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
-
Tip
01 Jun 2023
Manage complexity in Kubernetes with AI and machine learning
Learn how DevOps teams can enhance performance and observability in Kubernetes with AI and machine learning techniques. Evaluate pros, cons and use cases. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
30 May 2023
Manage IT infrastructure with NSX's multi-tenant features
VMware NSX now supports multi-tenancy, which can help admins manage complex IT environments. Explore what's new and get started with this step-by-step walkthrough. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Jun 2019
The history of Docker's climb in the container management market
When the concept of containers became stale, Docker brought containers back to the forefront by creating container management software, and the company continues to evolve. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Jun 2019
Reality strikes when enterprises deploy Kubernetes in production
It's easy to run containers with Kubernetes, but Kubernetes in production -- with enterprise security, monitoring and compliance demands -- is a different story. Continue Reading
-
News
20 Jun 2019
IT pros brace for wave of M&A in microservices security
Microservices and DevOps have made IT security a shared responsibility among enterprise stakeholders, and experts expect this shift to prompt mass consolidation among vendors. Continue Reading
-
Tip
20 Jun 2019
Deploy Microsoft IIS server, .NET apps in Windows containers
Instead of investing money in migrating your existing .NET applications to .NET Core to modernize them, deploy them in Windows containers with a simple script. Continue Reading
-
News
20 Jun 2019
Alaska Airlines charts course for DevOps security
As Alaska Airlines plots a flight path to a hybrid cloud infrastructure, it will navigate with an automated DevOps security tool that spans multiple IT environments. Continue Reading
-
Tip
18 Jun 2019
Apply AI to container monitoring and management -- piece by piece
While the application of AI to container monitoring and management is possible, it first requires certain operations practices and carefully integrated tool sets. Continue Reading
-
Video
12 Jun 2019
Build a GitOps pipeline with this Kubernetes, Jenkins X tutorial
Follow the steps outlined in this video tutorial to establish a GitOps deployment workflow with Google Kubernetes Engine, GitHub and Jenkins X. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Jun 2019
Automate declarative configuration management for IT ops success
AWS CloudFormation is one of the top options for configuration management -- but it isn't without flaws. Compare AWS to other tools to pick the best option for your organization. Continue Reading
-
News
31 May 2019
Palo Alto Networks buys Twistlock, PureSec for container security
Palo Alto Networks snaps up Twistlock and PureSec to broaden its cloud security portfolio and give enterprise IT shops more options for container and serverless security. Continue Reading
-
Tip
29 May 2019
8 common Docker commands beginners should know
IT professionals who are new to Docker can use this cheat sheet of common commands to quickly ramp up with container deployment and management basics. Continue Reading
-
Tip
23 May 2019
What is the Citrix vSwitch Controller and what does it do?
The vSwitch Controller provides admins with extensive visibility into the network environment, making it easier to optimize that environment and improve application performance. Continue Reading
-
News
21 May 2019
GKE, Azure roll out Windows Kubernetes support
Cloud service providers rolled out Windows Kubernetes support this week, which may take some of the burden of Linux container management requirements out of the hands of Microsoft-only shops. Continue Reading
-
Feature
17 May 2019
Managed container services face-off: Enterprise PKS vs. OpenShift
VMware Enterprise PKS and Red Hat OpenShift are two leading container platforms with many differences. Assess the technologies in terms of hybrid cloud support, tool ecosystems and more. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 May 2019
When to choose Hyper-V containers over VMs
There are different use cases for Hyper-V containers and VMs, but the most important thing to take into consideration when choosing between them is your application needs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 May 2019
Compare Mesos vs. Kubernetes for container federation
While Mesos dominates for large-scale deployments, Kubernetes is at the center of a flourishing ecosystem of tools. So, which one meets your container federation needs? Continue Reading
-
News
08 May 2019
OpenShift architecture bakes in CoreOS Operator automation
OpenShift 4.1 promises easier container management for IT ops pros, but getting there from OpenShift 3 could be tricky for enterprises with large deployments. Continue Reading
-
News
08 May 2019
OpenShift-Azure ties deepen as IT sets sights on multi-cloud
Enterprises will consider an OpenShift managed service on Azure as part of a multi-cloud strategy, but Kubernetes won't necessarily make workloads cloud-agnostic. Continue Reading
-
Tip
06 May 2019
Learn the ins and outs of Hyper-V containers
Hyper-V containers, which are secure and lightweight in nature, can be managed using the Docker command line or PowerShell and are best suited for stateless applications. Continue Reading
