Data Center
Top Stories
-
News
21 Oct 2026
Nvidia, Schneider Electric test digital twin for AI data center ops
Nvidia and Schneider Electric are testing a digital twin at Portugal's SINES data center campus to model AI workloads, power and cooling before infrastructure changes. Continue Reading
-
News
21 Oct 2026
CBRE to acquire Onnec in $1 billion data center infrastructure deal
CBRE will acquire Onnec for up to $1 billion, expanding its global data center infrastructure services as hyperscalers demand more fiber, networking and deployment expertise. Continue Reading
-
Tip
22 Mar 2018
Converged secondary storage for data protection carries risk
Using converged infrastructure for the secondary storage in your data protection plan can be valuable, but you need to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before choosing that path. Continue Reading
-
News
21 Mar 2018
Pivot3 vSTAC HCI helps Charleston airport IT fly
The Charleston airport IT team expanded its Pivot3 implementation from video surveillance to its main infrastructure stack after deciding hyper-convergence was the way to go. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 Mar 2018
Ten hyper-converged infrastructure architecture buying mistakes
Buying hyper-converged infrastructure systems can be less stressful if you learn about and avoid these 10 common mistakes that trip up some HCI buyers. Continue Reading
-
News
16 Mar 2018
IBM Cloud services to secure mainframes out to the edge
Big Blue will introduce IBM Cloud services that use blockchain, containers and its z14 mainframes to deliver improved security across cloud and on-premises environments. Continue Reading
-
Tip
15 Mar 2018
Match your hyper-converged hardware pick with your workload
Overall workload demands and growth projections, not just user applications, should be top of mind when you choose among the hardware options in hyper-converged appliances. Continue Reading
-
News
14 Mar 2018
Pivot3 Acuity X3 eyes big opportunities in smaller spaces
Pivot3 expands its Acuity hyper-converged line with X3 Series. The NVMe flash appliances help smaller departments consolidate mixed application workloads on a common system. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
08 Mar 2018
Why do Azure Stack appliances have to be certified?
Azure MVP Marius Sandbu gives us a lesson on Azure Stack. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Feb 2018
Windows Server 2016 hyper-converged options are here
The latest edition of Windows Server from Microsoft includes options for implementing a hyper-converged infrastructure in a Microsoft-only IT operation. Continue Reading
-
News
22 Feb 2018
Nutanix HCI helps keep NFL's Chicago Bears in the game
The Chicago Bears' Nutanix hyper-converged clusters provide cloud-like access to coaching staples, like playbooks, schedules and scouting reports across the NFL team's facilities. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Feb 2018
Virtualization layer is HCI's secret sauce
Knowing how virtualization software turns separate hardware components into pools of shared resources will help you plan and manage an HCI implementation. Continue Reading
-
News
20 Feb 2018
IBM Power9 servers seek market inroads to AI, cloud
IBM follows up its first Power9 server with a raft of systems designed to appeal to a wider array of markets -- most notably, AI and cloud deployments. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Feb 2018
Match your hyper-converged infrastructure appliance to your apps
Planning a hyper-converged appliance purchase should start with determining which application it will run and which configuration options will meet apps' needs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Feb 2018
Evaluate read-intensive and write-intensive SSD use cases
Consider write wear, performance and other factors when choosing between read-intensive, write-intensive and mixed-use solid-state drives. Continue Reading
-
Feature
13 Feb 2018
IT infrastructure planning key for converged, hyper-converged platforms
Whether you're planning to deploy CI or HCI, infrastructure planning is critical to the project's success. Without proper planning, you could end up with poor performance. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Feb 2018
With VxBlock 1000, Dell EMC AMPs up converged platform
Dell EMC VxBlock 1000 lets customers mix and match VMAX, Unity, XtremIO and Isilon arrays in a block with Cisco servers and networking. Will that reverse market share decline? Continue Reading
- 12 Feb 2018
-
Opinion
12 Feb 2018
What's the future of data storage technology and the IT pro?
