Data center design and construction
Top Stories
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Video
16 Sep 2013
Defining modern data centers with convergence, public and private cloud
As Bob Plankers explains at the Modern Infrastructure Decisions conference, modern data centers are tough to nail down. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Aug 2011
Considering a raised floor in the data center
Tile material, strength and durability are important factors to consider when selecting and installing a raised floor in a data center. Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2019
Exascale computing, now at $2.8B, described as critical to U.S.
The race to build exascale supercomputers is a project of big governments -- China, Japan, the European Union and the U.S. Initial systems are planned in the 2020 to 2021 time frame. Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2019
HPE-Cray deal brings supercomputers to enterprises for AI
HPE's $1.3 billion deal to acquire supercomputing pioneer Cray Inc. should better position the company in the HPC market among IT shops looking for added muscle to run AI workloads. Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2019
IBM mainframe pricing overhaul inspired by cloud model
IBM's new Tailored Fit Pricing model gives enterprises more flexibility in the types of workloads they run on the z/OS platform. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 May 2019
Red Hat CTO: Scalability, usability key RHEL 8 components
Linux software is expanding its use cases for data center and cloud options. Red Hat CTO Chris Wright details how the company is helping improve IT management and visibility. Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 May 2019
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
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Tip
14 May 2019
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
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News
09 May 2019
Solarflare Cloud Onload aims to improve server efficiency
Solarflare Cloud Onload, a new application acceleration platform, was designed to improve data center efficiency and remove waste from today's cloud infrastructure investments. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2019
Nutanix fights VMware with AHV hypervisor, cloud support
In the battle for HCI supremacy, Nutanix has hyper-converged history and now AHV, while VMware has virtualization dominance and a boost from its parent Dell's server hardware. Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 May 2019
Hyper-converged infrastructure benefits by reducing IT complexity
Businesses turn to hyper-convergence to reduce data center complexity so IT can more directly support business goals and capitalize on the value of data. Continue Reading
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Infographic
08 May 2019
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
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News
08 May 2019
With Nutanix Mine, HCI vet adds converged secondary storage
Nutanix prepares to launch its Mine converged secondary storage appliances as it expands beyond primary storage with an architecture that Cohesity and Rubrik have adopted. Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 May 2019
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
- 08 May 2019
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News
07 May 2019
RHEL 8 launches with AI, container and hybrid cloud focus
Red Hat rolled out its long-awaited Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, designed to work across corporate data centers and multiple clouds and anchor its container and AI strategies. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 May 2019
Build up your SDDC security with 3 components
If you want to build a foundation for secure operations in your SDDC, software patches, account privileges and encryption should all be part of your security framework. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 May 2019
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
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News
30 Apr 2019
New NEC hyper-converged infrastructure appliance targets SMBs
NEC partners with Scale Computing to launch its first hyper-converged infrastructure appliance tailored to SMBs and remote offices in the U.S. and Europe. Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2019
Dell EMC VxRail at heart of vendor's cloud strategy
Dell EMC wants to turn its hyper-converged infrastructure market-leading VxRail appliance into the leading hybrid cloud building block with the help of VMware Cloud Foundation. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Apr 2019
Micro data centers build edge computing opportunities
Organizations can use micro data center deployments to increase on-site data processing. Admins can get their setups right with options from Dell and HPE. Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Apr 2019
What are viable Open19 use cases and hardware options?
Open19 is working with vendors to make hardware for its open source infrastructure. The goal is to support a growing number of off-premises use cases, such as edge computing. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Apr 2019
5 quick quantum computing terms to learn
Quantum computers use atomic physics to complete extensive calculations in one minute, but you might not be familiar with some quantum computing terms. This guide offers a primer. Continue Reading
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Answer
25 Apr 2019
Why is composable infrastructure important and what are its uses?
The ideal function of composability is to make IT infrastructure more flexible, manageable and scalable than ever. It isn't for everyone, however; at least, not yet. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Apr 2019
Why composable infrastructure goes hand in hand with private cloud
Some companies are opting out of SAN upgrades or costly converged systems in favor of composable architecture to build servers and storage on the fly. But will the concept take off? Continue Reading
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Answer
18 Apr 2019
What's the difference between Open19 and the Open Compute Project?
