investing in copy management technology

  There are many benefits to implementing copy data storage, including cost reduction and increased operational efficiency while maintaining service-level objectives.Continue Reading

• EarthLink SD-WAN helps Dunn-Edwards Paints connect with customers

  When Dunn-Edwards Paints decided to explore software-defined WAN, they looked to their service provider, EarthLink. The latter's new managed SD-WAN service was a hit.Continue Reading

• Software-based networks ease staff manual labor, increase efficiency

  Find out how three enterprises are experiencing the benefits of software-based networks as their staffs are freed up from manually tweaking network components.Continue Reading

• All-flash data center still an idea in development

  The concept of the all-flash data center isn't new, and as the cost of SSDs continue to decline, vendors are pushing the of the all-flash data center like never before. Reality is a different matter, though. When it comes to older data, slower ...Continue Reading

• Data center storage architecture gets smarter with AI

  Trends, such as event-triggered computing, as exemplified by Lambda Architectures, converge on data center storage to hasten data center intelligence evolution.Continue Reading

• Note these ops issues before you deploy with Docker containers

  Docker regularly updates its containerization offering, but it's not click-to-deploy ready for production. Ops professionals should acknowledge these points before deploying Docker containers.Continue Reading

• Use the cloud to enhance the functions of primary storage

  Learn some of the best ways to leverage public cloud as a storage tier to complement primary storage and make data centers more efficient.Continue Reading

• Scalability drives SAN market growth

  Better performing, more scalable and capacious storage area networks are required for ever-growing amounts of unstructured data, demanding applications and big data analytics.Continue Reading

• Is an all-flash data center worth it?

  The elevated cost of flash technology is a reason to limit flash usage. Find out what other factors go into a flash purchase and how it's used in today's data centers.Continue Reading

• Symbolic IO IRIS a breakthrough in server, storage architecture

  Intensified RAM Intelligent Server from newcomer Symbolic IO questions fundamental and often unstated foundations of contemporary server and storage design.Continue Reading

• A converged infrastructure strategy requires a when as well as a why

  A converged system's appeal comes from having an optimized platform that removes significant complexity from an IT environment. But when is CI the right move to make?Continue Reading

• All-flash storage arrays: Are they killing hybrids?

  The debate still rages over whether all-flash arrays will make hybrid arrays obsolete, and cost is not all that matters when reviewing storage array options.Continue Reading

• Build Docker container images with AWS CodeBuild

  AWS CodeBuild is a developer tool that automates tasks, such as software releases, and enables IT teams to build and push containers to a registry within minutes.Continue Reading

• Avoid downtime during the cloud migration process

  During a public cloud migration, IT teams need to take a cautious, one-step-at-a-time approach to avoid hearing the dreaded phrase, 'the system is down.'Continue Reading

• DevOps lab: Build Vagrant VMs to learn immutable infrastructure

  This article is part of a series to help IT ops professionals learn DevOps by building a home lab. In this first step, a cluster of Vagrant VMs represents immutable infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Five reasons your software testing career is harder than necessary

  No job is perfect, but software testers do have a few things to complain about. Expert Amy Reichert shares the five things that make her want to polish her résumé.Continue Reading

• Learn DevOps techniques and tools in this home lab setup

  This DevOps lab uses Linux VMs and Docker containers to teach administrators the basics of immutable infrastructure, configuration automation and other modern IT concepts.Continue Reading

• Deep dive into Hyper-V files and folders

  Understanding all aspects of a Hyper-V installation now makes it easier to troubleshoot problems later. Look under the hood of Hyper-V files and folders to prep for the worst.Continue Reading

• Tier 0 storage moves to NVMe to meet demand for speed

  Tier 0 has been fast and proprietary, but nonvolatile memory express is changing that second part as a standard programming interface for PCIe SSDs.Continue Reading

• When the big cloud infrastructure providers aren't the right fit

  When a business chooses one of the major providers for its cloud services, there shouldn't be a lot of surprises. You do your homework, consider the available services, select instance types, compare costs and then make a decision. At that point, ...Continue Reading

• The true definition of cloud computing is still lost on some IT pros

  The misuse of the phrase 'cloud computing' has created misperceptions of the technology. Remember that the cloud isn't a location -- it's a more agile way to design IT services.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Azure App Service lets developers build cloud applications

  For businesses looking to modernize legacy apps, Microsoft Azure App Service hosts several features that let users create web, mobile and Azure API apps in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Vive la revolution! New wide area network technologies usher in change

  In today's wide area network, emerging technologies disrupt the status quo ... and that's a good thing. Enterprises now have more options than ever when it comes to WAN design.Continue Reading

• Market trends will push Cisco to make an open NOS

  Cisco remains committed to selling a network operating system tightly integrated with hardware. But market trends will likely force the vendor to release an open NOS soon.Continue Reading

• The status of NAND flash memory now and in the near future

  Flash memory chips have driven a revolution in storage, and faced a recent shortage because of huge demand. That's easing, and advances in NAND technology show a great future.Continue Reading

• How do you change ESXi 6.5 host names and DNS configuration?

