Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• HP OneView for VMware vCenter 7.4.2

  HP OneView for VMware vCenter management software provides a complete look into virtual environments, spanning both physical and virtual layers. Continue Reading

• DeveloperWeek 2015: Dev techies unite in San Francisco

  DeveloperWeek 2015 is one of the largest tech events in the country. Find out the latest news from the show. Continue Reading

• Can you virtualize a NetBackup master server?

  I have only seen companies deploy a NetBackup master server on a physical server. Are there any drawbacks to using a VM as a NetBackup master server? Continue Reading

• AWS vs. Google comparison guide

  AWS and Google are slugging it out in the public cloud ring -- going blow for blow on price and features. How do they compare on performance and cost? Continue Reading

• What's the difference between 'usable' and 'effective' flash capacity?

  Vendors often publish numbers for 'usable' capacity versus 'effective' capacity. Can you explain this and how can you plan flash capacity needs with these numbers in mind? Continue Reading

• Here and there: Blending on-premises and cloud environments

  Data center technologies and strategies are evolving toward a blend of infrastructures that reside partly on-premises and partly in the cloud. More and more, IT shops are being asked to coordinate technology resources rather than simply control them...Continue Reading

• How do I use SR-IOV for Hyper-V VMs?

  Single Root I/O Virtualization, or SR-IOV, can help reduce latency and increase I/O throughput when enabled for Hyper-V VMs.Continue Reading

• When should I use global file locking in the cloud?

  According to analyst George Crump, global file locking isn't required for single-office cloud users, but for multisite organizations it is a top requirement in a cloud service.Continue Reading

• How microservices bring agility to SOA

  Learn about a new style of application development called microservices and how it is bringing Agile development to classic SOA services.Continue Reading

• Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud features explained

  AWS EC2 is a cloud service that's easy to use and easy to set up if companies understand its many facets and features.Continue Reading

• Advantages of Amazon RDS vs. a personal relational database

  One of the advantages of developers using Amazon RDS instead of managing their own databases is that it reduces or eliminates their administrative responsibilities.Continue Reading

• When and how to use the AWS Command Line Interface

  Sometimes a command line is needed for application management. Learn how and when to use the AWS Command Line Interface.Continue Reading

• Eight data center technologies to test in the new year

  As the hype from 2014 dissipates, the new year rings in hot new technologies. IoE, hybrid clouds and other tech innovations make the data center run more efficiently.Continue Reading

• How are SSD garbage collection, wear leveling and TRIM different?

  While using solid-state drives in a vSphere environment can give a boost to VMs that require high performance, it's important to know how certain longevity features function in the storage hardware.Continue Reading

• Linux network configuration turns positively wicked

  Wicked replaces a lot of old Linux network configuration commands and utilities in SLES 12, making the OS more cloud friendly.Continue Reading

• It's time to redefine the enterprise file sync-and-share market

  Today's enterprise file sync-and-share products do so much more than synchronizing data that it might be time to re-think the moniker.Continue Reading

• 2015 cloud predictions: What to expect

  Contributor George Lawton spoke with many industry experts to discuss 2015 cloud predictions.Continue Reading

• API security more critical as componentization grows

  Securing APIs is critical as componentization grows. Expert Tom Nolle suggests that an API's security attributes are as important as functional attributes.Continue Reading

• What criteria are most important when evaluating cloud storage costs?

  With cloud storage pricing models varying so much, it makes sense to compare summaries of these criteria to be sure you make the right choice.Continue Reading

• Are there intellectual property issues with SaaS tools?

  Should businesses worry about intellectual property when using SaaS tools? Read this expert response to find out.Continue Reading

• Amazon Cognito offers back-end support in multi-device world

  Users working on multiple devices want access to customized app environments. Cognito creates a back end for identity management and gives those users a consistent experience.Continue Reading

• A cloud management tools comparison guide

  With its complex nature, cloud management can get bumpy at times. Luckily, cloud management tools from VMware, Dell and others can help.Continue Reading

• IBM Tivoli software for enterprise system management

  IBM Tivoli enterprise system management products are designed to manage all aspects of a data center, including storage, monitoring and automation.Continue Reading

• Dell OpenManage enterprise system management overview

  Dell's OpenManage product suite provides tools and modules to manage both Dell and third-party IT infrastructures.Continue Reading

• How is big data changing data archiving strategies?