Several enterprise data storage trends are all about getting rid of storage as an IT silo. That will have consequences for both the industry and IT pros who work in it. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Feb 2018
Build the right hyper-converged cloud for your apps
Picking the right hyper-converged hardware and software for your application workload requires understanding how the elements of HCI can best be combined for your needs. Continue Reading
-
News
08 Feb 2018
Dell HCI portfolio dismantled to improve chances in the CI market
Market pressures and manufacturing synergies drove Dell to integrate its HCI and CI products with its core business units, but opinions differ whether users will benefit. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 Feb 2018
IT support and service contracts ripe for savings
If you don't pay close attention to IT support, service and maintenance contracts, start now. Chances are your organization is paying more than it needs to. Continue Reading
-
News
05 Feb 2018
Software-defined storage leaders talk 2018 trends in SDS, HCI
Software-defined storage, fueled by hyper-converged infrastructure and scale-out object/file storage, will grow in 2018, but terminology and product architectures may change. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
01 Feb 2018
Test your knowledge of VMware vSAN requirements and support
VMware vSAN is a powerful tool in the hyper-converged infrastructure space. Test your knowledge of its requirements in order to see what you need to be able to use it. Continue Reading
-
Tip
22 Jan 2018
Spectre, Meltdown vulnerabilities put SDS, HCI at risk
Spectre and Meltdown patches should be applied to hyper-converged and other software-defined storage products that run on hosts with user installed application processes. Continue Reading
-
Feature
17 Jan 2018
Hypervisor software and your hyper-converged infrastructure
The hypervisor layer in HCI is becoming an expected feature, but it is important to know what role it plays and how it can affect the rest of the components. Continue Reading
-
Tip
17 Jan 2018
Hyper-converged vs. converged labels don't apply to some products
Converged and hyper-converged infrastructure labels are becoming less clear as vendors such as NetApp and Datrium introduce products that allow for scaling components separately. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Jan 2018
How Red Hat assembled an open source hyper-converged platform
By combining Gluster Storage with its Red Hat Virtualization software, Red Hat has thrown its own cap into the software-only HCI ring with an open source offering. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Jan 2018
The role of HCI in the hyper-converged cloud
HCI and the cloud have virtualization at their cores, which makes the two platforms a good combination for organizations planning a hybrid cloud IT architecture. Continue Reading
-
Tip
15 Jan 2018
VMware security products create balance between front and back end
VMware security products, such as NSX and AppDefense, eliminate some of the problems associated with other security offerings to maintain performance levels and user experience. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Jan 2018
Hybrid cloud, SDDC products boost quarterly VMware revenue
According to VMware's Q3 2018 earnings report, the company received a nice boost from VMware Cloud on AWS, but NSX and vSAN remain the biggest contributors to VMware revenue. Continue Reading
-
Answer
10 Jan 2018
What Linux storage benchmarking tools are best?
Several tools and commands can come in handy to storage admins looking to benchmark I/O performance on Linux systems. But not all benchmarking tools are created equal. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Jan 2018
Three requirements for a hybrid cloud computing deployment
As the hybrid cloud computing approach gains steam, organizations will need to pay close attention to cross-cloud connectivity and management, plus microservices. Continue Reading
-
Answer
04 Jan 2018
What is VMware Remote Console and how do you run it?
A vSphere administrator can use VMware Remote Console to remotely access a VM's peripherals, configuration and desktop remotely through the vSphere Web Client. Continue Reading
-
Tip
03 Jan 2018
PKS complements VMware's cloud-native application portfolio
Pivotal Container Service takes a DevOps-oriented approach to containers and improves VMware's cloud-native application strategy by adding Kubernetes support to vSphere. Continue Reading
-
Guide
21 Dec 2017
Choose the right VMware certification to boost your career
With so many VMware certification levels and specialization tracks, it's easy to get in over your head. Fortunately, this expert advice can help steer you straight. Continue Reading
-
Definition
20 Dec 2017
vSphere HA (VMware High Availability)
VMware vSphere HA (High Availability) is a utility included in VMware's vSphere software that can restart failed virtual machines (VMs) on alternative host servers to reduce application downtime. Continue Reading
-
Answer
19 Dec 2017
How do you upgrade VM hardware, and what are the benefits?
You can set up your infrastructure to better take advantage of new technology in just a few steps. Perform a VM version upgrade to get the most out of what you have. Continue Reading
-
Tip
12 Dec 2017
Use SpoofGuard to defend against malicious activity in VMware NSX
SpoofGuard monitors network traffic to identify malicious activity and prevent phishing attacks. Before you enable SpoofGuard in NSX, there are a few things you should know. Continue Reading
-
Tip
30 Nov 2017
Compare different vCenter Server editions to find what fits
Compare and contrast vCenter Server licensing options, and choose what's best based on how much support you need and how many ESXi hosts you want to manage. Continue Reading
-
Tip
25 Oct 2017
How to change an ESXi password for vCenter
A forgotten ESXi root password can stop you in your tracks. Avoid dodgy quick fixes and learn the proper way to recover a root password for vCenter-connected and stand-alone hosts. Continue Reading
-
Answer
24 Oct 2017
How do you use VMware ESXi logs to troubleshoot your host?
