Tips

Tips

• Best tools and methods for designing RESTful APIs

  Approaches to RESTful API design may differ, but five essential elements to API design exist to help guide your tool selection conundrum and solve your RESTful API design problems.  Continue Reading

• IT incident management best practices -- and myths that scare you away

  When IT activity inevitably goes awry, admins need to know the best course of action to take to ensure accountability, efficiency and accuracy -- and not get lost in myths.  Continue Reading

• XCP-ng offers new hypervisor option for cost-conscious shops

  A new open source fork of Citrix XenServer includes many features proprietary hypervisors offer, but it's not likely to displace market leaders any time soon.  Continue Reading

• Active-active data centers key to high-availability application resilience

  Enterprises dependent upon a high-availability application should investigate active-active data center designs to ensure reliability and resiliency.  Continue Reading

• Set up Office 365 alerts to keep threats at bay

  Office 365 offers administrators integrated tools to warn the IT staff about potential attacks or breaches of conduct. Find out what the options are and how to configure them.  Continue Reading

• Converged data center migration practices to avoid data loss

  Refreshing data center hardware is no simple task, especially for organizations with multiple workflows. Before completing an upgrade, make a plan for backups and workload management.  Continue Reading

• Legacy roots still hinder Oracle and IBM cloud strategies

  As IBM and Oracle look to shift away from legacy systems and hone in on IaaS, it won't be a clean cut. Still, each vendor has its sweet spot in the overall cloud market.  Continue Reading

• Network capacity planning in the age of unpredictable workloads

  When you manage network spaces carefully and make informed choices, the flexible, easily scaled workloads of distributed public and hybrid cloud applications become manageable.  Continue Reading

• Manage VMM library servers with PowerShell

  Using PowerShell commands can save you time when searching for all the shares on a VMM library server, exporting and importing VMM library resources, and checking for VMM templates.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshoot common VM live migration errors

  VM live migration errors in Hyper-V include connection issues, virtual switch mismatches and incompatible hardware. Learn more about these common errors and how to resolve them.  Continue Reading

• Map application dependencies to prepare for cloud migration

  The practices a development team puts in place to manage dependencies before a move to the cloud will determine how smoothly apps run long after they get there.  Continue Reading

• AWS IoT Analytics churns device data into insights

  To tap into the business value of IoT data, organizations first need the right set of tools. Compare these AWS analytics services and the features they bring to the table.  Continue Reading

• ITSM automation helps advance network automation

  IT service management helps close the gap between IT staff and business needs, as artificial intelligence and machine learning work with ITSM automation to usher in network automation.  Continue Reading

• Adopt these continuous delivery principles organization-wide

  Follow these principles to advocate for, adopt and adapt continuous delivery. The work won't always be easy, but well-conceived continuous delivery pays off for everyone involved.  Continue Reading

• Should you virtualize an edge computing server?

  The need to pack a lot of compute power into a small package leaves many wondering whether containers and serverless frameworks could replace virtualization at the edge.  Continue Reading

• Software networking supports campus network convergence

  Software networking, along with intent-based capabilities, can help improve campus network visibility and authentication, while also supporting Ethernet and Wi-Fi convergence.  Continue Reading

• Application performance tuning tips and tricks

  Tune hardware, resource allocations and prioritizations to make applications perform their best. Just don't do it without tracking the results.  Continue Reading

• Benefits of wireless networks extend to disaster recovery plans

  In a business continuity and disaster recovery plan, IT resilience is key. Find out how the benefits of wireless networks can help keep businesses running.  Continue Reading

• Achieve reactive microservices architecture with minimal effort

  Reactive systems philosophy lends itself to microservices architecture because it stresses four core principles of responsivity, resilience, elasticity and message-driven communication.  Continue Reading

• How micro modular data centers simplify complex network routes

  The deployment of prefabricated micro modular data centers could ease network traffic to customer premises and multiple clouds by processing data locally at the network edge.  Continue Reading

• Kubernetes service discovery tactics boost microservices

  Customize or automate a containerized application's service discovery exactly to your preference by mastering a collection of Kubernetes features.  Continue Reading

• Network performance metrics pose data center challenges

  Currently, network performance metrics are not fully formed and offer just a generic view of the network. Plus, metrics produce reams of data that are difficult to digest.  Continue Reading

• SCVMM vs. Hyper-V Manager: Which tasks are best suited to each?

