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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News
17 Sep 2024
IBM adds to FinOps arsenal as cloud competition winds change
IBM broadens its multi-cloud and hybrid cloud FinOps support with its acquisition of Kubecost, as its AI infrastructure strategy diverges from VMware's under Broadcom. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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Tutorial
13 Sep 2024
Getting started with Argo CD on Kubernetes
Argo CD can make managing Kubernetes clusters simpler and more efficient. Learn how to install Argo CD and set up an application to get started. Continue Reading
By- Matt Grasberger, Red Guava
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News
30 Mar 2018
Microservices management tools harmonize polyglot chaos
IT ops must replenish its toolkit to standardize infrastructure management and let developers experiment with the latest programming languages and application designs. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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News
30 Mar 2018
Monoliths-to-microservices move refactors IT ops skills
As enterprises seek speed and efficiency with microservices, IT ops pros must learn skills and consolidate tools to deal with increased infrastructure and application complexity. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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Guide
26 Mar 2018
Build the Kubernetes home lab that's right for your job
Kubernetes and the growing number of commercial container management tools based on it require specialized skills and experience from the application to the infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
26 Mar 2018
Follow this Minikube tutorial to brew up a Kubernetes home lab
Set up a Minikube home lab, and begin exploring Kubernetes container orchestration before the coffee in your mug turns cold. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
26 Mar 2018
Learn Kubernetes infrastructure in a personal lab
Live servers are not the place to build up Kubernetes skills. Instead, set up a Kubernetes cluster, and start experimenting with it on a laptop in a lab. Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2018
Kubernetes 1.10 release hits mature enterprise container market
Kubernetes 1.10 adds incremental feature updates, but enterprises will look to third-party products to integrate upstream code before they embrace it. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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Tip
15 Mar 2018
Plan ahead: Build a container network for scalability
Container connectivity is no small problem for enterprises with large Docker and Kubernetes deployments. Bring in tools designed to support the workload. Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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Tip
13 Mar 2018
Considerations for creating a VM for a development environment
Just because admins are working in a test/dev environment doesn't mean they can be lax about creating VMs. There are several items to consider, including licensing and compliance. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Mar 2018
Ten lessons for enterprises deploying containers
The majority of medium to large enterprises surveyed by EMA foresee containers replacing VMs in two to five years. Unsurprisingly, container management and shadow containers are pressing concerns. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Mar 2018
Six simple cloud security policies you need to know
Data protection takes center stage in modern IT. Step through this cloud security checklist to ensure your organization is covering all its bases. Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2018
Aqua Security 3.0 architecture supports AWS Fargate
Aqua Security's MicroEnforcer deployed without a sidecar container supports containers on public cloud services such as AWS Fargate and Azure Container Instances. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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Tip
07 Mar 2018
Azure Container Instances provide an opt-out option for cluster ops
Containers-as-a-service platform Azure Container Instances doesn't support clustering on its own, but features an open source connector tool for increased scalability. Continue Reading
By- Kurt Marko, MarkoInsights
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Feature
06 Mar 2018
The role of container management software in IT ops
Containers are a useful technology, but give some thought to how you'll manage them. Here's what to know about what's available and how to find the right fit. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Mar 2018
Integrate DevOps and containers with simple tool adjustments
Organizations with an established DevOps pipeline can migrate from VMs to containers without tossing out the entire toolstack. Focus on these steps to enable containers in production. Continue Reading
By- Kurt Marko, MarkoInsights
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News
28 Feb 2018
End of general support for vSphere 5.5 forces IT shops' hands
To position themselves for future needs and technologies, many vSphere 5.5 customers may have to move out of their comfort zones and upgrade to version 6.5. Continue Reading
By- Ed Scannell, Freelancer
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Opinion
27 Feb 2018
Can container tools box out configuration management?
What will happen to your infrastructure programming skills when containers take over? Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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News
23 Feb 2018
IT turns to VMware encryption for added VM security
Encryption features in recent vSphere and vSAN updates aim to balance security with simplicity and performance. For VMware shops, there is little standing in the way of adoption. Continue Reading
By- Nick Moore, Assistant Site Editor
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Opinion
22 Feb 2018
What's our future if we don't secure IoT devices?