-
News
02 May 2019
Docker Enterprise pricing shake-up leaves unanswered questions
IT pros begin to evaluate the long-term budget implications of a significant change to the Docker Enterprise pricing scheme. Continue Reading
-
Tip
01 May 2019
How to save and reuse a Windows container image
With five simple steps, you can create a Windows container, save it as an image and reuse it to create new containers with the same configuration and settings. Continue Reading
-
Tip
29 Apr 2019
How to deploy a Docker container to the cloud
Docker is highly portable and widely available across all major cloud platforms, including AWS and Microsoft Azure, but it's important to properly plan your container deployment. Continue Reading
-
Tip
25 Apr 2019
Choose between 5 hosted hypervisors based on features, use cases
Hypervisors such as VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, VMware Horizon 7, Oracle VM VirtualBox and Parallels Desktop provide value to small data centers in different ways. Continue Reading
-
Tip
25 Apr 2019
Compare the top 5 bare-metal hypervisors
Hypervisors such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix Hypervisor, RHV and Oracle VM Server for x86 provide value to enterprise-level data centers in different ways. Continue Reading
-
Feature
24 Apr 2019
How to properly prep a container infrastructure
To deploy containers in production, an organization must put in place the appropriate infrastructure. Here are the specific steps to take to begin that process. Continue Reading
-
News
23 Apr 2019
Rancher's Kubernetes updates boost security, UI performance
Enterprise IT pros expect changes to Rancher's Kubernetes management tools to bolster security configuration and UI performance. Continue Reading
-
Feature
22 Apr 2019
Kubernetes underpins Docker container technology dominance
Given the ever-evolving nature of enterprise technology, some IT predictions just never come to be. Let's see how one particular forecast for Docker containers held up. Continue Reading
-
Feature
19 Apr 2019
4 types of virtualization IT admins should know
Server virtualization is a fact of life for most IT admins, but there are other types of virtualization -- network, storage, desktop and application -- that IT pros should know. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
19 Apr 2019
Test your Kubernetes terminology expertise with this quiz
Can you ace this quiz on Kubernetes architecture and component terminology? Assess your knowledge of these terms and whether you need to hit the books -- or online documentation. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Apr 2019
Manage Windows containers and Hyper-V containers with these tools
You can use a number of tools for Windows and Hyper-V container management, including Docker and PowerShell, depending on your experience and skill set. Continue Reading
-
Tip
15 Apr 2019
Evaluate key service mesh benefits and architecture limitations
Service mesh technologies can provide request routing, authentication and even health checks. IT organizations that handle container and microservices deployments should plan to maximize the benefits of service mesh, and address implementation concerns, before going all-in. Continue Reading
-
News
10 Apr 2019
Cloud Foundry PaaS undergoes seismic shifts as IT evolves
Cloud Foundry undergoes drastic changes as infrastructure automation technology develops, to the point where some industry experts see more erosion than evolution. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Apr 2019
AWS Firecracker microVMs provide isolation and agility
Firecracker aims to bridge the gap between VMs and containers with microVMs, which are secure, lightweight instance types for stateless workloads. Continue Reading
-
News
08 Apr 2019
Users forge ahead with Cloud Foundry-Kubernetes integration
Complementary roles for Cloud Foundry and Kubernetes are clear to IT pros, and the community plans to knit the two more closely together with the Eirini project. Continue Reading
-
Answer
03 Apr 2019
Evaluate these hyper-converged infrastructure features
There are six things you should consider when reviewing HCI platform features and functionality: optimizations, storage, hypervisors, management, expandability and integrations. Continue Reading
-
Answer
29 Mar 2019
How hyper-converged infrastructure benefits virtual workloads
Realize the many advantages that HCI offers, such as streamlined virtual resource management and enhanced security and compliance practices. Continue Reading
-
Answer
29 Mar 2019
Hyper-converged infrastructure explained
HCI breaks down traditional IT silos by bundling compute, storage, networking and virtualization, which helps to streamline resource provisioning and management. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Mar 2019
Don't count out IBM virtualization on the Z platform
A mainframe can house hundreds of thousands of VMs and a wide range of workloads. Also, IBM Z provides virtualization management via Dynamic Partition Manager and Wave for z/VM. Continue Reading
-
News
25 Mar 2019
Kubernetes for Windows hits GA, with limitations
Kubernetes support for Windows nodes was declared stable in Kubernetes 1.14, but extensive fine print remains. Continue Reading
-
News
22 Mar 2019
Kubernetes management for 'Minecraft' has enterprise IT traits
