Data Center
Top Stories
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Tip
17 Aug 2026
Building trust: Engaging communities in data center development
Effective communication is essential in data center development. Engaging the community early addresses concerns and prepares IT leaders for stakeholder interactions. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Aug 2026
Understanding AI's resource needs and sustainability challenges
Discover how AI's demands are affecting data centers' power and water resources, cooling challenges and the approaches being implemented to address these concerns. Continue Reading
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Answer
09 Mar 2015
How do I size the physical server to host virtual machines?
I want to convert a physical machine to a virtual machine. How can I select and size the right server infrastructure to host VMs? Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Mar 2015
What causes UUID errors with Replication 6?
There are a few situations that will trigger a UUID issue when using vSphere Replication 6 to copy VMs -- and one direct way to correct it. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Mar 2015
Connect the dots to uncover Replication RPO violations
When attempting to troubleshoot an RPO violation in vSphere Replication, the underlying cause is oftentimes more complex than it appears on the surface. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Mar 2015
How to troubleshoot VMware vSphere Replication issues
When problems occur with the tool you use to protect your data, it's imperative to track down the logs that can help restore order. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Feb 2015
Take data center efficiency to the max on three-phase power
Three-phase circuits provide considerably more power efficiency to data center equipment, but phase balancing can trip up deployments. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2015
Master Linux service management on System V and systemd
Managing services on Linux is an essential task for administrators. Learn to work with either System V or systemd. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Feb 2015
How do I transfer a PS file from a mainframe to a Linux server?
I need to transfer one PS file's data from a mainframe to a Linux server. Are there any JCL scripts that can do this for me? Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Jan 2015
Can you virtualize a NetBackup master server?
I have only seen companies deploy a NetBackup master server on a physical server. Are there any drawbacks to using a VM as a NetBackup master server? Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jan 2015
Big data and analytics advice from an operations pro
You don't need to employ special IT personnel for big data analytics. One company uses big data for developers to modify ads and find and adjust pain-points in a game application. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2015
Eight data center technologies to test in the new year
As the hype from 2014 dissipates, the new year rings in hot new technologies. IoE, hybrid clouds and other tech innovations make the data center run more efficiently. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2015
How are SSD garbage collection, wear leveling and TRIM different?
While using solid-state drives in a vSphere environment can give a boost to VMs that require high performance, it's important to know how certain longevity features function in the storage hardware. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2015
Linux network configuration turns positively wicked
Wicked replaces a lot of old Linux network configuration commands and utilities in SLES 12, making the OS more cloud friendly. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Jan 2015
How much longer will that SSD last in a vSphere server?
Even modestly sized SSDs can be more expensive than traditional hard drives, but do the benefits outweigh any concerns about longevity? Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Dec 2014
This data center cost calculator keeps you on budget
Calculating every data center expense can be challenging, but with the right spreadsheet -- and formulas -- you will accurately assess the total cost. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Dec 2014
Data center maps lead IT to server treasure
Can't find the server that needs repairs or the right reboot button when the host blue-screens? A data center map is vital when disaster hits. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Nov 2014
Which IBM 3592 tape cartridge has the highest capacity?
There are a bunch of IBM 3592 'J' tape designations. How do you order the right capacity for your tape drives? Do you take compression into account? Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Nov 2014
How do you define data center size, density?
With shifts in the scale and density of data centers, one industry organization is drawing up ways to standardize how we talk about data center size and power needs. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Nov 2014
How can an enterprise benefit from using a VMware vApp?
By developing a virtual appliance technology, VMware has given businesses a way to both bundle and manage multiple VMs into a single package. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Oct 2014
A data center checklist for facility design and IT ops
Choose the right data center provider or facility now, and prevent costly errors and inadequate services later. Continue Reading
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Guide
28 Oct 2014
Server form factors: A guide to rackmount, blade servers and more
Which type of server is right for you? The data center's budget, technology and reliability will steer you toward rackmount or blade servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2014
Create a SAN with the Linux LIO iSCSI target
With the LIO iSCSI target service, Linux shops have an affordable SAN option that ranks up there with expensive proprietary storage solutions. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Oct 2014
In-rack and in-row cooling options for any data center
Say no to CRAC and consider more selective data center cooling options. In-rack and in-row cooling systems are efficient and optimally dispel heat. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2014
Monitoring virtual CPU states to improve performance
A good understanding of vCPU run, wait and ready states can help deliver more responsive VMs. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Sep 2014
What's the best data center network topology?
