Tips

Tips

• The benefits of machine learning in network management

  Enterprises and vendors alike are now undertaking machine learning deployment strategies. What are the benefits of machine learning in networking related to analysis and management tools?  Continue Reading

• Try this data science experiment for deep learning insights

  Deep learning professionals require a specific set of skills and tools. Follow this simple example of a data science project to learn more about the technology and related careers.  Continue Reading

• Use LinuxKit to increase container portability

  With LinuxKit, Docker continues its push for better container portability. Learn how the tool can help your apps run across various platforms, as well as its potential limitations.  Continue Reading

• Six simple cloud security policies you need to know

  Data protection takes center stage in modern IT. Step through this cloud security checklist to ensure your organization is covering all its bases.  Continue Reading

• How to plan for network disaggregation with APIs

  Network disaggregation is a lot of work for engineers, and it's fraught with potential hurdles posed by sourcing hardware, a control plane, network operating system and how you manage necessary APIs.  Continue Reading

• CLI vs. GUI: Find the right admin tool for various scenarios

  Standard Windows and Linux command-line utilities oftentimes have niche, yet important functionality not available in GUI tools that require IT workers to make custom workflows.  Continue Reading

• Network subscription packages gain steam among enterprises

  Networking suppliers are increasingly offering network subscription packages, as enterprises have become more familiar with paying for services with monthly subscriptions.  Continue Reading

• These PowerShell script examples help tidy up code

  Even the most grizzled scripting veterans might learn some new PowerShell tips and tricks to tighten their automation code or produce clearer error messages.  Continue Reading

• Jenkins basics: The DevOps and build platform for dev teams

  Software expert Walker Rowe discusses how Jenkins goes beyond a DevOps tool. Get a better understanding of how and why your enterprise should install Jenkins.  Continue Reading

• Build consistent, resilient microservices with Kubernetes

  A microservices architecture brings many changes to an enterprise IT stack. Kubernetes can help organizations manage, orchestrate and secure container-based microservices.  Continue Reading

• Azure Container Instances provide an opt-out option for cluster ops

  Containers-as-a-service platform Azure Container Instances doesn't support clustering on its own, but features an open source connector tool for increased scalability.  Continue Reading

• Add virt-manager to your set of KVM management tools

  KVM virt-manager provides a useful and simple VM management GUI. The console enables VM creation, deletion and troubleshooting. Learn the basics of its management and installation.  Continue Reading

• A complete beginner's guide to blending DevOps and security

  DevSecOps sounds like a mouthful for those new to DevOps, but building security in from the start is key to DevOps success. Expert Kevin Beaver explains.  Continue Reading

• Use an IT incident management system to enable automation

  IT admins and gurus can't tackle every issue every hour of the day -- let alone predict them first. A dynamic combination of monitoring and incident management makes for better admins.  Continue Reading

• Manage app dependencies carefully for serverless platforms

  Application dependencies are tough to manage in serverless computing. Developers need to take specific steps, including the establishment of a well-defined CI/CD process, to cope.  Continue Reading

• Integrate DevOps and containers with simple tool adjustments

  Organizations with an established DevOps pipeline can migrate from VMs to containers without tossing out the entire toolstack. Focus on these steps to enable containers in production.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing with VMware evolves with products, partnerships

  VMware has stepped away from what originally made it successful to face the cloud future. Partnerships and acquisitions situate cloud computing with VMware as a competitive option.  Continue Reading

• Optimize serverless apps with real-time troubleshooting

  Serverless computing demands a new way of thinking to successfully troubleshoot apps. Carefully define error states, and maintain logs to pinpoint and solve performance issues.  Continue Reading

• Compare cloud vs. local archive benefits and drawbacks

  Local archives allow companies to use hardware they already own and save on cloud subscriptions, but cloud archives remove hardware maintenance tasks and costs.  Continue Reading

• NAND flash memory technologies evolve to support QLC

  QLC NAND pushes the storage capacity of flash devices higher, but devices can wear out more quickly than other NAND types because more data can be written to the same cell.  Continue Reading

• Office 365 email encryption options grow for enterprise needs

  Each enterprise has different needs when it comes to preventing data leakage. Admins should be aware of the Office 365 mailbox and encryption features that help the organization meet its requirements.  Continue Reading

• Get cloud computing certified, but don't abandon virtualization

  Cloud certification training can help an IT administrator's career, but it's only practical if it aligns with your company and you don't forgo virtualization upkeep.  Continue Reading

• Four things to know before an Azure Stack deployment

  Intended to simplify management and development across public and private clouds, Azure Stack looks to address some of IT's biggest hybrid hang-ups.  Continue Reading