What do 'Minecraft' servers and enterprise databases have in common? In the realm of Kubernetes management, more than you might think. Continue Reading
-
Tip
22 Mar 2019
5 Windows network drivers supported by containers
NAT is the default network for container applications, but there are four other available drivers. Each container network driver poses some limitations and must be used carefully. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Mar 2019
Multi-hypervisor environments provide cost savings, flexibility
Adopting multiple hypervisors might make more sense than going with a single vendor, depending on cost, the types of workloads you run, and your performance and reliability needs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 Mar 2019
Bare-metal vs. VM container deployment considerations
Consider your performance requirements, portability needs and what level of isolation and security you want when deploying containers in your environment. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 Mar 2019
4 branch office server management best practices
Setting up a ROBO server involves specific hardware and software configuration considerations, such as ensuring redundancy and connectivity for remote management. Continue Reading
-
Tip
14 Mar 2019
Use PowerShell Docker to manage Windows container components
Take advantage of the PowerShell for Docker module to easily create and manage Windows containers in your environment with this step-by-step installation guide. Continue Reading
-
Feature
14 Mar 2019
Market evolves to address container security issues
Container use is gaining traction in virtual environments, but containers present unique security challenges that vendors and organizations must overcome. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Mar 2019
F5-Nginx deal reflects mainstream trend toward microservices
F5 snaps up Nginx for cloud-native app support, and analysts predict a microservices gold rush as modern application architectures catch on in enterprise IT shops. Continue Reading
-
Feature
13 Mar 2019
Container management tools must overcome limitations
As container adoption surges, the management tools organizations need to support these deployments at scale are still in their infancy. Continue Reading
-
Tip
08 Mar 2019
GitOps provides an answer for complicated IT deployments
Version control isn't a new concept in IT, but ops pros are applying it to distributed environments for declarative configuration management. Continue Reading
-
Tip
06 Mar 2019
How to configure Windows container networking
The default network setting for Windows containers is Network Address Translation, but you can also set up a transparent Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol or non-DHCP network. Continue Reading
-
News
05 Mar 2019
Container security tools turn heads with expansion to hosts
Vendors that sell container security tools now face off against traditional security tool providers, as both vie for the attention of IT pros who look to fortify their cloud-native infrastructure. Continue Reading
-
News
28 Feb 2019
Istio security drives Auto Trader UK move to GKE
The U.K.'s largest online automotive marketplace put Istio security features in place before it adopted containers and GKE, rather than the other way around. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Feb 2019
Compare the pros and cons of container management tools
From the ever-popular to the obscure, evaluate different container management options based on the user interface, documentation, ease of use, available features and integrations. Continue Reading
-
Tip
27 Feb 2019
What container management software features are important?
Because containers are easy to spin up, the infrastructure can quickly get out of hand. A tool that simplifies container management can help, if it provides certain capabilities. Continue Reading
-
News
26 Feb 2019
VMware PKS adds Heptio IP, boosts container street cred
VMware adds bare-metal Kubernetes and an elite support squad from Heptio, but it's unlikely to get widespread interest with bespoke container orchestration on premises. Continue Reading
-
Tip
25 Feb 2019
Where container infrastructure and management investments yield ROI
Containers are efficient and flexible, but these benefits can come with a hefty price tag. Ensure these elements are in the container budget to escape unexpected charges. Continue Reading
-
Tip
20 Feb 2019
Determine the cost of app customization in the cloud
Cloud applications are like icebergs: There's a lot users don't see below the surface. One apparently small change could have a massive ripple effect on operations. Continue Reading
-
Tip
15 Feb 2019
Major I/O virtualization vendors and technologies explained
Technologies that virtualize I/O components offer a number of additional capabilities, such as direct memory access remapping and network queuing for each VM. Continue Reading
-
News
14 Feb 2019
Container security tools pitch service mesh integrations
Container defense in depth is a hot topic, and some IT pros approach it with a combination of third-party container security tools and service mesh security features. Continue Reading
-
News
14 Feb 2019
Linkerd vs. Istio fray dominates service mesh battle
Linkerd's maintainers admit it has a narrower range of features than buzz machine Istio. But after failed attempts to set up Istio, some early adopters believe less is more. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Feb 2019
