Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Dive into the history of server hardware

  Server hardware has consistently evolved since the first web server in 1990. Here's a look at the major advancements in form factor, management and virtualization. Continue Reading

• How to purchase the best server hardware for small business

  Before buying a server, it's important to assess the SMB's needs and review these seven steps outlining the factors an organization should consider. Continue Reading

• An in-depth look at calculating server hardware costs for SMBs

  Servers can be expensive, but there's more to the purchase than just the price of the hardware. Learn what additional items an SMB must factor into the overall cost. Continue Reading

• Pick a data center layout: Raised floors vs. overhead cabling

  There's no definitive design when it comes to data center infrastructure. Cost, manageability and cooling effectiveness are all factors during the selection process. Continue Reading

• 6 converged infrastructure vendors' product options compared

  Converged infrastructure systems help reduce hardware deployment risks by providing a preconfigured software stack, which greatly reduces the risk of configuration errors. Continue Reading

• Rack vs. blade server: What's the difference?

  Don't neglect form factor as part of your data center server selection. Instead, figure out what type of environment you need and learn which server use cases will work best.Continue Reading

• Traditional vs. converged vs. hyper-converged infrastructure setups

  HCI clusters, converged infrastructure and rack servers all offer benefits for a data center. Still, figuring out which is easier to set up requires evaluation and planning.Continue Reading

• Insight into Big Blue key to better IBM ELA renewals

  Before negotiating a renewal of your IBM enterprise license agreement, get to know Big Blue's sales strategy and which factors influence its deal-making process.Continue Reading

• VxRail vs. Nutanix: HCI heavyweights square off

  Learn how leading hyper-converged infrastructure systems from Dell EMC and Nutanix stack up in this in-depth comparison.Continue Reading

• Data center liquid cooling market heats up

  As organizations increase server rack density, more C-level execs investigate liquid cooling technology. Industry experts see these systems as an operational and cost necessity.Continue Reading

• Considerations for SIEM logging software and storage

  SIEM systems aggregate a lot of data across all types of infrastructure. For regular audits, admins should address notification settings, analysis protocols and storage locations.Continue Reading

• Dell EMC vs. NetApp: Comparing converged infrastructure systems

  The Dell EMC VxBlock and NetApp FlexPod converged infrastructure platforms can help IT reduce the complexities of implementing and maintaining data center systems.Continue Reading

• The coronavirus effect on enterprise technology practices

  Effects of COVID-19 on enterprise IT go well beyond enabling remote workforces. Coronavirus is also changing approaches to IT staffing, projects/initiatives and budgets/spending.Continue Reading

• What is the self-driving data center and how does it work?

  Self-driven data centers require little intervention to handle daily operations. Explore their inner workings, benefits, and what HPE and VMware are doing to make them a reality.Continue Reading

• SIEM vs. SOAR: Key considerations for software evaluation

  SIEM and SOAR tools are now seen as complementary to each other, but key differences in purpose and features may determine which one you decide to use in your data center.Continue Reading

• Quickly repurpose HCI hardware for hosting virtual desktops

  Virtual desktops are tailored for remote work situations, and hyper-convergence makes a great VDI host that stands up quickly in a pinch. Consider these factors, though.Continue Reading

• Essential components and tools of server monitoring

  Server capacity management requires a list of infrastructure components to watch and the right tools. A workflow with these concepts ensures uptime and helps usage predictions.Continue Reading

• What's involved in cloud repatriation cost calculation?

