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• Update incident response runbooks to meet new requirements

  Incident response runbooks provide IT teams with the information needed to resolve common and serious incidents. Break a runbook down into flows to construct documentation. Continue Reading

• What is hardware virtualization?

  Hardware virtualization, which is also known as server virtualization or simply virtualization, is the abstraction of computing resources from the software that uses those resources. Continue Reading

• What is hardware-assisted virtualization?

  Hardware-assisted virtualization is the use of a computer's physical components to support the software that creates and manages virtual machines (VMs). Continue Reading

• COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language)

  COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) is a high-level programming language for business applications. It was the first popular language designed to be operating system-agnostic and is still in use in many financial and business applications ... Continue Reading

• What is a virtual hard drive?

  A virtual hard drive file is a container file that acts similar to a physical hard drive. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is AI in networking?
  • What is Docker?
  • What is real user monitoring (RUM)?
  • What is infrastructure automation?

  • What is infrastructure as code (IaC)?
  • What is distributed tracing?
  • What is an automation architect?
  • What is workflow orchestration?

  View All Definitions

• virtual private server (VPS) or virtual dedicated server (VDS)

  A virtual private server (VPS), also called a virtual dedicated server (VDS), is a virtual server that appears to the user as a dedicated server, but that is actually installed on a computer serving multiple websites.Continue Reading

• dependency hell

  Dependency hell is a negative situation that occurs when a software application is not able to access the additional programming it requires to work.Continue Reading

• Boot2Docker

  Boot2Docker is a minimalist Linux distribution with the sole purpose to run Docker containers. It was depreciated and is no longer recommended for use.Continue Reading

• What is DevOps 2.0?

  DevOps 2.0 is the extension of DevOps practices through the entire organization, beyond development and IT ops.Continue Reading

• branching

  Branching is the practice of creating copies of programs or objects in development to work in parallel versions, retaining the original and working on the branch or making different changes to each.Continue Reading

• What is Application Performance Index (Apdex)?

  Application Performance Index, also known as Apdex, is an open standard intended to simplify reports of application performance.Continue Reading

• Learn the basics of virtual server security software selection

  There are multiple factors in choosing the right security software for VMs and virtual infrastructure. Get familiar with potential threats, features to have and market offerings.Continue Reading

• What is Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR)?

  Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR) is an Amazon Web Service (AWS) product that stores, manages and deploys Docker images, which are managed clusters of Amazon EC2 instances.Continue Reading

• Follow 6 key steps to deploy microservices in production

  To succeed with microservices, IT organizations need to rethink the way they design and deploy applications -- and not all the necessary changes are technical ones.Continue Reading

• Why and how to use eBPF for Kubernetes scaling

  Scaling Kubernetes clusters has always been a challenge -- but eBPF makes the process smoother with service-specific monitors and a lack of special instrumentation.Continue Reading

• Working with Docker Compose? Use environmental variables

  Docker Compose streamlines container application deployments. Dig into the tool and see how the use of environment variables can hone the process further.Continue Reading

• Blockchain: An immutable ledger to replace the database

  Blockchains create a secure encryption beneficial to many businesses. This article offers use cases, benefits and limitations of the electronic database.Continue Reading

• An eBPF tutorial to try out the bpftrace framework

  You know what eBPF is, but can you run it? This article offers a brief tutorial to demonstrate the bpftrace framework and how to install a simple eBPF program.Continue Reading

• An introduction to eBPF and where it shines

  With eBPF, developers can customize Linux OS software without changing the kernel. Discover the utility's basics and how it can be used for networking, monitoring and security.Continue Reading

• 3 FAQs to improve your Hyper-V basic knowledge

  It is critical to develop a foundation of Hyper-V knowledge for successful management. These three FAQs can broaden your Hyper-V expertise prior to installation and deployment.Continue Reading

• How to use Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes, step by step

  As the use of the cloud expands and becomes more complex, Azure Arc offers a way to manage resources. Learn how to set it up for Kubernetes with this tutorial.Continue Reading

• How to keep Docker secrets secret

  Secrets greatly increase an environment's security but can take some trial and error to implement correctly. Learn the basics, and then follow this tutorial to create a secret.Continue Reading

• 11 job interview questions for virtualization engineers

  Interviews are your chance to showcase your overall knowledge -- and technical expertise -- of virtualization. Prepare for your next job interview and review typical questions.Continue Reading

• Try PSScriptAnalyzer to check PowerShell code best practices

  Meeting best practices can be a tough feat. Thankfully, PowerShell Script Analyzer checks the code for you. Follow these examples to learn how it works and get started.Continue Reading

• Take this quick DevOps quiz to test your expertise

  DevOps as a methodology and cultural movement has been around for years -- but how well do you know its concepts and best practices? Find out here.Continue Reading

