Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• State and threading: Key concepts in a .NET microservices architecture

  There are a number of reasons why implementing a .NET microservices architecture presents a challenge. Tom Nolle explains how to marry .NET and microservices. Continue Reading

• Hyper-convergence: It's for more than primary data storage

  The lines between primary and secondary storage and applications such as hyper-convergence remain blurry. But they are a starting point for further discussion. Continue Reading

• Businesses use enterprise file sync-and-share market to collaborate

  Enterprise file sync and share solves numerous business problems by offering organizations a way to provide more secure document sharing and collaboration. Continue Reading

• 'Holistic' data protection tools, a marketing meme on the rise

  Though vendors are calling their data protection products 'holistic,' they should blend security and disaster recovery services to improve their functionality. Continue Reading

• Orchestration software: The functions and vendors to watch

  Enterprises must keep their IT processes on track to stay ahead in the DevOps era. Solid orchestration software will pull automation tasks together and accelerate workflows. Continue Reading

• Software networking supports wide range of deployment use cases

  Software networking includes elements of SDN, NFV and network virtualization, which have taken the industry by storm; it also supports advances like 5G wireless and hybrid cloud.Continue Reading

• How do you recreate a missing VMDK descriptor file?

  The descriptor file plays an essential role in a virtual machine disk file, pointing to the larger data file and other VMDK information. So, what do you do when it goes missing?Continue Reading

• Identify and reduce multicloud integration costs

  When using multiple cloud providers, application integration costs can grow quickly. To prevent billing surprises, carefully plan application deployments and workflows.Continue Reading

• Future of the Ethernet drive may hinge on NVMe over Ethernet

  Despite their debut two years ago, drives that connect via Ethernet have been mostly a curiosity. The Ethernet flavor of NVMe over Fabrics may change that.Continue Reading

• The future of containerization goes more abstract

  Containers have benefits over VMs in the data center, but the future of containerization is broader than that.Continue Reading

• Open source network software promises major industry shifts

  Let the disruption commence! Observers say it's high time the networking sector accepts and sorts out open source, arguing it's not a question of if enterprises use it, but how.Continue Reading

• SD-WAN vendors enjoy rave reviews from happy users

  Compared to data center SDN companies, SD-WAN vendors seem to have it easy, with a relative slew of satisfied customers eager to share their deployment stories.Continue Reading

• Using Azure Site Recovery for data and VM replication

  Data replication is a critical part of a disaster recovery plan, and the devil is in the details. Ease your plan with automation through Azure Site Recovery.Continue Reading

• Use automated vSphere Update Manager for more controlled patching

  The most recent version of vSphere Update Manager helps reduce the stress of patching hosts, VMs, virtual appliances and more. Set it up in just a few simple steps.Continue Reading

• Application containers offer a new approach to SOA

  Traditional SOA and containerized infrastructure share many common goals, but containers offer better efficiency and manageability. How can enterprises bring the two together?Continue Reading

• How to navigate the public cloud service provider selection process

  Learn how to determine if your organization could benefit from public cloud storage and how to select the public cloud provider that will best meet your needs.Continue Reading

• Dig into the Exchange 2016 hardware requirements

  A move to Exchange 2016 may mean increased costs to hardware that can support the latest Microsoft messaging platform.Continue Reading

• A look at the services the leading public cloud vendors provide

  Examine the leading public cloud service providers and the features each offers, including backup and recovery, archival, hybrid cloud storage and cloud analytics.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of big data cloud services

  Big data in the cloud is a big deal. But without the right management and analytic tools, you won't get far. Test your knowledge of big data tools in the cloud with this quiz.Continue Reading

• Top cloud and data center technologies win Impact Awards

  Plenty of data center technologies enter the market, aiming to solve this problem or that problem. (Or every problem, if the hype is to be believed.) But which products really hit the mark? Which ones stand out, coming along at just the right moment...Continue Reading

• 2017 Impact Awards honor the best IT products and services

  The votes are in. From AWS partners to system management, Modern Infrastructure readers recognize the best IT products in the 2017 Impact Awards.Continue Reading

• How does Azure Premium Storage billing work?