  The costs associated with cloud repatriation go beyond the migration itself. IT managers must account for any new hardware, backup requirements and available skilled personnel.Continue Reading

• Advances in server hardware components speed up data centers

  Server hardware has consistently evolved since the 1980s. Now, IT professionals can implement the latest in CPU and GPU technology in their ever-growing data centers.Continue Reading

• Improvements in CPU features help shape selection

  CPUs have evolved to meet ever-increasing technology demands. We look at the way performance and power characteristics have shifted in recent years.Continue Reading

• Dive into the quantum computing qubit with IBM's Bob Sutor

  The quantum computing industry is entering a new era. IBM's Bob Sutor discusses the technology's importance and how his latest book can help readers better understand the qubit.Continue Reading

• HPE Primera storage makes Synergy, Composable Rack more intelligent

  See how intelligent all-flash Primera storage with InfoSight predictive analytics brings a more cloud-like resilient, agile, scalable experience to HPE composable infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Open Compute Project influence, open source hardware gain momentum

  With open source hardware more feasible than ever, catch up on how Open Compute Project consortium uses open source to develop more efficient server and infrastructure designs.Continue Reading

• What is Pivot3 Acuity Intelligence Engine for AI and automation?

  The Acuity Intelligence Engine delivers advanced data and performance management to simplify data protection and system administration for Pivot3 hyper-convergence.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged use cases beyond VM stacks: A hardware guide

  Explore best hyper-converged appliance and cluster configurations for containers, machine/deep learning, streaming analytics and specific products supporting each of these workloads.Continue Reading

• What is AI-defined infrastructure, and does it work?

  Software-driven hyper-converged, composable infrastructures and incorporation of AI technologies into compute and storage has brought more intelligence to enterprise IT than ever.Continue Reading

• Top hyper-converged infrastructure TCO factors to consider

  A lot of factors for estimating hyper-converged total cost of ownership are fairly straightforward, others less so. Follow these guidelines to get started on this complex process.Continue Reading

• Build up your knowledge of leaf-spine network technology

  As organizations deal with challenges of single tree path networks, many admins are considering leaf-spine architectures. Learn the ways its topology helps latency and data flow.Continue Reading

• Disaggregated hyper-converged infrastructure vs. traditional HCI

  A technical examination of what the pending demise of hyper-converged infrastructure 1.0 and rise of hyper-convergence 2.0 means for planning, buying, deployment and management.Continue Reading

• HPC services bring computational power to more organizations

  Navigating HPC colocation requires knowledge of power, uptime and security demands. Deploying such services can bring innovative opportunities for organizations.Continue Reading

• Want an HPC data center? Colocation could be the answer

  Colocation can offer the space, HVAC and security an organization needs to implement high-performance computing and delve deeper into its data. But not every provider is a match.Continue Reading

• Plan a successful migration to HPC colocation

  If your organization decides to host its HPC hardware in a colocated data center, ensure a smooth migration with proper location selection, security measures and application testing.Continue Reading

• How HPE SimpliVity InfoSight hyper-converged analytics works

  SimpliVity with InfoSight can predict and prevent hyper-convergence issues, take the guesswork out of capacity management, reduce support calls and lower operations expenses.Continue Reading

• A guide to how digital transformation IT infrastructure works

  Explore requirements, goals and issues around digital transformation plans and modern IT infrastructures such as hyper-converged, disaggregated hyper-converged and composable.Continue Reading

• Compare hyper-converged, converged infrastructure monitoring tools

  Better monitor your hyper-converged infrastructure systems with tools from Zenoss, Uila, eG Innovations and ManageEngine than with the proprietary tools of hyper-converged vendors.Continue Reading

• Best hyper-converged systems win Products of the Year 2019

  Datrium, Western Digital and HiveIO win praise for ground-breaking products that led the way in a year of hyper-converged and composable infrastructure evolution and change.Continue Reading

• What is Intel Rack Scale Design and how does it work?

  Find out what Intel's Rack Scale Design architecture is and how its reference code and APIs enable Intel-partner products to compose on-demand virtual servers for specific workloads.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged data center vendors innovate, evolve products

  Review notable hyper-converged, HCI 2.0 and composable disaggregated product news to gain insight into data center convergence technology as you make infrastructure decisions.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged and composable architectures transform IT

  Hyper-convergence and up-and-coming HCI 2.0 and composable infrastructure can help you achieve your IT and business goals. See why, how and where their strengths and weaknesses lie.Continue Reading

• Get to know Dell EMC hyper-converged infrastructure products

  Gain insight into Dell EMC's hyper-converged portfolio, including VxRail and XC Series appliances, VxRack System Flex plus vSAN, VxFlex and Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct Ready Nodes.Continue Reading

• Illustrated guide to hyper-converged edge computing

  Hyper-converged systems can help reduce network strain by making it possible to send only the most valuable and relevant data to centralized remote data centers or the cloud.Continue Reading

• Top data center skills admins can use in 2020

  The 2019 tech job sector saw consistent growth and job availability. In 2020, admins should develop expertise on cloud architectures, edge computing deployments and automation.Continue Reading

• Are attitudes toward edge computing architecture changing?