You need to know these most common data center network topologies, and check out a host of alternative topologies waiting in the wings. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Sep 2014
The case for a leaf-spine data center topology
Three-layer network designs are last season's topology. The leaf-spine model is coming in hot, but can the advantages made data center designers forget about the weaknesses? Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Sep 2014
Centralized versus rack-mount UPS in telecom rooms
How does a rack-mount UPS stack up against a central data center UPS for telecom rooms? Money doesn't necessarily mean power. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Aug 2014
Business application hosting on-premises vs. cloud options
Is it better to look for a SaaS version of an app, put it in your own data center on existing equipment, or host it at a cloud provider for a mix of flexible scaling and IT ownership? Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Aug 2014
VMware vSphere Fault Tolerance gets a makeover
Users left wanting to know more about vSphere 6.0 after day one of VMworld. Their wishes were granted on day two when VMware introduced new features in its latest suite of virtualization products. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Aug 2014
EVO:RAIL creates buzz after release at VMworld 2014
VMworld 2014 started off with EVO:RAIL, the company's hyper-converged infrastructure. The release caused constant chatter on social media. Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2014
With EVO: RAIL, VMware turns VSAN into a franchise
VMware's EVO: RAIL allows hardware vendors to build hyper-converged appliances running VSAN and other VMware software. Continue Reading
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News
19 Aug 2014
There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on in converged infrastructure
With sales sagging, legacy hardware suppliers are scurrying to form partnerships with a new generation of converged infrastructure vendors. But will these newly minted converged systems convince IT to open up the purse strings? Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Aug 2014
What to do when UPS sizing goes wrong
UPS sizing is hard, with confusing terminology and an ever-shifting IT load. If you get the calculations wrong, don't worry about a Michael Bay movie scene in the data center. Here's what to do when UPS is too wimpy or too beefy for the task. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jul 2014
Seven data center blogs you should be reading right now
Stay connected on trending IT topics on Twitter and Tumblr. Follow these seven experts who express news, opinions in data center blogs. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Jul 2014
What's better? An OVF or an OVA file?
What is an OVA file and how does it compare to an Open Virtualization Format package? Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jul 2014
Denser is better: Increased storage and server density
For storage and servers, being dense is good. Careful planning can maximize the benefits of greater computing densities while minimizing potential risks. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jul 2014
Mount file system Linux systemd's way
Forget about /etc/fstab and autofs. There's a new Linux system around. Systemd manages mounting and automounting of file systems differently. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Jul 2014
Best of VMworld 2014 Awards: Rules and criteria
Read the official Best of VMworld Awards rules and find out how to nominate products. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jun 2014
A few ways to configure Linux firewalld
The method for configuring Linux servers' firewalls changed with RHEL 7 and other new distributions. Learn how to set up firewalld, and what to avoid. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jun 2014
Controversial hot aisle containment practices
Is your hot aisle too hot for OSHA? New data center trends are causing concern. You might need to adapt to adhere to the law. Continue Reading
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24 Jun 2014
Application performance management sets new goals
Application performance management is taking advantage of open APIs and software as a service to focus on the end-user experience. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jun 2014
What to look for in a Tier III data center provider
Don't believe just any sweet-talking colo provider claiming to be Tier III. Make sure you're getting what you pay for with a true Tier III data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jun 2014
How many VMs per host is too many?
The ultimate host server welcomes hundreds of virtual machines. But that doesn't mean consolidation should outrank performance. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Jun 2014
Hyperconvergence now a data center building block
Hyperconvergence is succeeding converged infrastructure technology for data centers that are fast, efficient and more hands-off for IT teams. Continue Reading
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Guide
30 May 2014
What's the best Linux OS for your enterprise data center?
With several updates to supported Linux OSes, how do you know which to run in your data center? This guide will help you make an informed decision. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 May 2014
What's the highest server temperature you can handle?
There's no correct inlet air temperature for all servers. Age, performance and design help determine how much heat your server can handle. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 May 2014
The right way to rename VMs with vSphere Storage vMotion
A quirk in older ESX/ESXi versions will not result in a prompt rename of a VM until it has moved to another data store. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 May 2014
Production workloads go boldly to the cloud
Some enterprises are charging ahead with a cloud-first approach to their workloads -- not just test and dev, but production workloads as well. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Apr 2014
Linux boot options in RHEL, SLES help ailing servers
Is your server not booting correctly? Does it need crucial recovery tasks? Linux boot options with GRUB2 and systemd can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Apr 2014
Using clones as templates in VMware Workstation
After you make sure the template is cleared of specifics, follow these steps to use clones as templates in VMware Workstation. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Apr 2014
How to hunt down VM network timeout issues with performance charts
Setting up the performance counters in the vSphere client can help troubleshoot a dropped packets issue. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Apr 2014
How to clear a clogged core dump in VMware ESXi
With a little manipulation via SSH or ESXi Shell, a locked core dump file can soon be just a distant memory for your ESXi environment. Continue Reading
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20 Mar 2014
For DR, cloud is the great equalizer
Disaster recovery is hard and expensive, based on the enterprises with partial -- or no -- DR plans. But cloud computing is bringing DR to the masses. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Feb 2014
Is LRDIMM the best memory option for an enterprise server?