  Although SCVMM offers capabilities far exceeding those of Hyper-V Manager, Hyper-V Manager has the advantage of being simpler to use and not requiring an additional license.  Continue Reading

• Streamline data center ops by adding functionality to your DCIM tool

  Once you've successfully set up DCIM software, it's important to evaluate what further capabilities you need and the ways you can improve data center planning.  Continue Reading

• Support a guest security policy with endpoint hardening

  Guest security relies not only on a series of tools and best practices, but also on a security mindset that starts with endpoint hardening and follows the deployment of every VM.  Continue Reading

• How hackers use idle scans in port scan attacks

  Hackers exploit port scan attacks to mask their identities before launching an attack. One of their favorites: the idle scan.  Continue Reading

• Nvidia GPU Cloud marries data science and containers

  With its GPU Cloud, Nvidia offers a way to deploy data science workloads that span on-premises systems and the public cloud -- with containers playing a big role.  Continue Reading

• Origin authentication a small step toward resolving BGP security issues

  Although content verification, origin authentication and shared information can address aspects of BGP security, it's unlikely we'll be able to resolve the issues completely.  Continue Reading

• What networking automation tools should you consider?

  When launching network automation projects, do you craft custom scripts or buy off-the-shelf networking automation tools? It probably depends on your team's capabilities.  Continue Reading

• Top continuous delivery benefits and how to get them

  Continuous delivery doesn't come without challenges -- like getting every disparate IT team on board -- but its list of perks makes the entire process worthwhile.  Continue Reading

• Perform an Amazon RDS failover with minimal downtime

  Walk through this example of an RDS failover process using the Amazon Aurora engine to minimize production downtime and maintain performance in your cloud environment.  Continue Reading

• BigQuery vs. Redshift debate centers around cost, management

  Google BigQuery and Amazon Redshift remain two popular options for a data warehouse in the cloud. But, to choose between them, enterprises need to factor in some distinct differences.  Continue Reading

• Find the ideal incident management automation tool or tools

  Unless the data center floods or a digger cuts a network cable, incident management takes place via software tools. The quality of these tools determines how quickly work can resume.  Continue Reading

• Storage networking technologies explained

  Make sure you know the differences among network fabrics, such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand, before making decisions about your storage network infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• How containers and Kubernetes change deployment and DevOps

  Containers and Kubernetes have changed how many enterprises approach application deployments. The technologies could prompt a widespread shift in DevOps tooling.  Continue Reading

• How to check for high network utilization

  Learn why high utilization issues in the network arise, how to detect them, and two ways to grapple with the problem to keep network latency low and application performance high.  Continue Reading

• A cloud migration assessment lets IT look before it leaps

  Some workloads simply aren't cut out for cloud -- at least not without modification. Here's how to carefully assess your apps for public cloud migration before you make the move.  Continue Reading

• PATA and SATA: The evolution of disk standards

  Disk standards have evolved over time, and while PATA and IDE may have reliability on their side, growing support and advancements for SATA may make it the preferred option.  Continue Reading

• Exchange 2013 hybrid to Exchange 2016 hybrid considerations

  Part of the work required for a successful shift from one hybrid Exchange environment to another is to have a full understanding of all the areas that will be affected by the move.  Continue Reading

• SR-IOV specification poses promise and pitfalls in virtualized networks

  The SR-IOV specification gives network administrators another tool for workload optimization. While SR-IOV could offer many benefits, it does have its drawbacks.  Continue Reading