  Edge computing has many advantages over the centralized running of applications and processing of data on premises and in the cloud. Are IT leaders getting the message, though?Continue Reading

• Organizations try to predict the effect of 5G infrastructure

  With more 5G and IoT devices emerging, admins must prepare their data centers to support low-latency apps and edge computing with the right network and processing hardware.Continue Reading

• Why hyper-converged edge computing is coming into vogue

  Hyper-convergence helps enterprises better provision applications at the network edge and more efficiently process enormous amounts of data generated by IoT devices and smart sensors.Continue Reading

• Features distinguish leading composable infrastructure systems

  Before selecting a composable architecture, compare the different platforms' processing power, latency rates, supported IOPS, size and type of memory.Continue Reading

• AWS Outposts vs. Azure Stack vs. HCI

  See how AWS Outposts vs. Microsoft Azure Stack hybrid cloud offerings work and where they can and cannot take the place of traditional hyper-converged infrastructures.Continue Reading

• How vSAN hyper-converged infrastructure software works

  Delve into important aspects of VMware vSAN to help clarify its features and how it works to see if the hyper-converged infrastructure software is right for your organization.Continue Reading

• Gartner analyst lists application migration strategy essentials

  Application prioritization, risk assessment and cost evaluation are key migration strategy components for organizations looking to move workloads from on prem to the cloud or a colo facility.Continue Reading

• How is HCI market fragmentation affecting buyers, vendors?

  An increasingly crowded market and the technological limitations of standard HCI have led to innovative new takes on hyper-convergence to the benefit of vendors and buyers alike.Continue Reading

• Comparing Linux distributions: Red Hat vs. Ubuntu

  Before selecting a Linux distribution, compare Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu when it comes to features, ease of use, licensing and documentation.Continue Reading

• What does HCI 2.0 mean for hyper-convergence?

  Like composable infrastructure, next-gen hyper-convergence promises to ease procurement and management by, among other things, enabling users to add disparate IT resources independently.Continue Reading

• Top 4 open source automation tools for admins

  Open source offerings are an easy way to bring automation into your organization. When selecting software, evaluate the user experience, main features offered and Linux support.Continue Reading

• 5 reasons why hyper-converged infrastructure could be right for you

  The reasons for going hyper-converged vary. Often, however, organizations deploy HCI technology to effectively address one or more of the five issues outlined in this article.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct simplifies converged, HCI storage

  Storage Spaces Direct in Windows Server packages several different Microsoft technologies to lower TCO and simplify storage in converged and hyper-converged deployments.Continue Reading

• Explore compelling benefits of hyper-converged infrastructure

  Better support remote office/branch office environments and address budgetary, efficiency, scaling and operational challenges with hyper-converged infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Get to know Nutanix hyper-converged infrastructure products in-depth

  Nutanix products are major players in the hyper-convergence market. As a pioneer, Nutanix introduced one of the first HCIs and has modified and expanded its offerings ever since.Continue Reading

• Converged vs. hyper-converged infrastructure requirements

  Companies considering convergence should compare the features, benefits and limitations of CI and HCI, and look at which workloads drive organizations to data center convergence.Continue Reading

• Are Nutanix products hyper-converged hardware, software or cloud?

  Nutanix may still offer branded appliances, but there is a lot more to the hyper-converged infrastructure pioneer's product offerings than that nowadays.Continue Reading

• Which converged infrastructure vendors are businesses considering?