• 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

• A DevOps beginner's guide for user experience professionals

  If you're a UX pro brand-new to DevOps, you might wonder where to begin. UX columnist Jason Grant offers a step-by-step approach for designers who are DevOps newbies.  Continue Reading

• Create SCVMM user roles to define management, tighten security

  Using SCVMM user roles provides granular control in a virtual infrastructure. By defining a delegation model, admins also ensure that the infrastructure is more secure.  Continue Reading

• How microservices, lambda and functional computing differ

  While the terms lambda, functional computing and microservices may get intertwined, it's important to understand what makes them unique. Here, we dive into the differences.  Continue Reading

• Mount an ISO file to a virtual DVD drive with PowerShell

  It's easy to manage external media from PowerShell. It's worth noting, however, that the command syntax varies depending on whether you're referencing an IDE or SCSI drive.  Continue Reading

• Help ops to begin a DevOps implementation the right way

  DevOps can be difficult to get right, even with lots of experience. For those forging ahead for the first time, however, the hurdles can seem enormous. Stephen Bigelow explains.  Continue Reading

• HIPAA-eligible services nudge enterprises toward compliance

  While certain services on AWS can help you ensure HIPAA compliance, don't view them as a complete replacement for proper security checks and approval processes.  Continue Reading

• A comprehensive beginner's guide to DevOps for testers

  Newcomers to DevOps have a steep learning curve and nowhere more so than in test. Expert Matthew Heusser has a beginner's guide to DevOps and testing.  Continue Reading

• How to evolve architecture with a reactive programming model

  Looking to modernize your enterprise architecture? Learn why reactive programming and event-driven process management will be the foundation of this change.  Continue Reading

• Bare-metal cloud services lure legacy workloads off premises

  For some enterprises, bare-metal services in the cloud act as a crucial steppingstone to an IaaS deployment, and providers, including IBM, Oracle and AWS, have taken notice.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization trends in 2018 signal edge technology disruption

  New technologies build on virtualization and threaten disruption. Virtualization administrators must familiarize themselves with what's coming and plan their careers accordingly.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN vs. MPLS: The quality-of-service comparison

  Quality of service is often top of mind for IT leaders when debating SD-WAN vs. MPLS -- especially when it comes to using internet links for SD-WAN connectivity.  Continue Reading

• Nutanix Acropolis hypervisor components and capabilities

  Nutanix hypervisor components, including controller VMs, and Prism, its management control plane, help simplify management. Learn more about how these components work together.  Continue Reading

• 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

• Azure and AWS continue their race for public cloud dominance

  In the battle between public cloud vendors, Microsoft hopes its large enterprise customer base and a focus on hybrid cloud can help it close the gap with AWS.  Continue Reading

• Structure public cloud accounts for optimal resource tracking

  As enterprises move to public IaaS or broaden their existing deployments, cloud account management gets tricky. Follow this example to find the structure that works best for you.  Continue Reading

• SaaS support challenges IT ops admins to shift gears

  SaaS means no more app support, right? In practice, IT ops teams enter a new realm of upgrade management and capacity planning when their user base migrates to a SaaS offering.  Continue Reading

• Five system administrator skills Windows admins should hone

  IT workers need to learn how to ride the wave of innovation and master these five technologies related to Windows Server that can ease their workload and help the business.  Continue Reading

• DNS functions remain vital, but must adapt as demands shift

  The domain name system's tasks are simple, but essential, and the service faces challenges with the proliferation of devices that operate within IPv6 networks.  Continue Reading

• How IPv6 networks create DNS configuration problems

  DNS data is among the most basic and crucial information required for network connectivity, but configuring DNS recursive servers in IPv6-only networks can pose challenges.  Continue Reading

• OK of 400 Gigabit Ethernet adds horsepower to data centers

  Final approval of the 400 Gigabit Ethernet standard will provide data centers and cloud providers with the extra capacity they need to meet ever-rising data demands.  Continue Reading

• A comprehensive beginner's guide to DevOps for developers

  Starting DevOps in your organization and not sure where to begin? Cameron McKenzie explains everything a developer needs to know to successfully begin the DevOps process.  Continue Reading

• Three-step network strategy sells big changes as more doable

  A three-pronged network strategy takes an evolutionary approach to selling revolutionary technology changes internally, with a bigger chance of success.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for hybrid cloud implementation with these key steps

  As enterprises mix public and private IT resources, they grapple with app workflows, network connections and more. Here are four ways to alleviate common hybrid cloud challenges.  Continue Reading

• Learn Ruby language skills with these online resources

  Systems administrators spend more time programming than ever before. To excel in your current role or find a new, DevOps-heavy one, invest the time to learn a new language.  Continue Reading

• AWS Direct Connect gateway grants your network global access

  Large global enterprises will welcome AWS Direct Connect gateways, which enable multi-region connections to VPCs. However, some limitations to the service still exist.  Continue Reading