• Get familiar with the basics of vMotion live migration

  VMware's vMotion simplifies the process of VM live migration. To use it properly, familiarize yourself with requirements for network bandwidth, host sizes and how it works.Continue Reading

• How and when to use Nexthink remote actions

  Data can tell admins a lot about what happens in an environment -- if they can collect it. See how the Nexthink platform and PowerShell scripts can gather end-user data.Continue Reading

• Terraform cheat sheet: Notable commands, HCL and more

  Terraform has a lot going on. This cheat sheet rounds up the essentials, from configuration settings to the key commands for managing the Terraform directory.Continue Reading

• Get the right components for your home lab VM

  Home lab VM setups are helpful to test technology and build VM management skills. Be sure to evaluate RAM, CPU, network speeds and management software for a successful deployment.Continue Reading

• 7 infrastructure as code books for IT pros to dig into

  Need some reading material? Check out these books on infrastructure as code -- and popular IaC tools -- to pick up some new skills on the IT management practice.Continue Reading

• A beginner's guide to a multistage Docker build

  Multistage builds help you manage Dockerfile size during container proliferation. Get the process right with the necessary guidelines and ideal use cases.Continue Reading

• Tips to launch VirtualBox nested virtualization

  Nested VMs make it easy to expand VM capacity without additional hardware. Take a look at the process to avoid any major issues and get these VMs up and running.Continue Reading

• Don't limit observability to 3 pillars

  Logs, metrics and tracing are the pillars of observability but fall short in system health comprehension. Learn why data source tracking gives better insight into your environment.Continue Reading

• Easily transfer VMs to the cloud with Microsoft Azure Migrate

  It takes time to plan, assess and set up a VM migration. Microsoft's Azure Migrate gives you a central dashboard to efficiently get your VMware and Hyper-V VMs into the cloud.Continue Reading

• Run servers from anywhere with Hyper-V remote management

  Microsoft's Hyper-V Manager makes it easy to set up remote options and standardizes hypervisor resource allocation and deployments.Continue Reading

• chaos engineering

  Chaos engineering is the process of testing a distributed computing system to ensure that it can withstand unexpected disruptions.Continue Reading

• 9 advanced IT certifications for operations experts

  To be an IT expert requires dedication to the ever-changing technology and processes. Here's a list of certifications to demonstrate that skill and experience.Continue Reading

• Build self-healing IT systems for data resilience

  With an autonomous approach to system infrastructure, companies can save time and costs. Learn why IT admins should adopt this type of automation and how to implement it.Continue Reading

• Use AWS Glue workflows to convert semistructured data

  New to AWS Glue? Learn about the tool and how to incorporate it into DevOps workflows with examples that look at data transformation and machine learning.Continue Reading

• zero-touch provisioning (ZTP)

  Zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) is a method of setting up devices that automatically configures the device using a switch feature.Continue Reading

• How to build a CI/CD pipeline -- with examples

  Ready to set up a CI/CD pipeline? Follow these general steps, with guidance toward specific examples depending upon your own specific needs and resources.Continue Reading

• Learn Docker best practices with this interactive book

  The author of The Docker Workshop, Vincent Sesto, discusses Docker's ingenuity and gives tips to IT admins on the leading container creation technology in this Q&A.Continue Reading

• How to auto scale Kubernetes pods for microservices

  In Kubernetes, autoscaling prevents over provisioning resources for microservices running in a cluster. Follow this tutorial to set up horizontal and vertical scaling.Continue Reading

• Combine PowerShell and Docker to simplify testing across OSes

  Run PowerShell scripts in Docker containers to manage multiple environments from the same system. Follow this tutorial to see how to test Linux environments with a Windows host OS.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes basics: A step-by-step implementation tutorial

  This Kubernetes implementation example demonstrates how to create a single-node cluster on Windows 10 to get a containerized application up and running.Continue Reading

• Master containerized microservices monitoring

  Before IT teams can enjoy the benefits that containers and microservices bring, they must tackle several monitoring hurdles first.Continue Reading

• Try out this GitOps tutorial with Flux and Kubernetes

  Learn how to implement GitOps with Kubernetes workloads. See the benefits of this approach and follow this Flux tutorial to get started.Continue Reading

• Tackle Kubernetes observability with the right metrics

  Observability is a natural extension of IT monitoring -- and container environments only get more complicated. Use the right metrics for the greatest return.Continue Reading

• The keys to an efficient help desk staffing model

  Hiring skilled staff alone to fill help desk roles is not enough to improve workflows. Learn how to unlock a help desk's full potential with these tips.Continue Reading

• Prepare for successful container adoption with these tips

  Enterprises all over the world are making containerized applications a central focus. Learn why your IT organization should be next, and how to prepare.Continue Reading

• 8 certifications and courses for admins, DevOps and IT ops pros

  With a few years of experience now on your resume, it's time to boost or validate those skills you've gained. Explore these courses and certifications for one that fits your goals.Continue Reading

