Containers and virtualization
Containerization software is taking over across the IT industry as the new favored IT infrastructure, as it enables high-speed and high-efficiency platform and software performance. Learn about the technology, its leading tools and how to use it from experts.
Top Stories
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Tip
18 Apr 2025
Try these strategies to modernize Windows workloads
Legacy applications create tough choices for admins who must balance business needs and security. This article covers these challenges and modernization strategies. Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2025
Google Gemini 2.5 Pro extends on-prem GenAI support
Google Gemini is the first proprietary frontier model that can be run on-premises via Google Distributed Cloud for privacy- and cost-conscious enterprises. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2020
Understand the pros and cons of the IBM PowerVM
IBM's enterprise virtualization product, PowerVM, offers a host of benefits, but it also comes with challenges that admins should familiarize themselves with prior to implementation. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Aug 2020
5 leading data virtualization tools offer integration strategy
Learn which features and capabilities your organization should consider in order to select the data virtualization platform that will best fits its needs. Continue Reading
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News
13 Aug 2020
Infrastructure-as-code upstart boosts Kubernetes deployment
Pulumi has expanded its integrations with Kubernetes deployment tools including OPA, Helm v3 and Kustomize, offering a central collaboration point for DevOps container management. Continue Reading
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News
05 Aug 2020
Microsoft unveils Open Service Mesh, vows donation to CNCF
Microsoft pledged to donate its service mesh to the CNCF in a stab at Istio, setting the stage for potential vendor collaboration around multi-cloud interoperability standards. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Aug 2020
What is a Docker container vs. an image?
Docker images, Dockerfiles and containers are all instrumental in a Docker setup. Learn what tasks each component completes and how they interact with each other to run applications. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Jul 2020
How to make the right HCI deployment decisions
Hyper-converged infrastructures pose different challenges depending on the deployment method. Software might not offer as much support, while choosing hardware risks vendor lock-in. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jul 2020
How persistent container storage works -- and why it matters
Persistent storage retains data when a device is shut off. And for containers -- inherently stateless and ephemeral -- this type of storage is critical for deployments. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jul 2020
Google's OUC play muddies Istio service mesh outlook
Google surprised even major partners with the transfer of Istio's trademark to a new organization it launched last week, leaving some key governance details undefined. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jul 2020
Essential serverless concepts to master before deployment
Serverless computing can be incredibly beneficial -- but easily misunderstood. Before adoption, have a clear understanding of proper use cases and app design principles. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jul 2020
An overview of Knative use cases, benefits and challenges
Knative might be more complex than a serverless platform in the public cloud, but for IT shops already committed to Kubernetes and microservices, it could be worth the leap. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jul 2020
Enable AMD-V in BIOS to remediate error codes
If admins are experiencing error codes due to AMD-V being disabled, they can easily remediate this issue by entering BIOS and reenabling the virtualization extension. Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2020
Kubernetes complicates Cloud Foundry platform development
The Cloud Foundry community has begun to port its developer interface onto Kubernetes infrastructure, but there are multiple approaches to sort out amid the transition. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jun 2020
CPU vs. microprocessor: What are the differences?