• Be ready if Microsoft Exchange updates go wrong

  Everyone wants a smooth patching process, but things can fall apart despite everyone's best efforts. Develop a solid recovery plan and test it before trouble strikes.  Continue Reading

• Build a multi-cloud app with these four factors in mind

  A multi-cloud strategy reduces vendor lock-in and outage risks. But to realize those benefits, development teams must first design apps to successfully run on various platforms.  Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• Lower the risk of change in continuous testing

  Expert Matt Heusser explains how to improve mobile and web application continuous testing in seven steps. Learn how to identify goals and avoid failures with continuous flow.  Continue Reading

• Hype for future of container development gets dose of reality

  Realistic timelines have replaced the big promises of container disruption. Virtualization administrators should expect security and microservices features as the market matures.  Continue Reading

• DynamoDB features recharge AWS database service

  Developers who got sick of AWS' roundabout backup method for DynamoDB can breathe a sigh of relief. Backup and Restore, as well as Global Tables, eliminate cumbersome processes.  Continue Reading

• Meet these SCVMM 2016 requirements before upgrading

  Before upgrading to SCVMM 2016, ensure that you meet its hardware requirements, including SCVMM 2012 R2 and Update Rollup 9 or later, and have a supported version of SQL Server.  Continue Reading

• Existing branch routers could be replaced as SD-WAN matures

  Enterprises are moving away from traditional branch routers, as SD-WAN capabilities mature and offer consolidated network functionality on a single device.  Continue Reading

• Cloud migration planning tips: How to move data out of the cloud

  Most people know how to move data and files to the cloud, but what happens when you decide you want your files back? Getting that data back is no easy task.  Continue Reading

• Cloud ops doesn't solve your problems, it creates new ones

  There are many reasons to consider a cloud migration, but if you expect to cut costs or dramatically ease management, you'll be disappointed.  Continue Reading

• Preserve Hyper-V security from Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities

  Protect Hyper-V VMs from Meltdown and Spectre security vulnerabilities, and install patches from Microsoft. Watch out for future revisions, performance impacts and recalls.  Continue Reading

• Options for server management tools expand to meet IT needs

  Not only do admins have to contend with a mix of server OSes, there are diverse scenarios to complicate their management. Learn about the tools worth exploring for administration.  Continue Reading

• User self-service challenges mount in multi-cloud computing

  Self-service provisioning presents challenges with a single cloud provider, and a multi-cloud strategy only magnifies those issues, as IT seeks to integrate multiple interfaces.  Continue Reading

• Service mesh amplifies microservice management capabilities

  Kubernetes emerged to help development teams better orchestrate microservices, and now, service mesh stands to help teams more easily handle microservice integration.  Continue Reading

• Small business virtualization grows in mature market

  Virtualization isn't only for large enterprises anymore. New technology at cheaper prices has made SMB virtualization practical, while increased competition has made it necessary.  Continue Reading

• Customize a Hyper-V network adapter for security, performance

  Look beyond basic network adapter settings in Hyper-V to enable features like IPsec task offloading, DHCP guard, protected networks, port mirroring and NIC teaming, among others.  Continue Reading

• How networking can prepare for 5G mobile technology

  An 'average Joe' engineer discusses the impact 5G mobile technology may bring to his operation as developments around the standard heat up.  Continue Reading

• Automation and orchestration elevate scripts from helpful to essential

  Did you automate a server update, only to realize another script for configuration compliance has to run first? Orchestration tidies up the messy piles of automation that grow out of IT scripting.  Continue Reading

• How to make machine learning systems work in the network

  Machine learning systems in networks are gaining acceptance, but our expert cautions that humans and APIs are still needed to keep complexity at bay.  Continue Reading

• 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

• Four critical continuous testing components to implement

  Rapid continuous delivery is unlikely to go off without a hitch, unless the team relies on continuous testing. Expert Justin Rohrman explains how to get it underway.  Continue Reading

• Review chatbot development options in public cloud

  As users look to interact with applications via more natural language and text, chatbots become increasingly popular. And many developers turn to the public cloud to create them.  Continue Reading

• New Office 365 administrators grapple with challenges

  More enterprises mulling the move to Office 365 should factor in the adjustments necessary to get the IT department up to speed to manage the platform properly.  Continue Reading

• 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

• How cloud vets can advance along an AWS career path

  Cloud training companies often gear their material toward newcomers. But experienced cloud professionals can enhance their knowledge, too, with some dedication.  Continue Reading

• Three ChatOps examples demonstrate DevOps efficiency

  IT collaboration tools are taking center stage in DevOps shops, where they create an environment of connection -- to applications, to peer knowledge and to automation tools.  Continue Reading

