Evaluate
Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.
Evaluate
Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.
Use an IT incident management system to enable automation
IT admins and gurus can't tackle every issue every hour of the day -- let alone predict them first. A dynamic combination of monitoring and incident management makes for better admins. Continue Reading
Integrate DevOps and containers with simple tool adjustments
Organizations with an established DevOps pipeline can migrate from VMs to containers without tossing out the entire toolstack. Focus on these steps to enable containers in production. Continue Reading
IBM roadmap of cloud, AI-enabled IT drives Think conference
IT operations must absorb automation, AI, machine learning and cloud trends, which result in a more data-driven, predictive and responsive department -- if everything goes right. Continue Reading
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Can container tools box out configuration management?
What will happen to your infrastructure programming skills when containers take over? Continue Reading
Impact Awards honor the best cloud and data center tools
Each year, the Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards program salutes the data center tools and cloud management technologies that stand out from the crowd. The winners are the products that prove particularly useful and draw raves from users. These ... Continue Reading
What's our future if we don't secure IoT devices?
When everything from the coffee maker to the manufacturing plant's robots to the electric grid is connected, shouldn't security be IT's primary concern?Continue Reading
Rely on the DevOps methodology to avoid disaster
DevOps concepts rely on both developers and operations to uphold the stability of applications in production. One side can't do it alone.Continue Reading
Data center and cloud computing products that make an impact
The Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards recognize the best IT infrastructure and cloud computing products in seven categories, from cloud to DevOps to converged infrastructure.Continue Reading
Nutanix Acropolis hypervisor components and capabilities
Nutanix hypervisor components, including controller VMs, and Prism, its management control plane, help simplify management. Learn more about how these components work together.Continue Reading
Why not every DevOps strategy is worthy of your attention
DevOps advice is plentiful today. Some, like Cameron McKenzie, would say it is too plentiful. Here's his advice for weeding out the unworkable from the sensible.Continue Reading
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Hype for future of container development gets dose of reality
Realistic timelines have replaced the big promises of container disruption. Virtualization administrators should expect security and microservices features as the market matures.Continue Reading
Cloud ops doesn't solve your problems, it creates new ones
There are many reasons to consider a cloud migration, but if you expect to cut costs or dramatically ease management, you'll be disappointed.Continue Reading
Customize a Hyper-V network adapter for security, performance
Look beyond basic network adapter settings in Hyper-V to enable features like IPsec task offloading, DHCP guard, protected networks, port mirroring and NIC teaming, among others.Continue Reading
Salary snapshot: It's a very good time to be a DevOps pro
In 2017, the number of job postings for DevOps jumped 15% over the previous year, and salaries increased, too. Do you have today's most in-demand skills?Continue Reading
Explore Ansible for DevOps configuration management
The configuration management tool is adept at managing workloads across different infrastructure environments. This Ansible overview preps admins to automate apps and infrastructure.Continue Reading
Unikernels vs. containers: See the lightweight championship fight
The drive to minimize app hosting resources yielded unikernels and containers, the IT equivalent of a tiny house and apartment. Containing only the barest essentials, unikernels pose unique benefits and challenges.Continue Reading
Make smart container hosting decisions for enterprise IT
Containers promise enticing benefits, so when they hit real-world production IT, they must land on a hosting infrastructure built for new challenges and capabilities.Continue Reading
Want a DevOps success story? Try employee net promoter score
The more likely an employee is to recommend an employer to a friend, the more likely the company is healthy and successful. Here's how to apply that practice to DevOps.Continue Reading
An IT automation strategy wilts under cloud's shadow
Organizations have been striving to keep abreast of IT automation trends, but with the ongoing cloud takeover, operations must consider new skill requirements instead.Continue Reading
Container orchestration tools ease distributed system complexity
Containers simplify some aspects of enterprise apps, but the deployment process is no walk in the park. Orchestration tools bring standardization and automation to complex hosting scenarios.Continue Reading
How to choose the best hardware for virtualization
Selecting the best hardware for virtualization is the foundation of maintaining or designing a robust, reliable and scalable data center.Continue Reading
Are DevOps responsibilities in production unfair to developers?
