Virtualization and private cloud
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.. See complete definition.
Top Stories
-
Feature
08 May 2023
What's involved in cloud repatriation cost calculation?
The costs associated with cloud repatriation go beyond the migration itself. IT managers must account for any new hardware, backup requirements and available skilled personnel. Continue Reading
-
Tip
15 Nov 2022
Compare Amazon Lightsail vs. EC2 for your web app needs
Not all developers need, or want, the full capabilities of Amazon EC2. See if the scaled-back and simplified Amazon Lightsail is the better fit for your application. Continue Reading
-
Feature
01 Apr 2022
Disaggregated HCI solves compute, storage, network scalability
Despite the deployment and cost advantages of hyper-converged infrastructures, learn how disaggregated HCI can overcome compute, storage and network resource scalability issues. Continue Reading
-
Feature
17 Feb 2022
Why hyper-converged infrastructure simplifies IT management
As fractured data center landscapes shift to HCI environments to consolidate IT operations, learn the many advantages, disadvantages and challenges of hyper-converged deployments. Continue Reading
-
Tip
11 Oct 2021
On premises vs. cloud: The major similarities and differences
An organization deciding whether to run a workload on premises or in the cloud must carefully evaluate security, reliability, costs and other factors -- and ask four key questions. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 Sep 2021
Understand the 5 main benefits of hybrid cloud for businesses
Why choose between public cloud and private systems when you can have both? With hybrid cloud, enterprises can address workload requirements, business demands and budgetary needs. Continue Reading
-
Feature
02 Sep 2021
Multi-cloud vs. hybrid cloud similarities and differences
Organizations sometimes struggle to understand the difference between hybrid cloud and multi-cloud. Check out this video and tips to get familiar with these architectures. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Jan 2021
Intel CEO Bob Swan to be replaced by VMware's Pat Gelsinger
Facing delays of critical products along with superior offerings by AMD and Nvidia the past couple of years, Intel CEO is stepping down to be replaced by VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger. Continue Reading
-
Feature
05 Jan 2021
Top enterprise hybrid cloud management tools to review
Here's an overview of the types of hybrid cloud management tools available, along with tips on what to look for in each tool category. Continue Reading
-
News
29 Oct 2020
IBM Spectrum protects OpenShift container data
IBM seeks to outdo Tanzu; Spectrum Protect for Red Hat OpenShift launches as new containers are spun into operation, and protects OpenShift Container Storage with snapshots. Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 Sep 2020
6 tools to know for private cloud monitoring and reporting
Cloud reporting helps admins address capacity issues and reduce outages. Effective tools should include role-based dashboards and track virtual and physical hardware. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Aug 2020
Adjust these 4 server BIOS settings to improve performance
You can configure BIOS settings to get more productivity out of servers, but some high-performance settings could increase power consumption or put reliability at risk. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Jun 2020
NetApp hybrid cloud infrastructure management hits the Spot
NetApp makes its third cloud-related acquisition of 2020; the company says it will buy Spot, which uses machine learning to optimize cloud capacity and reduce infrastructure costs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
20 Apr 2020
Support remote workers with front-end cloud computing
If a company has a lot of remote workers, a standard VPN might not be able to do the job. More companies are turning to cloud computing front ends to ensure secure remote access. Continue Reading
-
News
25 Feb 2020
New Dell hybrid cloud pricing offers VxRail by subscription
Dell will offer monthly VxRail subscriptions in hopes of appealing to customers that want a more flexible way to create and pay for hybrid and private cloud environments. Continue Reading
-
Guide
02 Dec 2019
The key VMware acquisitions and announcements in 2019
In 2019, VMware acquired Intrinsic, Carbon Black and others as it branched into new markets. It also improved its well-established virtualization line and introduced new products. Continue Reading
-
Tip
25 Nov 2019
VMware Cloud on AWS cost and capabilities -- then vs. now
When you compare VMware Cloud on AWS' initial release to its state in 2019, the cost of entry has lowered, the feature set has expanded and it now meets most compliance standards. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
06 Nov 2019
Will replication help spur adoption of VMware vVols?
Virtual Volumes -- now known as vVols -- have gained Storage Resource Management support for array-based replication, plugging a gap that hindered adoption. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Oct 2019
Essential private cloud migration steps
Executive buy-in, application evaluation and tool configuration are all important parts of cloud selection. With these steps, admins can ensure a smooth move to private cloud. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 Sep 2019
How to keep VM sprawl in check
Virtualization improves hardware use, but the pendulum can swing the other way and result in an overallocation of resources. Here's how to maintain the balance. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Sep 2019
New details emerge about AWS Outposts as launch nears
AWS Outposts will ship later this year. In advance of that launch, AWS has given customers a sense of what they can expect from the first release of the private, on-premises version of its public cloud infrastructure. Continue Reading
-
Answer
26 Aug 2019
Should admins learn about serverless computing?