CPUs and microprocessors can execute many of the same tasks, such as arithmetic and I/O processing. However, there are some tasks CPUs can't execute effectively. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jun 2020
4 FAQs to better understand a paravirtualization interface
Admins are using paravirtualization because of its ability to improve system performance and reduce virtualization overhead, but its challenges can cause issues for some. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2020
HashiCorp Consul 1.8 aims to smooth service mesh transition
HashiCorp Consul users are mulling how to extend service discovery into service mesh. The vendor has added gateway support to ease this transition. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jun 2020
Why -- and how -- to use Docker image tags
Version control is a critical part of software development and deployment. IT teams can use Docker tags to better manage and organize container images. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
10 Jun 2020
How to use Clair to scan Docker images
Container vulnerabilities open the door to security issues and cascading failures across an IT environment. Use this Clair tutorial to scan for compromised Docker container images. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 May 2020
Learn Kubernetes step by step with this interactive book
SearchITOperations spoke with author Zach Arnold about what IT pros can expect from The Kubernetes Workshop, an interactive book that progressively builds readers' knowledge of container orchestration. Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2020
IT pros clamor for Kubernetes multi-cloud deployment API
Enterprise IT pros who want a standard approach to Kubernetes multi-cloud deployment say the Cluster API project shows promise, but it needs work to be production-ready. Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2020
Linux kernel utility could solve Kubernetes networking woes
Linux kernel utility eBPF gets new life as a more effective means to scale Kubernetes networking than native Kubernetes tools, and in some cases, service mesh. Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2020
Fintech firms prove IT compliance via security automation
Security automation tools proved useful for two highly regulated fintech firms, that use them to protect cloud-native infrastructure and demonstrate their security to auditors. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 May 2020
Container auditing best practices for large-scale deployments
Container auditing and reporting are essential security and compliance measures in a production environment. Apply these practices to uncover abnormalities, control user access and choose the right tool. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 May 2020
Optimize Kubernetes cluster management with these 5 tips
Effective Kubernetes cluster management requires operations teams to balance pod and node deployments with performance and availability needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 May 2020
3 options to use Kubernetes and containers for edge computing
While every deployment is unique, these general guidelines can help IT teams determine whether -- and how -- to incorporate Kubernetes and containers into an edge computing strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 May 2020
Use a zero-trust model for container security in the cloud
Traditional firewalls just won't cut it when it comes to container security in the public cloud. Zero-trust models are a better approach, but they demand some careful upfront work. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 May 2020
Understand the differences in VM vs. container vs. serverless
VMs, containers and serverless computing provide organizations with application development flexibility, but they add management complexity. Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2020
VMware Tanzu beta project melds Cloud Foundry, Kubernetes
VMware Tanzu Application Service for Kubernetes, now in public beta, intrigues PKS users by combining Kubernetes infrastructure components behind a Cloud Foundry developer interface. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Apr 2020
How many Kubernetes nodes should be in a cluster?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer in terms of how many nodes should make up a Kubernetes cluster. Instead, that number varies based on specific workload requirements. Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2020
Red Hat OpenShift to inject IBM Kubernetes management IP
IBM and Red Hat have begun to blend both business priorities and software code, including a forthcoming multi-cluster Kubernetes management tool for OpenShift users. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2020
Top Docker best practices for container management
Many admins use Docker for container management, so they should explore best practices such as container backup procedures and exploring Dockerfile commands. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2020
5 free virtual appliances for data analysis, app creation
Virtual appliances can execute specific IT tasks, such as data analysis and application creation. There are several free offerings available, but admins must be wary of risks. Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2020
IT compliance-as-code tool makes Kubernetes security inroads
Open Policy Agent has turned heads among IT shops for Kubernetes compliance as code, and its commercial backer looks to capitalize on that momentum with new enterprise features. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Apr 2020
5 container security tools to safeguard apps, environments
Learn how five container security vendors monitor and protect container delivery and implementation, regardless of where the container sits in the application lifecycle. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2020
HashiCorp Consul service leads off post-funding roadmap
HashiCorp CEO David McJannet discusses the company's future, including a Consul managed service headed for public beta this week, overlap with Kubernetes and building a sustainable open source business. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Apr 2020