When Nike.com gave developers live production support responsibilities, the shakeup unearthed fundamental questions about app design and support processes.Continue Reading
It's tough to explain DevOps, that nebulous IT concept
DevOps is more about goals and aspirations than any set of practices or tools. Right? Or is it just about collaboration and culture? Either way, it's tough to define DevOps.Continue Reading
It's critical to create the correct DevOps team structure
With new-to-DevOps enthusiasm, some companies go too far when it comes to creating teams or dividing responsibilities. Chris Tozzi outlines the warning signs of too much DevOps.Continue Reading
Quiz yourself on Red Hat virtualization pricing and updates
The Red Hat Virtualization platform can be a powerful tool in your arsenal. Take this quiz on RHV pricing, updates and functionality to see if you know your stuff.Continue Reading
The ITIL 2018 update better catch up to modern IT
When ITIL last updated, DevOps was in its infancy. In the face of rapidly evolving IT practices and technologies, ITIL 2018 must be powerful and usable for diverse IT organizations.Continue Reading
IT ops pros predict routes to DevOps efficiency in 2018
Operations admins have a lot on their plates already, and they'll pile on more in 2018. These IT pros and analysts share what's coming and how to handle it.Continue Reading
Make the case to follow a container strategy at your company
Sorting through container management software can be overwhelming. Determine what your organization actually needs in terms of security and cloud capabilities before leaping in.Continue Reading
Unleash application dependency mapping tools to combat outages
Create a detailed map of application dependencies from the CMDB and cloud resources and help prevent unexpected outages.Continue Reading
Want to understand DevOps? Look to open source's history
Studying the past in order to not repeat it is something that can be applied to DevOps, too. Expert Chris Tozzi outlines how to understand DevOps by studying open source.Continue Reading
Evaluate ChatOps tools and bots for the right fit
ChatOps is still a niche in IT operations and DevOps shops, but organizations that have set it up love it. That means you should join the fun and give it a try. Here's what you need to know about ChatOps tools.Continue Reading
Get serious about patch validation and deployment -- fast
Zero-day exploits are more dangerous than ever, but so is applying an untested patch to live systems. Without a strategy to quickly validate patches -- outside of production -- you're playing with fire.Continue Reading
What you'll build with software-defined architecture
It's been two years since Gartner declared that the future of the data center was software-defined. And while we're still a ways from that reality, there's plenty of reason to think IT is indeed moving toward the software-defined architecture.
Enterprise shops look to AIOps for IT root cause analysis
IT ops pros look to AIOps tools to help find the smoking gun in failing IT stacks, but some call automated root cause analysis more dream than reality.Continue Reading
To build or to buy? That is the DevOps toolchain question
An organization should assess its strengths and weaknesses before choosing a DevOps toolchain. A pre-made pipeline is simpler than individually collected tools, but it sacrifices flexibility.Continue Reading
Container OS options abound: Make the right selection
There is an assortment of OSes that support containerized applications, so go into the decision with a set of wants, needs and must-avoids.Continue Reading
Standardize configuration management software for smoother DevOps
If your organization uses different configuration management software for development and operations, you're not alone. Even better, it's no engineering feat to migrate to one main tool.Continue Reading
An IT operations job description written for the future
Forward-looking IT ops jobs require more Python and less cable management. To reach valued positions in the IT organization, align your skills with these popular job requirements.Continue Reading
Early adopters of technology belong in every organization
In today's rapidly changing tech environment, avoiding new opportunities means falling behind. Thorough research into newly available tools leads organizations to success.Continue Reading
Configuration management processes take down GRC challenges
Configuration management processes speed deployments, but tools that know effective licenses and data storage details aid in another area that businesses are keen to get right.Continue Reading
Know how container host machine resources get used?