  Admins have options when it comes to changing an ESXi 6.5 host name, but only the vSphere Web Client has full functionality in the latest release.Continue Reading

• Copy management systems reduce data consumption and storage costs

  Copy management systems offer a range of options for reducing excessive storage consumption and improving performance by eliminating the creation of redundant data copies.Continue Reading

• How an object storage architecture can help reduce storage complexity

  An object storage architecture tackles traditional storage limitations by offering a file structure that is ideal for storing and protecting large amounts of unstructured data.Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about NVMe storage

  The NVMe protocol started out as a faster way to access data from speedy SSDs in a PC, but enterprises quickly saw the value in extending it to the storage network.Continue Reading

• The present and likely future of the NVMe protocol

  The NVMe and PCIe combination of protocol and interconnect was an inevitable development once solid-state drives were created, as was moving NVMe to fabrics.Continue Reading

• Build an effective API management system for multicloud

  APIs play a critical role in cloud, allowing apps and services to communicate with each other. But with multiple cloud providers in the mix, API management gets complicated.Continue Reading

• Cloud visibility goal of Ixia CloudLens software update

  Ixia takes aim at cloud visibility with its new CloudLens Public for tracking cloud performance.Continue Reading

• 2017 IT spending trends for data storage

  For the 15^th year, Storage magazine has surveyed storage pros to learn about their IT spending trends for the coming months. As you'd expect, the cloud continues to pick up steam for both primary and secondary projects, while ...Continue Reading

• Scale-out software-defined storage market menaces traditional storage

  Scale-out software-defined storage is on the rise to the detriment and decline of traditional storage products and arrays.Continue Reading

• Smarter storage starts with analytics

  Storage smartens up to keep pace with data-intensive business applications embedding operational analytics capabilities.Continue Reading

• Purchase of NAS arrays driven by need for capacity, desire to expand

  As unstructured data continues to lead storage growth, businesses are opting for scale-out NAS arrays to handle current and future capacity.Continue Reading

• Secondary data storage takes center stage

  Once considered a necessary evil, secondary storage systems are now providing much more than just backup protection.Continue Reading

• Amazon Route 53 benefits include efficient domain management

  There are many domain hosting options, but Amazon Route 53 stands out from the pack for resolution speed -- especially among AWS users. Route 53 offers these benefits for users.Continue Reading

• Comparing containers and VMs for multi-tenant apps

  Secure containers is a big concern when comparing virtual machines and containers for multi-tenant apps. Learn what each has to offer and which works best for your organization.Continue Reading

• Layer 3 switches explained

  Layer 3 switches are important in enterprise networks -- particularly in designs with many subnets and virtual LANs. What is a Layer 3 switch, what can it do for you, and how does it differ from a regular switch or router?Continue Reading

• AWS Lambda functions have storage capacity, longevity limitations

  AWS Lambda's high scalability can serve as a limitation, as data can be lost if too much strain is placed on the data store. These methods can work around Lambda memory limitations.Continue Reading

• How will virtual router software benefit the networking industry?

  Although virtual router software has been around for more than a decade, 2017 could be the year vRouting experiences greater adoption due to its available use cases.Continue Reading

• Take a deep dive into software-defined storage products

  Understanding the software-defined storage market is key to getting real value from an implementation, as is proper research and planning before making any product or vendor decisions.Continue Reading

• Managing apps essential in realizing their business value

  Apps have taken center stage, but in order to exploit their value, enterprises have to find a way of managing apps that works best for them.Continue Reading

• Choose cloud configuration management tools for multiple platforms

  The multicloud model presents unique configuration management challenges. When choosing a tool, enterprises should compare cloud native and third-party options carefully.Continue Reading

• Status report 2017: NFV deployments grow; standards issues remain

  Large service providers are continuing their NFV deployments, which will enable 5G wireless and IoT. But management, orchestration and standards questions remain.Continue Reading

• Awareness of shared-responsibility model is critical to cloud success

  When companies move to the cloud, it's paramount that they know where the provider's security role ends and where the customer's begins. The shared-responsibility model is one of the fundamental ...Continue Reading

