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Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

• Set Salt configuration management free without a master

  Salt configurations usually involve at least one minion controlled by a master, but that's not always necessary. See how to use Salt to run a single machine in masterless mode. Continue Reading

• Select the right cloud regions, availability zones to optimize costs

  Cloud computing can bring a multitude of unexpected costs. To stay within budget, evaluate the costs associated with regions and availability zones. Continue Reading

• Advanced shell scripting for IT ops professionals: Free chapter

  Shell scripts can improve speed and automation for sys admins beyond what's possible with graphical user interfaces. Dana French's books cover advanced shell scripting for experienced users. Continue Reading

• Tap PowerShell DSC resources to automate web server construction

  Administrators will create numerous IIS web servers during their IT careers. With Desired State Configuration, admins can automate this task with cleaner results. Continue Reading

• Staring down the security issues in cloud computing

  Adoption of cloud computing has no doubt been slowed by worries about the security of those out-of-sight servers and resources. While reasonable, those worries have given way over time to acceptance and even optimism.

  In this month's Modern ... Continue Reading

• How types of noise in data communication systems affect the network

  Learn about the different types of noise in data communication -- including thermal, intermodulation, cross-talk, impulse and shot noise -- and how they can affect your network.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

• A cure for secondary data storage services blues

  Effective user-centric data storage management eases copy data management and object storage uptake while enabling secondary storage services to evolve.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

• Storage plays catch-up with DevOps environment

  To deliver an Agile or DevOps environment, the way in which resources, including storage, are consumed and deployed changes to a more cloud-focused approach.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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Set up Docker container networking for real production workloads

  A technology as old as data centers -- networking -- threatens to derail the next new thing. Smart networking choices make Docker container deployments functional and organized.Continue Reading

• Announcing the best data storage products of 2016!

  This year marks the 15^th edition of the Storage magazine and SearchStorage.com Products of the Year awards, recognizing the best storage products of the past year. Nominated products competed across six categories, with the top in ...Continue Reading

• The data storage capacity growth survival guide

  You can keep your storage investments in place, allow for capacity increases, and solve performance and application problems, while gathering data to plan for new growth.Continue Reading

• Cloud security tips to consider when mulling external data centers

  The old security rules don't apply when moving workloads to the cloud. These cloud security tips will help you make the right decision.Continue Reading

• How to manage microservices with a container registry

  Container registries will help to compile and store images. Get a better understanding of popular registry products and services.Continue Reading

• Optimize PHP with finely tuned IT resources and settings

  Application ops should address the elephant in the room -- poorly optimized PHP -- to speed load and processing times.Continue Reading

• New telecom transformation goals require service automation

  Restarting a telecom transformation means putting business goals first and technology choices second, and making the service process more efficient through automation.Continue Reading

• How to keep microservices performance from going south

  Microservices can streamline development, but at what cost? Kurt Marko discusses the potential performance impacts and how to implement proper microservices performance management.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

• 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

• What should my dimensions be for a data center building design?

  Don't get hung up on data center dimensions in the design phase. Focus on length-to-width ratios to get the most out of data center space, power and cooling.Continue Reading

• Five data center certifications admins need to know

  Data center certifications, including those from VMware and Cisco, can provide a career boost for admins. Consider taking one of these five exams to expand your knowledge.Continue Reading

• Showback the value of your data storage expertise

  To demonstrate value, IT must provide an easy-to-understand cost model to its business leaders. This has fostered IT showback projects. Yet showback isn't easy to achieve.Continue Reading

• Ease migrations with Windows Server Migration Tools cmdlets

  An in-place Windows Server upgrade is easier than a server migration. When an upgrade isn't possible, admins can ease the transition with a Microsoft snap-in.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

• Set up a virtual home lab to learn OpenStack and more on your own time

  There are many reasons to set up a virtual home lab, not least of all for career advancement and learning. Occasionally, it can be fun too.Continue Reading

• Release management best practices for every IT team

  No one likes an app that implodes once it reaches production. IT operations teams can save themselves some headaches by implementing release management from the initial design on.Continue Reading