When everything from the coffee maker to the manufacturing plant's robots to the electric grid is connected, shouldn't security be IT's primary concern? Continue Reading
By- Mike Matchett, Small World Big Data
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News
22 Feb 2018
Container security tools abound, but IT pros await big vendors
Container security startups peddle unique approaches, but while some early adopters jump on board with fledgling vendors, a majority will watch for industry consolidation first. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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Tip
21 Feb 2018
Nutanix Acropolis hypervisor components and capabilities
Nutanix hypervisor components, including controller VMs, and Prism, its management control plane, help simplify management. Learn more about how these components work together. Continue Reading
By - 20 Feb 2018
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Tip
15 Feb 2018
Hype for future of container development gets dose of reality
Realistic timelines have replaced the big promises of container disruption. Virtualization administrators should expect security and microservices features as the market matures. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2018
VMware NSX integration push ramps up to reinforce IT ties
With tighter integration between its NSX and its cloud and virtualization offerings, VMware aims to reinforce its networking chops with enterprise IT. Continue Reading
By- Ed Scannell, Freelancer
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Tip
14 Feb 2018
Preserve Hyper-V security from Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities
Protect Hyper-V VMs from Meltdown and Spectre security vulnerabilities, and install patches from Microsoft. Watch out for future revisions, performance impacts and recalls. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2018
Small business virtualization grows in mature market
Virtualization isn't only for large enterprises anymore. New technology at cheaper prices has made SMB virtualization practical, while increased competition has made it necessary. Continue Reading
By- Brian Kirsch, Milwaukee Area Technical College
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Feature
12 Feb 2018
Container adoption stats reveal a ramp up in production
There's a 50/50 chance your IT organization will provision and support container-based applications by 2020. See how organizations approach container deployment, including how much they need to spend. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Feb 2018
Follow these VM network configuration best practices
Set up and operate a VM network using proven strategies to ensure security and performance. With a little planning, virtualization admins can avoid potential issues down the road. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Answer
07 Feb 2018
Network security features available in a virtual switch
Virtual switch security is achieved through a number of features. Virtualization admins can create and enforce policies, lock down MAC addresses and block forged traffic from VMs. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Answer
06 Feb 2018
NIC teaming software enables load balancing and failover
Load balancing and failover capabilities help optimize performance and achieve resiliency in your virtual infrastructure. Learn how NIC teaming provides both functionalities. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Answer
05 Feb 2018
Navigate different network ports, from physical to virtual
Physical network ports, virtual network ports, uplink ports and group ports all have different functions in virtual infrastructures. Learn more with this in-depth breakdown. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Answer
02 Feb 2018
VM networking: Physical and virtual switches explained
In order for VMs to communicate, they must utilize VM networking technologies that enable them to emulate and access the existing physical network and provide additional features. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Tip
01 Feb 2018
Unikernels vs. containers: See the lightweight championship fight
The drive to minimize app hosting resources yielded unikernels and containers, the IT equivalent of a tiny house and apartment. Containing only the barest essentials, unikernels pose unique benefits and challenges. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2018
CoreOS acquisition burnishes Red Hat containers profile
Most IT shops don't deploy containers in production, but more might be enticed by the addition of CoreOS tools to Red Hat's OpenShift. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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News
26 Jan 2018
OpenShift on OpenStack aims to ease VM, container management
In this Q&A, Red Hat's Brian Gracely discusses managing a virtual environment that has both VMs and containers and how OpenShift on OpenStack can help. Continue Reading
By- Ryann Burnett, Executive Managing Editor
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Tip
24 Jan 2018
Container orchestration tools ease distributed system complexity
Containers simplify some aspects of enterprise apps, but the deployment process is no walk in the park. Orchestration tools bring standardization and automation to complex hosting scenarios. Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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Guide
24 Jan 2018
How to choose the best hardware for virtualization
Selecting the best hardware for virtualization is the foundation of maintaining or designing a robust, reliable and scalable data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2018
Ensure container monitoring and control via smart tooling
Don't try to stick with traditional monitoring tools when your organization matures to containers; they won't do enough. Seek out monitoring and management tools with targeted capabilities. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2018
Docker Enterprise Edition prospects mull vendor strategy
Uncertain about Docker's future business growth, some enterprise IT pros are on the fence about whether to invest in its container orchestration tools. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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News
12 Jan 2018
Container infrastructure a silver lining amid Intel CPU flaw fixes
Containers aren't immune to Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities, but they could lighten the operational burden of fixes for IT pros. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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Tip
10 Jan 2018
Address bulk VMM agent updates with PowerShell automation
The SCVMM agent upgrade process is a regular, but sometimes laborious, part of VM management. Use PowerShell to make light work of bulk updates through commands and loops. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Jan 2018
Make the case to follow a container strategy at your company
Sorting through container management software can be overwhelming. Determine what your organization actually needs in terms of security and cloud capabilities before leaping in. Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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Tip
23 Oct 2017
Container OS options abound: Make the right selection
There is an assortment of OSes that support containerized applications, so go into the decision with a set of wants, needs and must-avoids. Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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E-Zine
19 Oct 2017
The future of cloud computing looks foggy
The concept of cloud, while never sharply defined, may be growing even less clear. The intenet of things, for example, means more connected devices are showing up in more places, an unstoppable trend that will affect the future of cloud computing.