Serverless architecture is beneficial to organizations that use virtualization and function-as-a-service models. Here's what admins should know about it. Continue Reading
-
News
21 Aug 2019
VMware acquisition of Intrinsic denotes bigger strategic plan
VMware has acquired Intrinsic, a maker of virtualization technology that secures Node.js applications on serverless environments such as AWS Lambda. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
08 Aug 2019
Support for production-level hybrid cloud use cases on the rise
A recent Taneja Group survey reveals that hybrid cloud and multi-cloud are the preferred cloud storage architectures for a variety of enterprise storage use cases. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Aug 2019
IBM-Red Hat juggernaut seeks to boost multi-cloud deployments
IBM and Red Hat executives believe they are well positioned to capture a generous share of shops yet to implement hybrid clouds. Some analysts say that is easier said than done. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Aug 2019
Design a VMware environment with CPUs, storage in mind
A solid infrastructure is critical to smooth operations in the data center. Admins designing a VMware environment should think about CPUs, storage and reference architectures. Continue Reading
-
News
30 Jul 2019
VMware on Google Cloud deal gives users another choice
VMware's deal with Google is the latest among top-tier players supporting each other's cloud. The question now is: How will Microsoft and IBM-Red Hat respond? Continue Reading
-
News
24 Jul 2019
Beer maker brews up cloud alternative with Dell EMC VxRail
With breweries in Colorado and North Carolina, New Belgium Brewing Co. moved shared production apps from cloud to local cluster of Dell EMC hyper-converged infrastructure. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Jul 2019
Red Hat-IBM deal closes, both promise a friendly coopetition
IBM and Red Hat formally signed off on its $34 billion deal as the combined company sets off to make its mark in the hybrid cloud market. Continue Reading
-
News
19 Jun 2019
Microsoft Azure Bastion service seeks to secure VMs
Microsoft's Azure Bastion managed service provides a means for companies to remotely access their VMs without touching the public internet. Continue Reading
-
Feature
12 Jun 2019
When moving cloud on premises, ask these important questions
In this recap of industry blogs, networking analysts discuss moving cloud on premises, per-application ADC innovation and how cyberattackers target the C-suite. Continue Reading
-
Answer
30 May 2019
Hyper-V vs. vSphere: How do the latest versions stack up?
Microsoft recently released Windows Server 2019, so how do the features in this version of Hyper-V compare to VMware's virtualization platform? Continue Reading
-
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
-
Answer
02 Jan 2019
What roles do vCPE and uCPE have at the network edge?
As service providers look to virtualize the edge and deliver network services faster, they're turning to vCPE and uCPE that run services as software on generic hardware. Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
07 Nov 2018
Kubernetes on VMware gains a lifeline with Heptio acquisition
VMware's Heptio buy brings it Kubernetes chops that will help it make a multi-cloud bid, but it will struggle to raise its profile in open source container management, industry watchers predict. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
20 Sep 2018
Nvidia partnership bolsters VMware live migration capabilities
As part of vSphere 6.7.1, admins can now live migrate virtualized workloads supported by vGPUs. The Nvidia and VMware partnership improves high-capacity management capabilities. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Jul 2018
Choose the cloud computing deployment model that fits your data center needs
Organizations looking to the cloud to update their data center should consider the future development of systems management providers when selecting a cloud computing deployment model. Continue Reading
-
News
25 Jul 2018
Google Cloud Services Platform moves hybrid approach on premises
Google has focused its hybrid strategy around containers and microservices, as Cloud Services Platform extends some of the public cloud provider's software to users' data centers. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Jul 2018
HPE's HCI system takes aim at space-constrained data centers
HPE has complemented its recent high-end hyper-converged system with another HCI system to fit the space-constrained environments of branch offices or SMBs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Jul 2018
Build an IT infrastructure plan from the ground up
IT infrastructure improvements require careful planning that includes evaluating new technologies, such as converged and hyper-converged, and building for future flexibility. Continue Reading
-
News
03 Jul 2018
Dell's return to public markets sidesteps VMware query
In a complex stock deal Dell once again becomes a public company to flex its muscles against major legacy IT rivals, but sidesteps questions about VMware's autonomy. Continue Reading
-
News
01 Jun 2018
IBM's Cloud Private for Data brings on-prem data closer to the cloud
IBM rolled out its Cloud Private for Data platform designed to make it easier for users' on-premises data to interact with not just IBM's public cloud, but those of AWS and Google. Continue Reading
-
News
01 May 2018
VMware NSX portfolio aims to unify local and cloud workloads
VMware's NSX strategy aims to help enterprises stitch together data centers and cloud environments, though it could be overkill for IT shops with simpler needs that are more specific. Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
28 Feb 2018
End of general support for vSphere 5.5 forces IT shops' hands
To position themselves for future needs and technologies, many vSphere 5.5 customers may have to move out of their comfort zones and upgrade to version 6.5. Continue Reading
-
Answer
26 Feb 2018
How can IT asset management tools aid in virtualization era?