  For Azure Premium Storage, are users billed by how much storage capacity they actually use or how much they reserve or allocate?Continue Reading

• Breaking down the costs of cloud storage

  Storage is a primary reason enterprises move workloads to the cloud. But before shipping off your data, learn how region, capacity and other factors shape cloud storage costs.Continue Reading

• Automated deployment tools mitigate the risk of human error in DevOps

  There are dozens of application and infrastructure automation tools for IT shops. Choosing the right one requires project and feature evaluation.Continue Reading

• API growth forcing vendors to take notice or risk losing out

  The API is fast becoming a must-have in modern networking. But API growth is forcing vendors to rethink how they want their devices to be configured and managed.Continue Reading

• Real-life change management examples prove it's harder than it looks

  Whether your IT shop rigorously follows a service management framework or takes a laissez-faire approach to changes, these examples help hone change management procedures.Continue Reading

• The what, why and how of the TOSCA cloud standard

  As the acceptance of DevOps rises, the TOSCA standard has become a popular option for cloud application deployment. Here's a closer look at how it works.Continue Reading

• All-flash array market advances outpace demand, create opportunities

  Scott Sinclair says high-density, high-capacity all-flash storage arrays are a disruptive technology ahead of customer demand for now, but businesses will realize they need it.Continue Reading

• How to build a private storage cloud

  Building internal cloud storage must account for elasticity, choosing the right platform, allowing for workflow, and stack deployments and public cloud integration.Continue Reading

• Top enterprise storage vendors to watch in 2017

  Check out our comprehensive forecast of what challenges and opportunities the top enterprise storage vendors are expected to face in the coming year.Continue Reading

• A dozen data storage vendors to watch in 2017

  Hyper-convergence, solid-state, software-defined storage and the cloud have revolutionized the way we deploy, manage and secure storage. How the dozen leading data storage vendors presented here navigate the challenges and opportunities created by ...Continue Reading

• Will NFV standards address orchestration in the near future?

  NFV standards for orchestration are affected by the number of standards groups and service providers' individual approaches, says SDN expert Lee Doyle.Continue Reading

• Start your hybrid cloud implementation off on the right foot

  Hybrid cloud storage has garnered a lot of interest because it offers cost savings and scalability. But there are some key concerns to think about before you dive in.Continue Reading

• VMware's vCenter HA makes up for vCenter Server shortcomings

  VMware vCenter 6 High Availability saves administrators the time and effort of having to log in to hosts individually to track down vCenter should they forget to restrict it.Continue Reading

• Compare the best Linux distros for enterprise servers

  Any of the popular Linux distributions can run on enterprise servers, but here's how to decide which is best for you. Compare SUSE, Red Hat, Oracle and Ubuntu Linux OSes.Continue Reading

• Choose the best Google cloud instance types for your workloads

  Not all workloads are the same -- some require more CPUs, while other require more memory. Fortunately, Google's range of cloud instance types offers enterprises a lot of options.Continue Reading

• Agent vs. agentless: Monitoring choices for diverse IT ops needs

  All management tools must run on a device, but the standards for agent and agentless monitoring vary widely. The determination is easier once you understand monitoring data needs.Continue Reading

• Keep tabs on the following data storage startup vendors in 2017

  Our list of the top data storage startups to watch offers products for containers, data analytics, in-memory databases, NVMe flash and object storage.Continue Reading

• Four criteria for evaluating public cloud storage providers

  Prior to selecting a public cloud service provider, it's essential that you understand what each vendor offers and how their services can best meet your organization's needs.Continue Reading

• Consider these Linux I/O scheduler options for storage performance

  To optimize Linux performance, IT teams should examine the I/O scheduler currently in use, and evaluate alternatives, such as deadline and Completely Fair Queuing.Continue Reading

