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• How do I disable VPN passthrough? What are the pros and cons to disabling it?

  In this Ask the Expert response, Rainer Enders explains how to disable VPN passthrough and what the benefits and drawbacks are. Continue Reading

• Security testing for unvalidated redirects and forwards

  Security expert John Overbaugh gives security testers the information they need in order to ensure the Web application code that they’re responsible for is protected. Continue Reading

• API learning guide

  The expansion of Web services, mobile, cloud and SaaS platforms has altered the realm of APIs. This guide offers the latest in API developments. Continue Reading

• Choose an integrated stack for efficiency, easy storage implementation

  An integrated stack bundles servers, storage and networking in a preconfigured product and is easy to install and manage. Continue Reading

• FM-200 systems: What data center managers need to know

  Get the lowdown on using FM-200 systems for data center fire suppression, and whether or not they're a good choice for your company. Continue Reading

• Streamlining user acceptance testing (UAT) with Agile

  Organizations that implement successful user acceptance testing can greatly reduce errors and business risks.Continue Reading

• Agile testing quadrants: Guiding managers and teams in test strategies

  Agile expert Lisa Crispin explains the four Agile testing quadrants and how they can guide managers and development teams in creating a test strategy.Continue Reading

• Software development bugs: How to identify and prevent them

  With strong Agile practices such as unit testing, code reviews and proper attention to requirements, bugs can be prevented or found early in the application lifecycle.Continue Reading

• Managing and monitoring server log data

  See how proactive system administrators help themselves avoid a security breach by putting an effective log management policy in place.Continue Reading

• Server performance and benchmark testing guide

  This guide includes tips from our data center experts to help you improve your testing practices and squeeze more performance out of your machines.Continue Reading

• Mobile network management applications offer monitoring on the go

  As smartphone and tablet devices in the enterprise grow, vendors are developing mobile network management apps for iOS and Android, offering accessible views into the network.Continue Reading

• Mobile network management apps: Monitoring on the go

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• Get the right applications to manage your system

  This guide will help administrators find the best way to provision, monitor and manage the performance of virtual workloads across the data center.Continue Reading

• Defect tracking: Lean principles for getting the right data at the right time

  In this tip, author Paul E. McMahon describes how Lean principles can be used to help determine when defect tracking is appropriate for your organization and what type of data is important to collect.Continue Reading

• The challenges of change and configuration management

  Due diligence, business alignment and proper deployment are key to mastering change and configuration management tools.Continue Reading

• Best Practices for Active Directory forest trusts

  The more domains you manage, the more you rely on forest trusts. Follow these tips to manage your AD infrastructure – and maintain your sanity.Continue Reading

• Application performance tips: Workload optimization and software pathing

  IT pros looking to maximize application performance should look beyond basic software, tuning to products from vendors pathing software and hardware.Continue Reading

• Managing and monitoring cloud computing services

  Keep your cloud services operating at optimal performance levels with advice from this collection of cloud management and monitoring resources.Continue Reading

• ESXi console tech support mode: When the vSphere Client isn’t enough

  The ESXi console and its tech support mode can solve many issues that the vSphere Client can’t. Once enabled, you have the power of the Linux command line at your disposal.Continue Reading

• Best practices for maintaining a data center CRAC unit

  A CRAC unit failure could often have been avoided through preventive maintenance and correctly sizing cooling infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Hospital system addresses IBM SVC performance, stability problems with alternative configuration

  Spectrum Health breaks up IBM SVC eight-node cluster, taking uncommon tiered approach to improve stability and performance of storage virtualization system.Continue Reading

• Best practices for securing Exchange ActiveSync

  Sure, ActiveSync is easy to set up and administer, but how comfortable are you with its security? These best practices will go a long way toward protecting your CAS.Continue Reading

• Agile software development: Tips for writing testable user stories

  Testing pressures are always high on Agile projects. In this article we explore some of the ways adding clarity to stories can help make testing easier for all parties involved.Continue Reading

• New trends in storage

  Storage technologies may sometimes seem a little stodgy and out of date, but there’s plenty of technical development going on at both the big storage vendors and smaller upstarts.Continue Reading