IT asset management tools allow businesses to track resources effectively. Platform organization is increasingly necessary in a virtualized enterprise. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Feb 2018
Can niche cloud players take on hyperscale cloud providers?
AWS, Azure and GCP are top of mind for public cloud market share, but companies lower down the ranks want their piece of the pie, too. Continue Reading
-
News
08 Feb 2018
The window to be a hyperscale cloud provider is closing
A handful of companies will control the majority of the public cloud. Is there still room for big-name companies to join the club, or are they already too late? Continue Reading
-
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
-
Answer
11 Jan 2018
Transition to a hybrid cloud platform from a private cloud
Consider factors like security, platform compatibility, data usage requirements and management when transitioning from a private cloud to a hybrid cloud. Continue Reading
-
Answer
10 Jan 2018
Creating a private cloud with minimal issues
If you consider security, performance, scalability, expertise, network visibility and service management when creating a private cloud, you avoid problems down the road. Continue Reading
-
Answer
09 Jan 2018
Explore private cloud platform options: Paid and open source
There are many different factors to consider when choosing a private cloud platform. Evaluate the different paid and open source options to figure out which one is best for you. Continue Reading
-
Answer
08 Jan 2018
The case for private cloud vs. public cloud implementation
Take security, compliance, cost and scalability into account when deciding between a private and public cloud. Also, think about the future potential of hybrid cloud adoption. Continue Reading
-
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
-
Answer
01 Aug 2016
How do I size capacity for VMware oversubscription?
What best practices and tools can I use to allocate the right resources in an oversubscribed virtualization deployment? Continue Reading
-
Answer
26 Jan 2016
How can active-active clustering use load balancers?
Active-active clustering and cloud services enable IT workload resilience or redundancy in the enterprise. How does load balancing influence these setups? Continue Reading
-
Answer
25 Sep 2015
How do you verify a HA server or cluster is working?
I want to ensure server high availability in my production IT environment. Is it better to test server HA and risk disruption, or trust in the systems' reliability? Continue Reading
-
E-Zine
14 Apr 2015
Big data workloads live on-premises
Seven years after its birth, the frenzy around cloud is beginning to subside. IT organizations have embraced public cloud for some workloads, and built private clouds for others.
IT is having productive discussions about which applications to leave where they are, and which applications to re-platform. They're considering the pros and cons of renting shared infrastructure rather than buying dedicated on-premises resources.
You may not get the raw performance from a virtualized cloud instance that you could from dedicated bare-metal hardware -- you need to weigh that against the cost of hiring data center operations staff.
Meanwhile, the hype around big data and social media has just begun. The technology for doing this kind of analytics exists today. You can build a Hadoop-based repository to store the untold amounts of raw data that can later be used to discover unimagined relationships and patterns. It all sounds very promising, but for now, the jury's still out about the value of these initiatives.
Continue Reading -
Answer
24 Mar 2015
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
-
Answer
09 Mar 2015
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
-
Answer
30 Jan 2015
Can you virtualize a NetBackup master server?
I have only seen companies deploy a NetBackup master server on a physical server. Are there any drawbacks to using a VM as a NetBackup master server? Continue Reading
-
Photo Story
21 Jul 2014
Seven data center blogs you should be reading right now
Stay connected on trending IT topics on Twitter and Tumblr. Follow these seven experts who express news, opinions in data center blogs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
11 Jul 2014
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
-
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
-
Tip
11 Apr 2014
Traditional IT silos face a hostile software-defined environment
Think you got rid of data center silos when you adopted virtualization? Not so fast. Software-defined data center tools promise more silo-busting. Continue Reading
-
Tip
03 Dec 2013
TCP offload's promises and limitations for enterprise networks
TCP offload products free up limited CPU resources in network-intensive data centers. But TCP offload is no panacea and can introduce more problems. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Oct 2013
Tips and tricks to improve memory paging on servers
Memory paging helps virtual machines share a server's memory resources nicely, but can throttle performance. A few simple tricks will optimize paging. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Mar 2013
Optimal BIOS settings for server virtualization
The ideal mix of performance and reliability starts with learning which server BIOS settings you should configure for a virtualized system. Continue Reading
-
Feature
07 Feb 2012
Squeeze out maximum virtualization performance
Get your virtual deployment done right by following the tips from our experts. Continue Reading
-
Feature
18 Aug 2011
Keeping virtual machines secure
Discover considerations and best practices for securing your virtual environment and get a sneak peak at what will be covered at VMworld 2011. Continue Reading
-
Feature
29 Jul 2011
Monitoring and managing virtual servers
Learn the essentials of virtual system management and follow guidelines that can help you manage your virtual servers more effectively. Continue Reading
-
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
-
Feature
28 Jun 2011
Time to consider a second hypervisor?