• Build a data center shutdown procedure to prepare for the worst

  A data center shutdown checklist helps IT teams focus on backup, testing and system verification before pulling the plug and losing valuable information.Continue Reading

• Focus attention on a cognitive data management system

  Jon Toigo advises paying less attention to storage component stories and more to system-focused narratives such as a cognitive data management process.Continue Reading

• Hyper-convergence meets private cloud platform requirements

  Infrastructure choice and integration are fundamental to capitalizing on all that a private cloud environment has to offer your organization.Continue Reading

• Perform a PaaS pricing comparison for public cloud

  When choosing a platform, enterprises need to focus on features and prices for Azure, Google and AWS. Take a look under the hood before you take it for a spin.Continue Reading

• Why -- and how -- BizDevOps is going to change everything

  BizDevOps is the latest in software development approaches and is considered a next-gen DevOps. Find all there is to know about this trend and why businesses are racing after it.Continue Reading

• How eMMC 5.0 can improve your organization's small storage needs

  The latest eMMC specification puts the tiny flash storage devices on a level playing field with many SSDs when it comes to speed -- but eMMC is still the smallest flash drive.Continue Reading

• Why orchestration services are important in the DevOps age

  Automation and orchestration services are critical for modern IT systems to function well. Learn more about how these functions facilitate IT processes and workflows.Continue Reading

• Identifying the IT operations analytics product your enterprise needs

  This guide to IT operations analytics tools explains how ITOA works so networking pros can determine the most important features and assess vendor offerings.Continue Reading

• Real-time app development helps minimize delays

  The differences between real-time and near real-time application development are invisible to the naked eye, but everyone suffers from delays in app builds and execution.Continue Reading

• Juniper launches hybrid cloud network services on Amazon

  Juniper Networks is offering its MX router and SRX firewall on the Amazon cloud. Hybrid cloud network services are available on the Amazon Marketplace.Continue Reading

• Four top products leading the way in multicloud management

  In this multicloud review, see the top multicloud management products. How do they approach different cloud environments, and what separates them from each other?Continue Reading

• Practice cloud resource management to reduce sprawl, cut costs

  Some organizations go overboard with cloud deployments, paying for more resources than they actually need. Follow these steps to decrease wastefulness and increase cost efficiency.Continue Reading

• Differences between SSD caching and tiering technologies

  Brien Posey looks at popular ways of using SSD as cache, including write-around, write-through and write-back, as well as how the technology compares with SSD tiering.Continue Reading

• Three advances making NFV deployments better for the business

  NFV deployments made progress this year, thanks to three significant developments, but will they be enough to make NFV's business case more compelling among other industry changes?Continue Reading

• Use these DevOps examples to reimagine an IT organization

  These before and after DevOps adoption stories from real IT organizations yield insights into processes and tools, metrics for success and mistakes made.Continue Reading

• What alternatives to HTTP are there for microservices?

  Using HTTP as the bus for traffic between microservices can create some unwanted impacts, including more TCP/IP overhead. Mark Betz goes over some useful alternatives to HTTP.Continue Reading

• DevOps capabilities vary widely by industry vertical

  DevOps isn't the same from one IT shop to another, let alone from healthcare to retail IT. Some verticals rise higher than others when it comes to agility and communication.Continue Reading

• WAN access options multiply when buying network services

  A new menu of WAN access options means companies have a wide variety of means to reach cloud and network services. But more choice also means more potential pitfalls.Continue Reading

• Which caching engines does Amazon ElastiCache support?

