Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• Blue Coat ProxySG: Secure Web gateway overview

  With features like authentication and Web filtering, the Blue Coat ProxySG secure Web gateway can be deployed as a physical appliance, a virtual machine or a cloud-based service. Continue Reading

• Open Networking User Group debate: The pro-hardware transcript

  Check out the pro-hardware side of the Open Networking User Group debate at its Fall 2015 conference where hardware squared off against software. Continue Reading

• ONUG 'Great Debate': The pro-software transcript

  Check out the pro-software side of ONUG's debate at its Fall 2015 conference in a hardware versus software faceoff. Continue Reading

• Palo Alto WildFire: Malware sandbox product overview

  Tightly integrated with existing Palo Alto next-generation firewalls, the Palo Alto WildFire cloud-based malware sandbox service supports both public and private cloud deployments. Continue Reading

• Hitachi NAS platform 4000 overview

  The Hitachi NAS platform 4000 series consists of four product models that use a discrete controller that can be attached to almost any Hitachi storage system. Continue Reading

• EMC VNXe3200 midrange NAS system technical overview

  The VNXe3200 from EMC is a NAS system for environments that require midrange network storage solutions.Continue Reading

• Server-side caching has new data center role

  Some server-side caching products have evolved into complete software-defined storage platforms that can aggregate flash across multiple servers.Continue Reading

• EMC Isilon X-Series NAS: Isilon x200, x210 and x410

  The Isilon X-Series is a lineup of NAS systems that support hybrid flash setups. The products are designed for environments with mid-tier network storage needs.Continue Reading

• Purchasing an enterprise SAN: Top-tier products compared

  Expert Jacob Gsoedl drills into eight top-tier enterprise SAN products and how each one performs in seven technical areas. Detailed charts make the information easy to digest.Continue Reading

• EMC Isilon S-Series NAS: Isilon S210 and Isilon S200

  The Isilon S210 and S200 are part of the EMC Isilon S-Series line of NAS systems for data storage environments that require mid-level network storage offerings.Continue Reading

• Change boot settings from a VM BIOS

  Often overlooked, a VM's BIOS is more limited than a physical machine's BIOS, but will allow you to adjust boot settings.Continue Reading

• EMC Isilon NL400 NAS platform

  The EMC Isilon NL400 is a midrange NAS platform with a maximum raw capacity of 210 TB per node. The array is designed specifically for environments that require near-line storage.Continue Reading

• How are microservices and cloud computing related?

  Microservices and cloud are both on the up and up when it comes to enterprise adoption. But what exactly is the connection between the two technologies?Continue Reading

• Application lifecycle management tools finesse app development

  Software development teams in highly competitive marketplaces are constantly under pressure from their companies to be the first to market with the latest and greatest application. That's easier said than done. To streamline the product development ...Continue Reading

• Wireless LAN technology: A buyer's guide

  This SearchNetworking buyer's guide explores wireless LAN technology to help you buy the right wireless LAN equipment for your enterprise.Continue Reading

• Considerations for choosing an OpenStack distribution

  When it comes to choosing an OpenStack distribution, HP, Red Hat, Cisco and others are all viable options. But enterprises should make their decision carefully.Continue Reading

• Top object storage vendor use cases for IT

  Today's object storage vendors provide products that are often the best option for archiving, backup and data lake architectures.Continue Reading

• Kony Studio: A mobile app development platform

  Kony Studio is a mobile app development platform that allows developers to build native or cross-platform apps using a single JavaScript codebase.Continue Reading

• Rally Software the go-to ALM tool for Agile developers

  Rally Software gives Agile developers an ALM tool that, along with customizable dashboards, offers SAFe training and certification.Continue Reading

• Polarion Software offers compliance-focused ALM

  Polarion Software is a browser-based, ALM platform that offers high traceability functions for enterprises with a regulation focus.Continue Reading

• Breaking down the Altassian ALM software suite

  With JIRA, Confluence, HipChat, Bitbucket and Stash, the Atlassian ALM software suite is for enterprises of all sizes that use Agile methodologies.Continue Reading

• HP application lifecycle management: What you need to know

  The HP application lifecycle management suite, HP ALM, offers on-premises or SaaS ALM tools to enterprises small and large.Continue Reading

• How to calculate Exchange 2013 resource requirements

  Inadequate server resources can impair performance and growth. Here's how to calculate megacycles of work and memory requirements for Exchange 2013.Continue Reading

• Visual Studio IDE offers many advantages for developers

  Microsoft's Visual Studio IDE allows development teams to create apps for multiple Windows 10 mobile and desktop platforms, as well as for iOS and Android.Continue Reading

• Learn more about the Android Studio IDE from Google

  Android Studio IDE from Google allows developers to build apps running on mobile, desktop and other emerging technologies running on Android.Continue Reading

• Is a hybrid WAN architecture right for you?