• How to perform a Hyper-V to VMware migration

  Before you migrate from Hyper-V to VMware, you should take a comprehensive inventory, set an agreed-upon schedule and communicate the potential effects to all relevant parties.Continue Reading

• How to find the best server virtualization management software

  Choosing the right server virtualization management software is critical to meeting your organization's current and future needs.Continue Reading

• 5 prerequisites for applying AI to an ops environment

  For organizations that want to apply AI to their ops environments, IT teams must precede the starting line with an understanding of what AI can do -- and what they want from it.Continue Reading

• Docker security checklists mitigate container cyberthreats

  To improve container security, admins can use a Docker security checklist and combat common vulnerabilities, such as gain privileges and corrupt Docker images.Continue Reading

• Use Amazon EMR with Apache Airflow to simplify processes

  Explore Amazon EMR, looking at use cases such as MapReduce and integration with Hadoop. Then, see how it works with Apache Airflow and learn how to get started.Continue Reading

• 5 AIOps skills to add to your DevOps resume

  Organizations use AIOps to address complexity, but these tools don't exist in a vacuum. See the top skills needed to successfully implement them.Continue Reading

• 4 monitoring and alerting best practices for IT ops

  Monitoring is vital in modern IT environments, but the variety of metrics to track can swiftly overtake admins' capacity -- and sanity.Continue Reading

• Get to know Oracle VM VirtualBox 6.1 and learn to install it

  Oracle VM VirtualBox offers a host of appealing features, such as multigeneration branched snapshots and guest multiprocessing.Continue Reading

• What is SRE in DevOps and how do they work together?

  Site reliability engineering and DevOps share a close relationship -- but it's not always clear what, exactly, that relationship is. Walk through the basics of SRE, and its place in DevOps methodologies.Continue Reading

• A day in the life: What does a site reliability engineer do?

  Site reliability engineering is still a relatively new job role, and it's challenging to get a clear picture of the day to day. Learn what one SRE's role looks like with this profile.Continue Reading

• 4 Docker security best practices to minimize container risks

  Without the right tools and processes in place, Docker security can feel like a moving target. Use these four practices -- related to container images, hosts and more -- to keep deployments safe.Continue Reading

• Run Kubernetes at the edge with these K8s distributions

  The idea of edge computing is not as far off as it once was. Evaluate several ways to bring Kubernetes to the edge, and when an organization should use each approach.Continue Reading

• An overview of Apache Airflow for workflow management

  This introductory look at Apache Airflow walks through some of the basics of the workflow management tool -- from installation steps to its various GUI options.Continue Reading

• Check out this Docker Compose tutorial for beginners

  IT admins tasked with running multi-container applications can use this Docker Compose tutorial -- which also features Redis -- to get started.Continue Reading

• How and why to create an SRE error budget

  No IT service is completely immune to disruption. A realistic error budget is a powerful way to set up a service for success.Continue Reading

• 11 certifications for entry-level IT operations roles

  Looking to start a career in IT operations? Check out these courses and certifications for beginners to gather all the foundational skills you'll need.Continue Reading

• Infrastructure as code principles: How IaC works and how to use it

  What are the most important things to know about infrastructure as code if you're going to implement it? Follow these guidelines to build a solid IaC foundation.Continue Reading

• The evolution and history of software configuration management

  IT and software configuration management challenge tech professionals. It's been that way for decades, and best practices continue to evolve.Continue Reading

• These IT automation scripts take little effort and save a lot of work

  Doing some IT tasks by hand is doing them wrong. Whether to provision components, research an issue or report on performance, IT automation scripts are powerful and easy to write.Continue Reading

• A production deployment checklist for enterprise apps

  The more complex an app gets, the more complex production deployment becomes. Split the process into these nine areas to streamline team communication and tasks.Continue Reading

• How to use Slack and Fluentd to demonstrate social output

  Phil Wilkins provides step-by-step instructions on how DevOps teams can enable Slack to capture log events from the open source data collection tool Fluentd.Continue Reading

• Automate these DevOps tasks for maximum productivity

  DevOps is hard work, but only upfront. The goal -- once teams build a pipeline and set up automation -- is to stand aside and watch the builds flow through.Continue Reading

• Write a software deployment plan under these guidelines

  A successful and comprehensive software deployment plan includes many moving pieces. But don't panic -- here are the key aspects to consider.Continue Reading

• Use Docker and Alpine Linux to build lightweight containers

  Alpine Linux won't always be the right OS choice for IT teams, but it's an option worth consideration when lightweight container images are the goal.Continue Reading

• KubeCon 2020 preview: Session guide for fine-tuning Kubernetes

  Hosted as a low-cost virtual event, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2020 offers a broad array of technical sessions that can help you scale and improve Kubernetes deployments.Continue Reading

