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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Answer
15 May 2018
SIEM benefits include automated monitoring, malware mitigation
SIEM tools deliver automated alert actions, normalize log data and provide intelligent filtering, all of which can help IT administrators lighten their workloads. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 May 2018
Hadoop cluster capacity planning best practices
Trying to calculate Hadoop cluster capacities isn't always straightforward. It's important for organizations to include IOPS and compression rates in their predictions. Continue Reading
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Answer
11 May 2018
Which Windows Server deployment features work best with HCI?
There are features in Windows Server 2016 that are specific to hyper-converged infrastructure, but many of the more basic functions also can be used to customize and improve HCI. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 May 2018
Decide which application monitor software is right for you
Organizations that want to implement application monitoring tools should consider how the tool gathers and reports information, as well as the purchase and licensing costs Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2018
Nutanix .NEXT 2018: CEO Pandey talks Xi, Cisco, multi-cloud
Nutanix CEO Dheeraj Pandey discusses why Xi Cloud Services are taking so long to deliver, blames Nutanix No. 1 HCI market share loss on 'funky accounting.' Continue Reading
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Feature
09 May 2018
Hyper-converged software: Eight things you need to know
What are some commonly asked questions about the choice to build a DIY software-only HCI platform? Below are FAQs about the benefits, drawbacks and option of buying HCI software. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2018
Nutanix Flow, Beam, Era highlight .NEXT 2018 launches
Nutanix uses small acquisitions to fuel further expansion of its core HCI into an enterprise cloud OS with Flow, Era and Beam, which were announced at the Nutanix .NEXT 2018. Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2018
Dell HCI, server upgrades flex hardware muscle for software plans
Upgrades to Dell's high-end PowerEdge servers, along with HCI servers to run machine learning workloads, illustrate the company's balancing act to address corporate users' needs for server hardware and hybrid cloud. Continue Reading
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Quiz
03 May 2018
Test your hyper-converged infrastructure use cases knowledge
Our quiz is all about how different workloads and applications require choosing different hardware and software options in a hyper-converged infrastructure platform. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 May 2018
Inline deduplication fits well with hyper-converged IT
Of the two main types of deduplication, most HCI vendors choose inline over post-process because of the performance benefits and lower levels of total storage required. Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2018
'Software-defined' Dell EMC HCI gets hardware boost
Dell EMC VxRail customers discuss their use of the HCI platform inside and outside the data center; platform moves to faster 14th gen PowerEdge servers powered by NVMe flash. Continue Reading
- 01 May 2018
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Opinion
01 May 2018
Cohesity's hyper-converged secondary storage takes on data growth
An out-of-the-box secondary storage strategy to deal with the coming deluge of file and object data promises to overcome scalability, management and capacity limits of NAS. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 May 2018
Systems management software heads for the cloud
Systems management providers are pushing their on-premises offerings to the cloud, as well as developing or acquiring pure cloud-based software in hopes of staying relevant. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Apr 2018
Composable architecture keeps hardware flexibility
With composable systems, an IT admin can get more choice from the devices on the back end and more choice on the devices it delivers the virtualized resources to. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Apr 2018
Use Windows Server deployment for feature-filled HCI
Windows Server 2016 not only supports a hyper-converged infrastructure implementation, but brings with it a rich set of features for both performance and security. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Apr 2018
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
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Answer
24 Apr 2018
What are the options for log management in Linux?
Linux administrators should use syslog and systemd-journald together for smart log analysis. But there are also open source log management tools to consider. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Apr 2018
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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News
18 Apr 2018
VxRack Flex at the center of Medicity's SaaS cloud
Hungry for power, healthcare SaaS provider Medicity installed Dell EMC VxRack Flex rack-scale HCI for private cloud to store petabytes of data for its customer network. Continue Reading
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News
17 Apr 2018
VMware pulls vSAN 6.7 deeper into vSphere
By giving the vSAN 6.7 release more of a vSphere look and common management, VMware hopes to lure more of its customers to use its hyper-converged storage software. Continue Reading
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News
16 Apr 2018
How IBM's data science team quickens users' AI projects
In this Q&A, IBM's Seth Dobrin discusses the rising user interest in machine learning and AI projects and the help inexperienced users need to launch those projects. Continue Reading
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Quiz
13 Apr 2018
Take the converged vs. hyper-converged infrastructure quiz
Before you start the decision-making process over which IT approach you should take, quiz yourself on your hyper-converged and converged platform knowledge. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Apr 2018
Should my organization consider systems management services?