Though the Open19 initiative and Open Compute Project seem to have a similar goal, they do differ in type of support, hardware requirements and licensing practices. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Apr 2019
Build a comprehensive outline for your data center budget
Including all necessary data center expenses during budget planning can be daunting. IT managers can start with costs for software licenses, hardware upgrades and cloud migration. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Apr 2019
Open source virtualization expands VM hardware and OS options
Dive into open source virtualization software with VirtualBox, KVM or QEMU. Each offers customizable VM management capabilities and legacy hardware support. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Apr 2019
Yes, pertinent, cost-effective hyper-converged platforms for SMBs exist
Why the simplicity and potential cost savings of a hyper-converged infrastructure from the likes of DataCore, Scale Computing and StarWind may be the way to go for some SMBs. Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2019
HPE-Nutanix deal expands roster of hyper-converged options
The Hewlett Packard Enterprise-Nutanix partnership sprang up on two fronts, bringing more layers of coopetition to the world of HCI. But where does this leave HPE SimpliVity? Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Apr 2019
A guide to hyper-converged data resiliency options and requirements
What you need to find out from HCI vendors to architect a resilient hyper-converged environment that will protect data against failure, error and attack. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Apr 2019
4 considerations for choosing a private cloud provider
Key features to look for from a private cloud provider include interoperability, scalability and how familiar admins are with the provider's technology. Continue Reading
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News
04 Apr 2019
Intel Xeon Scalable launch prompts server upgrades
Dell and Super Micro timed server upgrades to this week's launch of next-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, based on the Cascade Lake chipset with machine learning software. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Mar 2019
4 essential composable infrastructure questions answered
Learn how composable IT works, and find out when this highly flexible, programmable infrastructure model makes sense for your servers, network, and storage and when it doesn't. Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2019
IBM-Red Hat merger timing, fairness in question
Six months after IBM revealed plans to acquire Red Hat, some IT industry experts have reason to believe approvals will take longer than the companies have suggested. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Mar 2019
What hardware can I use in an Open19 rack?
Open19 is a partnership that guides organizations to use open source rack servers. The organization's cages, power shelves and network switches make upgrades easy. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Mar 2019
Top 5 Linux performance commands for system administrators
Figuring out Linux host performance issues is time-consuming without the right tools. The top, vmstat, iostat, free and sar commands can help get CPU, device and memory data. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2019
Pick the right colocation site for your organization
Colocation is more than signing a contract and installing hardware. Evaluate redundancy, rack space real estate and distance to ensure a successful colo partnership. Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2019
Dell EMC VxBlock 1000 mixes in Unity hybrid, Data Domain
Ten years later, VCE is gone, EMC is part of Dell and Vblocks have become VxBlocks. But the early converged infrastructure stack is still going, with new products coming online. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Mar 2019
Can IT admins benefit from a DevOps environment?
Admins might wonder if they need to pay attention to DevOps, but collaboration with developers helps minimize bad code and optimize processing hardware. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Mar 2019
4 PowerShell modules every IT pro should know
Find out how to use four of the most popular PowerShell community modules in the PowerShell Gallery to help better manage your data center and automate certain tasks. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Mar 2019
What is HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged with Composable Fabric?
SimpliVity with Composable Fabric incorporates HPE's software-defined networking technology for implementing, managing and automating a fully connected and composable mesh fabric. Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 Mar 2019
IBM quantum computing may arrive sooner than expected
If IBM continues doubling the performance of its quantum computers, as recent benchmarks indicate, it could deliver the first commercial system in the next three to five years. Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2019
Startup gives Datrium DVX subscription pricing
With Datrium Forward, the software-defined storage startup looks to deliver a 'cloudy feel' to pricing for its DVX storage that spans on premises and in Amazon Web Services. Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2019
Nvidia acquires Mellanox against growing AI, data competition
Nvidia acquires Mellanox for $6.9 billion, as competition increases for platforms that can handle AI and other data-intensive platforms. Continue Reading
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Answer
11 Mar 2019
Is HCI but a stop on the road to composable architecture?
Find out if composable infrastructure is the next step in the evolution of HCI, if it is a completely different type of IT infrastructure or if the truth is somewhere in between. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2019
IBM quantum computer roadmap moves full speed ahead
With IBM releasing its latest benchmark, the company's quantum computer appears to be consistently, if not slowly marching toward commercial reality. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Mar 2019
Data center GPU market set for growth, AI workflows
As GPU adoption increases, vendors and organizations are consistently addressing challenges in hardware installation and software development. Even so, the market is poised for growth in 2019. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Mar 2019
The pros and cons of hyper-converged flash storage
Find out why and for what use cases and application workloads 100% solid-state flash may not be the best storage choice for hyper-converged infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Mar 2019
Get started with PowerShell Core on Linux
PowerShell Core lets you configure and manage Windows, Linux and Mac-based servers in the data center. Learn how to install and navigate the command-line shell in this tip. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2019
Nutanix HCI position under fire due to sales slump
Nutanix CEO says HCI sales slowdown is temporary because its technology remains strong; in the meantime, Dell-VMware is pushing HCI deeper into the enterprise. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Mar 2019
Essential hyper-converged cloud questions answered
Hyper-convergence can help make taking a cloud or multi-cloud approach to your architecture easier to implement, manage and scale. Read on to find out how and why. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Feb 2019
How do I successfully install server GPU cards?
