Tips

Tips

• Important DevOps engineer programming languages to learn

  We've learned that DevOps demands some code knowledge -- but there are a lot of languages to choose from. Think about CI/CD, object-oriented languages and infrastructure as code.  Continue Reading

• Carrier network virtualization leads to enterprise services

  Starting with MPLS VPNs and SD-WAN, new carrier network virtualization options, like 5G network slicing, are becoming virtual enterprise network services, and more will follow.  Continue Reading

• Brace IT ops teams for server end of life

  The end of a server's life is rarely an enjoyable time. With it comes reevaluating applications and preparing for migrations. Here's what to keep in mind as the time approaches.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft modern authentication deadline looms over Exchange

  Support for basic authentication will end this year, giving administrators who haven't switched to a newer authentication method little time to prepare for a smooth transition.  Continue Reading

• How network virtualization works

  Network virtualization uses abstraction to isolate applications and resources from the physical infrastructure. Benefits include faster provisioning, agility and operational efficiency.  Continue Reading

• Why admins should learn how to use Azure Logic Apps

  In an increasingly cloudy IT world, the iPaaS offering from Microsoft can bridge management gaps with automated workflows that require little technical expertise.  Continue Reading

• Explore liquid cooling for data centers

  Discover the different classifications of liquid cooling -- such as direct-to-chip, liquid immersion or rear-door heat exchangers -- before adopting it in your data center.  Continue Reading

• 6 types of network topologies

  Network topology is essential to network configuration, as it determines the arrangement of a network and defines how nodes connect. Here are six common types of network topologies.  Continue Reading

• 6 ways cloud-native and cloud-agnostic architecture differ

  While development teams should carefully weigh the tradeoffs between cloud-native and cloud-agnostic architectures, they don't necessarily have to commit to just one.  Continue Reading

• How software testing affects a successful multi-cloud strategy

  Here's how QA professionals working with multi-cloud can deal with the increased complexity associated with the strategy, plus the risks and workflow factors.  Continue Reading

• Breakdown of 4 common mobile testing platform options

  Mobile app testers, here is how four mobile testing platform options compare. Also, learn when testing frameworks, simulators and emulators become relevant factors.  Continue Reading

• 6 ways to increase energy efficiency in data centers

  Although there is no one single trick that admins can use to achieve an energy-efficient data center, there are several small things that can significantly decrease energy use.  Continue Reading

• Why and how to enable Azure Backup Instant Restore

  Azure Backup Instant Restore has minimal wait time, is set at a modest price and has backup options via policies. Learn how to configure this service to restore failed VMs.  Continue Reading

• Explore top data lake providers for substantial storage use

  Don't be deterred by the murky waters of data lake technology. Fishing for the right provider to accelerate your analytics is probably easier than you think.  Continue Reading

• Guide to Windows Server Hybrid Administrator certification

  The new accreditation takes a more focused approach with exams that require knowledge of deploying traditional infrastructure components and their Microsoft Azure equivalent.  Continue Reading

• How to compare Docker images with container-diff

  You could pay for a vendor to analyze container images for you, or you could use container-diff for free. Compare container images before deployment to avoid unfortunate mishaps.  Continue Reading

• 5 basic network commands for Linux and Windows

  Linux and Windows use different network commands to run tasks that are common in both environments, such as network connectivity testing. But the commands often share similarities.  Continue Reading

• The deep-rooted relationship between REST and microservices

  The REST paradigm can be a natural fit for microservices architectures, but it also presents potential challenges for development teams.  Continue Reading

• How enterprises can ensure NVMe security in 2.0

  Today's world demands airtight security more than ever. Key NVMe security features, such as namespaces, the Lockdown command and TLS in NVMe over TCP, keep data safe.  Continue Reading

• Common types of enterprise network connections

  The goal of every network is to connect devices. The connections that form those links -- such as wired cabling and wireless technologies -- are crucial in network infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2022 security hardening guide for admins

  Emerging threats continue to target the Windows ecosystem, but there are multiple methods to make it tougher to be the victim of a malicious hack attempt.  Continue Reading

• Follow these examples to use CloudWatch Logs Insights

  CloudWatch Logs Insights helps organizations gain insights from a deluge of log data on applications and services. Learn how to implement key features.  Continue Reading

• Don't force your IT applications into edge computing

  Edge computing's primary concern is latency -- and most applications introduce too much. Consider the edge as a companion environment, not an approaching transformation.  Continue Reading

• How to build a virtual router with VMware Workstation

  Virtual networks in testing and development setups require virtual routers. In this step-by-step tutorial, use VMware and Windows tools to set up a virtual router.  Continue Reading

• Power over Ethernet basics for network architects

  Power over Ethernet provides a way to supply electricity to low-power devices through a standard Ethernet cable. Learn about the different standards and PoE types.  Continue Reading