• Tools and techniques for tracking changes to software requirements

  In this tip, requirements expert Sue Burk explains different techniques and tools that can be used to track changes to the requirement itself as well as changes to the attributes of the requirement.Continue Reading

• Regression vs. risk-based testing: Managing complexity

  In this tip, consultant Vasudeva Naidu describes in detail the steps necessary to implement risk-based testing in your organization to ensure your regression test strategy is solid and successful.Continue Reading

• Transaction and database management on z/OS mainframe systems

  Transaction and database management tools for mainframe systems, such as CICS, IMS and DB2, have been around for decades, but have evolved over the years to fit the needs of enterprise customers.Continue Reading

• Configuring the ESXi firewall in VMware vSphere 5

  The ESXi 5 hypervisor has a new firewall, similar to the ESX firewall of yore. You can configure it through the vSphere Client or command line, depending on your preference.Continue Reading

• What to look for when conducting benchmark tests with PerfMon

  Microsoft's PerfMon benchmark tests measure a wide range of processes and server aspects, but it can be difficult for IT professionals to understand the numbers and interpret the results.Continue Reading

• Deleting virtual machine snapshots without wasting disk space

  You can avoid wasting disk space and performance problems when deleting, or committing, virtual machine snapshots.Continue Reading

• Creating RPM packages in Linux

  RPM software management on Linux systems truly has an advantage when you create your own RPM packages. Learn how to use the enhanced vim option to automatically generate a template file after creating a new RPM file with the .spec extension.Continue Reading

• Application security: Protecting application availability, data confidentiality and integrity

  Network security and application security are both important in keeping your applications safe from hackers. In this tip, security engineer John Overbaugh focuses on application security, which is needed to protect the confidentiality, availability ...Continue Reading

• Managing change requests to your application

  In this tip, we look at end user requests, and the process to prioritize the requests for IT, so they know where to focus their work efforts.Continue Reading

• Data management guidelines: Four records retention issues to address

  These data management guidelines will help you to determine what you should keep when implementing records retention for e-discovery and litigation purposes.Continue Reading

• Manual testing vs. automated testing: A decision point

  Automation in a test environment can be expensive and doesn’t always yield a high return. In fact, a high percentage of automation efforts fail. In this tip, Vasudeva Naidu gives advice on key factors that will lead to success in your automation ...Continue Reading

• Working with Linux file system attributes

  File system attributes can provide a valuable addition to the way you ensure security on your Linux server. Learn how to mount, list and change file system attributes in ext4.Continue Reading

• Top three Windows server crashes (and how to avoid them)

  Why wait until a server crashes to start the troubleshooting process? Admins can squash potential outages ahead of time by zeroing on the most likely culprits.Continue Reading

• How to use WMI with Windows PowerShell scripts

  With PowerShell, admins can harness the power of WMI to find all sorts of system and network information. The best part? It’s probably a lot easier than you think.Continue Reading

• Eight steps for a successful software release

  Have you done everything to prepare for a successful software release? Software project manager Kay Diller describes eight things you can do to ensure your deployment will go smoothly. From creating your team to being prepared with a back-out plan, ...Continue Reading

• Data storage trends 2011: Predictions of hot data storage technologies

  Explore this expert FAQ as three analysts weight in and tell us what they think are the hottest data storage technologies and data storage trends for 2011.Continue Reading

• VMware Fusion performance tips for Mac users

  VMware Fusion for Mac allows you to run multiple guest OSes on Mac OS X, but VMware Fusion performance depends on several variables, including memory and hardware configuration.Continue Reading

• Using OpenNMS and SNMP for open source systems management

  Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) can allow a deeper look into system information gathered from OpenNMS. This tip walks through network monitoring with OpenNMS and SNMP.Continue Reading

• RHEL 6 ditches System V init for Upstart: What Linux admins need to know

  System V init is fading to a memory in Linux boot systems as the new Linux disdribution releases, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, switch to using Upstart. Learn what is different with this boot service and how to work with it to get your Linux ...Continue Reading

• Applying lean concepts to software testing

  If we're going to use a factory analogy for software development, shouldn't we at least study the techniques modern factories use? In this tip, software quality expert Matt Heusser describes concepts used first for lean manufacturing, which are now ...Continue Reading

• Data archiving methods and best practices for small businesses

  Improper data archiving methods or improper use of archiving software can lead to legal problems in your business. Find out how to avoid data archiving problems with these top six articles on data archiving.Continue Reading

• Cisco et al. push memory-dense servers; but at what cost?