• KubeCon 2020 preview: Session guide for Kubernetes professionals

  The virtual format of KubeCon 2020 means Kubernetes adopters can learn from their peers and take in expert presentations on Kubernetes and related technologies.Continue Reading

• KubeCon 2020 preview: Session guide for Kubernetes beginners

  Want expert advice to kick off a container and Kubernetes implementation at your company? Many of the sessions at KubeCon North America are made for you.Continue Reading

• Manage Kubernetes pods and nodes with these native features

  In Kubernetes, pod management requires familiarity with the platform's native features. From Services and Jobs to taints and tolerations, learn how they help direct deployments.Continue Reading

• Infrastructure as code examples for DevOps, cloud deployments

  Administrators can use infrastructure as code to consistently manage a distributed set of resources. Follow these four examples to get started, and explore common IaC tool choices.Continue Reading

• How to start DevOps: A step-by-step guide

  DevOps can be a grand departure from an IT organization's status quo. Follow these seven basic steps for a phased transition that staff will champion.Continue Reading

• Build and deploy a microservice with Kubernetes

  Ready to run microservices in production? Follow along to create a containerized microservice and deploy it on Kubernetes in this step-by-step tutorial.Continue Reading

• Ways to use feature flags in DevOps

  What's in a name? Whether you call them feature flags or toggles, this approach benefits enterprise IT all the same. Learn the basics and see how to apply them to DevOps.Continue Reading

• Build a DevOps culture using these key principles

  Is your organization ready to adopt DevOps practices? There's a lot to it, so don't try to accomplish everything all at once. Start with these key ideas.Continue Reading

• 5 DevSecOps best practices to prioritize

  Successful DevSecOps isn't just about secure code -- it's securing the flows of data through code, methods and tools. Review these five security tips to button up your DevOps work.Continue Reading

• Evolving DevOps roles demand Kubernetes, CI/CD skills

  The rapid rate of change in IT coupled with the newness of many DevOps practices and technologies creates barriers for those who seek a career in DevOps. These skills can open the door.Continue Reading

• How to approach IT logging in the cloud vs. on premises

  IT organizations must monitor cloud infrastructure and apps with a process that's different than they're used to for on-premises environments. Learn how to do cloud logging here.Continue Reading

• DevOps as a Service

  DevOps as a Service is a delivery model for a set of tools that facilitates collaboration between an organization's software development team and the operations team.Continue Reading

• 16 DevOps books to level up your skills

  Is your organization and IT staff ready to tackle DevOps, from culture to strategies and toolchains? Start with these 16 books from learning DevOps basics to fine-tuning specific DevOps skills and practices.Continue Reading

• Top 15 DevOps blogs to read and follow

  The DevOps community is big, but here are some of the top DevOps blogs to read that cover everything from tips for beginners, the latest news and how-tos.Continue Reading

• Get started with Docker Bench for Security

  Common vulnerabilities in OSes and configuration files can plague Docker hosts. Learn how to set up Docker Bench for Security and use the open source tool to fortify hosts against threats.Continue Reading

• Just what can AI in IT operations accomplish?

  How should the 'AI' in 'AIOps' work? The idea is for it to identify and solve problems in ways similar to how the human mind would -- except faster and without prompting.Continue Reading

• Try out an Ansible dry run in under 5 minutes

  Learn how the dry run tests Ansible configurations without making any accidental changes to the IT environment. This tutorial covers the steps in less time than it takes to make coffee.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes performance testing tutorial: Load test a cluster

  Follow along step by step to run Kubernetes performance tests with Metrics Server and Horizontal Pod Autoscaler. This tutorial works for cloud-, data center- or locally hosted clusters.Continue Reading

• A beginner's guide to hosted and bare-metal virtualization

  Choosing a virtualization approach isn't a matter of competition. Admins must consider their personal use cases to determine which hypervisor type suits their needs.Continue Reading

• How to build a successful IT service desk

  The IT service desk has a lot to manage. With a strong foundation and the right steps in place to handle issues, it can take on anything users throw at it.Continue Reading

• Use Pulumi and Azure DevOps to deploy infrastructure as code

  Follow this tutorial for an overview of Pulumi, an IaC tool, within the Azure DevOps toolchain, and how to use them together to define, build, test and deploy infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Memory management techniques improve system performance

  Prior to using memory management strategies, admins should familiarize themselves with approaches to ensure they implement techniques suited to their specific circumstances.Continue Reading

• Incident communication best practices for happier users

  Proper communication around an IT outage or incident can prevent chaos. Use these techniques -- at home and abroad -- to keep users well-informed.Continue Reading

• How Kubernetes enhances DevOps practices

  Kubernetes isn't necessary for DevOps, and you don't need a DevOps team to adopt Kubernetes container management. But, here are all the ways that these two are better together.Continue Reading