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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
Test your Cohesity storage systems knowledge
Taking the principles of hyper-convergence and applying them to secondary storage systems enabled Cohesity to create a hyper-converged platform for data recovery and backup. Continue Reading
SIEM software basics and use cases for IT administrators
Security information and event management products use algorithms to stop cyberattacks in their tracks, but they also offer other workflow benefits for admins. Continue Reading
Open source log management options for Linux distributions
Open source log management tools provide a variety of options and capabilities for admins who want customizable Linux log management functions in a server or cloud environment. Continue Reading
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Evaluate converged vs. hyper-converged infrastructure benefits
Many IT admins wonder if their data center can benefit from hyper-converged or converged infrastructure. To choose the right one, evaluate uses and scalability. Continue Reading
Do I need converged or hyper-converged infrastructure appliances?
Scalability, risk tolerance and cost all factor into the decision between converged and hyper-converged infrastructure. The two technologies have very different use cases. Continue Reading
Work a command-line interface in Linux with these permissions and prompts
The command-line interface is an integral part of the Linux management environment. With sudo permissions and remote connectivity, working with a command line is easy.Continue Reading
How is RHEL in the cloud different than in the data center?
Implementing RHEL in the cloud isn't exactly the same as using cloud technology in the data center, especially when addressing swap and support concerns.Continue Reading
HPE OneView (formerly HP OneView)
HPE OneView, formerly known as HP OneView, is a converged infrastructure management platform that provides a unified interface for the administration of software-defined systems in a data center.Continue Reading
What are the top SIEM use cases?
SIEM tools help organizations detect and mitigate malware and viruses, but they also allow administrators to offload traffic when an attack hampers performance.Continue Reading
Guide to buying server performance monitor software
Integration, storage and vendor support all affect whether a performance monitoring tool is right for an organization. Mull over these ten factors to choose the right one.Continue Reading
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IBM blockchain technology spotlights mainframes
IBM's blockchain offerings aim to ease enterprise IT concerns by combining Z system mainframe hardware with industry-specific open source applications.Continue Reading
Do I need an information systems management degree?
IS management degrees are table stakes for many IT job seekers. Hands-on experience and specific certifications make applicants more desirable.Continue Reading
Pin down these hardware service contract details
A server warranty won't do much good when every second of downtime counts. Here's how to hammer out a support agreement that addresses the particular needs of your company.Continue Reading
Organizations don't have to pick private or public cloud
Organizations don't necessarily have to decide between using a public or private cloud. For some companies, the answer is both. For others, it's neither.Continue Reading
Take the open source hyper-converged knowledge challenge
If you are considering an open source HCI implementation, this quiz can help you further refine your knowledge and better prepare you for the final decision.Continue Reading
Ten hyper-converged infrastructure architecture buying mistakes
Buying hyper-converged infrastructure systems can be less stressful if you learn about and avoid these 10 common mistakes that trip up some HCI buyers.Continue Reading
Hitachi Vantara (formerly Hitachi Data Systems or HDS)
Hitachi Vantara is a data storage systems provider, previously known as Hitachi Data Systems (HDS).Continue Reading
Nutanix
Nutanix is a hyper-converged infrastructure pioneer that markets its technology as a building block for private clouds.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
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is a Linux-based server operating system created and maintained by the German-based organization, SUSE.Continue Reading
converged infrastructure
Converged infrastructure is an approach to data center management that packages compute, networking, servers, storage and virtualization tools on a prequalified turnkey appliance.Continue Reading
SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux)
SELinux, or Security-Enhanced Linux, is a part of the Linux security kernel that acts as a protective agent on servers.Continue Reading
Install Ubuntu Core successfully with these steps
An Ubuntu Core installation can often prove tricky for IT teams. Use these step-by-step instructions to properly install the platform for a more secure Docker environment.Continue Reading
Emergency Power Off (EPO) button
The Emergency Power Off (EPO) button -- sometimes called an EPO switch -- is a large red device in data centers that kills power to a particular piece of equipment, or to an entire facility, in the event of an emergency.Continue Reading
SUSE Manager
SUSE Manager is an open source infrastructure management tool for Linux systems.Continue Reading
Reference architecture vs. converged infrastructure: Know the difference
The terms converged infrastructure and reference architecture frequently appear together, but they're not interchangeable. One is the blueprint and the other is a structure.Continue Reading
Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty that seeks to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. The agreement is sponsored by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and seeks to limit temperature increases in the ...Continue Reading
Red Hat Satellite
Red Hat Satellite is an IT infrastructure management tool primarily used to monitor and manage Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.Continue Reading
Linux distros (Linux distribution)
A Linux distribution -- often shortened to "Linux distro" -- is a version of the open source Linux operating system that is packaged with other components, such as an installation programs, management tools and additional software such as the KVM ...Continue Reading
SDDC (software-defined data center)
An SDDC (software-defined data center) is a data storage facility in which networking, storage, CPU and security are virtualized and delivered as a service.Continue Reading
automatic transfer switch (ATS)
An automatic transfer switch (ATS) is a device that automatically transfers a power supply from its primary source to a backup source when it senses a failure or outage in the primary source.Continue Reading
power cycling
Power cycling is the process of turning hardware off and then turning it on again. In the data center, technicians use power cycling to test the durability and reliability of network components.Continue Reading
Test yourself on modern data center networking architecture
Evolving business needs demand a new approach to data center networking. Keep yourself updated on SDN, VXLAN and other technologies with this quiz.Continue Reading
VSPEX
VSPEX is a platform specification from Dell EMC to guide the building of systems for converged and hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI).Continue Reading
Supermicro
Supermicro is a company that specializes in x86-64 server technology. The company targets consumer and enterprise markets and maintains a focus on power efficiency and green technology.Continue Reading
Unisys
Unisys is an American multinational information technology company that provides hardware, software, IT services and consulting.Continue Reading
ScaleIO
ScaleIO is a software-defined storage software product from Dell EMC that uses existing hardware or EMC servers to turn direct-attached storage (DAS) into shared block storage.Continue Reading
Lustre
Lustre is an open source parallel distributed file system (DFS) specialized for large-scale cluster computing. The name is a portmanteau of Linux and cluster.Continue Reading
the Open19 project
The Open19 project is aimed at standardizing servers, storage and networking components into a common set of form factors for any Electronic Industries Association (EIA) 19-inch data center rack. The initiative was launched by LinkedIn Corp. in 2016.Continue Reading
Huawei Technologies
Huawei is a Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) company that specializes in telecommunications equipment.Continue Reading
Cisco HyperFlex
HyperFlex systems combine software-defined storage and data services software with Cisco UCS (unified computing system), a converged infrastructure system that integrates computing, networking and storage resources to increase efficiency and enable ...Continue Reading
HyperGrid
HyperGrid is a cloud computing provider that offers Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and application management services. To support the DevOps movement which breaks down the silos between software development and ...Continue Reading
Fujitsu Ltd.
Fujitsu Ltd. is a Japanese technology company that specializes in consumer and industrial electronics. Fujitsu’s products include servers, PCs, laptops, media centers, tablets, storage hardware, displays, air conditioning and heat pump units.Continue Reading
The Green Grid Performance Indicator (PI)
The Green Grid Performance Indicator (PI) is a set of metrics designed to help information technology (IT) teams assess current and future data center cooling performance. PI was developed by The Green Grid in 2016.Continue Reading
data center bridging (DCB)
DCB is a suite of IEEE standards designed to enable lossless transport over Ethernet and a converged network for all data center applications.Continue Reading
computerized maintenance management system (CMMS)
A computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) is software that helps operations and maintenance staff identify and track the status of maintenance tasks and availability of replacement parts.Continue Reading
New IT roles to put on your hiring radar
The shifting nature of the IT industry doesn't just influence new technology; it's spawning some noteworthy changes in IT staffing, especially around big data and cloud.Continue Reading
Tips to ace tough IT operations interview questions
Few things career-wise are as nerve-wracking as job interviews. Knowing what to expect going into that first meeting for a Web or app administrator role can quell some uneasiness.Continue Reading
Software-defined applications and infrastructure explained
The inner mechanics of today's software-defined applications and infrastructure reveal an interconnected web of isolated components and scalable resources, supervised by automated management.Continue Reading
software-defined everything (SDE)
Software-defined everything (SDE) is an umbrella term that describes how virtualization and abstracting workloads from the underlying hardware can be used to make information technology (IT) infrastructures more flexible and agile.Continue Reading
Nutanix Acropolis
Acropolis is a free server virtualization hypervisor developed by vendor Nutanix that is packaged on hyper-converged appliances, and can be used alongside competing hypervisors.Continue Reading
Should I make a storage LUN for each server?