With access to logs, you can troubleshoot your ESXi host and track issues as they crop up. You can access your logs via the console or a web browser with only a few simple steps. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Oct 2017
Add a host to a VMware cluster by following these tips
Grouping physical hosts together on a cluster improves resource distribution and increases availability. It's easy to add a host to a cluster, but be sure to follow these rules. Continue Reading
-
Tip
11 Oct 2017
With Btrfs file system gone in RHEL 8, look at alternatives
In the XFS, Ext4, Btrfs and ZFS comparison, Linux users will say goodbye to Btrfs in RHEL 8. Learn more about your options and what can fill the gaps once development halts. Continue Reading
-
Tip
02 Oct 2017
How to choose a live kernel patching extension
Ksplice and kpatch offer similar live kernel patching services on a Linux system, but differences between function-level services and technical support showcase their differences. Continue Reading
-
Answer
25 Sep 2017
What happens when you violate affinity or anti-affinity rules?
Just because VM placement is flexible doesn't mean you should take it for granted. Affinity rule conflicts can take a serious toll on the functionality of multiple VMware platforms. Continue Reading
-
Answer
11 Sep 2017
What are VM-VM and VM-host affinity and anti-affinity rules?
It's important to create specific rules in VMware DRS to outline how different VMs and hosts behave. What kinds of affinity and anti-affinity rules are there, and how do they work? Continue Reading
-
Tip
06 Sep 2017
Install Ubuntu Core successfully with these steps
An Ubuntu Core installation can often prove tricky for IT teams. Use these step-by-step instructions to properly install the platform for a more secure Docker environment. Continue Reading
-
Answer
24 Aug 2017
How can a VM storage policy improve vSAN cluster redundancy?
FTT dictates how many failures can occur in a vSAN cluster without sacrificing availability. How can you use a VM storage policy to define the amount of Failures To Tolerate? Continue Reading
-
Feature
16 Aug 2017
The mainframe environment: A thing of the past or the future?
It made its name in a long-ago era, but even in the time of virtualization and cloud computing, the mainframe hasn't disappeared yet. The IBM z14 aims to keep it that way. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
16 Aug 2017
Uptime Institute tier classification system faces new rivals
Because the Uptime Institute focuses primarily on power and cooling, alternative data center certifications have emerged. Their chances of replacing Uptime, however, seem slim. Continue Reading
-
Answer
08 Aug 2017
How do you manually download VMware Tools ISO images?
VMware Tools optimizes VMs within a vSphere infrastructure. Although it's typically bundled with ESXi hosts, you can also manually install VMware Tools via an ISO image. Continue Reading
-
Answer
04 Aug 2017
What is Photon OS, and why would I use it in my data center?
Due to its scalability, low cost and fast deployment, container technology is on the rise. How does VMware harness the power of containers in a vSphere environment? Continue Reading
-
Feature
26 Jul 2017
IBM Strategic Imperatives mark a transition into software and services
IBM's Strategic Imperatives are slowly morphing the server hardware stalwart into a software and services company. But IBM still needs hardware to complete the transformation. Continue Reading
-
Answer
25 Jul 2017
How do deduplication and compression compare to RAID erasure coding?