  Today's fast-paced business landscape has led enterprises to increasingly turn to convergence vendors. See why, which they are choosing and who leads the market.Continue Reading

• Illustrated guide to VMware vSAN HCI configuration and features

  VMware vSAN software benefits enterprises by tightly integrating, virtualizing and pooling server resources to ease infrastructure deployment, management and implementation.Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about composable infrastructure

  Composability abstracts resources as services that can be dynamically composed and recomposed for specific applications. Learn about its many advantages, and why it isn't for everyone.Continue Reading

• Top guidelines for edge computing software selection

  Finding edge software that meets all your organization's needs requires help from both the business and IT sides. Get the right fit with use case information and developer input.Continue Reading

• Essential VxRail appliance hyper-converged questions answered

  Find out what you need to know as you investigate if Dell EMC VxRail HCI with vSAN hyper-converged software meets the needs of your organization's workloads and use cases.Continue Reading

• What enterprises look for with converged data center projects

  Learn about the state of the convergence market and what enterprises require for CI and HCI projects, the workloads they intend to run and which vendors are highest on their buying lists.Continue Reading

• Learn the basics of ACI network technology

  Application-centric infrastructure is one way to support an SDN setup. By learning the basics, admins can manage networks with automation and data abstraction.Continue Reading

• How VCF on VxRail helps achieve hybrid cloud victory

  Virtual Cloud Foundation on VxRail combines VMware software-defined private cloud technology with Dell EMC hyper-converged hardware to create an extensive hybrid cloud platform.Continue Reading

• Essential private cloud migration steps

  Executive buy-in, application evaluation and tool configuration are all important parts of cloud selection. With these steps, admins can ensure a smooth move to private cloud.Continue Reading

• Composable infrastructure platform flexes converged muscles

  Composability tailors resources as unified services to specific workloads. Find out how it works and compares to converged and hyper-converged infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Composable infrastructure techniques for the real world

  Automating your composable infrastructure engenders flexibility that enables enterprises to reshape the data center and keep pace with today's cultural and technological shifts.Continue Reading

• Selection criteria for converged data protection

  See if a converged backup product will meet your needs by exploring the features you should consider before investing in this relatively new kind of data protection platform.Continue Reading

• Illustrated history of the converged data center

  Data center convergence emerged as an alternative to the traditional data center and it continues to evolve. Learn more about CI, HCI and composable infrastructure in this infographic.Continue Reading

• Can next-gen SIEM help cybersecurity initiatives?

  More organizations are using SIEM, AI and cloud technology to minimize security breaches. Though despite interest, this combination is still in its infancy.Continue Reading

• Data center management as a service launches DCIM to the cloud

  DMaaS is an option for organizations that want to use cloud-based management. Though these offerings hold a lot of promise, there are concerns about cost and function.Continue Reading

• How Cisco and Nexenta software defines storage for HyperFlex HCI

  See how Nexenta's virtual storage appliance software can extend Cisco HyperFlex HCI storage capabilities without additional hardware or complex system reconfigurations.Continue Reading

• A close look at different types of hyper-converged architectures

  Learn more about the major kinds of hyper-converged infrastructure available as we explore the evolution of HCI from basic storage-compute nodes to newer disaggregated types.Continue Reading

• Answers to top server lifecycle management questions

  Unsure when to maintain, upgrade or ditch a server? Here's a look at your hardware -- and software -- care options.Continue Reading

• Top hyper-converged platform features to look for in an HCI system

  Know software compatibility, maximum scalability and long-term potential of hardware support from vendors before buying a hyper-converged infrastructure system.Continue Reading

• Should admins learn about serverless computing?