  Today’s x86 servers offer impressive memory densities, but some IT shops want even more.Continue Reading

• Implementing ITIL: Getting started with ITIL v3 service management

  Are you implementing ITIL v3 service management? Discover five phases of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library process and the benefits of ITIL.Continue Reading

• What is a test case? What is a requirement?

  After exploring the definition of a test case by surveying test experts, authors and students, consultant Robin Goldsmith learns that interpretations remain ambiguous and varied. Similarly, the level of detail thought to be needed to define ...Continue Reading

• Understanding storage performance metrics

  Learn how to accurately measure storage performance metrics in your data storage system, and discover why your results may differ from vendor benchmark numbers.Continue Reading

• Setting up a syslog server in Linux

  A central logging server can make it easier to manage logs. In this tip, learn how to collect and centralize syslog messages from your hosts onto one syslog server in Linux.Continue Reading

• Ten cool iPhone apps for Windows admins

  Are you an admin on the go? Check out some of the best iPhone apps available for Windows server and network management.Continue Reading

• Strategies for minimizing regression defects

  Regression defects, those unexpected defects that result from a fix of another defect, are often the most challenging to find and fix. Expert John Overbaugh describes why these defects are so challenging and offers up techniques, such as automation...Continue Reading

• Optimizing Linux swap space usage

  Today's powerful servers with plenty of RAM can make swap space seem like a thing of the past, but knowing how much you need can help keep your system running smoothly.Continue Reading

• Installing the ModSecurity Web application firewall on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  Learn how to set up the ModSecurity Web application firewall on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4 and Apache Web server 2.2.x. This firewall monitors access to Web servers to ensure that requests are valid and not malicious.Continue Reading

• 10 Gigabit Ethernet for iSCSI storage, NAS storage still hinges on cost

  While 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) offers greater bandwidth for iSCSI storage or NAS storage, IT shops still have to justify upgrade costs with their needs.Continue Reading

• How to install Webmin and ease data center server management

  In this introduction to Webmin, learn how the tool can make it easier to manage Unix and Linux servers in your data center. An expert describes how to install Webmin and get started with this free systems management tool.Continue Reading

• Alternative PowerShell commands for Active Directory management

  While Microsoft has added many new cmdlets for PowerShell 2.0, admins can also use additional options from Quest Software and other outlets when working with Active Directory.Continue Reading

• The impact of HTML5 on Web applications

  HTML, the HyperText Markup Language, is an essential part of the Internet experience. HTML5 is one part of what WHATWG sees as essential to the future of Web applications.Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere's built-in performance monitoring tools

  VMware vSphere features several free performance monitoring tools that can help assess the health of your virtual machines and fix resource bottlenecks.Continue Reading

• Selecting benchmarking tools for specific needs

  Narrowing down the best benchmarking tool requires testing and a careful evaluation of needs, including system compatibility, level of technical depth and scalability.Continue Reading

• Improve application performance with multithreaded applications

  Multi-core CPUs fuel a server's operating system performance and virtualization technologies. Can multithreaded applications and multi-core CPUs fuel application performance as well?Continue Reading

• The importance of critical thinking in software test

  Even though there are numerous definitions for the term "software testing," there is common ground. Testers need to use critical thinking skills when diving into the testing of a software application. In this tip, expert Chris McMahon explains ways ...Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting VMware snapshots

  Virtual machine (VM) snapshots are a great tool to identify problems with VMs. An expert explains troubleshooting common problems that arise with snapshots in VMware ESX Server.Continue Reading

• Data archiving best practices: The difference between backups and archives

  In this collection of data archiving tips, learn data archiving best practices and the differences between backups and archives.Continue Reading

