Data center ops, monitoring and management
Data center operations are the fundamental workflows that keep a data center operating. Monitoring and management of data center resources comprise the most central data center ops. Learn more about data center software and best practices for monitoring and managing devices and equipment across the data center.
Top Stories
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Feature
20 Mar 2023
Will data centers become obsolete?
Many organizations want to simplify or scale down their data centers -- but they won't disappear. Admins can examine as-a-service options and cloud to offload some applications. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Mar 2023
Can composable infrastructure and computational storage mix?
'Composable' and 'computational' are often said in the same breath, but how exactly are they related -- or not? While there are differences, a combination could serve enterprises. Continue Reading
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Quiz
16 Sep 2014
How well do you know the ITIL v3 framework?
Test how well your team knows its roles and responsibilities with this ITIL quiz. It might help you handle future IT service problems. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Aug 2014
Business application hosting on-premises vs. cloud options
Is it better to look for a SaaS version of an app, put it in your own data center on existing equipment, or host it at a cloud provider for a mix of flexible scaling and IT ownership? Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jul 2014
Denser is better: Increased storage and server density
For storage and servers, being dense is good. Careful planning can maximize the benefits of greater computing densities while minimizing potential risks. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jul 2014
Mount file system Linux systemd's way
Forget about /etc/fstab and autofs. There's a new Linux system around. Systemd manages mounting and automounting of file systems differently. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jun 2014
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
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Tip
20 Jun 2014
What to look for in a Tier III data center provider
Don't believe just any sweet-talking colo provider claiming to be Tier III. Make sure you're getting what you pay for with a true Tier III data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jun 2014
How many VMs per host is too many?
The ultimate host server welcomes hundreds of virtual machines. But that doesn't mean consolidation should outrank performance. Continue Reading
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Quiz
05 Jun 2014
Test your Uptime Tier level knowledge
You've got a lot riding on Uptime Tier-certified data centers. Take this quiz to see how well you know Tiers I through IV. Continue Reading
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Guide
30 May 2014
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
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Tip
21 Apr 2014
Linux boot options in RHEL, SLES help ailing servers
Is your server not booting correctly? Does it need crucial recovery tasks? Linux boot options with GRUB2 and systemd can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Mar 2014
What data center Tier levels can and cannot tell you about uptime
When it's time to go colo, it's important to know what level of facility uptime you need, as well as the data center operator's specific procedures. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Feb 2014
Mount Global File System 2, avoid corruption in RHEL High Availability
You have a working cluster, now what? Red Hat's GFS2 will help you avoid file system corruption. Learn how to mount the default cluster file system. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Feb 2014
Getting started with ITIL service management
Promised cost savings, alignment with business, and operational efficiency are encouraging more organizations to take up ITIL service management. Continue Reading
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Quiz
04 Feb 2014
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
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Tip
28 Jan 2014
Six steps to create a highly available Apache Web service
When a Red Hat cluster goes into production, you can protect it by configuring a supported high-availability service. Here's how. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2014
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
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Tip
08 Jan 2014
Five best Linux applications for enterprises
These five applications will improve the lives of enterprise IT and business management by increasing functionality and reducing costs. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2014
RISC vs. CISC explained for data center systems
The role of RISC processors in data center equipment is hotly debated, but new RISC designs are proving that it isn't just a CISC game. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Dec 2013
Creating a quorum disk and fencing for Linux high availability nodes
The quorum disk and fencing on a Linux high availability cluster let its nodes know when they are operational and shut them off if they are not. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2013
How to prepare a server cluster for Linux high availability
With a Linux distribution supporting mission-critical business applications, it's time to set up Linux high-availability software. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Aug 2013
A new troubleshooting and management process with GRUB2 bootloader
Nearly everything changed from the GRUB bootloader to GRUB2. With major enterprise Linux distributions moving to GRUB2, it's time to get acquainted. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Aug 2013
When to use Linux memory swap to solve server performance problems
Adding physical memory may seem like the best way to solve a Linux server's memory shortage. But that's not the only way, so troubleshoot first. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2013
Analyzing and optimizing Linux power consumption with PowerTop 2
The PowerTOP tool tracks power consumption in Linux servers. You can tweak servers and applications to consume less power if you understand PowerTOP. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Apr 2013
Issues with SELinux preventing virtual machine from accessing files