GPU virtualization evolves with new chip types on the horizon
GPU-makers Intel, AMD and Nvidia all provide virtualization support; the next step is to merge CPU and GPU functionality to handle both application and math/graphics-related tasks. Continue Reading
-
Tip
12 Feb 2019
Adjust IT team dynamics for a cloud-native approach
As enterprises set their cloud-native strategy, they'll need to navigate major changes -- both from a technical standpoint and in terms of IT team structure and management style. Continue Reading
-
News
11 Feb 2019
Container security vulnerability prompts call to patch runC
The discovery of a container utility flaw means IT pros must patch most container runtimes, as well as practice defense in depth and beware of strangers with sketchy container images. Continue Reading
-
News
08 Feb 2019
Rancher's Kubernetes multi-cluster app support fuels IT debate
To federate or not to federate cloud-native apps? As Kubernetes becomes ubiquitous, that is the question that more IT shops must answer. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 Feb 2019
Evaluate the Mesos architecture for massive container deployments
In addition to supporting large-scale IT deployments, Mesos takes a unique approach to data center and cloud resource pools that can benefit both containerized and noncontainerized apps. Continue Reading
-
Tip
04 Feb 2019
Evaluate remote office/branch office technology trends
Traditional data center technology, including SD-WANs, HCI, and virtual backup and disaster recovery devices, often supports remote and branch offices. Continue Reading
-
Tip
30 Jan 2019
How NFV architecture works
NFV enables organizations to virtualize operations and replace network equipment such as routers and switches. It's built on three components: VNFs, NFVI and the MANO framework. Continue Reading
-
Tip
25 Jan 2019
Get informed of the risks associated with docker.sock
Container security is a new area for many IT admins, and enterprise IT organizations can easily set up Docker in ways that compromise access control -- potentially exposing the host. Continue Reading
-
Tip
25 Jan 2019
How to configure a gMSA for Windows containers
You must start Windows containers with a CredentialSpec file and gMSA name to enable applications to use gMSA credentials in place of local system and network service accounts. Continue Reading
-
News
21 Jan 2019
VMware-Heptio roadmap to refine enterprise Kubernetes
Heptio founder Craig McLuckie, now VP of R&D at VMware following a 2018 merger, anticipates hard work ahead to get enterprises to adopt Kubernetes in their production environments. Continue Reading
-
News
17 Jan 2019
VMware and Pivotal put NSX spin on Kubernetes security
VMware and Pivotal mix NSX network segmentation into PKS 1.3 to appeal to large, advanced users of vSphere and Kubernetes who manage multi-tenant container clusters. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
14 Jan 2019
Control Docker containers with the Nginx load balancer
Docker is an efficient container platform, but it isn't perfect. Follow this Nginx load balancer tutorial to provide your container environment with high availability across multiple nodes. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Jan 2019
Enforce container ecosystem consistency in 4 steps
Lightweight apps are easy to containerize, but monoliths need more work. Expert admins can bring those heavyweight apps into the fold, whether they were made for containers or not. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Jan 2019
Use branch office servers to support infrastructure expansion
A remote office setup requires infrastructure that meets performance, cost and space demands. Depending on the vendor, a microserver will likely provide the best compromise. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Jan 2019
Kata Containers, gVisor offer more secure container strategies
Kata Containers and Google gVisor present different approaches to using VMs for container security. Evaluate their advantages to get insight into the future of container security. Continue Reading
-
Feature
28 Dec 2018
Major acquisitions, Kubernetes evolution top IT news in 2018
In the second half of 2018, IT industry vendors and their users worked to tame Kubernetes and containers, and inject open source innovation into tried-and-true enterprise IT. Continue Reading
-
Feature
26 Dec 2018
Bookmark 10 popular tips on containers and Kubernetes
Should we go with an open source or commercial option? What about DevOps? These 10 essential tips explain how containers fit into complex modern IT environments. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 Dec 2018
Hyper-V Integration Services and VMware Tools improve OSes
Hyper-V Integration Services and VMware Tools are similar utilities with a few small differences. One is that Hyper-V Integration Services supports fewer guests than VMware Tools. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
17 Dec 2018
Expect more container evolution, growth in 2019
Containerization shows no sign of winding down. With technologies, product options and providers focused on technological improvement, container ecosystems will develop rapidly in the coming year. Continue Reading
-
News
14 Dec 2018
Istio service mesh tradeoffs prompt caution among IT pros