• Weigh the pros, cons of AWS CodeCommit for source control

  Before developers commit to AWS' native source control service, they should carefully evaluate the benefits and tradeoffs compared to alternatives like GitHub.  Continue Reading

• Three log analytics use cases set better ops in motion

  The path to more resilient, bug-free and available IT deployments is hiding in plain sight, in log data. Parse short- and long-term data these three ways to improve operations.  Continue Reading

• How to set up network analytics tools for successful monitoring

  Learn which analytics tools help monitor the network and what systems and processes you should work out in advance to make them as effective as possible.  Continue Reading

• Utilize microservices to support a 5G network architecture

  To satisfy next-level network promises, 5G networks should be supported by a microservices-based infrastructure, as monolithic architectures won't meet demands.  Continue Reading

• Repurpose legacy storage systems for reliability and savings

  Planning to move to a new data storage platform? Before kicking your older legacy storage hardware to the curb, consider the benefits of repurposing your existing technologies.  Continue Reading

• Why object storage is becoming an alternative to RAID

  RAID is a well-established storage technology, known for being reliable and secure. But as data volumes grow, more flexible, effective RAID alternatives are gaining a following.  Continue Reading

• Climb the five steps of a continuous delivery maturity model

  The continuous delivery maturity model lays out the five increasingly intense -- and capable -- levels of the process. Know where to start and when to progress.  Continue Reading

• Use AWS SAM to consistently manage serverless apps

  AWS Serverless Application Model can simplify the management of serverless apps. Use this step-by-step example to get started with the service.  Continue Reading

• Serverless infrastructure demands new roles for IT admins

  Serverless technology is going to disrupt the data center, and IT administrators will need to shift their expertise from management to configuration and from servers to services.  Continue Reading

• Assessing performance bottlenecks in virtualized networking

  Virtual or soft switches can add measurable overhead to network-intensive workloads, but implementing PCI devices offers one option to reduce excess overhead.  Continue Reading

• Fail at scale: Build failure into virtual infrastructure design

  It's better to be over-prepared than surprised. Design virtual infrastructure around the possibility that it might fail and have a plan in mind for when it does.  Continue Reading

• Midyear 2018 telecom trends: Operators broaden their focus

  Midyear 2018 telecom trends show operators looking to increase profits on a number of fronts ranging from new investments, network automation and rethinking the 5G transition.  Continue Reading

• How gRPC improves microservices load balancing on Kubernetes

  Kubernetes networking can be a challenge, but the gRPC protocol can help software pros focus on the application logic rather than worry about how to handle network request calls.  Continue Reading

• Cloud billing surprises help pinpoint app performance issues

  To assess cloud app performance, don't forget to closely monitor monthly bills from your IaaS provider. They might point to inefficiencies you'd otherwise overlook.  Continue Reading

• SDDC architecture basics and deployment considerations

  Software-defined data centers accelerate hardware provisioning and maintenance. These benefits are reason enough for admins to familiarize themselves with SDDC components.  Continue Reading

• Debug more quickly with AWS CodeBuild local support

  AWS CodeBuild's local features serve as much-needed support for dev teams that can't afford lengthy wait times. Here's how to implement these features to ramp up development.  Continue Reading

• GPUs, FPGAs increase software-defined data center performance

  Some applications in your SDDC might need special hardware so they can function at their best. GPUs and FPGAs are an effective way to increase performance.  Continue Reading

• New vSAN 6.7 features boost failover, ease management

  The latest version of vSAN puts the hyper-converged storage software into a wider range of use cases with better support for failover and a smoother management user interface.  Continue Reading

• Don't forget SD-WAN during your next network infrastructure upgrade

  SD-WAN can be a natural progression for enterprises facing a network infrastructure upgrade. But a refresh with SD-WAN deployment requires more than a 'hope for the best' attitude.  Continue Reading