  Hybrid WANs have a lot of benefits, but make sure you understand how they can work in your organization.Continue Reading

• Cost savings for virtualizing servers not yet reality

  Though you've heard for years that virtualizing servers will save money, Jon Toigo argues that the cost of virtualization hasn't lowered.Continue Reading

• Do managed software-defined WAN services make sense?

  By offering managed software-defined WAN services -- and potentially hastening MPLS' demise -- are providers sabotaging themselves? Our expert says no.Continue Reading

• How will software-defined WANs impact the enterprise?

  SD-WAN has a lot of potential for enterprises, especially as developers cobble together custom services and capabilities.Continue Reading

• How do vRealize Automation and vRealize Orchestrator differ?

  VMware offers two products that can help automate cloud management tasks to provide more consistency with the distribution of IT services.Continue Reading

• How does AWS Simple Email Service differ from my email server?

  Our business sends promotional emails and newsletters. We like our current email server, but could AWS Simple Email Service help with our marketing efforts?Continue Reading

• What to know before going all-in with AWS AppStream

  While a valuable service for AWS users looking to connect to different types of devices, AppStream has network and security limitations IT professionals should consider.Continue Reading

• AWS analytics tools help make sense of big data

  The data analytics market is rising with the popularity of cloud computing. As the leader in the public cloud, AWS drives the next generation of big data processing.Continue Reading

• EMC XtremIO storage array

  The XtremIO storage array from EMC is an all-flash system that offers scalability and high performance.Continue Reading

• What is the best archival media type?

  Many archival media types are available, including disk and cloud, but their level of reliability and storage density varies.Continue Reading

• Configure disk volumes to optimize your Exchange 2013 performance

  The wrong disk volumes can foil Exchange optimization practices. Assess your configurations with support and compression in mind.Continue Reading

• Why are object stores a good match for archival data storage?

  Latency in object stores that stems from a large amount of metadata means the technology is better suited to non-transactional data.Continue Reading

• What is the best pattern to use for data persistence?

  When designing an application, developers must decide how to implement data persistence. Brad Irby explains which data persistence pattern to consider.Continue Reading

• What is collaboration and why is it important to Agile methodologies?

  Agile methodologies stress the benefits of collaboration, working with cross-functional teams to encourage communication between business owners and IT.Continue Reading

• What are some good suggestions for code refactoring tools?

  Code refactoring tools are plentiful, so how do you choose the one that's right for you? Brad Irby explains what to look for when choosing a tool.Continue Reading

• Find the right recipe for mobile business apps

  Consumerization is driving changes in IT. Creating mobile business apps is a top concern for many companies. Developing these applications quickly, while ensuring high quality, is an enormous task for testers and project managers. Half-baked or ...Continue Reading

• SDN monitoring means new transitions for engineers

  SDN network management means tools are transforming from listening mode to active mode.Continue Reading

• Cloud-based integration seeks to tear down data silos

  As companies adopt a pantheon of cloud apps, so grows the risk of having isolated bodies of data. The cloud-based integration of far-flung systems can have divine results.Continue Reading

• HUS VM SAN array platform

  The Hitachi Unified Storage VM is a storage array designed for enterprise SAN environments requiring high storage capacities.Continue Reading

• Can I use Mikrotik vs. Cisco switches in a data center?

  I'm purchasing rack-level access switches for an enterprise data center, and weighing Cisco vs. Mikrotik, which is less expensive.Continue Reading

• Your key products for enterprise application integration

  Tom Nolle helps you determine which EAI software product is most appropriate for your company.Continue Reading

• Taking stock of the cloud storage market

  Rich Castagna takes a closer look at the impact of cloud storage, what's preventing more widespread adoption, and the potential of the technology.Continue Reading

• Performance counts when buying a solid-state storage device

  More than half of our surveyed companies are using flash now, with plans to use it for more than just mission-critical apps.Continue Reading

• Testing cloud applications for Azure, Google Cloud

  As software development cycles accelerate, IT must more rapidly test cloud-based applications. The right tools and services can help pick up the pace.Continue Reading

• What separates object storage systems from SDS?

  Although software-defined storage and object storage can work in similar ways, there are significant differences between the two.Continue Reading

• Evaluating OpenStack vs. VMware for private cloud

  OpenStack and VMware are both viable options for hybrid and private cloud. So which one should your organization choose?Continue Reading

• Can a VMware snapshot resurrect a VMDK file?