Istio can boost the security and observability of Kubernetes environments, but some IT pros question whether the perks are worth a steep learning curve. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Dec 2018
Enterprise SREs guide devs through Kubernetes in production
Behind most enterprise developers that own and operate the services they create stands a platform engineering team that's teed up Kubernetes in its most manageable form. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Dec 2018
Kubernetes 1.13 stabilizes storage, but Windows GA delayed
IT pros with Kubernetes in production welcomed stable releases of cluster install and container storage utilities in version 1.13, but they'll have to wait for some key features. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Dec 2018
Manage large volumes of VM data with these storage tactics
Admins can effectively virtualize large servers with storage tiering and disk allocation, but they must be wary of potential IOPS and redundancy issues. Continue Reading
-
News
11 Dec 2018
Kubernetes security issues raise concerns for enterprise shops
As Kubernetes enters the enterprise mainstream, it has early adopters abuzz about security issues in the platform and the containers it orchestrates. Continue Reading
-
Feature
05 Dec 2018
Prepare for VM-to-cloud workload migration
Migrating VMs to the cloud can be relatively straightforward if you lay the groundwork to meet workload and vendor requirements. Follow these steps to prepare for the migration. Continue Reading
-
News
04 Dec 2018
Microsoft and Docker CNAB takes aim at distributed computing
Microsoft and Docker want to push container-like abstraction up the stack with the CNAB open source spec, which has piqued enterprise interest in its early stages. Continue Reading
-
News
04 Dec 2018
Kubernetes security vulnerability reveals fractured market
Enterprises that pay for Kubernetes support will respond differently to this week's critical security vulnerability than lean DevOps teams that use upstream distributions. Continue Reading
-
Feature
30 Nov 2018
Improve microservices management in operations with 5 tips
Distributed applications are the future of IT, thanks to their scalability and flexibility, but growth means growing pains. Tackle microservices issues with this expert advice. Continue Reading
-
News
30 Nov 2018
Istio service mesh vies for lead in microservices market
Istio's integration into Google Cloud will give it momentum, but service mesh competition remains fierce, as HashiCorp Consul makes strong inroads with early adopters. Continue Reading
-
Tip
30 Nov 2018
Meet data center compliance standards in hybrid deployments
Data center compliance is a moving target that shifts with standards and technologies. Don't get sidetracked by the complexity -- prioritize performance while maintaining compliance. Continue Reading
-
Answer
28 Nov 2018
Is read-only mode a viable approach to container hardening?
Can containers work in read-only mode, and how does this setup make a difference in security hardening? Continue Reading
-
Opinion
21 Nov 2018
What's next for VMs vs. containers as isolation, performance evolve?
With advances from Docker, Kubernetes and other container technologies, an ecosystem is emerging that threatens the existence -- or at least importance -- of VMs in enterprise IT orgs. Continue Reading
-
News
15 Nov 2018
Container security tools push multi-cloud closer to reality
Container security tools, such as StackRox and Aqua Security, offer DevOps shops that want multi-cloud portability a centralized way to reduce the risk of complex infrastructures. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Nov 2018
Docker on Windows Server helps legacy apps, with caveats
Windows-only Docker Enterprise Edition prospects struggle with Linux requirements and a shift to a container-first mindset as they plan to modernize legacy Microsoft applications. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
07 Nov 2018
Get started with your first Docker container build
Many admins have a purely theoretical understanding of containers -- despite the technology's seeming ubiquity. This tutorial offers container newbies the opportunity to get hands-on. Continue Reading
-
News
07 Nov 2018
Kubernetes on VMware gains a lifeline with Heptio acquisition
VMware's Heptio buy brings it Kubernetes chops that will help it make a multi-cloud bid, but it will struggle to raise its profile in open source container management, industry watchers predict. Continue Reading
-
News
30 Oct 2018
IBM Red Hat acquisition roils open source container management
IBM agreed to buy Red Hat with Kubernetes in mind for its multi-cloud management strategy, and it'll have far-reaching implications for the open source container management community, especially Cloud Foundry. Continue Reading
-
Feature
26 Oct 2018
3 virtualization infrastructure design rules to shape your deployment
Admins can improve virtual infrastructure design by focusing their deployments on transparency and flexibility and critically evaluating emerging technologies. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Oct 2018
Cloud and containers rewrite monitoring and management rulebooks
IT performance management is tricky when it stretches as big as the public cloud and scrunches as small as a microservice. IT ops techniques must change to keep up. Continue Reading
- 25 Oct 2018
- E-Zine 25 Oct 2018