What's a container's resource limit? How do they scale? What OS does a host machine need? Answer 10 questions to prove your container deployment knowledge.Continue Reading
Do ops skills fall into an IT engineering job description?
What are some ways to level up from an IT operations or administration role into an IT engineering one? Will my experience in IT operations translate into engineering tasks?Continue Reading
A serverless architecture could live in your data center
Just because you don't see the server doesn't mean it's not there. Serverless frameworks are superseding containers, but is the extra abstraction worth it?Continue Reading
Agentless Ansible structure opens up configuration management potential
Ansible is easy to use for IT ops pros, and it supports multicloud functionality within its automation structure. This simple walkthrough gets sys admins started with the tool.Continue Reading
Server OS patching doesn't have to be as painful as you fear
OS patching is like a mechanic's job -- you need different tools for different makes and models. SCCM, Satellite and Landscape provide upkeep for IT's sports cars and SUVs.Continue Reading
Machine learning algorithms make life easier -- until they don't
Algorithms govern many facets of our lives. But imperfect logic and data sets can make results worse instead of better, so it behooves all of us to think like data scientists.Continue Reading
Securing containers keeps IT jumping through hoops
Container isolation doesn't cut it in production. Instead, beef up security from the infrastructure to the application code, and be prepared to use some new tools to do it.Continue Reading
Three DevOps toolchain options refine IT automation
DevOps tools that don't interconnect form a bottleneck that teams can easily avoid -- or retroactively remedy -- if the CI/CD workflow merits the time commitment.Continue Reading
When to use Docker alternatives rkt and LXD
Docker can't meet the needs of every IT scenario. LXD and CoreOS rkt are additional container formats to try out when Docker doesn't make sense.Continue Reading
IT asset tracking informs better capacity, management decisions
Detailed IT asset inventories are a result of granular asset tracking and lead to better server and storage management -- among other benefits.Continue Reading
Lessons fall from the cloud, changing data center strategies
The transformative power of cloud computing is long past the point of being news. The cloud model, after all, has irrevocably changed how IT functions. What's interesting to consider is how cloud technologies and methodologies are changing even how ...Continue Reading
Log management systems benefit greatly from AI
Organizations with massive volumes of IT operational data need log management tools that can quickly and adeptly process it. AI embedded into tools might be the answer.Continue Reading
Justify CMDB ROI with these strategies
IT pros can easily list off CMDB benefits. But when it comes to convincing the business to pay for a CMDB implementation, you'll need to discuss ROI.Continue Reading
Note these ops issues before you deploy with Docker containers
Docker regularly updates its containerization offering, but it's not click-to-deploy ready for production. Ops professionals should acknowledge these points before deploying Docker containers.Continue Reading
DevOps lab: Build Vagrant VMs to learn immutable infrastructure
This article is part of a series to help IT ops professionals learn DevOps by building a home lab. In this first step, a cluster of Vagrant VMs represents immutable infrastructure.Continue Reading
Learn DevOps techniques and tools in this home lab setup
This DevOps lab uses Linux VMs and Docker containers to teach administrators the basics of immutable infrastructure, configuration automation and other modern IT concepts.Continue Reading
Deep dive into Hyper-V files and folders
Understanding all aspects of a Hyper-V installation now makes it easier to troubleshoot problems later. Look under the hood of Hyper-V files and folders to prep for the worst.Continue Reading
When the big cloud infrastructure providers aren't the right fit
When a business chooses one of the major providers for its cloud services, there shouldn't be a lot of surprises. You do your homework, consider the available services, select instance types, compare costs and then make a decision. At that point, ...Continue Reading
Are there IT jobs in cloud capacity management?
If a company moves only 30% of workloads from its data center to the public cloud, that will reduce IT ops demand. Is there still a role for the ops engineer?Continue Reading
Not playing games: The GPU vs. CPU question gets more interesting
Putting thousands of cores to work makes perfect sense when you're powering a video game. But graphics processing units, or GPUs, can't serve much practical purpose in a corporate data center, can they?