  Snapshots can be used to undo botched upgrades, but can they be used to rebuild a broken VMDK file?Continue Reading

• Lift and shift vs. re-platforming cloud apps

  When evaluating a new technology, some people like to go all in, with gusto, and adopt it hook line and sinker. Then there are folks whose MO is to take baby steps: Dip a toe in the water and do a lengthy proof of concept. What's right for any given...Continue Reading

• How to define hybrid cloud service-level agreements

  Defining hybrid cloud service-level agreements takes more forethought and planning than traditional SLAs. Here is what you should consider.Continue Reading

• Is there an SDN open source alternative to NSX?

  VMware's NSX and Cisco's ACI platforms have gotten the most attention in the SDN space, but is there room for open source alternatives?Continue Reading

• What's the difference between EMC VNX series and ViPR?

  Brien Posey explains how two of EMC's virtual storage products work and for what use cases they work best.Continue Reading

• Five cons of container technology

  Containers promise rapid scalability, flexibility and ease, but they're not right for every workload.Continue Reading

• Can hyperconverged systems transform the enterprise?

  It's hard to predict which novelties will become mainstays, and which will be has-beens. One current hot technology is hyperconvergence, the subject of Alex Barrett's article in our May issue, "The Hyperconvergence Effect." Is hyperconvergence a ...Continue Reading

• Server performance and benchmark testing guide

  The right back-end servers, tuned for maximum efficacy, make the difference in business-critical applications and services.Continue Reading

• Examine your computing environment before you buy flash storage

  The decision to buy flash storage can overcome many performance issues, but other areas of your computing environment could be contributing factors.Continue Reading

• Is Google's PerfKit a reliable cloud benchmarking tool?

  As the IaaS market grows, choosing the right vendor becomes challenging. Google's PerfKit Benchmarker can help, but will it provide unbiased results?Continue Reading

• Realize the benefits of storage virtualization

  Storage virtualization can come in a number of different forms. Some might consider storage virtualization as software that acts as a control layer to pool capacity from multiple, different vendors. Others might include the several types of products...Continue Reading

• What are data center-class switches?

  Choosing the right switch for your data center can be a difficult task. This article looks at how data center-class switches are evolving in the enterprise to offer flexibility and speed for new traffic flows.Continue Reading

• How the balloon driver helps VM performance

  Using the balloon driver in VMware Tools is a better option for reclaiming RAM from a VM; otherwise there may be a bigger performance issue.Continue Reading

• Advanced threat protection add-on comes to Microsoft EOP

  The ATP add-on for Exchange Online Protection gives on-premises Exchange Server and Office 365 customers another layer of security.Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of memory channel storage

  Memory channel storage is a relatively new technology that allows storage professionals to overcome some of the most limiting storage bottlenecks. Although flash storage is often heralded as providing far greater performance than traditional hard ...Continue Reading

• Why a COTS package requires testing

  Buying COTS systems doesn't necessarily mean security. Learn why COTS testing is needed.Continue Reading

• Will memristor technology replace NAND flash?

  Brien Posey says that with HP working on a memristor-based computer it plans to launch by 2020, the technology could eventually succeed NAND flash.Continue Reading

• SAN basics: All the tools you need to purchase a storage-area network

  Whether you're purchasing a SAN for the first time or looking to upgrade, this guide walks you through the buying process from start to finish.Continue Reading

• The good and the bad of online discussion forums

  What is the value of online discussion forums? This expert sees the good and the bad in online forums.Continue Reading

• Exploring capabilities, costs of Microsoft Azure cloud

  Microsoft Azure targets enterprises that want to connect their existing data centers to the cloud. But is Azure the best bet for your organization?Continue Reading

• Getting a handle on Google Cloud Platform options

  With a range of options for big data, storage and more, Google Cloud Platform has become the public cloud of choice for many enterprise users.Continue Reading

• Comparing features, tiers and pricing of PaaS vendors

  As cloud services become more complex and customized, the harder they are to evaluate. An expert offers advice for evaluating PaaS vendors.Continue Reading

• What are SR-IOV pros and cons with Hyper-V?