• Simplify your platform with IT systems management tools

  So much effort goes into simply keeping an IT infrastructure up and running. Imagine what more could be accomplished once you automate some of those tasks with IT systems management tools.Continue Reading

• A SaltStack tutorial to start mastering data center minions

  With a basic understanding of SaltStack minions, modules, grains and other concepts, IT administrators have the power to scale up configurations.Continue Reading

• CMDB best practices remain out of reach for many IT shops: Free chapter

  Most IT pros know what a CMDB is, but mastering the database and asset management is difficult -- though not impossible.Continue Reading

• Should I allow SSH tunneling connections through the firewall?

  Allowing users to tunnel through a firewall to access any site creates a security risk. How big of a risk is it? It depends on how much you trust your users.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

• How can I ensure that my tape backup technology is secure?

  With the portability of tapes and the ability to store terabytes of data on a single cartridge, appropriate security of tape backup storage is imperative.Continue Reading

• Security issues in cloud computing

  While the cloud may be flexible and cost-efficient, a lack of data safeguards and compliance standards makes security the largest hurdle to leap.Continue Reading

• Mobile edge computing promises wide variety of uses

  Mobile edge computing can bring applications and data closer to the end user, resulting in lower latency and better data analytics for network virtualization and IoT.Continue Reading

• Ways to make the application deployment process clear and flexible

  The application deployment manual must be flexible, and short enough to actually follow. A process that can't change with the evolving IT system isn't of much use to anyone.Continue Reading

• Understanding Exchange Online's Role-Based Access Control model

  The Role-Based Access Control model manages and evaluates permissions in Exchange Online. Admins can explore the model, create new permissions and customize roles.Continue Reading

• Network engineering tools changing as cloud shift pressures profession

  As more companies examine the cloud, network engineering tools are changing, requiring engineers to rethink and recraft their job descriptions.Continue Reading

• Use Windows PowerShell DSC to construct file servers from scratch

  Administrators can take control over the deployment of common resources, such as Windows-based file servers, using PowerShell Desired State Configuration.Continue Reading

• Data analytics metrics can be the answer to optimized app performance

  How do you measure the success of an application development project? Software developers wrestle with this question during every stage of the process while under the gun to get their project out the door and into the marketplace. The answer lies in...Continue Reading

• Use elicitation techniques to discover software requirements

  Discovering project requirements can be challenging. An expert offers elicitation techniques you can use to discover business and software requirements.Continue Reading

• Networked cloud emerges to meet evolving infrastructure needs

  Some enterprise network managers are beginning to move networking out to the cloud, as they sort out how to best meet their organizations' evolving infrastructure needs.Continue Reading

• How do AWS IAM permissions manage resource access?

  We use AWS Identity and Access Management for cloud security, but aren't sure how roles, permissions and policies differ in a cloud security strategy. How do they protect resources?Continue Reading

• Benefits of moving from EC2-Classic to VPC

  AWS replaced EC2-Classic instances with Virtual Private Cloud to help enterprises better secure networks and resources. Here's how the two instances differ and how to migrate to VPC.Continue Reading

• Intent-driven networking reshaping network service delivery

  When configuring a network, engineers often focus on individual tasks to enable network service delivery. Intent-driven networking transfers the focus to the overall network.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

• Don't migrate apps to the cloud without considering the costs

  For many organizations, the public cloud is a way to cut costs -- but some apps may be costing you more in the cloud than you think. Find out which enterprise apps are better left on premises.Continue Reading

• Know how to handle IT incident management to avoid chaos

  When an important application goes down, you'd better have the right IT incident management processes and procedures in place to fix it.Continue Reading

• Log Parser Studio provides flexibility for Exchange troubleshooting

  Administrators can use default queries in Log Parser Studio or modify existing queries to analyze logs and troubleshooting Exchange issues.Continue Reading

• Mimic production with the right staging environment

  With public or private cloud templates, it becomes easy to copy your production IT environment for staging new code as often as development needs it.Continue Reading