  Serverless architecture is beneficial to organizations that use virtualization and function-as-a-service models. Here's what admins should know about it.Continue Reading

• 3 elements to consider for a hybrid cloud deployment

  Hybrid cloud uptake is increasing, as organizations demand greater infrastructure freedom across on- and off-premises environments and more control over the application layer.Continue Reading

• How to choose hyper-converged backup for data protection

  Data protection is essential for any hyper-converged infrastructure. How you back up data -- natively, agentless or using agents -- depends on your environment and other factors.Continue Reading

• Larger, expandable HCI nodes bring big infrastructure benefits

  Discover why a larger node strategy enables enterprises to better consolidate workloads in a hyper-converged infrastructure environment while reducing complexity and cost.Continue Reading

• When converged and hyper-converged -- and cloud -- converge

  Price, ease of management and use cases should determine if you use hyper-converged, converged infrastructure or on-premises public cloud stacks. There are differences, however.Continue Reading

• 3 ways to benefit from open source infrastructure

  Using open source infrastructure can reduce operating costs and streamline upgrades, but it's important to weigh the pros and cons before you jump on the bandwagon.Continue Reading

• Erasure coding vs. RAID: Pros and cons for hyper-convergence

  Hyper-converged systems, like any other, require data protection. We describe using RAID and erasure coding for hyper-convergence to help you pick the best option for your HCI.Continue Reading

• 3 vendors to consider for an HCI appliance

  HCI isn't just a software product; market vendors such as Nutanix, HPE and Pivot3 also have specific appliances for admins that want features for network and storage management.Continue Reading

• Know the risk of hyper-converged vendor lock-in, myths and facts

  The risk of HCI vendor lock-in is real. The reason why is different than you might think, however. See how it often comes down to financial, not technical, limitations in this article.Continue Reading

• HCI management layer vs. native hypervisor management

  See why inherent differences between hyper-converged and native hypervisor management tools tend to make one better suited for managing virtualized HCI resources than the other.Continue Reading

• Data center cooling systems advance, incorporate natural sources

  Despite concerns around water-based cooling technology, organizations are developing new hardware setups that rely on fjords and oceans to effectively cool dense server racks.Continue Reading

• 4 essential KPIs for edge computing management

  If you want to track edge deployment activity, look at storage, network and processing resources to guide workload configuration and maintenance needs.Continue Reading

• Colocation vs. cloud: Quiz yourself on these workload expansion options

  Colocation or cloud? Data centers have plenty of expansion options beyond building a new facility. Learn about each option -- and test your knowledge -- with this quiz.Continue Reading

• HCI hardware or hyper-converged software: Which is better for me?

  Appliance-based hyper-convergence integrates software with hardware, while software-only HCI enables you to use the hardware of your choice. Each type has pluses and minuses.Continue Reading

• A guide to IaaS provider selection

  Adding a cloud infrastructure service requires proper evaluation procedures and research. For a smooth transition, assess VM shapes, developer skill sets, licensing and security.Continue Reading

• How do I size a UPS unit?

  Your data center UPS sizing needs are dependent on a variety of factors. Develop configurations and determine the estimated UPS capacity that will meet your current and future needs.Continue Reading

• With atoms and lasers, IonQ makes a quantum computing leap

  Startup IonQ is taking a decidedly sci-fi approach to quantum computing, using atoms to store information, along with sophisticated lasers to retrieve and process that data.Continue Reading

• Use cloud HCI as a stepping stone to hybrid cloud deployment

  More organizations are taking a hyper-converged infrastructure approach to deploying their hybrid clouds. Discover the motivation behind the strategy.Continue Reading

• 3 hyper-converged cloud infrastructure benefits

  A hyper-converged cloud enables IT managers to overcome the challenges of managing compute, storage and network resources as separate tiers and move to the cloud in stages.Continue Reading

• Enterprise adoption of hyper-converged storage gains traction

  Hyper-convergence may be on the upswing, but concerns about vendor lock-in, integration and the independent scaling of resources, including storage, limit its appeal for some.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged technology ready for next step, multi-cloud

  The height of the next hyper-converged infrastructure wave will revolve more around finding the right use cases rather than the right technology and architecture.Continue Reading

• Guarantee HCI software compatibility with cloud apps

  IT execs must evaluate an organization's current on-prem and cloud setup before selecting a hyper-converged offering to avoid security holes, disjointed workflows and poor user experience.Continue Reading