Load-reduced DIMM allows for more memory and decreased latency than on-server memory typically has. So how does it compare to other DIMM designs? Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Feb 2014
Mount Global File System 2, avoid corruption in RHEL High Availability
You have a working cluster, now what? Red Hat's GFS2 will help you avoid file system corruption. Learn how to mount the default cluster file system. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Feb 2014
Getting started with ITIL service management
Promised cost savings, alignment with business, and operational efficiency are encouraging more organizations to take up ITIL service management. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jan 2014
Six steps to create a highly available Apache Web service
When a Red Hat cluster goes into production, you can protect it by configuring a supported high-availability service. Here's how. Continue Reading
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27 Jan 2014
The new automation imperative
Automating IT processes is a complex and sometimes messy process -- but the rewards can be well worth the effort. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2014
Basic Linux commands for new Linux server administrators
To manage Linux servers, administrators need a set of basic commands to view and start processes, as well as utilities that make life a little easier. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2014
RISC vs. CISC explained for data center systems
The role of RISC processors in data center equipment is hotly debated, but new RISC designs are proving that it isn't just a CISC game. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Dec 2013
Creating a quorum disk and fencing for Linux high availability nodes
The quorum disk and fencing on a Linux high availability cluster let its nodes know when they are operational and shut them off if they are not. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Dec 2013
Creating a reliable and fast SAN network design with iSCSI
There are three tenets of designing an iSCSI network correctly. Proper iSCSI deployment yields affordable and reliable network access for the SAN. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Dec 2013
Strange and secure data center locations
In these data center pictures, tour barges, former mines and oil rigs. Sometimes a strange location makes the most sense for a secure data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Dec 2013
Modern Infrastructure: December 2013
Winners of the MI Impact Awards of 2013, reflecting big issues affecting data center jobs, showed innovation and intelligence in solving IT problems. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
09 Dec 2013
Your data lives where?! Strange and secure data center locations
In these data center pictures, tour barges, former mines and oil rigs. Sometimes a strange location makes the most sense for a secure data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Dec 2013
IBM's hardware vs. software dilemma
It's difficult to predict if current server hardware trends are forcing reinvention, but IBM may be on a track that takes it in a new direction. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Dec 2013
TCP offload's promises and limitations for enterprise networks
TCP offload products free up limited CPU resources in network-intensive data centers. But TCP offload is no panacea and can introduce more problems. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Nov 2013
Building blocks of converged infrastructures
The unifying theme of unified computing is vendor lock-in: One vendor for all or most components. But what are those pieces and what are your options? Continue Reading
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14 Nov 2013
Modern Infrastructure: November 2013
This issue delves into DCIM, the state of cloud storage, VMware NSX and modern processor designs. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Nov 2013
Major changes in data center fire suppression standards NFPA 75 and 76
Fire standard changes can add a lot of work and expense to a data center operator's job, but the updates to NFPA 75 and 76 address real safety risks. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Nov 2013
What to do when a mainframe IPL stalls out without error messages
When initial program load stalls out on a mainframe logical partition, the culprit is often consoles. Connectivity is one of many potential causes. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Nov 2013
No faults here: Advanced techniques to attain more reliable servers
A new generation of reliability features can keep busy servers running in the face of serious fault conditions. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Nov 2013
Data center network design moves from tree to leaf
Leaf-spine designs are pushing out the hierarchical tree data center networking model, thanks to the popularity of Ethernet fabric networks. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Oct 2013
Data center interview horrors and spooks
Every administrator and data center manager has a horror story or two to share. In the spirit of Halloween, we tell the tale of interviews gone wrong. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Oct 2013
Modern Infrastructure October 2013
This issue examines the ongoing role of Unix platforms in the enterprise, the growing cloud competition between tech giants and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Oct 2013
One way to rev up critical VM performance? Make a priority list
All virtual machines are equal, but some are more equal than others. Here's how to make sure critical virtual machines get the attention they crave. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Oct 2013
VMware vSphere App HA
VMware vSphere App HA is virtual appliance introduced with vSphere 5.5. It works with vSphere HA (high availability) host monitoring and virtual machine monitoring to improve application uptime. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Sep 2013
What's the best number of virtual machines for a data store?