  Analyst Jon Toigo explains why performing analytics on big data sets means that data is no longer considered cold, reducing the importance of archives.Continue Reading

• Archiving methods: Smart meta tags, archive in place and FLAPE

  Jon Toigo outlines several archiving techniques, the technologies that make them run smoothly, and explains why data classification is crucial.Continue Reading

• What are some vCloud Director features for cloud management?

  In virtualization's evolution from servers to the cloud, VMware has several offerings for managing resources in virtual data centers.Continue Reading

• Cloud data security comes with hefty price tag

  As attacks on IT systems with sensitive data continue, cloud security becomes a top concern. Users won't find the best security practices on a clearance rack.Continue Reading

• OpenStack features, services creating industry buzz

  OpenStack features, including portability, security and storage are prompting vendors and IT pros alike to support the open source cloud platform.Continue Reading

• Which IBM 3592 tape cartridge has the highest capacity?

  There are a bunch of IBM 3592 'J' tape designations. How do you order the right capacity for your tape drives? Do you take compression into account?Continue Reading

• Five tools to improve embedded software testing efforts

  Embedded software testing tools are useful for catching defects during unit, integration and system testing. Here are five such tools that can make testing easier.Continue Reading

• Web services vs. cloud services: Are they the same?

  Learn how Web services and cloud services differ, and how working together impacts business efficiency.Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of using an object storage system with file access?

  With increasingly demanding workloads, NAS systems can have a hard time keeping up. Can using NAS with an object storage option relieve some of these problems?Continue Reading

• Where JMS 2.0 misses the mark

  JMS 2.0 added significant ease-of-use and messaging features to the popular API. Bill Claybrook looks at what's new in JMS 2.0 and what's missing.Continue Reading

• Five mobile testing tools for developers to consider

  This review of five mobile testing tools, Appium, Selendroid, ios-driver, Sauce Labs and Perfecto Mobile, will kick-start your research in a growing software market.Continue Reading

• Read and write considerations when designing APIs

  This is the third installment of a four-part series offering enterprise architects advice for designing APIs.Continue Reading

• How do you define data center size, density?

  With shifts in the scale and density of data centers, one industry organization is drawing up ways to standardize how we talk about data center size and power needs.Continue Reading

• How can an enterprise benefit from using a VMware vApp?

  By developing a virtual appliance technology, VMware has given businesses a way to both bundle and manage multiple VMs into a single package.Continue Reading

• Hidden vulnerabilities on your IIS 8 servers

  IIS 8 isn't completely immune to security flaws. Here are some vulnerabilities you might be missing.Continue Reading

• A data center checklist for facility design and IT ops

  Choose the right data center provider or facility now, and prevent costly errors and inadequate services later.Continue Reading

• How does Exchange Native Data Protection work?

  Take a look at what Exchange Native Data Protection does in Exchange 2013 to decide if it fits into your organization.Continue Reading

• In-rack and in-row cooling options for any data center

  Say no to CRAC and consider more selective data center cooling options. In-rack and in-row cooling systems are efficient and optimally dispel heat.Continue Reading

• Three ways to measure wireless network performance

  Trying to find ways to assess your wireless network performance? Here are some tools that can help.Continue Reading

• Is Agile requirement gathering that different from waterfall?

  Does moving to Agile development eliminate up-front requirements gathering? Does it mean the development team takes responsibility for requirements instead of the business side?Continue Reading

• Answering common VMware NSX platform questions

  VMware's network virtualization product promises both flexibility and security in one of the few areas where innovation has lagged in the data center.Continue Reading

• API innovation through management tools

  Editor Jan Stafford presents the API handbook with insight on API innovations.Continue Reading

• What's the best data center network topology?

  You need to know these most common data center network topologies, and check out a host of alternative topologies waiting in the wings.Continue Reading

• The case for a leaf-spine data center topology

  Three-layer network designs are last season's topology. The leaf-spine model is coming in hot, but can the advantages made data center designers forget about the weaknesses?Continue Reading

• SAN storage systems purchases driven by capacity, performance

  Anticipated year-over-year capacity growth of 24% and the need to boost the performance of existing applications is driving new SAN storage systems.Continue Reading

• The need for application-aware storage

  Server virtualization leads to unpredictable workloads. Application-aware storage could be the answer.Continue Reading

• Centralized versus rack-mount UPS in telecom rooms

  How does a rack-mount UPS stack up against a central data center UPS for telecom rooms? Money doesn't necessarily mean power.Continue Reading

• Benefits of Amazon SES in the enterprise

  Marketing firms and online gaming companies often look for less expensive ways to send bulk email to customers or would-be buyers. Here's a look at what Amazon SES has to offer.Continue Reading

• What is the relationship between cache technology, CPU and RAM?