• Amazon Neptune arms analytics teams with graph databases

  Turn to a graph database to put aside table joins for good. With Amazon Neptune, a developer can assess and query relationships between data sets.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting application performance: Issues and answers

  Workflow congestion, sluggish switches, pointless parameter settings -- application flaws don't come from a single source, but they're easier to solve when you know where to look first.  Continue Reading

• How to build a layered approach to security in microservices

  Make your microservices-based app as secure as possible by adopting an in-depth, layered security strategy because no single traditional approach can reliably do the job.  Continue Reading

• How a bastion forest limits exposure of admin privileges

  A Windows Server 2016 feature called a bastion forest is the centerpiece of Microsoft's privileged access management model that limits the exposure of admin rights.  Continue Reading

• Manage all your Hyper-V snapshots with PowerShell

  Using PowerShell commands to take and remove Hyper-V snapshots, and to restore VMs to a previous state is easy and efficient, especially when working with bulk VMs.  Continue Reading

• Manage Hyper-V containers and VMs with these best practices

  Containers and VMs should be treated as the separate instance types they are, but there are specific management strategies that work for both that admins should incorporate.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the exploit market: How data breaches happen

  When you understand how data breaches happen, applying software patches quickly is crucial to minimize your chances of being on the wrong end of the ever-faster exploit market.  Continue Reading

• Four top open source SIEM tools you should know

  Open source SIEM software offers organizations a way to test capabilities and augment existing functionalities for analytics and log management. Get started with these options.  Continue Reading

• Break app infrastructure responsibly with chaos engineering

  More enterprises are intentionally breaking applications with chaos engineering. It helps developers learn the causes of software failures and how to build better apps.  Continue Reading

• Heuristic automation prevents unmitigated IT disasters

  IT automation isn't about doing everything faster -- although that's how it started. Heuristics make automation smarter and responsive to changes in the IT environment.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate Google Cloud TPUs for machine learning apps

  Machine learning apps have prompted a paradigm shift in the world of public cloud. Google is an early market leader with its TPUs and TensorFlow, but can it stay on top?  Continue Reading

• Which software testing tool best fits your project?

  Learn what developers should look for in AI testing tools and which style is best for a project. Expert Tom Nolle compares Applitools and Functionize.  Continue Reading

• New generation of network analytics software starting to emerge

  Some of the newest network analytics tools can learn how a network is supposed to operate, warn managers of potential problems and offer ways to solve issues.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged infrastructure software aids IT flexibility

  Implementing a software-based hyper-converged platform can make it easier to scale components separately, but it has drawbacks as well, like multiple support sources.  Continue Reading

• Overcome app deployment challenges in a multi-cloud strategy

  Looking to adopt a multi-cloud model? Be sure to address these common app deployment, redeployment and scaling challenges first.  Continue Reading

• How to simplify your overly complex networking design

  If you flood your networking design with extraneous features and don't have a firm understanding of the overall system, you might fall into a complexity wormhole.  Continue Reading

• Serverless vs. containers: What's best for event-driven apps?

  Serverless and containers give teams new options to host event-driven applications, but each has pros and cons. Decide which platform is best for your app to avoid a costly mistake.  Continue Reading

• How to control state for so-called stateless microservices

  How do you control state in a stateless microservices environment? Front-end and back-end state control can be two viable approaches, and one requires less work than the other.  Continue Reading

• Ten Linux process management commands that simplify admin workflows

  If you work in Linux, chances are you have to do some process management. Here are some commands to simplify that workflow.  Continue Reading

• Harden cloud apps with a secure software development lifecycle

  Wouldn't it be nice if every application were 100% cloud-ready? Unfortunately, that's often not the case, which can lead to security risks down the line if not properly addressed.  Continue Reading

• Craft a converged secondary storage strategy with care

  Secondary storage vendors have been offering converged technologies and products for a few years now, and the systems have become more feature-rich and cloud-capable.  Continue Reading