Adding GPUs to your data center requires testing and research. To get the most out of the hardware, upgrade cooling resources and confirm software compatibility. Continue Reading
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Quiz
27 Feb 2019
Test your knowledge of cloud computing types
Not all cloud architectures are created equal. Complete this quiz to learn about which cloud models, management tools and features are helpful to data center admins. Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2019
IBM adds Power to Watson Machine Learning
While they debuted few whiz-bang offerings, IBM did roll out a handful of products that allow users to run AI technologies across more platforms, including Power Systems servers and competitor clouds. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2019
Hyper-converged integrated systems crucial to long-term HCI success
No HCI platform exists in a silo. Learn why hyper-converged systems must communicate, interact and integrate with third-party management tools and the wider IT infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2019
How to get the most out of your SIEM system
When it comes to threat protection, antivirus software is no longer enough. Data center admins need cloud-based SIEM to ensure their environments are fully protected. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Feb 2019
Data center budget process should review business goals first
Discover four factors data center managers should evaluate when allocating financial resources and areas to address to ensure funding requests meet execs' business goals. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Feb 2019
The hyper-converged network benefits from commingling HCI, SDN
Merging software-defined networking with hyper-converged infrastructure platforms should simplify and ease the deployment, scaling and management of hyper-converged networks. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Feb 2019
Which GPU specs are most important?
When selecting GPUs, look at processing power, memory and OS support. These factors ensure hardware compatibility and effective performance in the data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Feb 2019
How to prepare your data center for an HCI appliance
Vendors tout hyper-converged infrastructure as a plug-and-play offering, but before you install anything in your data center, be sure your network supports the hardware. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2019
Hyper-converged cloud key to private cloud success
Granular scaling and rapid deployment help make hyper-converged infrastructure the ideal platform for building out, deploying and scaling out a private cloud. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Feb 2019
Hone these top 5 data center skills in 2019
As data centers become more software-based, admins should prepare themselves by learning about the cloud, containers, DevOps and artificial intelligence. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2019
Carbon Relay debuts AI-based software for data center cooling
Newcomer Carbon Relay has introduced two products that use artificial intelligence to help IT pros manage data center efficiency. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2019
HCI software maker Maxta shuts down after funding failure
Maxta tried to carve a niche in hyper-converged infrastructure with MxSP software for industry-standard x86 servers -- the business model HCI pioneer Nutanix shifted to in 2018. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Feb 2019
Considerations for a successful DCIM implementation
Selecting the right DCIM software is a complicated process. Make sure you have executive buy-in, vendor support and defined goals to get the best return on investment. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2019
France, HPE are building Europe's most powerful AI supercomputer
France is building a supercomputer that can perform both traditional high-performance computing workloads and AI-specific workloads. The converged design is becoming increasingly common. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2019
Broadcom execs: Here's how the CA acquisition works
Broadcom explains why its surprising acquisition of CA Technologies can work, citing complementary portfolios and the long-term viability of mainframe software. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jan 2019
Tips for selecting a data center testing provider
Finding the right service provider for data center tests can be time-consuming. To pick the right one, be sure to have realistic objectives and a detailed SLA. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jan 2019
10 top tips to maximize hyper-converged infrastructure benefits
The most-read hyper-converged tips of the past year represent a range of best practices for procuring and implementing HCI as all or part of your overall data center architecture. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2019
Datera storage software trains for long run on HPE servers
Hewlett Packard Enterprise and startup Datera combine on block-storage appliances and expect to compete against Dell EMC's ScaleIO-based VxRack Flex hyper-converged systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jan 2019
Top five data center trends to watch in 2019
In 2019, data center admins should research how technologies such as AIOps, chatbots and GPUs can help them with their management, help desk and processing needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jan 2019
Top server maintenance tips to extend hardware lifespan
IT administrators can upgrade CPU, RAM and networking hardware to maintain smooth server operations and to maximize resources. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Jan 2019
Hyper-converged infrastructure vendors adapt to AI workloads
Hyper-converged infrastructure evolves to accommodate the increasing demands of resource-hungry AI workloads. AI, in turn, promises to improve management of HCI and non-HCI resources. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
IBM quantum computing system, apps lab seek commercial users
IBM finally introduced its first integrated quantum computer that is designed for commercial accounts. But the emergence of commercial apps may take some time. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jan 2019
A rundown of server hardware vendors and the server options
There is no shortage of server options available on the market today. Discover the leading vendors in these in-depth overviews of the blade, rack and mainframe computers available. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Jan 2019
Buy server hardware with these key functions in mind
Find the right server hardware for your data center by evaluating what leading vendors offer in terms of processors, memory, storage, connectivity, hot swapping and security features. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2019
HCI storage advancements require network technology upgrades
Flash storage options make HCI scalability easier, but they also require newer network hardware. Data center admins are looking at NVMe-based fabrics as a possible fix. Continue Reading
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News
03 Jan 2019
Detroit Symphony tunes up performance on Scale Computing HC3
The nonprofit Detroit Symphony Orchestra refreshed its data infrastructure with a three-node Scale Computing HC3 hyper-converged storage cluster to manage 10 TB of data. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Jan 2019
HCI, acquisitions led 2018 data center news
In 2018, major data center vendors expanded portfolios with acquisitions for HCI and software-defined data center tech -- bolstering admin tool sets for cloud, containers and VMs. Continue Reading
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Podcast
19 Dec 2018
IBM and Microsoft open up to open source in 2018
With IBM's purchase of Linux market leader Red Hat and Microsoft buying GitHub, 2018 could prove to be a watershed year for the open source community. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2018
Amarillo hyper-converges IT with Dell EMC VxRail appliances
Hyper-convergence cut costs, streamlined operations and set up Amarillo to use the cloud for storage tiers, while shifting resources away from managing infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Dec 2018
What containerization technology do I need for my data center?