• Choose a software testing model by weighing these 5 factors

  Software development teams have options for their preferred software testing methodology. Consider these five key metrics before choosing a testing model for your team.  Continue Reading

• How to set up a MySQL database in Linux

  Learn to prepare for a SQL-based Linux database, create a new database and create database users with permissions. This enables you to work with many other services.  Continue Reading

• How 5G affects data centers and how to prepare

  Data centers can prepare for the rise of 5G networking by understanding how it functions, upgrading crucial infrastructure and understanding how 5G networks can benefit them.  Continue Reading

• How to create a DevOps self-service portal

  Remote DevOps teams need the tools to build and deploy applications independently -- that's where self-service portals come in. Discover the benefits and how to build one.  Continue Reading

• Basic virsh network commands to know

  It's helpful to know how to use virsh commands to manage VMs and virtual networks; some cloud providers don't support Ansible or VirtualBox. Get started with a few commands.  Continue Reading

• Do DevOps and the Theory of Constraints still relate?

  The Theory of Constraints still holds weight in the IT industry decades later, but the adoption of DevOps slims down some of its relevancy. Here's how.  Continue Reading

• Explore 5 Microsoft Azure storage types before buying

  Some types of Azure storage are prevalent, such as Blob, but others are less well known. Your organization may have a use for each of the five detailed, so get to know each one.  Continue Reading

• The future of OpenTelemetry for observability

  To collect and analyze telemetry data from cloud-native apps, many organizations use OpenTelemetry for system observability. Discover its benefits and primary components.  Continue Reading

• Use Jenkins for deployment, support and provisioning in ops

  IT organizations that keep Jenkins on the development side of the house miss out on the orchestrated workflow capabilities it brings to operations tasks.  Continue Reading

• The management approach for internal vs. external APIs

  While internal and external APIs don't differ much mechanically, there are some important contrasts when it comes to certain API design and lifecycle management issues.  Continue Reading

• Key Amazon EKS monitoring best practices

  Learn how to monitor Amazon EKS resources through tools such as CloudWatch and Prometheus, as well as worker node and infrastructure monitoring tips to maintain application efficiency.  Continue Reading

• Use these PowerShell add-ons to supercharge your experience

  These PowerShell new features and modules introduce several customization and functionality features to the popular automation tool to ease coding tasks for administrators.  Continue Reading

• How to use abstracted repositories in dependency injection

  Dependencies in software design can complicate matters. Dependency injection helps simplify it -- but it's not without its faults. Here's what you need to know.  Continue Reading

• Zero trust, wireless WAN affect the future of IoT networking

  Zero-trust security models, wireless WAN evolution and the emergence of pop-up businesses are all helping to fuel innovation in IoT networking capabilities.  Continue Reading

• 6 ways to perform microservices load testing

  While it's not easy to conduct load testing in hectic microservices environments, certain best practices can help testing teams ensure fair and equal distribution of workloads.  Continue Reading

• Advice for data centers looking to change operating systems

  When you swap out a data center's primary OS, first, consider the purpose of your replacement OS and its optimal workloads. Then, you can create an OS migration plan.  Continue Reading

• How cost and complexity factor into AWS DR strategies

  To choose the right AWS disaster recovery plan, understand how much downtime your business can tolerate -- and how DR scenarios affect your monthly costs.  Continue Reading

• Manage resource use with VMware Horizon application pools

  Load balancing is challenging in any environment, but with virtual desktops, uniformity of user experience is high priority. Use VMware Horizon to distribute vital resources.  Continue Reading

• Compare KubeVirt vs. Virtlet for container, VM management

  KubeVirt and Virtlet unite VM and container management into one stack, but KubeVirt has more flexibility to tune VMs, whereas Virtlet boasts better integration with Kubernetes.  Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of Netskope SASE

  Netskope is undoubtedly a leader in the CASB market, but its limited security capabilities and lack of SD-WAN make Netskope an incomplete SASE offering.  Continue Reading

• Developer vs. DevOps engineer similarities and differences

  What does a DevOps engineer do? What does a developer do? The two roles sound alike, but their roles, skills and tools are quite different and require unique expertise.  Continue Reading

• Follow this 10-point virtualization security checklist

  Failover clustering, encryption and prompt patching practices can help admins shore up their VMs in the face of online security threats from sources such as malware and bad actors.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft cloud certifications Windows admins should pursue

  The surge in remote work means admins with skills with Microsoft's cloud technologies are in demand. You can prove your proficiency by acquiring these Microsoft certifications.  Continue Reading

• Avoid VM latency issues with VMware NUMA Observer

  NUMA Observer from VMware Labs helps admins identify VMs that have overlapping NUMA nodes and storage problems. Learn how the setup process can identify VM issues.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for these common SRE interview questions