  As flash memory caching is on its way in because of its cost and non-volatile nature, RAM may be on its way out the door, says analyst Jon Toigo.Continue Reading

• Storage vs. database: Moving data to the AWS cloud

  David Linthicum reviews the benefits of database choices from Amazon Web Services and the advantages of leveraging object storage like Simple Storage Service as a storage category.Continue Reading

• Business application hosting on-premises vs. cloud options

  Is it better to look for a SaaS version of an app, put it in your own data center on existing equipment, or host it at a cloud provider for a mix of flexible scaling and IT ownership?Continue Reading

• Is the cost of cloud storage really cheaper than traditional storage?

  Cloud storage can be less expensive from a cost-per-gigabyte perspective, but it's important not to lose sight of other benefits as a value proposition.Continue Reading

• What should I consider when using SSD cloud?

  Using solid-state in the cloud can boost performance, but first be sure you look past cost per gigabyte and are aware of any constraints from providers.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between a storage snapshot and a clone?

  Cloning and snapshotting can both be good approaches to disaster recovery. Learn what environments are best suited to each.Continue Reading

• Umpqua Bank employs NSX, micro-segmentation for enterprise security

  Umpqua Bank's Sam Guidice tells how the organization deployed VMware's NSX as part of its effort to utilize micro-segmentation for enterprise security.Continue Reading

• Redundant cloud storage ensures high availability

  Redundant cloud storage gateways and redundant WAN links help companies avoid protection gaps that could result in outages or data loss.Continue Reading

• Are there any downsides to using VMware thin provisioning?

  Storage should be monitored carefully when using VMware's thin provisioning feature to avoid slower performance and potentially maxing out capacity.Continue Reading

• Accelerate dynamic content with AWS CloudFront

  Use AWS CloudFront to optimize the delivery of static content to users and to accelerate dynamic content. This makes the service more useful for non-video-related apps, such as speeding the distribution of user-generated and personalized content.Continue Reading

• What's better? An OVF or an OVA file?

  What is an OVA file and how does it compare to an Open Virtualization Format package?Continue Reading

• CI success depends on quality acceptance criteria

  Successful continuous integration requires testable acceptance criteria that help to guide developers.Continue Reading

• How Apple iOS MAC address spoofing affects location-based services

  Apple iOS 8 will add a MAC address spoofing feature to iPhones and iPads for wireless privacy. It could interfere with Wi-Fi location-based services used by many consumer-facing businesses.Continue Reading

• NVDIMM vs. memory channel flash storage

  Marc Staimer of Dragon Slayer Consulting compares NVDIMM and memory channel flash, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each.Continue Reading

• Memory channel flash storage vs. PCIe flash storage

  Marc Staimer compares memory channel flash storage with PCIe connected flash and offers insight on the advantages and disadvantages of each.Continue Reading

• Arista switch pioneers 100 GbE uplinks in top-of-rack

  Arista announced top-of-rack 7280E with 100 GbE uplinks. It also released an optic that allows a migration from 10 to 40 GbE without a fiber upgrade.Continue Reading

• Denser is better: Increased storage and server density

  For storage and servers, being dense is good. Careful planning can maximize the benefits of greater computing densities while minimizing potential risks.Continue Reading

• Microsoft cloud storage may lift Azure skyward

  Microsoft will continue to blare its Azure cloud next week with several cloud storage announcements. Will users listen this time?Continue Reading

• Will MPLS traffic engineering technology help you?

  MPLS traffic engineering can improve VPN performance to ensure data travels the most efficient path.Continue Reading

• GENEVE primer: The answer to network virtualization interoperability?

  The GENEVE network encapsulation protocol is more flexible than VXLAN and NVGRE. Will it bring interoperability to network virtualization overlays?Continue Reading

• How to buy: Assessing next-gen firewalls

  Is there a next-gen firewall in your future? Our How to Buy guide offers advice you need to ensure you purchase the best platform to meet your needs.Continue Reading

• Don't ignore this great wireless training resource

  Online wireless support communities are a great resource for IT professionals who need their questions answered quickly.Continue Reading

• Dell's latest tactic centers on cloud broker service

  Dell's upcoming cloud broker service is its latest in a string of cloud strategies. Will this one be the winner?Continue Reading

• What is object storage technology (and why should you care)?