• Six tours for exploratory testing the business district of your application

  Exploratory testing is sometimes thought to be "directionless testing", but James Whitaker's new book suggests that exploratory testing, is more structured than it is credited for. Exploratory testing is filled with numerous tours or testing ...Continue Reading

• Data storage capacity planning: How to estimate your storage requirements

  SMBs should ask themselves these five questions to help them get started with their data storage capacity planning.Continue Reading

• A software expert's heuristic for regression testing

  Often, regression testing is what stands between a product in a test lab versus a product in the hands of our users – so we don't want to take longer than we need – but we don't want to haphazardly release a product before its ready.Continue Reading

• Data storage management strategies: Managing logical unit numbers (LUNs)

  This tip explores the background of LUNs in an SMB data storage environment, the different LUN features vendors have to offer and how to determine what type of LUN is best for you.Continue Reading

• Using Fist of Five, Planning Poker to reach Agile team consensus

  In these tips, consensus-building tools such as Fist of Five and Planning Poker are introduced. Even when these tools are used, the team must decide how they are going to handle a stale-mate condition and move forward on decisions.Continue Reading

• Why use POST vs. GET to keep applications secure

  Although POST and GET HTTP requests essentially perform the same command on a Web server, a security expert says there are inherent dangers in using one over the other. Learn why one type of processing request provides more security for your Web ...Continue Reading

• Nine ways to evaluate automated software testing tools

  Evaluate automated software testing tools more thoroughly with these tips for analyzing cost, support, total cost of ownership, usability and more. This tip suggests questions to ask about each attribute of a tool and a vendor's support for it.Continue Reading

• Set-ExchangeServer cmdlet can ease domain controller workloads

  Exchange Server can distribute workloads evenly among domain controllers, but external factors can cause them to become overworked . Executing Exchange Management Shell's Set-ExchangeServer command can help lessen domain controller workloads.Continue Reading

• EDRM: Best practices when preparing for an e-discovery request

  We list the nine stages of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM), and tell you why the preservation and collection stage is so important to data storage pros.Continue Reading

• Developing a successful mainframe migration strategy

  A successful mainframe migration strategy requires careful planning to avoid disruption to end users. This tip discusses best practices for migrating, regenerating or replacing mainframe applications.Continue Reading

• Calculating mean time to failure in performance testing

  Calculating MTTF (mean time to failure) can be a difficult for testers in order to develop a performance test pass as there are multiple steps. This expert tip will guide you through process,Continue Reading

• Defining report requirements with use cases

  This tip offers a new and interesting way to go about defining and reporting requirements for use cases. There are a number of details that need to be attended to in defining requirements such as taking a look at users and then constructing use ...Continue Reading

• How requirements use cases facilitate the SDLC

  Learn software use case processes and techniques that result in better application requirements in this tip. Takeaways include use case diagrams and user acceptance test case examples.Continue Reading

• PowersHell: Factory Reset of ESXi

  During the course of my travels in powersHell with VMware – I’ve begun to put together my own JACS (Just-Another-Configuration-Script). The idea is to take a clean-factory set ESXi build, and use purely powersHell to configure it.Continue Reading

• Adaptation in project management through agile

  Project managers often focus on following the test plan versus agile leaders who expect change and are prepared to adapt on the fly, learn how to transition quicly in this chapter from Agile Project Management by Jim HighsmithContinue Reading

• Expert shows seven ways to improve your project management abilities

  Project management offices can benefit when the team has a diverse portfolio of skills. Learn how to become a better project manager by reading these seven suggestions, which range from developing talents and group leaders to better assessing ...Continue Reading

• Symantec Veritas NetBackup best practices: Using the maximum jobs per client setting

  This is the second in a multi-part series discussing Symantec Corp. Veritas NetBackup best practices to help you make the right choices for your data backup system.Continue Reading

• Green storage best practices control costs, increase energy efficiency

  Green storage best practices control power and cooling costs, and increase energy efficiency in your data center. Tiered storage, consolidating storage arrays, solid-state drives (SSDs) and MAID can help.Continue Reading