IT staff have a lot on their plate, so outsourcing systems management to a third party might be appealing. But organizations must choose a reputable provider that meets their needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Apr 2018
Three solid-state storage advantages that boost HCI performance
There are many advantages to including solid-state storage in your hyper-converged infrastructure plans, such as better performance and lower power costs. Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2018
Emergencies force Safelite to break glass, add NetApp FlexPod
An auto glass supplier chooses FlexPod to consolidate and retire aging storage from several vendors. NetApp AFF supports VMware, and SolidFire arrays support growing claims management. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Apr 2018
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
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News
10 Apr 2018
IBM trots out 'skinny mainframe' to widen big iron appeal
IBM hopes to attract born-in-the-cloud startups that never considered buying a full-blown z14 mainframe, with its little brother, the 'skinny mainframe.' Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Apr 2018
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
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Tip
10 Apr 2018
Business needs define your hyper-convergence technology choices
Base your HCI products of choice around the workloads you run, the architecture they run on and any present or future cloud plans you have for them. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Apr 2018
How software-defined networking layers work with HCI
The network function of a hyper-converged infrastructure has been the most difficult to virtualize, but adopting an SDN approach can make it easier for your organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Apr 2018
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
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News
02 Apr 2018
Nutanix HCI, Nakivo backup go straight into Compton schools
The Compton, Calif., school district reduces its data center server and storage footprint with Nutanix hyper-convergence and simplifies data backup with Nakivo software. Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2018
Ireland's data centers are strategic connection hubs for Interxion
Interxion's Dublin-based data center business continues to grow as an increasing number of American and European companies see Ireland as a strategic connection hub. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Mar 2018
Make the most of the hyper-converged cloud
Hyper-converged infrastructures are similar to public cloud platforms in the way they use virtualization of resources. That makes them obvious partners in an IT architecture. Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 Mar 2018
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
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Quiz
28 Mar 2018
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
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Answer
27 Mar 2018
Are hyper-converged infrastructure appliances my only HCI option?
Preconfigured hyper-converged appliances aren't your only option anymore. Software-only and build-your-own hyper-converged infrastructure have unique pros and cons. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Mar 2018
SD-WAN benefits emerge as public cloud adoption climbs
Public cloud computing is driving more interest in the SD-WAN market as IT departments look to streamline management of network traffic leaving the data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Mar 2018
Hyper-converged computing and VDI fit together well ... mostly
The flexibility and ease of use of hyper-convergence fit the needs of VDI, but you should also consider other benefits and drawbacks of HCI in a VDI platform. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Mar 2018
The hyper-converged network becoming more common in HCI
Virtualizing the network in a hyper-converged system has been the toughest part, but there are products on the market that achieve some of that function. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2018
Converged secondary storage for data protection carries risk
Using converged infrastructure for the secondary storage in your data protection plan can be valuable, but you need to weigh the benefits and drawbacks before choosing that path. Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2018
Pivot3 vSTAC HCI helps Charleston airport IT fly
The Charleston airport IT team expanded its Pivot3 implementation from video surveillance to its main infrastructure stack after deciding hyper-convergence was the way to go. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Mar 2018
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
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News
16 Mar 2018
IBM Cloud services to secure mainframes out to the edge
Big Blue will introduce IBM Cloud services that use blockchain, containers and its z14 mainframes to deliver improved security across cloud and on-premises environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Mar 2018
Match your hyper-converged hardware pick with your workload
Overall workload demands and growth projections, not just user applications, should be top of mind when you choose among the hardware options in hyper-converged appliances. Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2018
Pivot3 Acuity X3 eyes big opportunities in smaller spaces
Pivot3 expands its Acuity hyper-converged line with X3 Series. The NVMe flash appliances help smaller departments consolidate mixed application workloads on a common system. Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Mar 2018
Why do Azure Stack appliances have to be certified?
