Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• Five things you might not know about the Hyper-V virtual switch

  One of the most significant improvements in Windows Server 2012 might be the Hyper-V virtual switch. What makes this low-cost option such a big deal? Continue Reading

• Is VMware Capacity Planner free?

  Many consultants offer VMware Capacity Planner free to interested virtualization admins, but if you dread their sales pitch, consider vBenchmark. Continue Reading

• A well-developed software requirements specification is easy to test

  SearchSoftwareQuality expert Scott Sehlhorst discusses how to avoid writing a software requirements specification that is too vague to be tested. Continue Reading

• Application portability in PaaS: Problems and solutions

  Even in the early stage of cloud adoption, users of PaaS services are already questioning the portability of the applications. Continue Reading

• Migrating from a standard switch to VMware vDS with no downtime

  Replacing standard switches with VMware vDS will broaden your virtual network's capabilities. Learn how to migrate switches without powering down VMs. Continue Reading

• Optimal BIOS settings for server virtualization

  The ideal mix of performance and reliability starts with learning which server BIOS settings you should configure for a virtualized system.Continue Reading

• Centralized vs. decentralized SDN architecture: Which works for you?

  Two SDN architecture models -- centralized and decentralized -- have much in common, but key differences center on the use of the OpenFlow protocol.Continue Reading

• Microsoft VHDX format: Understanding benefits, conversion process

  Virtualization expert David Davis explains how the new VHDX format in Windows Server 2012 has improved environments, and how to convert old VHD files.Continue Reading

• Moving VM testing from VMware vSphere ESX/ESXi to Workstation

  VMware admins can't skip VM testing just because it eats up vSphere resources. Testing ESX/ESXi VMs in VMware Workstation frees up vSphere for production.Continue Reading

• Using Zabbix with embedded devices via SNMP monitoring

  Some devices you want to monitor with Zabbix cannot have software installed. For these appliances, SNMP monitoring may be the right choice.Continue Reading

• Security considerations for IaaS cloud

  Learn about the necessary security considerations for IaaS cloud environments.Continue Reading

• Microsoft makes improvements to SharePoint workflows

  The first thing to know about SharePoint workflows is that SharePoint 2013 actually contains two separate workflow platforms.Continue Reading

• Tips for improving Active Directory performance on servers

  Striking the right balance of memory and disk performance can help optimize Active Directory performance.Continue Reading

• Building redundancy into your cloud outage strategy

  Any effective cloud computing strategy should include measures to protect against outages. The best defense you can have is to plan for redundancy.Continue Reading

• Can shared storage be used with Hadoop architecture?

  Storage expert John Webster discusses three ways to use shared storage together with Hadoop architecture in this Ask the Expert answer.Continue Reading

• Ten questions to help compare cloud storage services

  Cloud storage expert Arun Taneja suggests 10 questions to help you successfully compare cloud storage services.Continue Reading

• VMware Workstation encryption prevents unauthorized VM access

  VMware Workstation encryption helps you protect information on VMs from unauthorized users. Learn how -- and when -- to encrypt virtual machines.Continue Reading

• Deciding whether to run Server Core in Windows Server 2012

  Our expert breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of deploying Server Core in Windows Server 2012.Continue Reading

• Choose the right VMware certification path: Data center, cloud or EUC

  Reading the new VMware certification map can get confusing, but most paths start out at VCP-DV. The next step could lead to cloud or EUC titles.Continue Reading

• Cut-through versus store-and-forward in Ethernet switch architecture

  Switches in the data center can push frames using either store-and-forward or cut-through. Is one Ethernet switch architecture better than the other?Continue Reading

• How to measure test progress: Every picture tells a story

  Seeing the big picture when it comes managing the progress of your software tests may require putting together all the little picture pieces.Continue Reading

• Three questions on ASHRAE standards for data centers

  Evolving ASHRAE standards for temperature and humidity allow data center owners to save money on power and cooling demands.Continue Reading

• Windows Server Failover Clustering gets boost from PowerShell cmdlets

  In Windows Server 2012, there are 81 new and improved failover clustering PowerShell cmdlets. Here's how to make the most of their capabilities.Continue Reading

• Understanding unified storage architecture

  Randy Kerns explains that there's more than one way to build a unified storage architecture in this Storage Decisions 2012 TechTalk.Continue Reading

• Backend as a Service players, users and trends

  Today, Backend as a Service (BaaS) vendors vie with alternatives for mobile apps that must deftly integrate back and front ends.Continue Reading

• Using vSphere distributed switches for virtual networks

  VMware's vSphere distributed switch is shared between hosts in a network, unlike standard switches. Here's how to create and use distributed switches.Continue Reading

• Introducing Exchange Server 2013 modern public folders

  Responding to demands from the Exchange community, Microsoft is keeping public folders in Exchange 2013 and surprise, they're much improved.Continue Reading

• Common causes of a failed Hyper-V live migration

  Hyper-V live migration helps admins maintain infrastructures. But a few common configuration snafus can cause failures. Do you know what to look for?Continue Reading

• How does the role of project manager change in the cloud?