Kubernetes vs. VMware: Drive the choice with IT architecture
It isn't easy to classify Kubernetes as the superior product for managing VMs and containers compared to vSphere 7. The decision depends on how widely admins use containers. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Apr 2020
Evaluate 3 ways to run Kubernetes locally
A local Kubernetes deployment -- enabled by Minikube, MicroK8s or K3s -- is a great option to test code or simply learn the container orchestration technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Apr 2020
Improve container monitoring with these strategies and tools
Containerized infrastructure significantly expands the number of available metrics within an IT environment. Take a layered approach to container monitoring and lean heavily on automation. Continue Reading
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News
09 Apr 2020
HashiCorp Vault secrets manager ups Enterprise edition value
HashiCorp Vault 1.4 sweetens the deal for users of the paid Enterprise version, which had been subject to questions about differentiation from the free version in the past. Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2020
Foundation exec seeks Cloud Foundry vs. Kubernetes detente
New Cloud Foundry Foundation Executive Director Chip Childers plans to steer the community into the next phase of cooperation with Kubernetes, Knative, Istio and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Apr 2020
Consider the pros, cons of AI-based log analysis tools
Machine learning can help IT teams uncover new insights in system log files. But these advanced analytics capabilities, especially when achieved through on-premises tools, can be costly. Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2020
Rancher plots enterprise Kubernetes management takeover
Flush with funding, Rancher hopes to win deals away from major IT software vendors such as VMware as enterprises seek help with Kubernetes management. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Mar 2020
Kubectl commands and best practices for new Kubernetes users
Kubectl is a simple and powerful means to control containers in Kubernetes. But as with any CLI, it demands familiarity with available operations, resource types and associated syntax. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Mar 2020
VM networking best practices to boost network performance
Admins who familiarize themselves with VM network switches and activity can better understand issues and employ best practices to mitigate lackluster network performance. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Mar 2020
Micro VM vendors to evaluate for your isolation, security needs
Amazon, HP, Qubes OS and Authentic8 provide micro VM-based technologies that help increase VM security through isolation techniques, but use varying hypervisors and OSes. Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2020
AWS Bottlerocket container OS locks down hosts
AWS Bottlerocket puts the cloud giant's spin on the container OS, and container host security, but the company will have to overcome a generally poor reputation in the open source world. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Mar 2020
Dig into Kubernetes pod deployment for optimal container use
Improve your Kubernetes deployment strategy with balanced application hosting and sound pod-to-nodes mapping. Learn the ins and outs of resource pools and Kubernetes communication. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Mar 2020
Container training can help admins stay relevant
IT admins might be good at managing IT systems -- until those systems are replaced with newer technologies. One way to keep pace with the changes is to learn container skills. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Mar 2020
How to approach Kubernetes multi-tenancy for resource isolation
Multi-tenancy in Kubernetes can partition IT resources and operations, but it can be tricky to determine just how much isolation is necessary. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2020
Top 5 container software trends to watch in 2020
Container software, namely Kubernetes, has become a staple of modern enterprise IT infrastructure -- here's what's coming next for the technology in 2020 and beyond. Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2020
Kubernetes edge computing takes shape on container frontier
Kubernetes at the edge has emerged as an early stage trend among enterprises that want to push the boundaries of software automation. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2020
Optimize Docker images for improved efficiency and security
There are several ways -- ranging from Dockerfile adjustments to vulnerability scans -- that IT teams can ensure their Docker images are both efficient and secure. Continue Reading
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News
27 Feb 2020
VMware security for Cloud Foundation ties to Carbon Black
The new VMware Advanced Security for Cloud Foundation binds the company's security offerings with other key VMware offerings such as Carbon Black and NSX. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Feb 2020
GPU virtualization eases system workloads, boosts efficiency
Virtual GPUs help boost data center efficiency and provide a better user experience, but admins must determine whether their workloads justify implementing the technology. Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2020
Mirantis marshals reinforcements for Kubernetes management
Mirantis adds engineering staff and revives Docker Swarm as it plans to do battle in container orchestration against Red Hat, Pivotal and Docker itself. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Feb 2020
Cloud, Linux vendors cash in on KVM-based virtualization
Vendors such as Red Hat and Google provide products that rely on KVM technology, but picking the right vendor depends on admins' choice of OSes and cloud providers. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2020
Nvidia helps conceptualize VMware GPU virtualization
Nvidia and VMware announced a plan to bring vGPUs to VMware Cloud on AWS, which will provide customers with more options for implementing GPU-accelerated workloads. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2020