• Evolve IT staff, skill sets for a multi-cloud strategy

  To effectively implement and manage a multi-cloud architecture, enterprises first need IT team members who hold a unique mix of technical and business skills.  Continue Reading

• Set up Hyper-V nested virtualization for production

  There are several considerations for using nested virtualization in Hyper-V production environments, including system requirements, networking, storage and memory considerations.  Continue Reading

• How to ensure hyper-converged infrastructure security

  To secure data in an HCI system, it requires tools and techniques that account for the unique features of hyper-convergence, such as shared resources and virtualized management.  Continue Reading

• Zabbix monitoring requires experience for best results

  Not every IT tool is as easy to learn as it is potentially useful. Zabbix offers several views into an environment, but that flexibility comes at the price of admin experience.  Continue Reading

• Istio service mesh tech boosts Kubernetes' work, with trade-offs

  Why wouldn't IT teams use a tool that enables developers to focus on writing app code and operations to focus on IT resources? For all its benefits, Istio does require a study on pros and cons.  Continue Reading

• Build an IT infrastructure plan from the ground up

  IT infrastructure improvements require careful planning that includes evaluating new technologies, such as converged and hyper-converged, and building for future flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Four ways to improve network security for modern networks

  The green padlock on websites doesn't improve network security, so our expert addresses four ways to secure the modern network that move beyond the castle-wall analogy.  Continue Reading

• Agile workflows shift admins' IT procurement strategy

  Changing business needs and the move toward Agile workflows affect how data center managers make decisions about daily operations and IT purchasing.  Continue Reading

• Four misconceptions regarding the benefits of SD-WAN

  It's all too easy to get sucked into the buzz and misconceptions around software-defined WAN technology. Here are four points to be aware of about the touted benefits of SD-WAN.  Continue Reading

• IT pursues zero-touch automation for application support

  The best and most efficient approach to IT automation features as little human intervention and interaction as possible.  Continue Reading

• IPaaS tools aim to alleviate app integration troubles

  With the rise of hybrid cloud architectures, there's a heightened need for more sophisticated app and data integration tools. IPaaS can help but isn't necessarily a cure-all.  Continue Reading

• Assess AWS serverless costs and learn how to reduce them

  Serverless architectures help teams deploy to production faster but also introduce an entirely new cost structure. Use this step-by-step example to know what to expect on a bill.  Continue Reading

• Manage Google cloud instances with images, templates

  Recent additions to Google Compute Engine, particularly around images and templates, streamline how admins can create and manage VMs.  Continue Reading

• Use HashiCorp's Terraform tool and companions for production IaC

  Developers want isolated systems for prototyping. Testers want mimicry of production. And IT operations wants to configure this infrastructure for them without reinventing the wheel.  Continue Reading

• Breadth of AWS features acts as a double-edged sword for IT

  AWS offers a wide variety of cloud tools but, in some cases, still lacks the core IT management and ops features that enterprises crave.  Continue Reading

• What would win an AI testing face-off? Applitools vs. Functionize

  Expert Tom Nolle compares two AI testing tools that both interact with -- plus utilize -- applications' GUIs for more comprehensive testing.  Continue Reading

• Four signs you need a third-party cloud management platform

  In a multi-cloud deployment, IaaS providers' native tools for admins often fall short. These four signs indicate it's time to invest in a third-party cloud management tool.  Continue Reading

• A deep dive into guest clustering for shared virtual storage

  When using shared VHDX files to host a guest cluster shared volume, there are some considerations to take into account, such as physical connectivity and potential limitations.  Continue Reading

• Bolster multi-cloud security with these data privacy tips

  Data privacy is always a top priority for enterprise IT teams. And those with a multi-cloud model should adopt a mix of security techniques -- from erasure coding to encryption.  Continue Reading

• Business IoT applications benefit from SD-WAN prioritization

  Business IoT applications require prioritized traffic flows and low-cost connectivity. SD-WAN lets IT teams assign policies to prioritize traffic and use cheaper connectivity links.  Continue Reading