Tutorials

Tutorials

• Follow this Minikube tutorial to brew up a Kubernetes home lab

  Set up a Minikube home lab, and begin exploring Kubernetes container orchestration before the coffee in your mug turns cold.  Continue Reading

• Learn Kubernetes infrastructure in a personal lab

  Live servers are not the place to build up Kubernetes skills. Instead, set up a Kubernetes cluster, and start experimenting with it on a laptop in a lab.  Continue Reading

• Assess Salt configuration management's capabilities and limitations

  Salt's benefits for IT operations include fast configuration and flexible, responsive functioning. Get a handle on the basics of Salt, then install it to explore the tool's capabilities.  Continue Reading

• Create a self-signed certificate to control PowerShell scripts

  Signing code ensures that every change is official and approved. This helps to prevent errors and security breaches. Write a PowerShell self-signed certificate for code testing.  Continue Reading

• Follow a PXE boot tutorial to increase OS configuration automation

  PXE boot servers are simple to set up and can aid in IT operations' goals toward high-level efficiency and automation. This tutorial runs through setup and optimal settings.  Continue Reading

• A Red Hat Satellite tutorial to install an update server

  With Red Hat Satellite, IT ops can deploy an update server to simplify patching. Follow this step-by-step tutorial to install the server, attach subscriptions and devise a sync plan.  Continue Reading

• PowerShell scripts enable automated cloud deployments

  This step-by-step tutorial walks through the process to automate an Azure deployment; start with launching the virtual server, and finish with the deletion process.  Continue Reading

• Security issues in cloud computing

  While the cloud may be flexible and cost-efficient, a lack of data safeguards and compliance standards makes security the largest hurdle to leap.  Continue Reading

• Pick up infrastructure as code tools and techniques

  Walk through an infrastructure as code template, using AWS CloudFormation as an example, to better understand defining and connecting resources.  Continue Reading

• Beat hackers with a vulnerability assessment process

  Get started on a vulnerability risk assessment process to prevent hacks on data, applications and more. Take these steps to identify vulnerabilities and improve risk management.  Continue Reading

• Load testing and performance testing with JMeter: Tutorial

  JMeter, a free open source load testing tool, is straightforward to use and supports several programming languages, including HTTP/HTTPS, SOAP, JDBC, LDAP and JMS. In the following set of informative tips, expert Mike Kelly explores the capabilities...  Continue Reading

• Managing and monitoring cloud computing services

  Keep your cloud services operating at optimal performance levels with advice from this collection of cloud management and monitoring resources.  Continue Reading

• ADSL IP VPN advantages and disadvantages

  Find out the ADSL IP VPN advantages and disadvantages before upgrading your enterprise wide area network (WAN) link to this telecom service.  Continue Reading

• VMware storage options and Storage vMotion: A guide

  VMware storage options include VMFS, thin provisioning, NFS and block-level storage. Virtualization storage features such as VMware Storage vMotion also help protect VM data.  Continue Reading

• Cloud data storage: New technologies make cloud storage more appealing

  Discover the benefits and drawbacks of cloud data storage, get details on players in the private storage cloud space and learn more about cloud storage services.  Continue Reading

• Data archiving methods and best practices for small businesses

  Improper data archiving methods or improper use of archiving software can lead to legal problems in your business. Find out how to avoid data archiving problems with these top six articles on data archiving.  Continue Reading

• An off-site tape storage tutorial: Tape backup and recovery best practices

  Tape still fills the role of media for choice for off-site vaulting, but organizations have other options such as the cloud and replication for securing data for disaster recovery.  Continue Reading

• Virtualized data centers: A resource library

  Data center managers use virtualization for basic data center needs, such as server consolidation and disaster recovery, and much more.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing network primer

  Cloud computing network architecture is moving toward a flat, leaf-spine topology, enabling reduced latency and balancing bandwidth, providing any-to-any connectivity within and between servers. Learn more in this primer.  Continue Reading

• Understanding cloud computing pricing

  Someday, cloud computing providers may simplify pricing models. But until that day, when determining total pricing for a cloud computing service, consider the services offered by the provider and how each pricing structure is worded.  Continue Reading

• Set-ExchangeServer cmdlet can ease domain controller workloads

  Exchange Server can distribute workloads evenly among domain controllers, but external factors can cause them to become overworked . Executing Exchange Management Shell's Set-ExchangeServer command can help lessen domain controller workloads.  Continue Reading

• Multiprotocol and unified data storage tutorial for SMBs

  In this tutorial, learn how to choose the best multiprotocol storage system, and about the block and file storage protocol options available in the latest offerings.  Continue Reading

• Thin provisioning storage brings utilization and capacity benefits, but with a caveat

  Thin provisioning storage can deliver capacity and utilization benefits to enterprise data storage environments, but it's been hobbled by concerns over capacity allocation overload and sluggish support from major vendors.  Continue Reading

• Virtual tape libraries: A tutorial on managing VTL technology

  In this tutorial on virtual tape library technology, learn about buying and managing a VTL, VTLs and data deduplication, and virtual tape library vendors and products.  Continue Reading