  To ace that job interview, aspiring SREs should prepare to discuss everything from programming languages to network troubleshooting at varying levels of detail.  Continue Reading

• Discover disaster recovery and backup for edge networks

  Proper backup and DR at the edge requires an awareness of the specific challenges edge devices present, and appropriate plans and tooling to help ease management.  Continue Reading

• Improving open source software governance stature

  Open source governance is a vital part of a software project's maturity. Embrace these tools and tips to monitor open source security, use permissions and code quality.  Continue Reading

• The role of sidecars in microservices architecture

  Sidecars can do a lot for microservices when it comes to communication with distributed application components, though they also present some precarious management challenges.  Continue Reading

• How to develop a dependable regression testing strategy

  Haphazard code changes can quickly break any application. Learn what a successful regression testing strategy entails, including the necessary scope and test suite requirements.  Continue Reading

• Deploy an information barrier policy for Microsoft Teams

  Mistakes happen, but can be costly when they involve compliance. Office 365 information barriers can prevent inadvertent sharing to protect the organization's sensitive data.  Continue Reading

• Why a successful software tester's skillset is more than just technical

  How can you become a good software tester? It requires more than just technical expertise. Here are some important personality traits QA pros need to have.  Continue Reading

• How to work with an SCCM technical preview lab

  System Center Configuration Manager technical previews give Microsoft customers a way to test and provide feedback to the company for its device management product.  Continue Reading

• How an AWS multi-region architecture can strengthen DR

  Meet AWS outages head on by learning how to build a multi-region architecture that achieves resiliency in the event of disaster.  Continue Reading

• Is it time to ditch the WAN for other connectivity options?

  With the prevalence of remote work, cloud applications and internet connectivity, will enterprises ditch the WAN to save money and time? Maybe not everyone.  Continue Reading

• The basics of working with declarative programming languages

  While imperative programming is often a go-to, the declarative approach has proved useful in the face of demands for complex, feature-heavy business applications.  Continue Reading

• Compare high availability vs. fault tolerance in AWS

  To achieve high availability and fault tolerance in AWS, IT admins must first understand the differences between the two models.  Continue Reading

• Private 5G deployments to advance in 2022

  As commercial private 5G deployments begin to advance in 2022, private cellular networks will become a reality for many organizations in the U.S. and around the world.  Continue Reading

• Compare Amazon ECS vs. EKS

  Amazon ECS and EKS are similar, but their differences are enough to set them apart for AWS users. Learn which best fits your needs in terms of flexibility, pricing and more.  Continue Reading

• NetOps automation ideas and examples

  NetOps teams can hone their automation experience using these automation ideas that range from simple read/write tasks to complex automated processes.  Continue Reading

• The benefits of network infrastructure as code

  Network infrastructure as code uses DevOps methodology to create structured practices for configuration changes and establish pre- and post-change testing and validation.  Continue Reading

• VCP exam prep: Learn what help the VMware course provides

  The VMware Certification Professional badge is for admins with network, storage and data center virtualization know-how. Get insight into course specifics and structure.  Continue Reading

• Compare open source orchestration tools for DevOps

  Orchestration is a vital piece of the modern IT ecosystem puzzle. Compare popular tools and learn how they fit together.  Continue Reading

• How to secure NetOps initiatives using Agile methodology

  As more NetOps teams implement Agile methods, network and security testing must be part of a holistic approach that involves developers, networking and security teams working together.  Continue Reading

• Is Kubernetes free as open source software?

  Kubernetes is available open source, but also from IT vendors. A complex tool, it enables container orchestration at scale. Which version will pay off for enterprise adopters?  Continue Reading

• NetOps meets DevOps concepts to tackle network problems

  NetOps and DevOps are converging, due to increased use of infrastructure as code to automate enterprise networks. Shared concepts include structured coding practices and automated testing.  Continue Reading

• Data center safety tips to protect staff

  Safety in the data center requires organizations to identify and address a variety of risk factors, from electrical systems to staff illness.  Continue Reading

• Configure DHCP failover for Windows Server

  DHCP is a critical service, and network admins should take the time to create fault tolerance. Windows Server makes it easy to configure both failover and load balancing.  Continue Reading

• What to look for in a green cloud storage provider

  Alongside cost and flexibility, a commitment to sustainability is a key consideration for organizations trying to choose a cloud storage provider.  Continue Reading

• 3 important considerations before outsourcing Agile

  To successfully outsource an Agile development practice, organizations must prioritize communication and provide ample onboarding resources.  Continue Reading

• The rise of the NetOps engineer

  The need for NetOps engineers with network automation and software development skills is rising with the continued drive to create more flexible networks. Find out what it takes.  Continue Reading

• Fixing a critical bug in IT takes coordination and patience

  Critical bugs are unavoidable, but IT staff can take measured steps to ease the process. The best approach combines respect for the IT staff and systems with the issue's severity.  Continue Reading