Azure MVP Marius Sandbu gives us a lesson on Azure Stack. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2018
Windows Server 2016 hyper-converged options are here
The latest edition of Windows Server from Microsoft includes options for implementing a hyper-converged infrastructure in a Microsoft-only IT operation. Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2018
Nutanix HCI helps keep NFL's Chicago Bears in the game
The Chicago Bears' Nutanix hyper-converged clusters provide cloud-like access to coaching staples, like playbooks, schedules and scouting reports across the NFL team's facilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Feb 2018
Virtualization layer is HCI's secret sauce
Knowing how virtualization software turns separate hardware components into pools of shared resources will help you plan and manage an HCI implementation. Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2018
IBM Power9 servers seek market inroads to AI, cloud
IBM follows up its first Power9 server with a raft of systems designed to appeal to a wider array of markets -- most notably, AI and cloud deployments. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Feb 2018
Match your hyper-converged infrastructure appliance to your apps
Planning a hyper-converged appliance purchase should start with determining which application it will run and which configuration options will meet apps' needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Feb 2018
Evaluate read-intensive and write-intensive SSD use cases
Consider write wear, performance and other factors when choosing between read-intensive, write-intensive and mixed-use solid-state drives. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Feb 2018
IT infrastructure planning key for converged, hyper-converged platforms
Whether you're planning to deploy CI or HCI, infrastructure planning is critical to the project's success. Without proper planning, you could end up with poor performance. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2018
With VxBlock 1000, Dell EMC AMPs up converged platform
Dell EMC VxBlock 1000 lets customers mix and match VMAX, Unity, XtremIO and Isilon arrays in a block with Cisco servers and networking. Will that reverse market share decline? Continue Reading
- 12 Feb 2018
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Opinion
12 Feb 2018
What's the future of data storage technology and the IT pro?
Several enterprise data storage trends are all about getting rid of storage as an IT silo. That will have consequences for both the industry and IT pros who work in it. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Feb 2018
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
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News
08 Feb 2018
Dell HCI portfolio dismantled to improve chances in the CI market
Market pressures and manufacturing synergies drove Dell to integrate its HCI and CI products with its core business units, but opinions differ whether users will benefit. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2018
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
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News
05 Feb 2018
Software-defined storage leaders talk 2018 trends in SDS, HCI
Software-defined storage, fueled by hyper-converged infrastructure and scale-out object/file storage, will grow in 2018, but terminology and product architectures may change. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2018
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
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Feature
17 Jan 2018
Hypervisor software and your hyper-converged infrastructure
The hypervisor layer in HCI is becoming an expected feature, but it is important to know what role it plays and how it can affect the rest of the components. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2018
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
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Tip
16 Jan 2018
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
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Tip
16 Jan 2018
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
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Answer
10 Jan 2018
What Linux storage benchmarking tools are best?
Several tools and commands can come in handy to storage admins looking to benchmark I/O performance on Linux systems. But not all benchmarking tools are created equal. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2018
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
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Tip
16 Oct 2017
What's the best Linux distribution for Docker in your business?
To find the best Linux distro for Docker, compare options from Red Hat, Ubuntu, VMware and more to make a match and smoothly run containers in your enterprise. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2017
With Btrfs file system gone in RHEL 8, look at alternatives
In the XFS, Ext4, Btrfs and ZFS comparison, Linux users will say goodbye to Btrfs in RHEL 8. Learn more about your options and what can fill the gaps once development halts. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2017
How to choose a live kernel patching extension
Ksplice and kpatch offer similar live kernel patching services on a Linux system, but differences between function-level services and technical support showcase their differences. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Sep 2017
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
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Feature
16 Aug 2017
The mainframe environment: A thing of the past or the future?
It made its name in a long-ago era, but even in the time of virtualization and cloud computing, the mainframe hasn't disappeared yet. The IBM z14 aims to keep it that way. Continue Reading
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Opinion
16 Aug 2017
Uptime Institute tier classification system faces new rivals
Because the Uptime Institute focuses primarily on power and cooling, alternative data center certifications have emerged. Their chances of replacing Uptime, however, seem slim. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Jul 2017
IBM Strategic Imperatives mark a transition into software and services
IBM's Strategic Imperatives are slowly morphing the server hardware stalwart into a software and services company. But IBM still needs hardware to complete the transformation. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Jun 2017
Follow these steps to assign vSphere permissions and roles
Admins can use vSphere permissions to assign VM controls to different IT groups within their enterprise. Follow the networking example below to get started. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jun 2017
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
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Tip
05 Jun 2017
Seven hyper-converged software options for DIY HCI
If your company already has hardware that you want to turn into a hyper-converged infrastructure stack, you can do it with one of these software-only options. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 Apr 2017
How can I prevent data loss during a Linux distribution upgrade?
