Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• 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

• Dell OpenManage enterprise system management overview

  Dell's OpenManage product suite provides tools and modules to manage both Dell and third-party IT infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Docker 1.0 the beginning of the end for virtualization?

  Docker continues to steal the cloud spotlight with its latest lightweight release, but what does it mean for the future of heavyweight virtualization?Continue Reading

• Two critical components of DevOps success

  DevOps appears to be the right track for enterprise IT, but it’s a big change in the way things work and won't succeed without these two critical components.Continue Reading

• Where are Citrix and VMware headed with end-user products?

  In this podcast, we shed light on Citrix and VMware end-user product roadmaps with a recent news recap and an interview with VMware CTO Kit Colbert.Continue Reading

• 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

• Successful DevOps practices from the start

  Here's all you need to know to get started with DevOps, from identifying goals and roadblocks, to useful tools to scale DevOps to the next level.Continue Reading

• IT asset management best practices for any data center

  Choosing a data center asset management tool depends on how the infrastructure functions, the mix of hardware and software in action and more factors.Continue Reading

• Scale up vs. scale out: Debate evolves over how to upgrade data centers

  Pick sides on whether to scale up vs. scale out servers. It will establish what method to enhance server performance makes sense for your data center.Continue Reading

• Modern Infrastructure Impact Award winners

  The votes are in, and the winners determined. The first edition of the Modern Infrastructure Impact Awards gave prizes to winners in eight categories, which reflect the big topics affecting data center professionals today. Cloud computing, ...Continue Reading

• A look inside the DevOps movement

  DevOps is a culture, not a job or procedure for an IT team. That said, there are DevOps tools and organizational strategies to help you get there.Continue Reading

• Five tips for selecting system management tools

  Too much granularity? Not enough? Need alerts? Maybe not. There are five considerations for systems management tools -- and cost isn't one of them.Continue Reading

• Frequently asked questions about server automation tools

  Server automation tools save time and reduce errors. But what should tools offer, and are point systems or suites the way to go? Find out in this FAQ.Continue Reading

• Prioritizing alerts with server monitoring tools

  Setting and prioritizing alerts with server monitoring tools can help an administrator respond quickly to critical problems without being bothered by insignificant alarms.Continue Reading

• Application performance tips: Workload optimization and software pathing

  IT pros looking to maximize application performance should look beyond basic software, tuning to products from vendors pathing software and hardware.Continue Reading

• Hyper-V Dynamic Memory vs. VMware memory overcommit

  Memory allocation can be a guessing game in virtualized environments. Hyper-V Dynamic Memory and VMware memory overcommit tackle the problem in different ways.Continue Reading

• Selecting benchmarking tools for specific needs

  Narrowing down the best benchmarking tool requires testing and a careful evaluation of needs, including system compatibility, level of technical depth and scalability.Continue Reading

• Improve application performance with multithreaded applications

  Multi-core CPUs fuel a server's operating system performance and virtualization technologies. Can multithreaded applications and multi-core CPUs fuel application performance as well?Continue Reading

• Architecting application failover in your data center

  Attempting application failover by re-coding your apps may not be the right choice for every data center, as several factors, including virtualization and coding languages, affect which method you should use. This tip offers advice for finding the ...Continue Reading

• Modern Stack

  covers the latest cloud-native application design trends and the evolving platforms on which they run. We provide IT operations professionals and software development teams with the information they need to build and support new business ...Continue Reading