In some scenarios, more than one LUN per server makes sense. In others, it's better to maintain a one-to-one ratio. So which is better?Continue Reading
converged data center
A converged data center pre-integrates server, storage and networking hardware with management, hypervisor and operating system platforms, as well as applications and services.Continue Reading
IBM Pureflex
IBM PureFlex is a combined hardware and software system for data centers that delivers infrastructure as a system (IaaS) optimized for scalable cloud computing.Continue Reading
twin server (0.5 U server)
A twin server has two compute nodes housed side-by-side in 1U of data center rack space. Because each server node fills half of 1U, a twin server may also be referred to as a 0.5U server.Continue Reading
The three tiers of hyper-converged architectures
Hyper-converged architecture delivers storage in a bundle, but there are several components involved. George Crump discusses the three pieces of hyper-converged systems.Continue Reading
Data center metrics and standards guide
From energy use to server performance, data center metrics form a foundation for improving IT operations.Continue Reading
logical volume management (LVM)
Logical volume management (LVM), a form of storage virtualization, offers system administrators a more flexible approach to managing disk storage space than traditional partitioning.Continue Reading
private cloud appliance
A private cloud appliance is a hardware device that provides software-defined converged infrastructure functions for an organization’s proprietary network.Continue Reading
What can I do to gain Java skills and leave mainframe programming?
I have two years of experience in mainframe technology, currently working as a mainframe developer. I want to change to Java technology.Continue Reading
Build Linux from scratch to improve admin skills
There's a sure-fire way to increase your knowledge about the Linux kernel and how to troubleshoot Linux servers: Build one yourself.Continue Reading
total benefit of ownership (TBO)
Total benefit of ownership is the sum of measurable and intangible returns that a company receives from investing in assets and/or personnel.Continue Reading
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe, PCI-E)
PCIe is a high-speed serial interconnection standard for connecting peripheral devices to a computer's motherboard.Continue Reading
How do I configure vSphere HA for automatic failover?
I want to install a virtualization environment with physical servers for failover and a storage server to boot up some virtual servers in our network. How can I do this?Continue Reading
Resolve a network bottleneck with these techniques
Data center network performance problems will disappear with fixes from a simple reorganization through a strategic overhaul.Continue Reading
How do I size the physical server to host virtual machines?
I want to convert a physical machine to a virtual machine. How can I select and size the right server infrastructure to host VMs?Continue Reading
Take data center efficiency to the max on three-phase power
Three-phase circuits provide considerably more power efficiency to data center equipment, but phase balancing can trip up deployments.Continue Reading
Master Linux service management on System V and systemd
Managing services on Linux is an essential task for administrators. Learn to work with either System V or systemd.Continue Reading
hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) clean agent
Data centers and telecom rooms use hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) clean agent systems for fire protection to avoid damaging electrical and electronic equipment.Continue Reading
Eight data center technologies to test in the new year
As the hype from 2014 dissipates, the new year rings in hot new technologies. IoE, hybrid clouds and other tech innovations make the data center run more efficiently.Continue Reading
This data center cost calculator keeps you on budget
Calculating every data center expense can be challenging, but with the right spreadsheet -- and formulas -- you will accurately assess the total cost.Continue Reading
Yet another Setup Tool (YaST)
YaST handles much of the administration load, offers a simple graphical interface and sets up setting system parameters easily.Continue Reading
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
Following specific standards, EDI is a way for businesses to securely transfer important data, such as invoices and purchase orders, via the Internet.Continue Reading
Server form factors: A guide to rackmount, blade servers and more
Which type of server is right for you? The data center's budget, technology and reliability will steer you toward rackmount or blade servers.Continue Reading
What's the best data center network topology?