RAID 5 and RAID 6 erasure coding, deduplication and compression are similar but distinct concepts that reduce data and maintain storage capacity in virtualized environments. Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 Jul 2017
Use the Rufus utility to create a bootable VMware ESXi installer
Rufus -- short for Reliable USB Formatting Utility -- is a free Windows tool that can create a bootable VMware ESXi installer and a custom installation package in mere minutes. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Jun 2017
Use SIOC to create and apply IOPS limits and storage policies
VMware Storage I/O Control uses vSphere APIs for I/O Filtering to quickly establish and apply IOPS limits to VMs that regularly access your data store. Continue Reading
-
Answer
21 Jun 2017
Follow these steps to assign vSphere permissions and roles
Admins can use vSphere permissions to assign VM controls to different IT groups within their enterprise. Follow the networking example below to get started. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Jun 2017
Integrate Ceph object storage in a VMware vSphere environment
It can be challenging to integrate Ceph in a VMware environment, but with the right interface, vSphere administrators can reap the rewards of object storage. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Jun 2017
Reference architecture vs. converged infrastructure: Know the difference
The terms converged infrastructure and reference architecture frequently appear together, but they're not interchangeable. One is the blueprint and the other is a structure. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Jun 2017
VSAN Encryption: What it is, what it does and how to use it
New to vSphere 6.6, vSAN Encryption uses an XTS AES-256 cipher to encrypt all objects in the vSAN data store across both all-flash and hybrid configurations. Continue Reading
-
Answer
07 Jun 2017
How does VMware secure boot protect VMs and ESXi hosts?
New to vSphere 6.5, the secure boot feature protects VMs and ESXi hosts from viruses, malware and spyware -- and enabling it is as easy as checking off a box. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Jun 2017
Seven hyper-converged software options for DIY HCI
If your company already has hardware that you want to turn into a hyper-converged infrastructure stack, you can do it with one of these software-only options. Continue Reading
-
Answer
20 May 2017
What issues can storage I/O control present in vSphere?
Storage I/O control can be an effective way to handle occasional storage sharing issues, but it is not always suitable for every virtual machine. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 May 2017
Integrate vRealize Log Insight and NSX for centralized logging
VMware added vRealize Log Insight NSX in version 6.2.3. This central logging system receives log entries from ESXi hosts and helps identify issues in your NSX deployment. Continue Reading
-
Tip
26 Apr 2017
Use the VMware Host Client to manage single ESXi hosts
The VMware Host Client is faster and more secure than the vSphere Flash-based client, but it has yet to reach maturity. Here are some other tools you can use to manage ESXi hosts. Continue Reading
-
Answer
12 Apr 2017
How do you change ESXi 6.5 host names and DNS configuration?
Admins have options when it comes to changing an ESXi 6.5 host name, but only the vSphere Web Client has full functionality in the latest release. Continue Reading
-
Answer
05 Apr 2017
How can I prevent data loss during a Linux distribution upgrade?
It's important to prevent data loss during a Linux OS upgrade. How can partitions or disk drives help IT teams meet that goal? Continue Reading
-
Tip
31 Mar 2017
Copying virtual machines with VMware vSphere Replication
Now that you've completed the installation and configuration, it's time to walk through the process of how vSphere Replication works. Continue Reading
-
Answer
09 Feb 2017
How do you recreate a missing VMDK descriptor file?
The descriptor file plays an essential role in a virtual machine disk file, pointing to the larger data file and other VMDK information. So, what do you do when it goes missing? Continue Reading
-
Tip
30 Jan 2017
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
-
Tip
18 Jan 2017
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
-
Tip
17 Jan 2017
Use a Linux file system journal for data integrity, performance
Understand the three different file system journaling modes for Linux, as well as which mount option provides the best levels of data protection and performance. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
16 Jan 2017
Test yourself on modern data center networking architecture
Evolving business needs demand a new approach to data center networking. Keep yourself updated on SDN, VXLAN and other technologies with this quiz. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Jan 2017
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
-
Tip
30 Dec 2016
VMware's vCenter HA makes up for vCenter Server shortcomings
VMware vCenter 6 High Availability saves administrators the time and effort of having to log in to hosts individually to track down vCenter should they forget to restrict it. Continue Reading
-
Feature
30 Dec 2016
Compare the best Linux distros for enterprise servers
Any of the popular Linux distributions can run on enterprise servers, but here's how to decide which is best for you. Compare SUSE, Red Hat, Oracle and Ubuntu Linux OSes. Continue Reading
-
Tip
12 Dec 2016
Consider these Linux I/O scheduler options for storage performance
To optimize Linux performance, IT teams should examine the I/O scheduler currently in use, and evaluate alternatives, such as deadline and Completely Fair Queuing. Continue Reading
-
Tip
08 Dec 2016
Build a data center shutdown procedure to prepare for the worst
A data center shutdown checklist helps IT teams focus on backup, testing and system verification before pulling the plug and losing valuable information. Continue Reading
-
Tip
29 Nov 2016
Compare benefits of a blade server architecture vs. hyper-convergence
To determine if a series of blade servers is the right call for more condensed compute in your data center, evaluate its benefits compared to hyper-convergence. Continue Reading
-
Definition
22 Oct 2016
VSPEX
VSPEX is a platform specification from Dell EMC to guide the building of systems for converged and hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI). Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Oct 2016
Optimize mainframe processor performance with vertical polarization
To increase mainframe processor capacity and speed, IBM turned to vertical polarization. Learn how to take advantage of it through a feature called HiperDispatch. Continue Reading
-
Definition
05 Oct 2016
HyperGrid
HyperGrid is a cloud computing provider that offers Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and application management services. To support the DevOps movement which breaks down the silos between software development and operations teams, HyperGrid can provide support for application lifecycle management (ALM) as well as virtual machine (VM), bare metal and container deployments. Continue Reading
-
Definition
04 Oct 2016
Fujitsu Ltd.