  Agile and ALM expert Yvette Francino discusses how the role of project manager may change when applications are developed and tested in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Extracting data from memory dumps with Event Tracing for Windows

  Admins facing Windows Server frequent hangs and crashes can use a number of tools, like Event Tracing for Windows, to catch a badly behaving task.Continue Reading

• Setting traps with SLIP, king of the mainframe debugging tools

  How to use SLIP, one of the best mainframe debugging tools, to set traps for annoying bugs.Continue Reading

• Advantages of using an object storage system

  Learn the advantages of implementing an object storage system in your data storage environment.Continue Reading

• Best practices for solutions architecture

  Solutions architecture has gained a reputation for being difficult to define. Even so, best practices unique to solutions architecture have emerged.Continue Reading

• How to repair a corrupt Outlook 2010 deployment

  When Outlook goes down, don’t automatically download a third-party tool. Instead, try one of these approaches suggested by our expert.Continue Reading

• Agile project management using the Cynefin framework

  Learn how the Cynefin framework facilitates problem solving, Agile project management and teamwork.Continue Reading

• Tweak Linux swap to improve server performance

  Many administrators ignore or underutilize the Linux swap settings but making the proper adjustments will make for better system performance.Continue Reading

• Persistent VDI vs. non-persistent VDI and their effect on storage resources

  Learn the difference between persistent VDI and non-persistent VDI, how they affect storage and which one carries advantages in terms of capacity and backup requirements.Continue Reading

• Citrix StorageLink integrates SAN with virtualization environment

  Find out what benefits Citrix StorageLink delivers to Citrix XenServer, such as access to advanced features on the storage array, offloading of storage operations to the array, and more.Continue Reading

• When to perform post-production testing

  In some cases, testing post-production is needed, according to expert Pete Walen. He discusses the potential situations where post-production testing is helpful and what expectations we can have for performance testing.Continue Reading

• Installing a CIM provider to improve vSphere Client host monitoring

  While ESXi includes support for many popular hardware platforms, comprehensive server health monitoring with the vSphere Client sometimes requires installing the correct CIM provider.Continue Reading

• SAN backup and recovery

  Moving data can complicate your backup efforts. In this tip, you’ll learn backup goals for SAN environments and backup methods to achieve those goals.Continue Reading

• It’s an easy fix to clean up a GRUB error on your Linux server

  A GRUB error will stop a Linux server cold, but following these steps should get you back on track.Continue Reading

• Various cloud gateway options and use cases

  Arun Taneja explains why a cloud gateway is essential for cloud storage, and drills into the various types of cloud gateways on the market today.Continue Reading

• Designing a virtual environment with VMware Capacity Planner

  Using VMware Capacity Planner to inventory data center resources and project hardware needs, IT pros can save time and money when planning a virtual environment.Continue Reading

• 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

• Work from the ground up with a data center raised floor

  A raised-floor design is costly, so proper planning and installation is the key to maximize your investment.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

• Integration testing: What are the challenges?

  Expert Pete Walen describes common problems with integration testing and offers insights into implementing it correctly, so that both internal and external users can benefit.Continue Reading

• Exploring integration testing in the Agile development lifecycle

  Agile expert Lisa Crispin explores the various meanings and offers tips to testers on how to work integration testing into the Agile development lifecycle.Continue Reading

• RAID with SSD: A primer

  While RAID is still a storage standard, questions remain about RAID’s relevance with SSDs. This tip will explore the basics of using RAID with SSD.Continue Reading

• Setting up a mirrored Linux DRBD configuration over the network

  Administrators can use the distributed replicated block device (DRBD) in Linux to set up basic data redundancy to connect the storage of multiple servers.Continue Reading

• Three reasons behind Exchange 2010 Management Console failures

  It’s not uncommon for the Exchange 2010 management console to break down. Some failures may be attributed to changes made since Exchange 2007, but there are other causes as well.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

• Five questions on data center environmental monitoring

  Our expert explains how to maintain ideal conditions for your server room using data center environmental monitoring tools and techniques.Continue Reading

• Using Microsoft PerfView to profile process performance data

  Microsoft made its internal performance monitoring tool available to the public. Here's how it offers an advanced peek at application processes.Continue Reading

• Distinguishing between mail contacts and mail users in Exchange 2010

  It’s easy to confuse mail users with mail contacts in Exchange 2010. Our expert sorts out the differences between these seemingly interchangeable terms.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

• Network time synchronization for VMware ESXi: Timing is everything

  Time is money, and in your VMware infrastructure, network time synchronization ensures that your ESXi hosts are timed to work correctly with other hosts and services.Continue Reading