These edge devices and related functions further blur lines between what's cloud and what isn't. To be sure, there's a good reason these initiatives are often talked about as fog computing.
TechTarget contributor Alan Earls explores all this in the cover story of this issue of Modern Infrastructure. He speaks with experts and IT professionals about how edge and fog computing make a difference in how business is conducted. The ability to meaningfully process data as close as possible to the source is potentially powerful for certain types of organizations, though not an easy task to execute. Having both data and the capability to process it so widely distributed -- rather than collected and centralized -- is a shift in thinking. It's also an acknowledgement that the future of cloud computing is headed in some unexpected directions. IT infrastructures will need to adapt.
The cloud will be a key component in this evolution, a fact that may further stretch our understanding of what -- and where -- cloud computing is.
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Answer
05 Oct 2017
Paravirtualization advantages, disadvantages and use cases
Despite a promising start, paravirtualization comes with significant disadvantages that limit the number of use cases that make sense for enterprise IT, but it still has its place. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Definition
27 Sep 2017
Microsoft Nano Server
Microsoft Nano Server is a lightweight version of the Windows Server operating system that was introduced with Windows Server 2016 for use as an OS layer for virtualized container instances. Continue Reading
By- Katie Terrell Hanna
- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Definition
31 Aug 2017
Red Hat Atomic Host
Red Hat Atomic Host is a variant of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux supported, open source operating system, designed to be a minimal OS with optimizations for container hosting. Continue Reading
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Quiz
29 Aug 2017
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
By- Meredith Courtemanche, Director of Editorial Training
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News
16 Aug 2017
Docker-supported OS list expands with Enterprise Edition update
Docker Enterprise Edition fired back at Kubernetes with new support for mixed clusters and applications, as well as advanced security features that target large enterprises. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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Tip
29 Jun 2017
Should you run MySQL on VMs or physical machines?
Take stock of your current environment, including instance types, orchestration systems and storage devices, before deciding whether to deploy MySQL to VMs or physical machines. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
15 Jun 2017
The art of managing IT risk is never quite mastered
Risks abound, and no amount of preparation or caution will eliminate them entirely from our lives. This is as true now as it was in the past, and it likely will remain true in the future.
While technology enables us all to work more effectively and productively, the necessity of managing IT risk remains. Risk follows wherever we go -- from the data center to the cloud, from virtualized workloads to containers. Smart IT organizations are continuously assessing threats and then devising ways to minimize them. That's the goal, at least.
This issue of Modern Infrastructure examines some of the current approaches to managing IT risk, from maintaining security to handling costs.
In our cover story, TechTarget's Beth Pariseau writes about the particular challenges of container security. IT shops have been reluctant to put containers in production in large part because of the uncertainty about how secure they might be. Updates from Docker and more disciplined app development practices are making containers less risky, Pariseau writes. And there's reason to think that containers could be even more secure than VMs.
Getting comfortable with containers is a process not unlike how technology professionals learned how to safely use cloud services. It takes some time and effort, but managing IT risk can bring exciting and powerful new tools safely into the fold.
Continue Reading -
Opinion
15 Jun 2017
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
By- Mike Matchett, Small World Big Data
- 12 Jun 2017
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Tip
01 Jun 2017
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
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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Tip
04 May 2017
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
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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E-Zine
21 Apr 2017
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, you should know what you are getting. But what if you don't want what you're getting?