• Making a storage capacity plan that doesn't bust your budget

  Storage capacity is growing at a rapid rate and by using the latest innovations in storage technologies it is possible to meet demands without growing your storage budget apace.Continue Reading

• Amidst complex infrastructures, network visualization is needed

  Today's networks are increasingly complex. An overhaul in network visualization is needed to help parse and diagnose modern networks.Continue Reading

• Smart storage systems smart for business

  Mike Matchett explains how data-aware storage combined with application awareness is leading to a new wave of intelligent data storage.Continue Reading

• Setting up and controlling resources on a Proxmox cluster

  You're learned how to create Proxmox hosts and group them into a cluster. Now it's time to add resources to your cluster and assign access rights to them.Continue Reading

• When moving servers to a colocation facility, planning is key

  Moving servers off premises to a colocation facility can be a daunting task. Use these best practices to minimize downtime to ensure a seamless transition.Continue Reading

• Use cloud auto scaling, tagging to give unneeded resources the boot

  Auto scaling services help admins identify underused resources and reduce public cloud costs. Learn how load balancing and tagging can maximize those benefits.Continue Reading

• Craft a business continuity plan to maximize AWS uptime

  Strong business continuity plans start with an evaluation of needs. Native and third-party disaster recovery tools fit into a BC plan to protect cloud data and workloads.Continue Reading

• These Windows configuration management tools can prevent mishaps

  It's a challenge to limit downtime and speed up deployments in the data center. Configuration management tools can help IT maintain control.Continue Reading

• Secure Docker on Linux or Windows platforms

  With Docker appearing in businesses of all shapes and sizes, security is a concern for many IT admins. Here's how to secure Docker on the container or the host machine.Continue Reading

• Improve application rollout planning with advanced options

  Enterprise IT teams have several advanced options for deploying application updates. The right one depends on what makes the most sense for the business, available IT infrastructure and your confidence in the update.Continue Reading

• How can we customize the OpenStack Horizon dashboard?

  Admins can use the OpenStack Horizon dashboard to deploy and manage cloud services. But what are some options for customizing the dashboard's view?Continue Reading

• Automation key element in network monitoring best practices

  The fundamentals underpinning network monitoring might be simple, but it doesn't mean keeping tabs on your network is easy. What can you do to improve your monitoring tool framework?Continue Reading

• Script management technology adds safety to scripting's power

  Script management is a necessity to maintain an IT deployment. The canny organization will choose the right tools that give power to the sys admin, while protecting against accidents.Continue Reading

• IP subnetting: How to calculate subnet masks

  Check out IP subnetting shortcuts on how to do subnet mask calculations and break down IP address classes to route traffic within your network.Continue Reading

• Enterprise architect career path has bright and dark sides

  IASA CEO Paul Preiss discusses how the digital transformation and technology advances are the drivers creating opportunities in the burgeoning enterprise architecture profession.Continue Reading

• What do I need to do to create successful hybrid WANs?

  The market for hybrid network services is growing, and with it comes the challenge of successfully creating hybrid WANs.Continue Reading

• Patch servers the right way without wasting time

  Apply these server patching best practices to save time, reduce complexity, and build an optimal schedule and toolkit.Continue Reading

• Pick up infrastructure as code tools and techniques

  Walk through an infrastructure as code template, using AWS CloudFormation as an example, to better understand defining and connecting resources.Continue Reading

• Infinite options tempt, but cutting proprietary management even better

  Are the bad old days of control interface proliferation back again? Patrick Hubbard says it's time for network administrators to put their foot down.Continue Reading

• How do I size capacity for VMware oversubscription?