Here's how to solve the problems when trying to access files via a virtual machine in SELinux. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Apr 2013
The basics of selecting server memory
Understanding modern memory helps IT professionals make the best choices for selecting a server memory configuration and upgrades. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Apr 2013
A deeper look at memory ranks, channels and types
Looking for new server memory? Learning about memory ranks, channels and types is a good step to making the right choice. Continue Reading
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Quiz
17 Jan 2013
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
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Tip
12 Jul 2012
Tweak Linux swap to improve server performance
Many administrators ignore or underutilize the Linux swap settings but making the proper adjustments will make for better system performance. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 May 2012
It’s an easy fix to clean up a GRUB error on your Linux server
A GRUB error will stop a Linux server cold, but following these steps should get you back on track. Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2012
HP ProLiant servers to come with Ubuntu Server Edition
Hewlett-Packard to package Ubuntu on ProLiant servers. Linus Torvalds up for a prestigious technology prize. Red Hat embraces Microsoft Open Technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2012
Setting up a mirrored Linux DRBD configuration over the network
Administrators can use the distributed replicated block device (DRBD) in Linux to set up basic data redundancy to connect the storage of multiple servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Sep 2011
Using open source tools to monitor Apache Web Server performance
Much of today’s business relies on smooth operation of Web servers. Explore these three open source tools to monitor performance, security and traffic on Apache Web servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Sep 2011
Securing an Apache Web server with SELinux
Learn how to keep your Apache Web server secure by applying basic SELinux settings, including adjusting SELinux so Apache uses nondefault settings. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Jul 2011
Case studies show the benefits of virtualization
These case studies demonstrate how businesses have deployed virtual machines to improve efficiency and add computing power, while also saving money. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jun 2011
What to look for when conducting benchmark tests with PerfMon
Microsoft's PerfMon benchmark tests measure a wide range of processes and server aspects, but it can be difficult for IT professionals to understand the numbers and interpret the results. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Apr 2011
Creating RPM packages in Linux
RPM software management on Linux systems truly has an advantage when you create your own RPM packages. Learn how to use the enhanced vim option to automatically generate a template file after creating a new RPM file with the .spec extension. Continue Reading
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Quiz
04 Mar 2011
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
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Tip
08 Feb 2011
Increasing network bandwidth available to virtual machines
These three tips on increasing the amount of network bandwidth available to your VMs, including virtual network creation, can also potentially increase a host server's VM density. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jan 2011
Working with Linux file system attributes
File system attributes can provide a valuable addition to the way you ensure security on your Linux server. Learn how to mount, list and change file system attributes in ext4. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2011
Improving IT efficiency with server virtualization technology
The Motley Fool turned to server virtualization technology as its answer to improving IT efficiency and flexibility in the wake of rampant data center growth. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Dec 2010
RHEL 6 ditches System V init for Upstart: What Linux admins need to know
System V init is fading to a memory in Linux boot systems as the new Linux disdribution releases, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, switch to using Upstart. Learn what is different with this boot service and how to work with it to get your Linux boot administration tasks done. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Oct 2010
Creating an inventory with nmap network scanning
Nmap network scanning generates a full system inventory, but it's only usable with the right parameters and output format. Learn how to create an nmap inventory in this tip. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2010
Setting up a syslog server in Linux
A central logging server can make it easier to manage logs. In this tip, learn how to collect and centralize syslog messages from your hosts onto one syslog server in Linux. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Sep 2010
Kerberos authentication in RHEL: Easing Windows-Linux integration
Kerberos authentication for CIFS offers easier Windows-Linux integration. In this tip, learn how Kerberos authentication works and how to set it up in Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Aug 2010
Optimizing Linux swap space usage
Today's powerful servers with plenty of RAM can make swap space seem like a thing of the past, but knowing how much you need can help keep your system running smoothly. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Aug 2010
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 licensing for virtualization
Choosing the right Windows Server 2008 edition can save big money in a virtual data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Aug 2010
Installing the ModSecurity Web application firewall on Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Learn how to set up the ModSecurity Web application firewall on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4 and Apache Web server 2.2.x. This firewall monitors access to Web servers to ensure that requests are valid and not malicious. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 May 2010
Booting a Xen virtual machine from CD-ROM or DVD
