Tips

Tips

• 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

• Learn YAML through a personal example

  Some code languages take countless hours of formal training and practice. YAML strikes out in the opposite direction. To comprehend its hierarchical format, follow this coding example.  Continue Reading

• Container orchestration tools ease distributed system complexity

  Containers simplify some aspects of enterprise apps, but the deployment process is no walk in the park. Orchestration tools bring standardization and automation to complex hosting scenarios.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the benefits of serverless functions

  The use of serverless functions can help developers minimize the time spent managing resources by segmenting third-party dependencies. Zach Flower explains.  Continue Reading

• Dive into AWS data lakes for analytics projects

  Data lakes on AWS can provide a treasure trove of information -- if you can work past complexity and management issues. Test the water with these cloud services.  Continue Reading

• Google cloud features evolve to turn up the heat on AWS

  Google made several moves in 2017 in an attempt to close the gap between itself and market leader AWS. But will those efforts be enough to win over new customers?  Continue Reading

• Bulk manage a Hyper-V server group with PowerShell

  With only a few steps, you can use SCVMM to bring a Hyper-V server under management. This is limited, however, so use the SCVMM Command Shell to bulk manage Hyper-V servers.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate VMware, public cloud provider integration

  Hybrid cloud providers don't yet have the seamless integration they promised. VMware cluster admins need to evaluate available options in order to formulate a VMware cloud strategy.  Continue Reading

• Curb stress from Exchange Server updates with these pointers

  Some administrators let the memories of a bad patch linger and put off Exchange updates. Here are some tips to make this necessary chore less of a traumatic experience.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V cmdlets for daily operational tasks

  With simple scripts, enable or disable VM Integration Services and Live Migration on Hyper-V hosts, reset VM replication stats, grant or revoke VM access, and optimize VHD files.  Continue Reading

• Spectre, Meltdown vulnerabilities put SDS, HCI at risk

  Spectre and Meltdown patches should be applied to hyper-converged and other software-defined storage products that run on hosts with user installed application processes.  Continue Reading

• 5G wireless technology influences telecommunication's future

  The capabilities of 5G wireless technology and event-driven networking hold the promise for telecommunication's future, but solving the remaining challenges will determine the outcome.  Continue Reading

• Roll your own Windows patching tool with PowerShell

  This tutorial based on PowerShell helps administrators build an automated routine that audits Windows machines, then applies missing patches to lighten this management task.  Continue Reading

• Testers face pressure to improve software technical skills

  If you want to stand out from the testing crowd, spend some time acquiring technical skills. Expert Matthew Heusser offers an on-point tester training curriculum.  Continue Reading

• Copy files from the host to a Hyper-V machine

  There are many ways to copy files from the host to a Hyper-V machine, including Enhanced Session Mode and the Copy-VMFile PowerShell cmdlet. Follow these steps for each method.  Continue Reading

• Ensure container monitoring and control via smart tooling

  Don't try to stick with traditional monitoring tools when your organization matures to containers; they won't do enough. Seek out monitoring and management tools with targeted capabilities.  Continue Reading

• How to use REST APIs in Python

  Using REST APIs with Python can offer storage administrators increased flexibility in their management tasks, but they need some knowledge of how to code.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged vs. converged labels don't apply to some products

  Converged and hyper-converged infrastructure labels are becoming less clear as vendors such as NetApp and Datrium introduce products that allow for scaling components separately.  Continue Reading

• Google Cloud Dedicated Interconnect offers VPN alternative

  Google's Dedicated Interconnect enables an enterprise to privately connect its data center to the public cloud. Here's a breakdown of key features and the requirements to use it.  Continue Reading

• How Red Hat assembled an open source hyper-converged platform

  By combining Gluster Storage with its Red Hat Virtualization software, Red Hat has thrown its own cap into the software-only HCI ring with an open source offering.  Continue Reading

• Take network configuration management tools to the next level

  Script management systems and intent-based networking are driving the future of network configuration management tools, shifting the paradigm of how networking systems are managed.  Continue Reading

• Server Core management remains a challenge for some

  Server Core, the minimal Windows Server deployment, removes some admins from their GUI comfort zone, but its benefits reduce some chores associated with the full server OS.  Continue Reading

• The role of HCI in the hyper-converged cloud

  HCI and the cloud have virtualization at their cores, which makes the two platforms a good combination for organizations planning a hybrid cloud IT architecture.  Continue Reading

• Three Amazon AI-based projects to get your dev team rolling

  Amazon AI technologies expand capabilities for enterprise developers. Try out these sample AI projects to familiarize yourself with deep learning and image recognition features.  Continue Reading

• BPM market advances around AI, cloud technology

  As AI, microservices and other emerging technologies transform the BPM industry, enterprises need to carefully navigate their business processes to the cloud to avoid GRC risks.  Continue Reading

• Migrate cloud applications back to on-premises applications

  In the cloud frenzy, it's easy to lose sight of what to do if the cloud doesn't work. With time, patience and cost planning, administrators can migrate applications back on premises.  Continue Reading

• VMware security products create balance between front and back end

  VMware security products, such as NSX and AppDefense, eliminate some of the problems associated with other security offerings to maintain performance levels and user experience.  Continue Reading

• Compliance Manager tool aims to ease security audit process

  Administrators who wrestle with compliance tasks in Office 365 and Azure workloads might find some relief with Microsoft's dashboard platform, which automates part of the process.  Continue Reading