  What best practices and tools can I use to allocate the right resources in an oversubscribed virtualization deployment?Continue Reading

• Control the costs of cloud storage with these five steps

  Your cloud storage could be costing you more than it should. Follow these five steps to identify and eliminate any unnecessary cloud storage fees.Continue Reading

• Tips and tools to manage Azure roles, access controls

  Azure Resource Manager has a complete, but complex, set of role-based access controls that let admins create policies to manage who can access Azure cloud services.Continue Reading

• The basics of establishing a RESTful API testing program

  RESTful API testing is about establishing a culture of continuous testing and team accountability. Greg Sypolt reviews the core components of a RESTful API testing program.Continue Reading

• How to keep things on track when building API portfolios

  As important as APIs have become, many still fail to achieve API success by not setting goals properly. Tom Nolle explains why this matters and how to manage an API portfolio.Continue Reading

• Tape archive remains the recording medium of choice

  Tape archiving offers low-cost, long-term data protection in a variety of industries, keeping it atop the list of data center backup technologies.Continue Reading

• Why the standalone EFSS market isn't going away just yet

  Enterprise file sync-and-share allows for simpler file access and sharing on the consumer and business level. Success stories like Box may indicate that EFSS is sticking around.Continue Reading

• Creating successful RESTful API design

  Successful API design requires lots of attention to detail. Take these three steps for creating RESTful API design.Continue Reading

• Primer on DevOps roles and responsibilities

  DevOps planning in enterprises revolves around getting the right teams in place, the necessary skills spiffed up and the proper tools to make it all come together.Continue Reading

• Beat hackers with a vulnerability assessment process

  Get started on a vulnerability risk assessment process to prevent hacks on data, applications and more. Take these steps to identify vulnerabilities and improve risk management.Continue Reading

• Wireless management in the cloud heralds transformation

  Placing wireless management in the cloud is gaining traction among enterprises as companies examine more efficient ways to oversee their networks. It's part of a shift that's affecting network infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Container orchestration for a new breed of IT

  PaaS offerings such as Heroku, RedHat OpenShift and Cloud Foundry have always used containers under the covers, but as containers move toward production use outside of PaaS in the cloud, they're being deployed in clusters of server infrastructure ...Continue Reading

• Cloud cost management tips for working with multiple vendors

  Using more than one cloud has its benefits, but can also get expensive. To manage costs, examine your providers' data access charges, as well as your application design.Continue Reading

• Start using the PowerShell pipeline with this example

  An administrator can create functions to support the PowerShell pipeline, which improves upon text-based shells by allowing the scripter to pass objects across the pipe.Continue Reading

• Hadoop Distributed File System helps tackle big data

  Hadoop Distributed File System storage systems are being enlisted to tackle big data thanks to vendors like EMC, Hitachi, IBM and NetApp, and Apache.Continue Reading

• Secure testing: Making software safe

  Software technology has impacted nearly everyone everywhere with the intention of improving lifestyles. However, when crucial security steps aren't being met, these technologies can take a catastrophic turn. To avoid hacking and other security ...Continue Reading

• What modern test manager responsibilities entail

  What does a test manager do? That's not the easiest question to answer, as responsibilities vary. Expert Matt Heusser explains the crux of the role and provides some tips as well.Continue Reading

• How can you increase SSD lifespan and keep performance?

  Solid-state drives offer high performance, but their cost remains prohibitive. Here are some ways to prolong your SSD lifecycle while maintaining performance.Continue Reading

• How do I convert CPU hours to MIPS for mainframe capacity planning?

  For better mainframe capacity planning, how do I convert CPU hours to MIPS? And is there a way to calculate the relationship between MIPS and MSUs?Continue Reading

• Managing apps requires holistic, reactive approach

  Managing apps' performance must be planned holistically with an eye to reactive management and proactive management.Continue Reading

• Network automation scripts: Separating myth from reality

  Network automation can make work easier, but be careful which processes you automate. Done wrong, automation can break more things than it fixes.Continue Reading

• Draw up a data center network diagram you'll actually use

  Creating a data center network diagram is time-consuming but necessary work. Keep the scope narrow and know the priorities of your diagram to save time and energy.Continue Reading

• Six aspects of API creation that greatly impact production

  When it comes to API creation, simplicity is critical. Vivek Gupta of AnyPresence discussed the six aspects of API creation developers can address to accelerate API production.Continue Reading