If your Xen virtual machine fails, you may want to boot it from an installation disk and run the rescue program. Learn the required steps to succesfully boot a Xen virtual machine from a disk on a Linux machine. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Mar 2010
Common security flaws to check for on your Linux-based Web systems
Your Linux server may have Web application-related security vulnerabilities that should be checked out and repaired. These can include passwords, PHP code injection, weak file and directory permissions and outdated Apache and PHP versions. Learn what to look for and how to fix it. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Mar 2010
Fixing Linux I/O write performance problems
Learn how to optimize your Linux server for I/O writes by adjusting I/O scheduler settings and journaling settings along with some advice about partition set-up. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2010
Using common Linux mail clients with an Exchange Server
Begin your migration away from Microsoft Exchange by learning how to set up Linux mail clients, Evolution and Thunderbird, to talk to Exchange. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Feb 2010
Linux cloning over the network using netcat
Use netcat to clone Linux images over the network onto multiple servers with a series of simple Linux commands including tar, tee, and dd. This alternative to tools like Clonezilla does not require setting up a separate server. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Dec 2009
Linux networking: Using ip tool instead of ifconfig
If your server was configured manually, make sure the Linux network is set up with the correct IP configurations and the ip tool is being used to monitor your systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Oct 2009
Access and repair an ext3 file system with the superblock
A damaged ext3 file system is accessible and repairable, thanks to the data within either the superblock or the superblock's backup. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Aug 2009
Should you pay for support on all Linux servers in your data center?
Free Linux distributions are gaining popularity, but choosing whether to adopt paid or free Linux depends on your support staff's level of expertise and the workloads you expect the Linux distro will handle. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Aug 2009
Troubleshooting Logical Volume Manager boot problems
If Logical Volume Manager (LVM) boots incorrectly, logical volumes are inaccessible and you can't manage server disk space. In this LVM how-to, we offer some simple steps to troubleshoot boot issues with LVM. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jul 2009
Comparing Unix versions: AIX, HP-UX and Solaris
In this comparison of the top Unix versions, learn what distinguishes the file systems, management tools and virtualization products in Sun Solaris, Hewlett-Packard HP-UX and IBM AIX file systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jun 2009
How to install and use RRDTool to speed up MRTG monitoring
When monitoring a large number of hosts or devices with the MRTG graphing tool, the system experience frequent CPU spikes. In this RRDTool tutorial, learn how to install RRDTool and convert MRTG to use RRD storage to avoid system overload. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jun 2009
Troubleshooting Linux boot problems
If your Linux server fails to show the login screen at startup, you have a boot problem. Learn some tricks on how to diagnose and fix a Linux server boot problem from Grub failure to init and runlevels. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jun 2009
How to install and configure MRTG, an essential sys admin tool
Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) is an essential tool that allows systems administrators to monitor and graph network traffic and more. In this tutorial, an expert explains how to install and configure MRTG on Solaris 10. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 May 2009
Capacity planning tools tutorial for Linux and Unix
Effective capacity planning is a proactive way of ensuring that your data center servers will not prematurely run out of space or horsepower. Learn the tools available to help you, both native to Linux and Unix platforms including Solaris, Red Hat, HP-UX, and the free-form products that will work with any Linux or Unix distribution. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jan 2009
Server cluster failure considerations to maintain a fault-tolerant data center
Server clustering can help you achieve a fault-tolerant data center, but cluster failures can cause problems if your heartbeat monitoring system is on the same network as your production workload. An expert discusses the problems he encountered with VMware High Availability (HA) heartbeat monitoring and VM host failures and how his company decided to solve the problem. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jan 2009
Manage CICS workloads with transaction classes
Using transaction classes is a great way to manage CICS workloads that come in varying or unpredictable increments. Learn how to define transaction classes, calculate a maximum active number and get examples on how to use transaction classes in this tip. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2008
Repairing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server using a Rescue CD
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server offers a Rescue CD for repairing the system if your hardware causes a crash at reboot. This tip shows you how to use it. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2008
Ensuring server time synchronization with NTP on SLES
Synchronize your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server times using NTP time server. Two servers are recommended for enterprise situations, as redundancy will save the day in case of a disaster. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Sep 2008
How to troubleshoot RHEL performance bottlenecks
This tip provides a step-by-step approach to application-tuning, troubleshooting bottlenecks and enhancing performance on RHEL 5 systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2008
Using OpenSSL to create and manage certificates
Establishing an independent certificate authority with OpenSSL enables you to create public key certificates and to verify that these public keys are authentic and that email messages are secure. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 May 2008
Are you prepared for the Unix 2038 problem?