Ad firm gets Kubernetes management boost from Agile Stacks
With a small staff of engineers responsible for all of IT, a digital advertising firm needed help to smooth out the learning curve as it migrated from Mesosphere to Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2020
Retail software firm takes broad view of Kubernetes security
Kubernetes platform security has supplanted container-level security for enterprises such as retail software vendor Aptos as they deploy microservices in production. Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2020
Dynatrace deepens AIOps ties with Kubernetes monitoring
Dynatrace has expanded the number of metrics it can feed into its Davis AIOps engine from Kubernetes infrastructure, thereby enhancing autoremediation features for container workloads. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Feb 2020
Emerging tools to help create virtualized test environments
Tools from Parasoft, HyperQube and CloudShell let admins virtualize their test environments, but admins should exercise caution as product direction and design continue to evolve. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2020
VMware licensing change limits CPUs to 32 cores
VMware moved its per-CPU licensing plan closer to competitors' per-core licensing plans by requiring one license for CPUs with 32 cores. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jan 2020
Edge virtualization manages the data deluge, but can be complex
Virtualizing at the edge introduces device management benefits to admins, but they must ensure edge computing is worth the time and effort. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2020
Ensure Kubernetes high availability with master node planning
Kubernetes ensures high availability in its worker nodes, but for a mission-critical workload, IT teams should take these extra steps for redundancy in the master node components. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2020
Increase data center efficiency with the NSX-T load balancer
When creating a load balancer, the NSX-T Data Center software is a likely contender, but you must have the necessary NSX-T components, such as tier 0 and tier 1 routers, before beginning. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Jan 2020
ICYMI: Kubernetes ecosystem updates IT teams should know
Need to catch up on some recent developments within the Kubernetes vendor and tool ecosystem? This roundup of articles can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jan 2020
Kubernetes taints and tolerations optimize pod-to-node mapping
In complex Kubernetes environments, admins must navigate pod-to-node mapping carefully. Try using taints and tolerations -- but be sure to closely oversee the process. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
Use multiple Dockerfiles for complex application configuration
Dockerfiles can help with application configurations, but there are some questions you must consider, such as how many Dockerfiles each application requires. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2020
Kubernetes security gets an assist with bug bounty program
The Kubernetes Security Product Group will outsource bug triage to HackerOne under a new bug bounty program that will offer rewards for bug reports up to $10,000. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2019
Top 10 virtualization strategies of 2019
As virtualization technology continues to advance, admins must use different strategies to manage their complex data centers, such as vCenter maps, hybrid cloud and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Dec 2019
Four must-haves in Kubernetes security best practices
When it comes to Kubernetes security, IT teams must look beyond their containerized workloads, and consider code and cloud infrastructure as well. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Dec 2019
Kubernetes networking explained: Start with these building blocks
To understand Kubernetes networking, admins must first master the core components of the container orchestration platform. Then, they need to map deployments to the right virtual networking model. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2019
Review top container deployment and management tips from 2019
Check out our top advice for container technology throughout 2019 -- and use it to shape your 2020 plans. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
18 Dec 2019
Use this Kubernetes and Helm tutorial to simplify app deployments
Helm charts are a helpful tool to deploy applications onto Kubernetes clusters. Follow this tutorial, which also features Windows and Chocolatey, to get started with the package manager. Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2019
New Kubernetes security tools abound as container deployments grow
As Kubernetes use expands in production, enterprises have a number of IT security tools to choose from for centralized, policy-based control over container clusters. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Dec 2019
Private cloud security risks and how to prevent them
Admins that rely on private clouds should not be drawn into a false sense of security. Outdated VM images, rogue admins and possible data loss are real security risks for private clouds. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Dec 2019
Compare Red Hat OpenShift vs. Cloud Foundry in a Kubernetes faceoff
Looking for a container ecosystem platform? OpenShift and Cloud Foundry have similar roots as PaaS platforms, but this comparison identifies a clear winner for most organizations. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2019
Virtualization challenges that negatively affect your systems
Virtualization provides lower costs and improved productivity, but these benefits can be offset by certain challenges, such as unresponsive VMs and VM network latency. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2019
Get to know the Kaspersky Light Agent app for virtual systems
Kaspersky's Security for Virtualization Light Agent application provides multilayered protection for virtual servers and VDIs as well as their VMs and OSes across multiple hosts. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Dec 2019