Containers in the data center can help maximize server capacity, but there are a few things to consider before a Docker or Kubernetes implementation. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Dec 2018
Security, staffing land atop IT's edge computing challenges
Edge computing is a new way for data center admins to process data closer to the source, but it comes with challenges around security and staffing that organizations must address head-on. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Dec 2018
Edge computing architecture helps IT support augmented reality
Augmented reality benefits greatly from reduced latency, which makes edge computing a perfect partner in the data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2018
Streamline data center power usage tracking with DCIM
If you want a more in-depth picture of your data center's power consumption, explore DCIM options that provide server workload metrics and overall power system data. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2018
How to install ZFS on Linux
ZFS on Linux lets admins error correct in real time and use solid-state disks for data caching. With the command-line interface, they can install it for these benefits. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Dec 2018
Admins now require data center skills 'a mile wide'
The role of a data center professional is changing in the face of cloud, the internet of things and evolving security. One hiring manager talks about the changes and why admins need broader skill sets. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Dec 2018
HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged FAQs get answered
When HPE bought SimpliVity in 2017, it raised questions about the two company's HCI products, even though they were existing partners. We answer some of those questions. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Dec 2018
What can admins use as a data center GPU?
There is no formal standard to differentiate consumer and data center GPUs. Still, you should evaluate processing speeds and hardware requirements before GPU installation. Continue Reading
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Buyer's Guide
29 Nov 2018
What you need to know before buying hyper-converged technology
Learn how to determine your organization's need for hyper-converged infrastructure and to evaluate offerings from top HCI vendors to find the right fit. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Nov 2018
Weighing open converged infrastructure against composable
OCI and composable infrastructure are both touted as the latest in convergence, but it is important to know how they differ before making an IT buying decision. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Nov 2018
Choosing the best OS: Linux server vs. Windows Server
When determining the best server OS for a data center, you have Windows Server and multiple Linux options. For both, you'll want to look at vendor support, cost and functionality. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Nov 2018
Navigate DCIM software selection, security and support
To properly evaluate DCIM software, pinpoint where you can benefit from more operational data and work with vendors. Then, ensure your selection fits your data center needs. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Nov 2018
How to successfully perform a data center upgrade
When data center hardware becomes outdated, there are a few options. Here are ways that admins can ensure that a migration is efficient and downtime is minimized. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Nov 2018
How mainframe maintenance intersects with x86 server upkeep
Mainframe maintenance overlaps with some x86 server upkeep tasks. Patching and storage management play a role in keeping mainframes up to date. Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2018
RHEL 8 beta looks to speed development of cloud-based apps
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 updates the software's DevOps capabilities with Application Streams, and boosts its appeal to both developers and line-of-business managers. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Nov 2018
What does GPU hardware do in the data center?
Once part of the gaming industry, GPUs are gaining traction in data center infrastructures. Learn why the power of GPUs makes them fit virtualization and data-heavy applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Nov 2018
Evaluate Linux server distros for your data center
Linux is known for its reliability and flexibility in the data center. To select the proper distribution for your servers, you'll need to evaluate your application and support needs Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2018
Dell EMC VxRail HCI builds on VMware Cloud Foundation
Dell EMC builds on VMware Cloud Foundation and plans to offer a new two-node VxRail entry point, with a flexible VMware vSAN license. Dell EMC also adds VMware integration to VxBlock. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Nov 2018
How to realize server virtualization energy savings
Virtualizing servers is one of the most effective steps to reduce energy consumption, especially when the hypervisor and VM placement are taken into account. Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2018
In IBM deal's wake, Red Hat RHEL 7.6 targets hybrid cloud
After its acquisition by IBM, Red Hat wasted little time unveiling the next version of its flagship product, RHEL 7.6, which supports hybrid clouds and updated security. Continue Reading