  Object technology offers scalability, economical operation and better data management; but it's very different from file and block storage systems.Continue Reading

• What you need to know about flash caching

  Using solid-state storage as cache can boost server and application performance dramatically, but the kind of flash cache you choose is critical.Continue Reading

• Deconstructing the storage algorithm

  Jon Toigo examines the four steps of the storage algorithm, and concludes that the current storage equation just doesn't add up.Continue Reading

• AWS vs. Azure face-off: cloud costs, commitments and SLAs

  IT pros may find it tough to compare AWS and Azure. But we decode their free and paid plans, as well as costs, SLAs and more.Continue Reading

• Docker 1.0 the beginning of the end for virtualization?

  Docker continues to steal the cloud spotlight with its latest lightweight release, but what does it mean for the future of heavyweight virtualization?Continue Reading

• Microsoft, Google claw for cloud market share with AWS

  Amazon has dominated the early stages of cloud. With Microsoft and Google getting stronger, can AWS keep a stranglehold on the market in the future?Continue Reading

• OpenStack talk of open source town, but is it hype?

  OpenStack garnered a lot of hype over the past four years, and many companies got behind the open source platform. Has it met the high expectations?Continue Reading

• Flash storage: Guide to all-flash storage arrays

  TechTarget's all-flash storage array guide navigates the hotly contested market with a comparison chart and snapshot profiles of 15 products.Continue Reading

• How many VMs per host is too many?

  The ultimate host server welcomes hundreds of virtual machines. But that doesn't mean consolidation should outrank performance.Continue Reading

• Two critical components of DevOps success

  DevOps appears to be the right track for enterprise IT, but it’s a big change in the way things work and won't succeed without these two critical components.Continue Reading

• Violin 6000 arrays feature proprietary flash modules, memory fabric

  Violin 6000 Series all-flash storage arrays use proprietary flash modules, memory fabric architecture and RAID to improve performance and latency.Continue Reading

• What's the best Linux OS for your enterprise data center?

  With several updates to supported Linux OSes, how do you know which to run in your data center? This guide will help you make an informed decision.Continue Reading

• Sizing, pricing Amazon Web Services EC2 instance types

  Bill Claybrook compares complex sizing and pricing issues when choosing EC2 instance types.Continue Reading

• How Amazon CloudWatch provides automated APM tools

  Amazon CloudWatch provides AWS customers with automated APM tools that they can use to keep applications and businesses running smoothly.Continue Reading

• Analyzing VMware vCHS for the cloud consumer

  In direct competition with Amazon's IaaS, VMware vCloud Hybrid Service differentiates itself from the pack with several features.Continue Reading

• Where are Citrix and VMware headed with end-user products?

  In this podcast, we shed light on Citrix and VMware end-user product roadmaps with a recent news recap and an interview with VMware CTO Kit Colbert.Continue Reading

• AWS mobile development tools hold steady lead

  AWS mobile tools are able to stay ahead of other mobile development vendors' tools.Continue Reading

• Four points of archiving data on AWS S3

  Storing archives on S3 can be a cost-effective option with proper planning and long-term management.Continue Reading

• Amazon Kinesis benefits and alternatives

  Amazon made waves with the release of Kinesis, but companies should know its ups and downs before blindly adopting AWS's service.Continue Reading

• How to estimate the lifespan of backup tape media

  Brien Posey offers advice on how to estimate the useful lifespan of backup tape media based on how it is used, in this Expert Answer.Continue Reading

• How to leverage the power of open source BPM

  Establishing a relationship with open source BPM providers can help users quickly resolve technical issues and reduce internal IT staff.Continue Reading

• Traditional IT silos face a hostile software-defined environment

  Think you got rid of data center silos when you adopted virtualization? Not so fast. Software-defined data center tools promise more silo-busting.Continue Reading

• Working with OpenStack storage: Tips on Cinder, Swift and the cloud

  This guide explores the block, object and cloud storage offerings from OpenStack, one of the most sought-after open source storage platforms.Continue Reading

• Successful DevOps practices from the start

  Here's all you need to know to get started with DevOps, from identifying goals and roadblocks, to useful tools to scale DevOps to the next level.Continue Reading

• Agile application lifecycle management is not an oxymoron

  Learn how Agile application lifecycle management supports the development process for better software and business needs.Continue Reading