The GPU vs. CPU discussion isn't as odd as ...Continue Reading
Orchestration software: The functions and vendors to watch
Enterprises must keep their IT processes on track to stay ahead in the DevOps era. Solid orchestration software will pull automation tasks together and accelerate workflows.Continue Reading
The future of containerization goes more abstract
Containers have benefits over VMs in the data center, but the future of containerization is broader than that.Continue Reading
Top cloud and data center technologies win Impact Awards
Plenty of data center technologies enter the market, aiming to solve this problem or that problem. (Or every problem, if the hype is to be believed.) But which products really hit the mark? Which ones stand out, coming along at just the right moment...Continue Reading
2017 Impact Awards honor the best IT products and services
The votes are in. From AWS partners to system management, Modern Infrastructure readers recognize the best IT products in the 2017 Impact Awards.Continue Reading
Automated deployment tools mitigate the risk of human error in DevOps
There are dozens of application and infrastructure automation tools for IT shops. Choosing the right one requires project and feature evaluation.Continue Reading
Real-life change management examples prove it's harder than it looks
Whether your IT shop rigorously follows a service management framework or takes a laissez-faire approach to changes, these examples help hone change management procedures.Continue Reading
Agent vs. agentless: Monitoring choices for diverse IT ops needs
All management tools must run on a device, but the standards for agent and agentless monitoring vary widely. The determination is easier once you understand monitoring data needs.Continue Reading
Why orchestration services are important in the DevOps age
Automation and orchestration services are critical for modern IT systems to function well. Learn more about how these functions facilitate IT processes and workflows.Continue Reading
Use these DevOps examples to reimagine an IT organization
These before and after DevOps adoption stories from real IT organizations yield insights into processes and tools, metrics for success and mistakes made.Continue Reading
DevOps capabilities vary widely by industry vertical
DevOps isn't the same from one IT shop to another, let alone from healthcare to retail IT. Some verticals rise higher than others when it comes to agility and communication.Continue Reading
The steps in selecting the right configuration management system
Configuration management helps enterprises standardize IT systems and eases updates. This guide assists buyers in selecting the right tools for their CM systems.Continue Reading
CFEngine configuration management tool up close and in-depth
CFEngine is a widely known and used configuration management tool. Learn about its primary features and functions and if and how your organization could benefit from it.Continue Reading
Inside Docker configuration management functions
Docker may not be a standard configuration management tool, but it possesses a set of capabilities that have made it a growing player in the CM market.Continue Reading
The Cobbler configuration management tool's ins and outs
Cobbler is a configuration management tool best suited for Linux-based IT environments. Learn more about this tool and if it can benefit your enterprise.Continue Reading
Google Project Aristotle - 5 Keys to Team Success
If I picked one word to collectively describe the five components from Project Aristotle, it would have to be value.Continue Reading
SaltStack configuration management tools and their many functions
SaltStack is a relatively new tool in the configuration management market with powerful capabilities and an active user community. Read more about this emerging product here.Continue Reading
What Chef configuration management can do for your IT systems
Chef configuration management tools possess a huge community of users. Learn more about product versions, capabilities, user resources and what Chef can offer an enterprise.Continue Reading
Boost continuous delivery by developing a unified cloud and DevOps model
The DevOps model, which more cohesively aligns application development with IT operations tasks and personnel, can play a useful role in an organization's IT modernization effort. When software can be developed in ways that support continuous ...Continue Reading
Select the best configuration management tools for your company
What characterizes the best configuration management tools for your company? Read about the different tools available and which ones would address your company needs the best.Continue Reading
Decision criteria for choosing configuration management software
Selecting the right configuration management software is vital for your company to function well in this modern age. Learn what you need to know in order to select the best tool.Continue Reading