  Amazon ElastiCache supports Redis and Memcached as in-memory caching engines. What are the main features of each and how do they differ?Continue Reading

• Custom AWS metrics maximize use of CloudWatch Logs

  Unlike standard app dev methods, serverless computing with AWS Lambda does not enable easy debugging. These tools can help developers keep an eye out for Lambda errors.Continue Reading

• The steps in selecting the right configuration management system

  Configuration management helps enterprises standardize IT systems and eases updates. This guide assists buyers in selecting the right tools for their CM systems.Continue Reading

• CN Tower climbs heights with mobile engagement platform

  The CN Tower, Canada's tallest building, implements an Aruba mobile engagement platform to connect with customers.Continue Reading

• With Amazon cloud storage, know what's in store

  Amazon cloud storage comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. There's Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Glacier and Elastic Block Store (EBS), among others. Which is right for your organization -- and in which uses? And what else is on the market? ...Continue Reading

• How to implement DevOps in AWS

  Implementing DevOps in AWS is serious work, but it might not be the daunting task it seems. AWS supports DevOps efforts by providing services to build, store and deploy applications. DevOps features are accessible in AWS, continuous integration and ...Continue Reading

• CFEngine configuration management tool up close and in-depth

  CFEngine is a widely known and used configuration management tool. Learn about its primary features and functions and if and how your organization could benefit from it.Continue Reading

• Inside Docker configuration management functions

  Docker may not be a standard configuration management tool, but it possesses a set of capabilities that have made it a growing player in the CM market.Continue Reading

• Manage Btrfs snapshots with the SUSE Snapper utility

  Learn how to use Btrfs snapshots with Linux utilities, such as Snapper and GRUB2, to revert back to previous states in the event of a configuration mishap.Continue Reading

• The Cobbler configuration management tool's ins and outs

  Cobbler is a configuration management tool best suited for Linux-based IT environments. Learn more about this tool and if it can benefit your enterprise.Continue Reading

• The white box switching market gets a closer look

  Following years of development, is the potential of the white box switching market finally being realized?Continue Reading

• Are Agile and DevOps methodologies their own worst enemies?

  Can Agile and DevOps learn to get along? Though the two methodologies were hatched in different eras, in some ways they can be seen as kindred spirits, cut from the same cloth of nontraditional approaches to software design, development and project ...Continue Reading

• Google Project Aristotle - 5 Keys to Team Success

  If I picked one word to collectively describe the five components from Project Aristotle, it would have to be value.Continue Reading

• SaltStack configuration management tools and their many functions

  SaltStack is a relatively new tool in the configuration management market with powerful capabilities and an active user community. Read more about this emerging product here.Continue Reading

• What Chef configuration management can do for your IT systems

  Chef configuration management tools possess a huge community of users. Learn more about product versions, capabilities, user resources and what Chef can offer an enterprise.Continue Reading

• With on-premises storage, storage administrators must adapt or perish

  Storage admins show increased interest in and adoption of on-premises storage technologies such as software-defined storage and hybrid clouds.Continue Reading

• Flash storage caching boosts application performance, requires balance

  Chris Evans discusses the benefits to caching flash storage, the trade-offs involved and flash cache models, as well as a handy cheat sheet.Continue Reading

• Overcome cloud performance issues with these quick tips

  Poor performance can have a devastating impact on public, private and hybrid cloud. Use these quick tips to fix performance issues related to cloud apps, APIs and more.Continue Reading

• Boost continuous delivery by developing a unified cloud and DevOps model

  The DevOps model, which more cohesively aligns application development with IT operations tasks and personnel, can play a useful role in an organization's IT modernization effort. When software can be developed in ways that support continuous ...Continue Reading

• Select the best configuration management tools for your company

  What characterizes the best configuration management tools for your company? Read about the different tools available and which ones would address your company needs the best.Continue Reading

• DynamoDB Streams keep database tables in sync

  Developers who want to deploy localized apps in different regions should know about database synchronization challenges. DynamoDB Streams and Lambda can ensure tables are updated.Continue Reading

• Decision criteria for choosing configuration management software

  Selecting the right configuration management software is vital for your company to function well in this modern age. Learn what you need to know in order to select the best tool.Continue Reading