• Azure B-series VMs reduce resource waste for bursty apps

  Paying only for the resources they consume is the ultimate goal for many enterprises in the cloud. Azure's B-series VMs make that goal more attainable -- for certain workloads.  Continue Reading

• Mitigate low-code/no-code platform security risks

  While you can't entirely avoid the security risks of low-code and no-code platforms, you can mitigate them. Here's a look at the top vulnerabilities and how to combat them.  Continue Reading

• How to deploy IoT Lambda on AWS Greengrass-connected hardware

  Not all Lambda functions are built the same. Follow this advice, and implement best practices to account for Lambda limitations and features in Greengrass edge deployments.  Continue Reading

• What enterprises learn from software failure incidents

  Research from Etsy and IBM suggests we are learning the wrong lessons from software failure incidents and points toward how to get it right.  Continue Reading

• How component-based software engineering spurs innovation

  Demands for digital transformation in business may ring hollow to some architects. However, componentization can play a key role in making business innovation a reality.  Continue Reading

• How the use of APIs helps spur business innovation

  Change isn't always cheap. However, by taking an API-first approach, businesses can innovate in a safe, effective and low-cost manner.  Continue Reading

• Unikernels vs. containers: See the lightweight championship fight

  The drive to minimize app hosting resources yielded unikernels and containers, the IT equivalent of a tiny house and apartment. Containing only the barest essentials, unikernels pose unique benefits and challenges.  Continue Reading

• Latest AWS machine learning service takes aim at AI novices

  The latest service in AWS' AI portfolio, Amazon SageMaker, is designed to simplify the deployment of new machine learning models, but still requires data science skills.  Continue Reading

• Build data storage reliability into a backup infrastructure

  In today's market, there are a variety of data backup options. Here's how to make sure your organization's essential data will always be there when it is needed.  Continue Reading

• How to develop a UX workflow

  This approach to UX improves software design, whether your goal is to build a new product, modernize a legacy one or improve functionality and features.  Continue Reading

• When to use TLC NAND flash memory

  TLC NAND flash storage devices wear out quickly, and they're not as fast as MLC or SLC. But TLC devices are a good choice for tier 2 storage and read-heavy applications.  Continue Reading

• Compare managed Kubernetes services from AWS and Azure

  AWS and Azure have both rolled out a managed service for Kubernetes, and while their overall aim is the same, there are key differences users should note.  Continue Reading

• Sharpen IT effectiveness to go from cost center to business nexus

  IT departments must work to keep user experience positive to avoid a perception as a resource vacuum. If users can't manipulate the app effectively, what does uptime matter?  Continue Reading

• Software-defined branch networks: Why and how to do them

  Software networking virtualization has reached branch networks. Learn the whys and hows of creating the software-defined branch using the latest software networking technologies.  Continue Reading

• How your SD-WAN appliance can consolidate the branch stack

  The latest SD-WAN appliance technology promises expanded and accelerated consolidation of branch stacks. Learn how it works and how to make it work for you.  Continue Reading

• Prep an OpenStack private cloud for a multi-cloud deployment

  Enterprises with an OpenStack private cloud can still jump on the multi-cloud bandwagon. But they should prepare for challenges around data management and platform compatibility.  Continue Reading

• Fog computing architecture posing challenges for IT

  Fog computing architecture designs are gaining traction, as users demand accessibility to apps and services. But the approach can cause challenges for IT.  Continue Reading

• EKS enters the fray of container orchestrator options

  Amazon EKS relieves some of the headaches that have plagued the provider's Elastic Container Service. Here's an overview of key features and how to get started with a migration.  Continue Reading

• Big data in cloud computing demands an IT skill set change

  Enterprises continue to shift big data workloads to the cloud. And while the move doesn't require a total overhaul of IT skills, it does demand some change for admin and dev teams.  Continue Reading

• Expand KVM storage with virsh commands

  With a few steps -- the creation of files, the addition of XML code and the execution of commands -- you can use the virsh command-line interface to add storage to existing VMs.  Continue Reading

• Manage APIs with microservices in a Lambda architecture

  When you use Serverless Framework in an AWS environment, you might run into resource limits. Chris Moyer explains how to use microservices to avoid this problem.  Continue Reading

• CASBs address wide range of cloud security concerns

  Cloud and distributed apps create complex security challenges. CASBs aim to resolve these issues with features for threat protection, data loss prevention and more.  Continue Reading

• Learn these AWS basics before you run VMware on AWS

  There are a few things every vSphere admin should know before he tries to run VMware on AWS, including how VPCs work and how AWS handles resource provisioning.  Continue Reading

• M EC2 instance family offers versatile compute, at a price

  General-purpose EC2 instances, like the M and T series, fit many types of applications. But before you rush to use them, know your workloads and how much capacity they need.  Continue Reading