• Tutorials on data storage from SearchStorage.com

  Check out these data storage tutorials on network-attached storage (NAS), solid-state drive (SSD) technology, tiered storage, Fibre Channel, storage-area networks (SANs) and more.  Continue Reading

• Exchange Performance Monitor tracks domain controller communication

  Using Performance Monitor counters is an effective way to keep an eye on Exchange Server health. Learn which Performance Monitor counters you should watch to ensure that your Exchange Servers are communicating effectively with your domain ...  Continue Reading

• Windows Distributed File System (DFS) Tutorial

  This short guide breaks down Microsoft's Distributed File System, with tips, articles and how-tos on topics ranging from DFS Namespace and DFS Replication to migration, we've got all the resources Windows admins need.  Continue Reading

• Virtual desktop infrastructure tutorial: Part 2

  In Part 2 of our virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) tutorial, we'll discuss which new products promise to make VDI simpler.  Continue Reading

• Enabling Unified Messaging mailboxes and users

  When Unified Messaging is deployed in an Exchange 2007 environment, the Exchange Recipient Administrator can configure UM mailbox-enabled users and begin to allow email, voicemail and faxes to be delivered to their Inboxes. In this excerpt from "...  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel SAN switches tutorial

  Learn all about Fibre Channel SAN switches with these articles on selecting the right switches and the best practices for managing FC switching environments.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Group Policy Tutorial

  This guide introduces you to Group Policy. From the basics of using GP to run your environment to the changes you can expect after migrating to Windows Vista, we've got all the tips, article and how-to's administrators need to know.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 software requirements tips

  Developing quality software starts with the requirements process. If you fail here, your project fails. You end up with software that isn't used -- not to mention wasted time, energy, and money. These software requirements tips -- written by experts...  Continue Reading

• Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) Tutorial

  SOAP has gained status as a common messaging protocol in Web services and SOA projects. This SOAP tutorial provides insight as to what SOAP standard is and when to use it. SOAP basics, how it compares to REST, SOAP attachments and how SOAP functions...  Continue Reading

• How to test Exchange Management Shell commands

  Understand how to use the Exchange Management Shell parameters WhatIf and ValidateOnly in Exchange 2007 to preview and test EMS commands before executing them.  Continue Reading

• How to use Debug Diagnostics to troubleshoot IIS issues

  Learn how to use the IIS Diagnostic Toolkit's Debug Diagnostics utility to troubleshoot performance issues in any Win32 user-mode process.  Continue Reading

• How to install the Microsoft IIS Diagnostics Toolkit

  In this excerpt from "Inside the IIS Diagnostic Toolkit," contributor Tim Fenner explains the ways Windows admins can install the Toolkit so they can use it to tackle IIS-related issues.  Continue Reading

• How to use Microsoft's IIS Diagnostics Toolkit

  In this resource guide, contributor Tim Fenner offers an overview of the seven utilities in the IIS Diagnostics Toolkit and provides instructions on how to download and use them.  Continue Reading

• How to use SMTP queues to troubleshoot mail flow

  Find out how you can use SMTP queues to diagnose and troubleshoot Exchange Server mail flow and email performance issues.  Continue Reading

• NAS appliance specifications

  NAS appliances are noted for their convenience, offering dedicated internal storage that is relatively straightforward to identify and manage. The biggest issue for NAS appliances is avoiding network bottlenecks and supporting expansion without ...  Continue Reading

• Active Directory Tutorial

  This guide helps Active Directory administrators better understand the basics of the Active Directory infrastructure, including design strategies, DNS, replication and security.  Continue Reading

• Active Directory Replication Guide

  This guide provides tips and resources on Active Directory replication, including info on replication basics, topology design and troubleshooting replication issues.  Continue Reading

• Step 3: Create an Edge Subscription

  An Edge Transport server needs an Edge Subscription to access Active Directory data. Learn how to set one up and caveats you need to watch out for before deploying.  Continue Reading

• A Windows administrator's guide to file management

  File management in Windows is not just about finding the right places for user data and application data, but also anticipating and planning for changes that may need to be made in how things are stored—all the while, dealing with quirks of ...  Continue Reading

• An overview of Microsoft Outlook email security features

  In the following tip from "8 tips in 8 minutes: A Microsoft Outlook email security tutorial," you'll gain an in-depth overview of Microsoft Outlook's email security features including security zone changes, the Outlook security update, S/MIME ...  Continue Reading

• A template for software requirements gathering techniques

  Requirements gathering can be a difficult, exhaustive process. We've assembled information on the best methods for requirements engineering -- prototypes, storyboards, models, state transition diagrams and use cases -- in one guide.  Continue Reading

• Routing First-Step: IP header format

  Routing and Internet addressing are two important concepts involved in networking. Routing First-Step covers the basics of routing in clear, easy-to-understand language.  Continue Reading

• Five critical planning steps for wireless LANs, Step 5: Manageability -- Switching to WLAN switches

  This article explains how WLAN switches will help to alleviate manageability issues.  Continue Reading