• How application scalability works in event-driven vs. IaaS computing

  Event-driven computing saves IT admins' time and helps application scalability, compared to managing traditional cloud infrastructure. But IaaS and event-driven computing aren't exclusive.Continue Reading

• Before leaving a system administrator job, don't burn any bridges

  Leave on good terms from your system administrator job to avoid burning bridges and to keep a good reputation in the industry. Here are some things to consider before your move.Continue Reading

• Choosing an IaaS provider for traditional vs. cloud native apps

  As IaaS providers expand their portfolios to include more higher-level services, the requirements of your apps -- not just your infrastructure -- should drive vendor choice.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of useful Linux commands with this quiz

  Think you're an expert on useful Linux commands for network and server management? Try your hand at this Linux command quiz to see how much you know about 10 Linux utilities and their use cases.Continue Reading

• Simplifying data storage technologies is hard

  All-flash arrays and hyper-converged storage are two technologies that make it tough to simplify data storage technology.Continue Reading

• Comparing cable types: Fiber vs. copper twisted pair

  What's the difference in fiber vs. copper cables? Key differences include cost, speed and more when it comes to fiber optic and copper twisted-pair cabling options.Continue Reading

• ScienceLogic EM7: Network performance monitor overview

  ScienceLogic EM7 is still a newcomer to the network performance monitoring market, but it offers flexible deployment options, including VMs and software-as-a-service installations.Continue Reading

• Control AWS traffic with routing policies

  AWS offers four routing policies in Amazon Route 53 Traffic Flow. While each option balances heavy traffic loads, admins must consider each policy's specific uses.Continue Reading

• Almost time for SSD flash storage to be used with object storage

  As the price of flash SSD storage continues to fall, it becomes more attractive for object storage, which otherwise counts on big, slow and cheap HDDs.Continue Reading

• Three interface options for remote server monitoring, management

  Remote server management interfaces, such as IPMI, iDRAC and iLO, give data center admins a central location to monitor fan speeds, power supply status, temperature and more.Continue Reading

• Build a cloud redundancy strategy using multiple providers

  No cloud platform is perfect; there is always a risk of an outage or data loss. Consider a multicloud model to ensure redundancy and backup.Continue Reading

• On-premises vs. cloud: What's more cost-effective for your apps?

  Some organizations rush into a cloud migration, assuming cost savings are a guarantee. But not all applications are meant for the public cloud, and moving them may cost you more.Continue Reading

• How can a vSphere Distributed Switch improve your networking experience?

  Tools like the vSphere Distributed Switch help numb the pain of networking by introducing robust network features and aggregating virtual switches into a single distributed switch.Continue Reading

• Three types of mainframe monitoring tools to track performance

  Mainframe users face a variety of options when it comes to system monitoring tools. Determine if a real-time, near-time or post-processor tool is the best fit for your IT needs.Continue Reading

• NAND flash technology is just the beginning

  NAND flash adoption has been as fast as the speed it offers, but faster storage techs such as 3D XPoint and phase-change memory are on their way.Continue Reading

• Hadoop workflow automation lets IT pros go with the flow

  Hadoop workflow managers are not just resource schedulers. They handle intricate tasks and service handoffs that are essential for managing big data services.Continue Reading

• Modern open source systems management

  The open source sector abounds with configuration management, monitoring and analytics, CI/CD tools and more to arm IT teams against failure in complex apps and infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Do your homework to find the right APM/test software

  There are a lot of moving parts involved when deciding on APM/test tools. Choosing the right ones can often be a strenuous process for businesses. There are a variety of questions to consider. For instance, is cost a concern? Are there security ...Continue Reading

• Tape archiving tips for a better storage strategy

  Studies show that tape archives are a comparatively cheaper method of long-term data retention. Explore how to use active archive and other storage technologies with a tape system.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between bit rate and baud rate?

  Learn how to understand the difference between bit rate and baud rate in this expert answer.Continue Reading