All 32-bit Unix/Linux-based systems store the system clock time internally as the number of seconds since the "Epoch." The latest time and date that can be represented as seconds-since-the-Epoch in that 32-bit signed integer is 3:14:07 UTC on Tuesday, January 19, 2038. Current applications will interpret the negative number that is subsequently produced as an older year (1901), or will freeze the system clock at 03:14:07 on 1/19/2038, causing applications and operating systems to fail. Bill Bradford explains some options for preventing this eventuality. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Feb 2008
Clarifying the GPL: Why Linux distros cannot be copyrighted
Confused about copyrights? Our expert explains how Linux can be copyrighted, but proprietary plans for Linux distributions are a pipe dream. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2008
Oracle on RHEL 5: Installation and configuration
Install and configure Oracle 10 on RHEL 5. This tip shows how to set up a database with Oracle's Database Configuration Assistant (DBCA) and Oracle Enterprise Manager. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2007
SUSE Linux Enterprise troubleshooting: Fixing boot problems by repairing a broken initrd
Having a problem booting SUSE Linux Enterprise on your server? It may be that you have a problem with your initial RAM disk. Expert Sander van Vugt troubleshoots the problem with this step-by-step guide to fixing a broken initrd. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2007
Using SETools to manage SELinux policies
SETools can help SELinux administrators with the daunting task of writing, managing and reporting on policies with the help of tools such as apol, sediff, seaudit and sechecker. Our expert shows you how to setup SETools on your system and introduces you to its graphical and command-line utilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jul 2007
Setting up SSH2 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Find out how to set up SSH2 (Secure Shell) on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), using encryption keys instead of passwords in this tutorial. You can use this with either RHEL 4 or RHEL 5. Continue Reading
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Answer
17 Jul 2007
SPARC/Solaris vs. Intel/Linux
A Unix-Linux migration expert describes the differences between Solaris on SPARC as compared to. Linux on Intel. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jul 2007
Dual booting vs. virtualization: Using Windows and Linux on the same server
Interoperability between Linux and Windows can be achieved in two ways: one, by installing each operating system separately via dual booting -- which allows both operating systems to run on the same hardware -- and two, by running one system inside another with virtualization. In this tip, Serdar Yegulalp explains when to use each option. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Jun 2007
Alert vs. log in the Snort /var/log/snort directory
A Linux security expert explains that the difference between the Snort alert and log logs in the Snort /var/log/snort directory is based on how rules are written. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jun 2007
HP UNIX performance monitoring fundamentals
UNIX system performance monitoring involves more than just keeping an eye on the amount of free space or the number of users who are logged in. With the right system performance monitoring know-how, you can look into various files to find out anything about the system. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jun 2007
OpenOffice 2.0 tutorial: Using SQL View, Query Design and more with Report Writer
Learn how to use the Query Design and SQL View tools, handle report-specific fields, print fast reports and more in this tutorial on OpenOffice's Report Writer. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Apr 2007
Linux clusters vs. grids
Can Linux clusters outperform grid computing? Expert Ken Milberg compares them -- covering Beowulf, HPC, Linux Virtual Server and the Globus Toolkit for grids -- and chooses a winner. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Mar 2007
MySQL full outer join workaround
A MySQL expert offers a workaround for the lack of syntax support for full outer joins. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2007
Running Windows as a VM on Linux with VMware Server
If you don't want to spend money on an expensive Citrix setup for running Windows and Linux, then try running Windows as a virtual machine (VM) on Linux with VMware Server. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jan 2007
Migrating Microsoft Internet Information Server to Apache on Red Hat Linux
If you're moving to Apache server from Microsoft Internet Information Server, be aware that this migration involves more than just copying files. In this tip, users will learn how to move a site from IIS to Apache on Red Hat, although this is applicable to other Linux distributions. Continue Reading
- Answer 28 Oct 2005