Rising use of Kubernetes in production brings new IT demands
Kubernetes as an enterprise IT service is still in its infancy, but the market has reached a turning point from developer-maintained to IT-provided Kubernetes deployments. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2019
Learn to integrate VMs and containers in your data center
The VMs vs. containers debate is popular among admins, but integrations of the two technologies have begun to emerge with the help of tools such as Kata Containers and Virtlet. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Dec 2019
Dockerfile commands for containerizing applications
Admins can use Dockerfiles to containerize their applications and ease deployment. They can implement several commands to help them do so successfully. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Nov 2019
Decipher real-world AIOps use cases from the hype
There are many AIOps use cases that apply to enterprise IT, but make sure you are familiar with what exactly the technology can -- and can't -- do before adoption. Continue Reading
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Video
26 Nov 2019
Kubernetes explained in 5 minutes
Kubernetes brings order to enterprise container deployments -- but it's a complex technology to learn. Use this video to grasp core Kubernetes concepts in under 10 minutes. Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2019
Kubernetes release gets little fanfare as IT looks toward GitOps
Kubernetes is considered stable enough to be boring. The latest beta release was barely mentioned at KubeCon, where IT pros focused on advanced uses such as GitOps and other cloud-native projects. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2019
Linkerd vs. Istio battle heats up as service mesh gains steam
Service mesh has gone from a relatively unknown entity to a mainstream topic in 2019, but it's too early to declare a TKO in the Linkerd vs. Istio prizefight. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2019
Kubernetes Helm Tiller is dead, and IT pros rejoice
The latest version of the Kubernetes Helm package manager promises better security and stability in version 3, which removes the Tiller server component from Helm's architecture. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Nov 2019
Decide between SAN vs. hyper-converged for your virtual storage
Shared storage provides admins with virtual storage benefits such as storage migration, high availability and redundancy. But the right storage option depends on cost and performance. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Nov 2019
Design your systems with virtualization architecture in mind
Virtualized systems require several architectural components, such as virtual servers, hypervisors and OSes. Admins should get to know these components for a successful system design. Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2019
D2iQ latest to seek Kubernetes management niche
D2iQ's CTO says it will use its enterprise experience with Apache Mesos container orchestration and big data apps such as Kafka to compete in a crowded market for Kubernetes management. Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2019
Docker Enterprise spun off to Mirantis, company restructures
In an unexpected move, Docker sells off its Docker Enterprise business -- including customer support -- to Mirantis and refocuses on Docker Hub and Docker Desktop. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Nov 2019
Compare 3 distinct types of Kubernetes platforms
There are three types of Kubernetes deployment options, each with its own benefits and challenges. Use this in-depth comparison to choose the best fit for your organization. Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2019
Aqua Security buys CloudSploit, expands into cloud security
Amid consolidation and chaos in the cloud security market, Aqua snaps up CloudSploit and sets the stage for increased competition with traditional IT security vendors. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Nov 2019
5 steps to evaluate and perform a service mesh implementation
Service mesh adoption is a long process that starts with careful evaluation of the technology and its deployment models. And that requires the involvement of both IT ops and dev teams. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2019
Microservices security calls for zero-trust, data classification
Sanity in a zero-trust world for microservices security calls for IT teams to prioritize the assets they must protect, and that starts with data classification. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Nov 2019
3 Kubernetes platforms for your application needs
Admins must consider their application needs when choosing a container strategy and decide between a full PaaS offering built on containers or a fully compliant Kubernetes service. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2019
Understand how to orchestrate Windows containers with Kubernetes
Before you orchestrate your Windows containers with Kubernetes, you must install Windows Server 1809 or later and meet several other requirements. Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Nov 2019
The true private cloud debate: Do labels matter?
The debate around authentic private clouds continues as more organizations adopt the model, but labels might not matter in the end. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Nov 2019
Adopt an SDDC architecture with caution and proper planning
Software-defined components such as networking and storage help achieve data center flexibility, but organizations might come across product and security issues. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Oct 2019
Edge virtualization tools make strides in the edge market
Vendors are cashing in on edge computing popularity, and organizations are faced with an influx of new virtualization tools that help manage the computing paradigm. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Oct 2019
Convert a VM to a Docker image for speed and convenience
In this excerpt from Chapter 3 of 'Docker in Practice, Second Edition,' authors Ian Miell and Aidan Hobson Sayers discuss how and why to use Docker as a lightweight VM. Continue Reading