It's important to prevent data loss during a Linux OS upgrade. How can partitions or disk drives help IT teams meet that goal? Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jan 2017
What should my dimensions be for a data center building design?
Don't get hung up on data center dimensions in the design phase. Focus on length-to-width ratios to get the most out of data center space, power and cooling. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2017
Use a Linux file system journal for data integrity, performance
Understand the three different file system journaling modes for Linux, as well as which mount option provides the best levels of data protection and performance. Continue Reading
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Quiz
16 Jan 2017
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
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Tip
13 Jan 2017
Five data center certifications admins need to know
Data center certifications, including those from VMware and Cisco, can provide a career boost for admins. Consider taking one of these five exams to expand your knowledge. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Dec 2016
Compare the best Linux distros for enterprise servers
Any of the popular Linux distributions can run on enterprise servers, but here's how to decide which is best for you. Compare SUSE, Red Hat, Oracle and Ubuntu Linux OSes. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Dec 2016
Consider these Linux I/O scheduler options for storage performance
To optimize Linux performance, IT teams should examine the I/O scheduler currently in use, and evaluate alternatives, such as deadline and Completely Fair Queuing. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Dec 2016
Build a data center shutdown procedure to prepare for the worst
A data center shutdown checklist helps IT teams focus on backup, testing and system verification before pulling the plug and losing valuable information. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Nov 2016
Compare benefits of a blade server architecture vs. hyper-convergence
To determine if a series of blade servers is the right call for more condensed compute in your data center, evaluate its benefits compared to hyper-convergence. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Oct 2016
Optimize mainframe processor performance with vertical polarization
To increase mainframe processor capacity and speed, IBM turned to vertical polarization. Learn how to take advantage of it through a feature called HiperDispatch. Continue Reading
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Quiz
03 Oct 2016
Test your knowledge of fiber optic cables
When it comes to data center networking, fiber optic cables are becoming the standard rather than copper. Take this quiz to see how much you know about fiber optic technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2016
When moving servers to a colocation facility, planning is key
Moving servers off premises to a colocation facility can be a daunting task. Use these best practices to minimize downtime to ensure a seamless transition. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Sep 2016
Manage Btrfs snapshots with the SUSE Snapper utility
Learn how to use Btrfs snapshots with Linux utilities, such as Snapper and GRUB2, to revert back to previous states in the event of a configuration mishap. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Aug 2016
Before leaving a system administrator job, don't burn any bridges
Leave on good terms from your system administrator job to avoid burning bridges and to keep a good reputation in the industry. Here are some things to consider before your move. Continue Reading
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Quiz
08 Aug 2016
Test your knowledge of useful Linux commands with this quiz
Think you're an expert on useful Linux commands for network and server management? Try your hand at this Linux command quiz to see how much you know about 10 Linux utilities and their use cases. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2016
Three interface options for remote server monitoring, management
Remote server management interfaces, such as IPMI, iDRAC and iLO, give data center admins a central location to monitor fan speeds, power supply status, temperature and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jul 2016
Three types of mainframe monitoring tools to track performance
Mainframe users face a variety of options when it comes to system monitoring tools. Determine if a real-time, near-time or post-processor tool is the best fit for your IT needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jun 2016
Five tools to enable Linux automation, monitoring and backup
When it comes to Linux data center tools, there is no shortage of options. For automation, backup and monitoring, consider these five Linux tools first. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jun 2016
Construct a winning data center project plan
Before embarking on new data center projects, such as an upgrade or move to the cloud, clearly define all goals and expectations -- and not just for IT. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2016
Six helpful Linux networking commands to monitor connectivity
There are plenty of useful Linux tools to help in the event of a network connection failure. Here are six of the top commands to stay ahead when trouble occurs. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 May 2016
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