Fujitsu Ltd. is a Japanese technology company that specializes in consumer and industrial electronics. Fujitsu’s products include servers, PCs, laptops, media centers, tablets, storage hardware, displays, air conditioning and heat pump units. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Sep 2016
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
-
Tip
22 Sep 2016
Manage Btrfs snapshots with the SUSE Snapper utility
Learn how to use Btrfs snapshots with Linux utilities, such as Snapper and GRUB2, to revert back to previous states in the event of a configuration mishap. Continue Reading
-
Tip
11 Aug 2016
Before leaving a system administrator job, don't burn any bridges
Leave on good terms from your system administrator job to avoid burning bridges and to keep a good reputation in the industry. Here are some things to consider before your move. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
08 Aug 2016
Test your knowledge of useful Linux commands with this quiz
Think you're an expert on useful Linux commands for network and server management? Try your hand at this Linux command quiz to see how much you know about 10 Linux utilities and their use cases. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Jul 2016
Three interface options for remote server monitoring, management
Remote server management interfaces, such as IPMI, iDRAC and iLO, give data center admins a central location to monitor fan speeds, power supply status, temperature and more. Continue Reading
-
Tip
14 Jul 2016
Three types of mainframe monitoring tools to track performance
Mainframe users face a variety of options when it comes to system monitoring tools. Determine if a real-time, near-time or post-processor tool is the best fit for your IT needs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Jun 2016
Five tools to enable Linux automation, monitoring and backup
When it comes to Linux data center tools, there is no shortage of options. For automation, backup and monitoring, consider these five Linux tools first. Continue Reading
-
Tip
27 Jun 2016
Upgrade ESX to ESXi hosts in seven steps
The upgrade from ESX to ESXi hosts can be difficult; no current tools convert hosts for you and you can't preserve manual configurations. But there are ways to ease the process. Continue Reading
-
Tip
20 Jun 2016
Construct a winning data center project plan
Before embarking on new data center projects, such as an upgrade or move to the cloud, clearly define all goals and expectations -- and not just for IT. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Jun 2016
Six helpful Linux networking commands to monitor connectivity
There are plenty of useful Linux tools to help in the event of a network connection failure. Here are six of the top commands to stay ahead when trouble occurs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 May 2016
New IT roles to put on your hiring radar
The shifting nature of the IT industry doesn't just influence new technology; it's spawning some noteworthy changes in IT staffing, especially around big data and cloud. Continue Reading
-
Feature
19 May 2016
Don't overlook these crucial enterprise CPU updates
Despite its critical role in cloud application performance, the enterprise CPU is often overlooked. Learn about next generation hardware, and why it's important to cloud. Continue Reading
-
Tip
02 May 2016
Horizon 7 Smart Policies helps increase security
If you want to smarten up your security, using Policy-Managed Client Features in Horizon 7 can help. Continue Reading
-
Answer
22 Apr 2016
How can you disable snapshots in vSphere 6?
Reducing the number of snapshots that you have could boost performance. Here's how to disable snapshots completely. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Apr 2016
Gauging whether hyper-converged vendors' ages matter
Deciding between the new guy and the old standby has driven purchasing decisions for decades, but what do users think when it comes to hyper-converged infrastructure? Continue Reading
-
Tip
12 Apr 2016
Tips to ace tough IT operations interview questions
Few things career-wise are as nerve-wracking as job interviews. Knowing what to expect going into that first meeting for a Web or app administrator role can quell some uneasiness. Continue Reading
-
Answer
06 Apr 2016
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
-
Tip
25 Mar 2016
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