• Five factors to consider before buying all-flash storage arrays

  Before purchasing all-flash array storage, you should determine whether your site plans to integrate AFA storage into its existing infrastructure or to start a new storage silo.Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about testing .NET applications

  For the most efficient testing, you need the right tools for the job. Expert Matt Heusser explains in detail all the testing tools for tackling apps built with Microsoft's .NET.Continue Reading

• HPE Unified Functional Testing allows for application test automation

  The HPE Unified Functional Testing platform provides users with interactive tools for creating and executing automated app testing tasks on desktop, mobile and web platforms.Continue Reading

• An overview of the eggPlant testing tool for test automation

  The eggPlant testing tool provides developers and testers with software to create, schedule and execute automated testing and debugging tasks on a variety of mobile platforms.Continue Reading

• Building a business case for all-flash array storage

  To make a business case for purchasing AFA storage, you must first understand what your applications need in terms of IOPS, latency and throughput.Continue Reading

• Customer-focused strategy more key than digital transformation hype

  The tech industry's chatter about digital transformation and disruption are scare tactics that shouldn't distract companies from making purchases based on a customer-focused strategy.Continue Reading

• The state of flash storage performance

  All-flash arrays have virtually eliminated flash storage performance issues, for now. But applications and user expectations will eventually catch up. Innovations in flash technology -- such as nonvolatile memory express and storage-class memory (...Continue Reading

• Infrastructure provisioning made easier with hybrid cloud storage

  Storage provisioning delays slow down IT initiatives and negatively impact both revenue and the bottom line, which make hybrid clouds a realistic and attractive option.Continue Reading

• Overcome problems with public cloud storage providers

  Security and compliance concerns are chief obstacles to public cloud storage adoption, as IT managers are hesitant to have their critical data reside outside the data center.Continue Reading

• SAN arrays maintain primary data storage dominance, for now

  Solid-state flash is the most sought-after technology for primary storage, as storage area networks remain the main focus of increasing capacity for most enterprises.Continue Reading

• The state of flash storage systems

  Making flash storage performance even faster has little to do with the media itself and more to do with the storage infrastructure that surrounds it.Continue Reading

• Data storage infrastructure starts with science-fiction inspiration

  Find out what happens when you take a cue from an old science-fiction movie and build an 'interocitor' that becomes its own storage infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Classification of data can solve your data storage problems

  Having a data classification process in place can make your data smart enough to know what to do with itself, allowing you to attain the holy grail of enterprise data storage.Continue Reading

• SDN service for sale ... from a healthcare provider?

  Early NSX adopter BayState Health is weighing the possibility of a future as an SDN service provider -- using multi-tenancy to run other organizations' networks parallel to its own.Continue Reading

• Managed enterprise network services gain traction

  As network demands become increasingly complex, many enterprises are turning to managed network services, outsourcing maintenance to third-party providers.Continue Reading

• Exploring the three major types of software testing tools

  Application testing tools make enterprises' app development more efficient. Learn more about automation, coverage and bug tracking tools.Continue Reading

• Are there IT jobs in cloud capacity management?

  If a company moves only 30% of workloads from its data center to the public cloud, that will reduce IT ops demand. Is there still a role for the ops engineer?Continue Reading

• AFA storage has total cost of ownership advantages over HDDs

  All-flash array storage TCO advantages, including reduced power and cooling and increased performance, can help an organization justify its use to store their active workloads.Continue Reading

• AFA storage advances may mean the end of the hybrid market

  Flash price drops and speed boosts make the all-flash array the smart choice over hybrid storage arrays for most enterprise users, not just those with high-performance computing needs.Continue Reading

• Compare offline data migration services from AWS, Azure and Google

  Sending a storage disk to a cloud provider seems like an antiquated data-migration method, but it's a common choice. Here's how AWS, Azure and Google manage the process.Continue Reading

• Storage Spaces Direct a key option in Windows Server 2016 features

  Windows Server 2016 includes new and updated capabilities with Storage Spaces, Storage Replica, Storage Quality of Service, data deduplication and Resilient File System.Continue Reading

• Not playing games: The GPU vs. CPU question gets more interesting

  Putting thousands of cores to work makes perfect sense when you're powering a video game. But graphics processing units, or GPUs, can't serve much practical purpose in a corporate data center, can they?

  The GPU vs. CPU discussion isn't as odd as ...Continue Reading

• When and how to use a FIFO queue in SQS

  Using FIFO queues in Amazon SQS support Exactly-Once Processing and keep tasks in order. But they can create bottlenecks if used with the wrong workloads.Continue Reading