• How to implement storage virtualization technology at the server level

  Learn about storage virtualization technology at the server-, or host, level, including info on products from Virsto, VMware, DataCore, LeftHand and FalconStor.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

• Block-level storage virtualization: Reasons to implement it

  Learn about the reasons to implement block-level storage virtualization, in Part 1 of a four-part series.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

• Data center monitoring system considerations

  An effective monitoring system can track environmental variables and alert admins of a potential problem before it becomes a critical emergency.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

• Avoiding single point of failure design flaws

  Redundancy can help a data center avoid downtime, but sometimes hidden flaws in the electrical design can still create a single point of failure.Continue Reading

• What to do when DNS records disappear

  When working with DNS records in Active Directory, a small mistake can quickly become a big problem. Follow these steps to speed your recovery.Continue Reading

• I/O performance in need of a fix

  Despite technological advances, unacceptable I/O performance could hold the entire industry back. Here are some solutions that have materialized.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

• Prioritizing alerts with server monitoring tools

  Setting and prioritizing alerts with server monitoring tools can help an administrator respond quickly to critical problems without being bothered by insignificant alarms.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

• Migrating a Linux file system to a Windows file system (or vice versa)

  In-place file system conversions are not only difficult – they're also downright dangerous. If you need to migrate data, you've got other options.Continue Reading

• Changing vendors: Avoiding pitfalls, IT vendor contract negotiations

  Negotiating IT vendor contract terms is crucial for protecting business continuity, physical property and intellectual assets when contracts end.Continue Reading

• Advanced ESXi troubleshooting with Tech Support Mode

  With Tech Support Mode enabled, you can use advanced VMware troubleshooting commands to diagnose and resolve ESXi host problems when the vSphere Client won’t do.Continue Reading

• Weighing the pros and cons of the Trusted Computing Platform

  When used as designed, trusted computing can provide a high level of security, but limitations and potential for abuse prohibits its usefulness.Continue Reading

• Exchange 2010 auditing tools to track admin, end-user behavior

  Compliance rules make tracking admin and email users a necessary evil. Thankfully, audit logging tools in Exchange 2010 can help.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

• Implementing SBD STONITH in Linux HA clusters

  An SBD STONITH approach is simple to set up and is a reliable way to ensure data integrity in a Linux HA cluster.Continue Reading

• Exploratory testing and regression testing in continuous integration

  Expert Lisa Crispin explains how and when to implement exploratory testing, automated regression testing and manual regression tests in an Agile development environment.Continue Reading

• Basic disassembly: Decoding the opcode

  Programmers can find benefit from disassembling object code–a lost art that begins with understanding the opcode.Continue Reading

• Securing an Apache Web server with SELinux

  Learn how to keep your Apache Web server secure by applying basic SELinux settings, including adjusting SELinux so Apache uses nondefault settings.Continue Reading

• Using RamMap and VMMap Tools to Troubleshoot Windows Memory Issues

  Even a veteran system admin can be challenged when investigating Windows memory issues. The free RamMap and VMMap tools remove much of the guesswork.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

• 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

• Selecting raised floors, panels for the data center

  Choosing raised floor panels capable of supporting the weight of data center equipment cabinets requires taking a close look at strength ratings and manufacturers’ claims.Continue Reading

• Considering a raised floor in the data center

  Tile material, strength and durability are important factors to consider when selecting and installing a raised floor in a data center.Continue Reading

• Server refresh options: When to rent a server vs. when to buy

  Companies looking to replace old hardware must consider long-term goals and evaluate financing options when deciding whether to buy or rent a server.Continue Reading

• When is server hardware too old?

  Modern server hardware is allowing systems to handle more jobs and last longer, easing capital expenses for many data centers.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

• Scripting: VMware PowerCLI vs. Microsoft PowerShell

  VMware's PowerCLI sits atop Microsoft's PowerShell, but does it make scripting on a virtualization platform better?Continue Reading

• Data center design standards for cabinet and floor loading

  The weight of today’s racks and equipment cabinets can stress floor structures, making it crucial to consider floor loading requirements in your data center design.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

• Storage vMotion: Application and performance

  In this tip, learn how Storage vMotion operates, its uses, its system requirements and the steps to take to perform a Storage vMotion.Continue Reading

• Troubleshoot Windows boot problems with Xbootmgr

  By working with the Xperf tool, Xbootmgr helps admins pinpoint the real cause of slow boot issues in Windows Server.Continue Reading

• Three questions to ask when considering Microsoft Azure

  Is Microsoft Azure a no-brainer cloud choice or impossible to adopt? Ask these three questions to determine if the cloud platform is right for you.Continue Reading

• Why mssphtb.dll was disabled in Outlook 2010

  Exchange admins wonder why Microsoft disabled the mssphtb.dll utility in Outlook 2010. Our expert clears the air on this misunderstood search component.Continue Reading