You need to know these most common data center network topologies, and check out a host of alternative topologies waiting in the wings.Continue Reading
wetware
Wetware refers to programmers, developers, systems administrators, cloud and IT architects and other employees that directly affect how servers, applications, networks and the rest of an IT system functions.Continue Reading
A mainframe refresher quiz
Make sure you know what is significant about the mainframe. Take this quiz to find out what you should brush up on.Continue Reading
IBM Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL)
The Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) is a specialty engine processor on IBM System z mainframe servers that is dedicated to Linux workloads. Operational efforts, software costs, energy use and hardware footprint are reduced when Linux is deployed...Continue Reading
Does data center size matter in virtualization, DCIM decisions?
Are you big enough to take advantage of DCIM or virtualization for the power and cost savings? When it comes to certain moves, size is an advantage.Continue Reading
A few ways to configure Linux firewalld
The method for configuring Linux servers' firewalls changed with RHEL 7 and other new distributions. Learn how to set up firewalld, and what to avoid.Continue Reading
Why Facebook and the NSA love graph databases
Graph databases play six degrees of separation to find real connections. See how IT teams can use the database approach for businesses.Continue Reading
What's the best Linux OS for your enterprise data center?
With several updates to supported Linux OSes, how do you know which to run in your data center? This guide will help you make an informed decision.Continue Reading
building management system
Building management system (BMS) is a computer system that tracks power used by IT equipment and air conditioning systems in the data center.Continue Reading
Unix command line quiz
Do you know how to move a file or get a list of current users from your Unix servers? Take our Unix quiz on essential commands for system admins.Continue Reading
Basic Linux commands for new Linux server administrators
To manage Linux servers, administrators need a set of basic commands to view and start processes, as well as utilities that make life a little easier.Continue Reading
How outdated practices harm data center grounding systems
Isolated grounds are a solution lacking a problem. In fact, isolated grounds create problems for data center cabinet power and add expense all around.Continue Reading
Creating a reliable and fast SAN network design with iSCSI
There are three tenets of designing an iSCSI network correctly. Proper iSCSI deployment yields affordable and reliable network access for the SAN.Continue Reading
Your data lives where?! Strange and secure data center locations
In these data center pictures, tour barges, former mines and oil rigs. Sometimes a strange location makes the most sense for a secure data center.Continue Reading
Data center network design moves from tree to leaf
Leaf-spine designs are pushing out the hierarchical tree data center networking model, thanks to the popularity of Ethernet fabric networks.Continue Reading
Quiz: New methods for cooling data centers
Think you know everything about cooling data centers? Test your knowledge by taking this quiz on modern cooling techniques.Continue Reading
Quiz: The ins and outs of data center colocation services
Data center colocation services allow businesses to expand computing power without a new building. This quiz will test your colocation knowledge.Continue Reading
out-of-order execution (OoOE)
Out-of-order execution (OoOE) is an approach to processing that allows instructions for high-performance microprocessors to begin execution as soon as their operands are ready.Continue Reading
Basic Assembler Language (BAL)
BAL (Basic Assembler Language) is a version of IBM's assembler language (sometimes called assembly language) for its System/360 and System/370 mainframe operating system.Continue Reading
cow power (biogas)
Cow power is a term for the conversion of manure to usable energy. The energy produced can supplement the electric power offered by a utility or power a facility, such as a factory or a data center.Continue Reading
Data center design and infrastructure classroom 101 quiz
This brief quiz on data center design and infrastructure tests your knowledge of server virtualization technology, virtualization deployment and hardware considerations for a virtual environment.Continue Reading
Virtualization and management classroom 201 quiz
This brief quiz on server virtualization tests your knowledge of virtualization platforms, management tools and virtualized infrastructure performance.Continue Reading
data warehouse appliance
A data warehouse appliance is an all-in-one “black box” solution optimized for data warehousing. The appliance consists of a server pre-built with operating system, storage, database management system (DBMS), and software. Continue Reading
Quiz: Data center energy efficiency trends
Take this quiz on data center energy efficiency, and find out how much you know about cutting costs and saving power at your company.Continue Reading
Yellowdog Updater, Modified (YUM)
Yellowdog Update, Modified (YUM) is a program that manages installation, updates and removal for Red Hat package manager (RPM) systems. YUM allows the user to update groups of machines without having to update each RPM separately.Continue Reading
fuel cell
A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that derives its energy from combustible substances such as hydrogen, methane, propane, methanol, diesel fuel or even gasoline... (Continued)Continue Reading