How application scalability works in event-driven vs. IaaS computing
Event-driven computing saves IT admins' time and helps application scalability, compared to managing traditional cloud infrastructure. But IaaS and event-driven computing aren't exclusive.Continue Reading
Hadoop workflow automation lets IT pros go with the flow
Hadoop workflow managers are not just resource schedulers. They handle intricate tasks and service handoffs that are essential for managing big data services.Continue Reading
Modern open source systems management
The open source sector abounds with configuration management, monitoring and analytics, CI/CD tools and more to arm IT teams against failure in complex apps and infrastructure.Continue Reading
Assessing the value of configuration management systems
IT configuration management tools help to automate and test new releases. The central idea is that these types of products and practices help reduce surprises when new releases move into production. Configuration management systems help to reduce ...Continue Reading
OpenStack infrastructure turns to containers
OpenStack is far from perfect. In fact, there are a number of hurdles it needs to clear before widespread adoption in the enterprise becomes a reality. However, a recent technology trend might just be what the OpenStack infrastructure needs, and ...Continue Reading
Create a cloud development environment for on-premises apps
With built-in tools from many of the mature public cloud services and a well-planned deployment strategy, IT teams can -- and should -- move test/dev to public cloud.Continue Reading
Container trends fuel storage needs
In life as in technology, there is no free lunch. We've seen this time and again. Every time a technology seems to be too good to be true, we do a little digging, and it turns out we were right.
Containers are just the latest example of a ...Continue Reading
Pop quiz: Test your knowledge of open source terminology
Open source technology is a wild west at times. Make sure your open source terminology is up to snuff with this short quiz.Continue Reading
How to blend on-premises IT with the cloud
Most businesses have existing on-premises technologies up and running, and they aren't in a rush to move entirely to the cloud. This means data center teams are increasingly asked to manage IT resources that are located partly on premises and ...Continue Reading
Hardware vs. software load balancer: Which is better for an enterprise?
Can a software load balancer perform with the same capabilities as a hardware load balancer? Decide which aides enterprise the best in this hardware vs. software load balancer comparison.Continue Reading
What works for daily event log monitoring?
I have 80 Windows servers in the data center. What can I use for daily event log monitoring?Continue Reading
Change boot settings from a VM BIOS
Often overlooked, a VM's BIOS is more limited than a physical machine's BIOS, but will allow you to adjust boot settings.Continue Reading
Lift and shift vs. re-platforming cloud apps
When evaluating a new technology, some people like to go all in, with gusto, and adopt it hook line and sinker. Then there are folks whose MO is to take baby steps: Dip a toe in the water and do a lengthy proof of concept. What's right for any given...Continue Reading
Five cons of container technology
Containers promise rapid scalability, flexibility and ease, but they're not right for every workload.Continue Reading
Can hyperconverged systems transform the enterprise?
It's hard to predict which novelties will become mainstays, and which will be has-beens. One current hot technology is hyperconvergence, the subject of Alex Barrett's article in our May issue, "The Hyperconvergence Effect." Is hyperconvergence a ...Continue Reading
What's the effect of network switch buffer in a data center?
What's causing buffer? How much buffer should ideally be available in a network switch? Is there any standard available for buffer?Continue Reading
Three apps in which Docker containers really shine
Docker containers offer a variety of benefits. But apply the software to these three application types to get the biggest bang for your buck.Continue Reading
Here and there: Blending on-premises and cloud environments
Data center technologies and strategies are evolving toward a blend of infrastructures that reside partly on-premises and partly in the cloud. More and more, IT shops are being asked to coordinate technology resources rather than simply control them...Continue Reading
How do I use SR-IOV for Hyper-V VMs?
Single Root I/O Virtualization, or SR-IOV, can help reduce latency and increase I/O throughput when enabled for Hyper-V VMs.Continue Reading
IBM Tivoli software for enterprise system management
IBM Tivoli enterprise system management products are designed to manage all aspects of a data center, including storage, monitoring and automation.Continue Reading