The best number of virtual machines on each data store depends on, among other things, the performance needs of each virtual machine. Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2013
How the colocation data center stacks up to cloud, on-premises builds
Colocation data centers used to be about proximity. Not anymore. C7 CEO Wes Swenson says colo is about the best location and infrastructure options. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2013
How to prepare a server cluster for Linux high availability
With a Linux distribution supporting mission-critical business applications, it's time to set up Linux high-availability software. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Sep 2013
Best of VMworld 2013 award winners
Take a look at SearchServerVirtualization.com's Best of VMworld award winners for 2013. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Sep 2013
Physical building properties to evaluate during server room design
Does your server room have space to grow? What's the best mechanical system for it? Start with these questions to develop a good server room design. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Sep 2013
Top data center equipment trends
IT pros named leading data center equipment, virtualization and cloud hosting vendors in the TechTarget Data Center & Readers' Choice 2013 survey. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Aug 2013
A new troubleshooting and management process with GRUB2 bootloader
Nearly everything changed from the GRUB bootloader to GRUB2. With major enterprise Linux distributions moving to GRUB2, it's time to get acquainted. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2013
Programming thread-safe mainframe applications with the CICS ENQ command
Thread safety in mainframe applications means better vertical integration. Take full advantage with the CICS ENQ command. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2013
Correcting misconfigured ESXi shared storage settings
IT shops that started small may find they need to update their ESXi shared storage settings to prevent significant issues when a host fails. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Aug 2013
When to use Linux memory swap to solve server performance problems
Adding physical memory may seem like the best way to solve a Linux server's memory shortage. But that's not the only way, so troubleshoot first. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Aug 2013
VMware vCenter Mobile Access (VMware vCMA)
VMware vCenter Mobile Access (VMware vCMA) is a virtual appliance used by admins to manage a data center from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2013
Analyzing and optimizing Linux power consumption with PowerTop 2
The PowerTOP tool tracks power consumption in Linux servers. You can tweak servers and applications to consume less power if you understand PowerTOP. Continue Reading
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10 Jul 2013
Modern Infrastructure - July 2013
The private cloud appeals to many IT managers who want to retain control and resource security, but what will it take for adoption to skyrocket? Continue Reading
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Quiz
02 Jul 2013
VMware DRS quiz: Rules, settings, requirements and best practices
Knowing how to use VMware DRS is key to getting the most out of vSphere, so quiz yourself on its features. A high score could mean high utilization. Continue Reading
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27 Jun 2013
"IT infrastructure news" RSS feed is moving!
As of July 1, the "IT infrastructure news" RSS feed will be moving off of the Pheedo platform. Instead, please bookmark the following URL to make sure you continue to receive our content: http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/rss/IT-infrastructure-news.xml Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jun 2013
Do you have the skillset for these hot IT jobs?
With technologies such as cloud computing in the limelight, data center pros need to upgrade their skillsets to catch the latest wave of innovation. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jun 2013
VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat (vCSHB)
VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat (vCSHB) is VMware's OEM version of NeverFail, which is designed to ensure the high availability and disaster recovery of vCenter Server whether on a LAN or a Wireless Wide Area Network. Continue Reading
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07 Jun 2013
Building with modern data center design in mind
Modern data center design involves planning carefully for the center's location, hardware and building infrastructure. It's certainly not as simple as "build warehouse, insert computers." Continue Reading
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07 Jun 2013
Modern Infrastructure: June 2013
June's MI cover story examines how businesses are evaluating and adopting PaaS. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2013
VMware administrator job description calls for vSphere, cloud know-how
VSphere experience is a must-have in job listings for VMware administrators, but vCloud and Hyper-V know-how are on hiring managers' wish lists too. Continue Reading
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09 May 2013
A guide to the DevOps movement
The DevOps movement broke traditional silos to create the future of IT. Here are some fundamentals to help you stay on top in this agile field. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 May 2013
VMware snapshot size and other causes for slow snapshots
Snapshots offer multiple restore points for VMs, but add complication. Poor performance can stem from the VMware snapshot size and other root causes. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 May 2013
Do you have the IT skillset for these five hot data center jobs?
With technologies such as cloud computing in the limelight, data center pros need to upgrade their skillsets to catch the latest wave of innovation. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 May 2013
Five data center upgrade strategies to modernize your facility
These five data center upgrade strategies can revitalize older data centers and stave off expensive construction projects. Continue Reading