  SR-IOV in Windows Server 2012 R2 supports Hyper-V Live Migration, but system requirements hampered adoption for some cases. Should everyone put PCIe SR-IOV to use?Continue Reading

• HP MSA 2040 storage array

  The HP MSA 2040 is a rack-mountable modular storage array for SAN environments that includes increased support for virtualization.Continue Reading

• Amazon earnings numbers show AWS success, IaaS growth

  Amazon finally broke out AWS numbers in its recent earnings report, quieting critics and proving it's a viable IaaS cloud provider for the enterprise.Continue Reading

• Tracking VMware's expansion from humble beginnings

  VMware got its start by overcoming the technical hurdles of server virtualization and now faces other barriers as it expands its reach to other markets.Continue Reading

• EMC VMAX Series storage arrays

  The EMC VMAX is a family of SAN arrays designed for enterprise environments requiring large amounts of storage.Continue Reading

• Horizon View Direct-Connection Plugin streamlines configuration

  The Direct-Connection Plugin lets Horizon View users connect to a virtual desktop without connecting to a Connection Server first.Continue Reading

• What are the limitations and drawbacks of an IPAM server?

  Windows Server IPAM can only handle one Active Directory forest. Learn about other limitations.Continue Reading

• Taming data center disturbances with vRealize Operations Manager

  As more workloads and servers are virtualized, the vSphere administrator will need some kind of tool to help keep an eye on resources and make intelligent choices.Continue Reading

• Elastic Load Balancing tricks for AWS applications

  Improperly configuring Elastic Load Balancing and Auto Scaling Groups in Elastic Beanstalk can harm AWS app performance. Avoid these setup mistakes.Continue Reading

• Understanding public cloud risks and costs

  Public cloud boasts a number of enterprise benefits, but it isn't perfect. Enterprises should be aware of unpredictable cost structures and other drawbacks.Continue Reading

• Unlock the potential of a converged system for storage

  Converged storage offerings package compute, storage and networking together for easy deployment and cost savings. Two of the primary benefits of converged infrastructure systems are enhanced time to production and a potential for cost savings. A ...Continue Reading

• Survive and thrive in cloud DevOps

  Research shows that more companies are adopting DevOps, or the blending of an organization’s application development and systems operations teams. Cloud DevOps is a natural fit for many organizations because it enables faster development and ...Continue Reading

• Hewlett-Packard 3PAR StoreServ 7000 Series Storage Arrays

  The HP 3PAR StoreServ 7000 series is a line of storage arrays designed for enterprise SAN environments.Continue Reading

• What's the effect of network switch buffer in a data center?

  What's causing buffer? How much buffer should ideally be available in a network switch? Is there any standard available for buffer?Continue Reading

• Cache networks for better mobile application performance

  Architects find they can improve mobile application performance by leveraging caching networks and new data synchronization protocols.Continue Reading

• Agile Manifesto: Both timeless and outdated?

  The Agile Manifesto changed the way we look at the software development process. Today, the Manifesto is outdated in some ways and timeless in others.Continue Reading

• How do I size the physical server to host virtual machines?

  I want to convert a physical machine to a virtual machine. How can I select and size the right server infrastructure to host VMs?Continue Reading

• Connect the dots to uncover Replication RPO violations

  When attempting to troubleshoot an RPO violation in vSphere Replication, the underlying cause is oftentimes more complex than it appears on the surface.Continue Reading

• Three traits of continuous software development

  What is 'continuous' in software development? Combining iterative development with automation produces code so quickly it is now thought of as continuous.Continue Reading

• Tape vs. disk: Which offers the greatest energy efficiency?

  Jon Toigo looks at the factors that determine whether disk or tape is more energy-efficient.Continue Reading

• Three reasons why object storage is a good HDFS alternative

  HDFS manages data across dispersed nodes, but an object storage system that leverages commodity storage can be a compelling alternative.Continue Reading

• Watch online: Effective approaches to AWS cloud monitoring

  AWS administrators can monitor AWS Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances using native tools like CloudWatch, but those native tools don’t always get to the heart of the matter. This handbook examines third-party cloud management tools that can help ...Continue Reading

• Three apps in which Docker containers really shine

  Docker containers offer a variety of benefits. But apply the software to these three application types to get the biggest bang for your buck.Continue Reading

• Vendors predict the future of data storage 2015

  The future of data storage isn’t easy to predict. While some vendors see it clearly, others prove that, going into 2015, their crystal balls may be a little hazy.Continue Reading

• Atlantis USX 2.0

  Atlantis Computing's USX 2.0 claims the silver medal in the storage system software category in Storage magazine's Products of the Year competition.Continue Reading

• Nimble CS700

  Nimble Storage adds a higher-capacity model to its iSCSI hybrid arrays, plus an all-flash shelf to bulk up performance.Continue Reading

• Scality Inc. Ring 5.0

  Scality's Ring 5.0 software-defined storage shares the bronze award in the Products of the Year storage system software category with VMware's VSAN.Continue Reading