Adding a second hypervisor may be key to expanding virtualization in the enterprise, but it can introduce some challenges. It is also important to properly allocate resources to virtual machines. Continue Reading
-
Feature
17 May 2011
Selecting a server for virtualization
Selecting a new server is always a crucial call, but virtualization adds some wrinkles. Criteria should emphasize attributes that demand consideration in a virtual environment. Continue Reading
-
News
22 Mar 2011
CA Spectrum replaced by AccelOps: News in brief
Texas radiology clinic replaced CA Technologies’ Spectrum monitoring suite with AccelOps to save on maintenance. Continue Reading
-
News
22 Mar 2011
Dell Viking micro server recast as PowerEdge C5000
The Dell Viking started out as a custom box for low-end dedicated hosting and has graduated to a full-fledged micro server platform. Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
03 Mar 2011
1U servers: Features and capabilities introduction
1U servers are well suited to many everyday business tasks. This overview considers the key features -- from processor and memory support to network ports-- of various 1U server offerings. Continue Reading
-
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
-
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
-
News
11 Nov 2010
Have data center careers hit the skids?
Has virtualized infrastructure derailed data center careers? IT managers say they now spend too much time troubleshooting environments and not enough time on strategic projects. Continue Reading
-
Tip
08 Nov 2010
Managing virtual data center growth and virtualization challenges
With careful testing, planning and management, virtual data center growth doesn't have to be an issue, even with problems that crop up with some virtualization technologies. Continue Reading
-
News
21 Oct 2010
Cisco et al. push memory-dense servers; but at what cost?
Today’s x86 servers offer impressive memory densities, but some IT shops want even more. Continue Reading
-
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
-
Tutorial
17 May 2010
Virtualized data centers: A resource library
Data center managers use virtualization for basic data center needs, such as server consolidation and disaster recovery, and much more. Continue Reading
-
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
-
News
04 Dec 2008
Server sales suffer on economy, virtualization; vendors branching out
HP, Sun and Dell are offering more data center services this year for fear that the economic slowdown and the growing popularity of virtualization will turn their server hardware products, of which sales are down 5.2%, into a commodity. Continue Reading
-
News
15 Oct 2008
Disruptive technologies of 2009: Virtualization and cloud computing
Gartner, Inc. analysts highlighted the top 10 technologies and trends that will be strategic for most organizations in 2009 during the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo. Virtualization and cloud computing were obvious picks at the top of the list. The advancement of virtualization in storage and client devices is rapidly moving toward eliminating duplicate copies of data on the real storage devices. This can significantly decrease the cost of storage devices and media to hold information. The flexible cost of cloud computing is advantageous for small companies, but the biggest benefit is the built-in elasticity and scalability, which not only reduce barriers to entry, but also enable these companies to grow quickly. Continue Reading
-
News
15 Sep 2008
Elevating cloud computing: Citrix and 3Tera
Centered around the Citrix XenServer Cloud Edition, Citrix and 3Tera launched a partnership providing solutions in the cloud at VMWorld. The companies are promising enterprise-compatible levels of security and reliability, addressing some of the fears data center managers have expressed. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Apr 2008
Data center cooling optimization in the virtualized-server world
How many hamburgers can you cook on a blade server? If your servers are literally cooking there are a variety of systems to consider to keep your equipment cool. Continue Reading
-
News
11 Oct 2005
New Windows licensing simplifies server virtualization
In a radical shift that may spur the adoption of emerging virtualization technology, Microsoft is moving away from licensing per instance of Windows on a physical server, at least for its premium server editions. Continue Reading
-
News
16 Aug 2005
Virtualization, open source threaten proprietary models
Rising interest in virtualization could mean the decline of traditional software pricing plans. Continue Reading