• Micro apps vs. microservices: What developers should know

  On the surface, the contrast between micro apps and microservices simply seems a matter of front-end vs. back-end concerns. But this isn't the only difference worth knowing.  Continue Reading

• How to approach cloud compliance monitoring

  Compliance monitoring is a critical practice. Learn how to build a cloud compliance monitoring strategy from application design and development to ongoing operations.  Continue Reading

• Stay online with these 5 AWS disaster recovery best practices

  Solve disasters in an AWS deployment by having a disaster recovery strategy in place. Learn how to pick the right recovery methods and prevent more problems.  Continue Reading

• Enable vSAN data-at-rest encryption for extra VM security

  Data-at-rest encryption secures data all the way down to the storage level. Increase VM security in a couple of steps and vSphere's built-in native key provider function.  Continue Reading

• Business benefits of an Agile networking approach

  Enterprises that embed an Agile approach in their networking strategies could see benefits like better network performance, enhanced data security and faster rollouts of network services.  Continue Reading

• Compare Azure instance types for cloud workloads

  Deciding on the best Azure compute instance type for a cloud workload involves many choices. Use these tips to help select the right size VM, optimized for the right tasks.  Continue Reading

• Compare DigitalOcean vs. Vultr for cloud deployments

  Sometimes a cloud provider that isn't a big name can be just what you're looking for. Vultr and DigitalOcean are such two providers, and here's how they compare.  Continue Reading

• Virtual network load balancing tools and tips

  There are many virtual load balancer options for IT teams to choose from, and each offers something a little different. Compare four of these tools here.  Continue Reading

• A review of Zscaler SASE architecture

  Zscaler has a strong cloud-native architecture for secure internet access. But it doesn't deliver SD-WAN or converge internet access and WAN security, leaving it with only part of a SASE platform.  Continue Reading

• Where requirements-based tests fit in software testing

  Requirements-based testing has its upsides and downsides, and it's not right for every software project. But certain dev teams should still adopt the method. Learn which ones.  Continue Reading

• Deploy microservices with serverless functions

  Microservices enable IT teams to create flexible, uniform systems -- but what happens when IT teams use serverless functions for microservices? Discover the benefits and drawbacks.  Continue Reading

• Compare Azure Bicep vs. Terraform to provision infrastructure

  In comparing Azure Bicep vs Terraform, Azure cloud admins can make an informed decision on which IaC service they want to use to automate deployment of their cloud.  Continue Reading

• How NetOps differs from traditional network operations

  When comparing NetOps and conventional network operations, network teams focus on automating repeatable tasks that correct problems rather than introducing new ones manually.  Continue Reading

• Key data center trends in 2022

  In 2022, data centers will introduce a variety of new technologies. Expect a focus on hybrid cloud, solid-state storage, DCIM and sustainability measures.  Continue Reading

• The ups and downs of using an internal developer platform

  IDPs can provide a productive and secure environment for development teams. Consider the pros and cons to see if an internal developer platform is right for your organization.  Continue Reading

• Why NetOps is a bridge to AIOps

  As IT infrastructure grows more complex, NetOps teams should identify ways to ensure their networks remain operational and perform at peak levels. One option is AIOps.  Continue Reading

• What it means to do 'everything as code' in IT operations

  If the concept of 'everything as code' sounds overwhelming, don't worry. Learn what it means, how to get started and ways you might already be using it.  Continue Reading

• An intro to cloud-native microservices and how to build them

  While there are a variety of ways to develop cloud-native microservices, focus on strategies that enable as much agility, resiliency and development simplicity as possible.  Continue Reading

• Use Amazon CloudWatch metrics to monitor Aurora

  Application owners need to know the vital metrics that affect database health. CloudWatch and DevOps Guru monitor Amazon Aurora performance to give users valuable insights.  Continue Reading

• DataOps vs. MLOps: Streamline your data operations

  How many Ops combos can we get? What's DataOps? How is it different from MLOps? This article clarifies the differences and how to choose one over the other.  Continue Reading

• Develop an interactive DevOps runbook

  Runbooks are important for DevOps processes -- simple or complex -- but they can be a beast to write. Use this expansive guide for best practices and arrangement.  Continue Reading

• The crucial role of test scenarios, especially in automation

  Test scenarios are often touted as a key part of effective software testing strategies. But what exactly do they do and how can teams ensure the ones they develop are effective?  Continue Reading

• AI/ML in software testing, cross-platform testing benefits

  AI-powered cross-platform and cross-browser testing has both benefits and complications. Learn more about the role machine learning technologies can play in these QA processes.  Continue Reading

• 7 steps of an SD-WAN implementation

  Organizations interested in implementing SD-WAN need to collect site profiles and requirements, analyze their options, perform tests and evaluate the results.  Continue Reading