• Use virt-install to install VMs from the command line

  Learn the basics of virt-install, including standard use cases, executing it on CentOS 7, different command-line options and the creation of kickstart files.  Continue Reading

• NFV disaggregates firewall appliance to increase scalability

  A traditional firewall appliance can incorporate many services, but NFV can virtualize firewalls to offer individual services that scale for application requirements.  Continue Reading

• VMware SaaS strategy bridges requirements from data center to cloud

  VMware's effort to embrace SaaS tools might seem counterintuitive, but it's a move that recognizes both the appeal of the cloud and the continued necessity of on-site data centers.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud, SDDC products boost quarterly VMware revenue

  According to VMware's Q3 2018 earnings report, the company received a nice boost from VMware Cloud on AWS, but NSX and vSAN remain the biggest contributors to VMware revenue.  Continue Reading

• Address bulk VMM agent updates with PowerShell automation

  The SCVMM agent upgrade process is a regular, but sometimes laborious, part of VM management. Use PowerShell to make light work of bulk updates through commands and loops.  Continue Reading

• Application support best practices involve all teams

  There's more to app support than making sure the bits and bytes are in order; the user's experience is vital to uphold. Creating a smooth process takes more than just operations.  Continue Reading

• Three requirements for a hybrid cloud computing deployment

  As the hybrid cloud computing approach gains steam, organizations will need to pay close attention to cross-cloud connectivity and management, plus microservices.  Continue Reading

• AWS container services evolve, but remain a work in progress

  At re:Invent, AWS made a number of enhancements to its container services portfolio. But its bedrock container orchestration service, Amazon ECS, still vexes some dev teams.  Continue Reading

• Execute PowerCLI commands to manage VMware infrastructure

  PowerCLI cmdlets like Get-VM can be built out to obtain information about VMs in a VMware infrastructure, including those with attached CD-ROMs and those with snapshots.  Continue Reading

• Azure App Service Isolated boosts security and PaaS performance

  Aimed at organizations with unique security needs, Azure App Service Environment v2 lets applications run in a dedicated network without sacrificing scale or performance.  Continue Reading

• Unleash application dependency mapping tools to combat outages

  Create a detailed map of application dependencies from the CMDB and cloud resources and help prevent unexpected outages.  Continue Reading

• Master the basics of Azure Automation

  Automation offers a more efficient, hands-off approach to public cloud management. Explore the basics of Azure's automation service and the role of runbooks.  Continue Reading

• PKS complements VMware's cloud-native application portfolio

  Pivotal Container Service takes a DevOps-oriented approach to containers and improves VMware's cloud-native application strategy by adding Kubernetes support to vSphere.  Continue Reading

• PowerShell commands for Hyper-V update bulk VM configuration

  Admins who don't have access to SCVMM can make configuration changes to multiple Hyper-V VMs at once with a few PowerShell scripts and the ForEach loop approach.  Continue Reading

• Aurora Serverless leads next wave of cloud database features

  IT teams face a notoriously difficult task when it comes to database scaling and management. New Amazon Aurora features can ease some of these woes and potentially reduce costs.  Continue Reading

• Looking ahead to the biggest 2018 tech trends in networking

  The year ahead will force IT professionals to break out of their comfort zones and embrace 2018 tech trends that are reshaping the enterprise networking field.  Continue Reading

• Embark upon ITSM asset management with systematic tagging

  The journey to an organized data center begins with a single tag. Start using IT tags today to apply updates, control access and help automate management.  Continue Reading

• Amazon QuickSight tutorial: Get started with data analysis

  While Amazon QuickSight comes with some tradeoffs that data scientists should note, this tutorial walks you through key features that might be of interest to your analytics team.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate ChatOps tools and bots for the right fit

  ChatOps is still a niche in IT operations and DevOps shops, but organizations that have set it up love it. That means you should join the fun and give it a try. Here's what you need to know about ChatOps tools.  Continue Reading

• Four telecom infrastructure trends driving network of the future

  Four telecom infrastructure trends -- SDN, NFV, IoT and 5G -- are driving the network of the future, but telecom networks are more likely to transform in 2020, not 2018.  Continue Reading

• Know when to implement serverless vs. containers

  Containers save resources and reduce deploy times. So does serverless. Containers are a great host for microservices. So is serverless. But the deployment options are more different than they are alike.  Continue Reading

• Automated networks mean clearing some key hurdles first

  Obstacles facing IT adoption of automation in the network including training and trust. Now's the time to clear these hurdles and reap the benefits of an automated future.  Continue Reading

• Set Office 365 group limits to avoid administrative hassles

  With help from PowerShell, administrators can tailor Office 365 Groups to develop common-sense restrictions on the tools and other components in the collaboration service.  Continue Reading

• A good IT orchestration system saves time for users and admins

  Rather than fight with business workers about runaway IT resource consumption and complex demands on tight deadlines, let an orchestration platform control the process.  Continue Reading

• Common Amazon EBS performance issues, and how to troubleshoot them

  Having EBS trouble? You're not alone. Use these troubleshooting tips to work through common EBS issues, such as stuck volumes and slow performance.  Continue Reading

• Use virsh commands to manage KVM networking

  Virsh commands enable you to manage network properties and can be used alongside brctl commands to help you create additional virtual bridges in your KVM environment.  Continue Reading

• Use SpoofGuard to defend against malicious activity in VMware NSX

  SpoofGuard monitors network traffic to identify malicious activity and prevent phishing attacks. Before you enable SpoofGuard in NSX, there are a few things you should know.  Continue Reading