• Symantec Backup Exec troubleshooting performance tips

  If you're using Backup Exec and your performance isn't what it should be, some troubleshooting may be in order. Here's a list of potential things to look out for.Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Linux boot problems

  If your Linux server fails to show the login screen at startup, you have a boot problem. Learn some tricks on how to diagnose and fix a Linux server boot problem from Grub failure to init and runlevels.Continue Reading

• Exchange Performance Monitor tracks domain controller communication

  Using Performance Monitor counters is an effective way to keep an eye on Exchange Server health. Learn which Performance Monitor counters you should watch to ensure that your Exchange Servers are communicating effectively with your domain ...Continue Reading

• Capacity planning tools tutorial for Linux and Unix

  Effective capacity planning is a proactive way of ensuring that your data center servers will not prematurely run out of space or horsepower. Learn the tools available to help you, both native to Linux and Unix platforms including Solaris, Red Hat, ...Continue Reading

• Air flow management strategies for efficient data center cooling

  To achieve efficient data center cooling, you must reduce your facility's air flow waste. In this tip, an expert outlines air flow management strategies and best practices that can improve data center air flow, including the installation of blanking...Continue Reading

• Defining requirements during software project feasibility analysis

  There are at least two key points in a software project when requirements should be defined. One point people often miss is during feasibility analysis, and failure to define requirements at this stage can doom a project.Continue Reading

• Using HP Systems Insight Manager (SIM) 5.2 for systems management and monitoring

  Hewlett-Packard (HP) Co.'s Systems Insight Manager (SIM) 5.2 offers systems management and monitoring for HP servers or WMI-, SNMP- or WBEM-enabled systems. SIM works with HP's Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) management modules to detect hardware ...Continue Reading

• Web application security testing checklist

  Testing your Web application security is something that needs be taken seriously. The best way to be successful is to prepare in advance and know what to look for. Here's an essential elements checklist to help you get the most out of your Web ...Continue Reading

• How to avoid requirements creep

  Despite all the attention placed on defining requirements, creep continues to plague software projects. Learn how a different approach to requirements can curtail that creep.Continue Reading

• Manage CICS workloads with transaction classes

  Using transaction classes is a great way to manage CICS workloads that come in varying or unpredictable increments. Learn how to define transaction classes, calculate a maximum active number and get examples on how to use transaction classes in this...Continue Reading

• A quick guide to Server Manager for Windows Server 2008

  New to Windows Server 2008, the Server Manager feature can be a huge benefit to admins – once they figure out where to find everything. This article gives you a crash course on everything Server Manager has to offer.Continue Reading

• Improving data center cooling capacity with chilled water plants

  With a chilled-water plant, you can improve your data center cooling capacity and possibly prevent more drastic measures, such as having to build a new facility.Continue Reading

• Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship, Chapter 1 -- What Is Clean Code?

  Agile software development calls on developers to write clean code, according to Robert "Uncle Bob" Martin. This free chapter introduces the concepts and methods programmers can adopt to write truly clean code.Continue Reading

• The true role of a backup administrator

  When asked what they do on a daily basis, some data backup administrators often opt for the short answer and reply, "I look after data backups." While this is not necessarily the wrong answer, it is not the full answer.Continue Reading

• VMware VI Client plug-ins and how to manage them

  VMware VI Client plug-ins can provide a VirtualCenter implementation with a functionality boost. Discover more on plug-in management tactics and plug-in options, including the Juxtaposition RDP plug-in, in this tip.Continue Reading

• Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) Tutorial

  SOAP has gained status as a common messaging protocol in Web services and SOA projects. This SOAP tutorial provides insight as to what SOAP standard is and when to use it. SOAP basics, how it compares to REST, SOAP attachments and how SOAP functions...Continue Reading

• Obtaining server health status in VMware ESX and VMware ESXi

  VMware ESXi can easily provide you with information about a server's CPU, memory, storage and more, but getting this info from ESX Server requires some additional steps.Continue Reading

• How to access SharePoint sites through Microsoft Outlook

  If you have both Microsoft Exchange Server and SharePoint, you can easily access SharePoint sites directly from Microsoft Outlook. Here's how.Continue Reading