There are scenarios where a business seeks out the services of one of the specialty cloud infrastructure providers. These niche providers compete against behemoths such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform, but not by trying to match them service for service. Nor can they keep pace on price. Instead, these smaller providers focus on particular niches, trying to offer specialized services, customer care and flexibility that the hyperscale providers may struggle to furnish.
The cover story for this issue of Modern Infrastructure delves into the reasons a business might choose a niche player instead of one of the major cloud infrastructure providers. TechTarget's Kristin Knapp reports on how these situations arise and how businesses respond. The right fit, she finds, might not always be found in one of the expected places.
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Quiz
06 Apr 2017
How well do you know Docker components and services?
With Docker containers moving into more enterprise IT shops, it's imperative to grasp how the technology works. Test your knowledge of Docker components and services with this quiz. Continue Reading
By- Emily Mell, Former Site Editor
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E-Zine
17 Mar 2017
Staring down the security issues in cloud computing
Adoption of cloud computing has no doubt been slowed by worries about the security of those out-of-sight servers and resources. While reasonable, those worries have given way over time to acceptance and even optimism.
In this month's Modern Infrastructure cover story, TechTarget’s Trevor Jones writes about why security issues in cloud computing are not the impediment to adoption that they once were. In fact, some organizations are coming to the conclusion that their workloads run more securely in a public cloud than in an on-premises environment. Cloud service providers possess security expertise and experience at levels that aren’t as readily available on a typical IT staff, and certifications give confidence that providers can actually do all they claim to do.
The public cloud is not a risky place to do business, though its safeguards are different from those you've put in place to protect your own data center. These differences are most clearly seen when looking at the shared-responsibility model, which addresses many of the security issues in cloud computing. Users and providers must each do their part. Otherwise, the risks will become apparent, and cloud computing won't be what you need it to be.
This issue also looks at how a new wave of products in development brings memory and storage technologies closer together. Nonvolatile dual-inline memory modules, for example, combine the speed of memory with the persistent qualities of storage in some interesting ways. Also included is an article on how some IT shops that have adopted flash storage are simultaneously impressed and disappointed with the results. Costly flash products invariably improve performance, but they won't solve every problem or clear every bottleneck.
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Tip
10 Mar 2017
Shipyard floats a Docker GUI for easier container management
Deploying new Docker images is the easy part; managing and reporting on those instances is tricky. IT teams can use the Shipyard GUI to stop, start, orchestrate and manage Docker. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Mar 2017
Application support and maintenance add up to operational ALM
An application isn't fully grown when it moves from development to production -- it still needs nurturing to meet its full potential. Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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Tip
15 Feb 2017
Set up Docker container networking for real production workloads
A technology as old as data centers -- networking -- threatens to derail the next new thing. Smart networking choices make Docker container deployments functional and organized. Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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Opinion
01 Feb 2017
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
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Tip
15 Sep 2016
Secure Docker on Linux or Windows platforms
With Docker appearing in businesses of all shapes and sizes, security is a concern for many IT admins. Here's how to secure Docker on the container or the host machine. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Aug 2016
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
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Answer
05 Aug 2016
How is runtime as a service different from PaaS or IaaS?
What is runtime as a service and how does it differ from platform as a service and infrastructure as a service? Continue Reading
By- Chris Moyer, ACI Information Group
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Opinion
19 Jul 2016
The real future of IT infrastructure lies in abstraction
Future IT infrastructure will be so abstracted from the applications using it that, while always a misnomer, serverless computing will be a reality. Continue Reading
By- Keith Townsend, The CTO Advisor LLC
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News
01 Jul 2016
DevOps automation boosts Rosetta Stone's app delivery
The language learning company uses multiple tools to make its DevOps environment run smoothly, but Docker has been the key to streamlining application releases. Continue Reading
By- Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer
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E-Zine
16 Jun 2016
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 it's one that many originally thought would be OpenStack's death sentence -- containers.
A recent study from OpenStack's user survey showed that containers generated the most interest among the community, a sign that IT is ready to take the leap from virtualization to containers. OpenStack leaders say containers are the central piece to the underlying cloud framework that OpenStack lives on.
Meanwhile, data analytics continues to drive the next wave of IT ops tools by combining input from various platforms to create predictive information for the enterprise. So where does IT go from here? Read on to find out.
Continue Reading -
E-Zine
19 May 2016
Container orchestration for a new breed of IT
PaaS offerings such as Heroku, RedHat OpenShift and Cloud Foundry have always used containers under the covers, but as containers move toward production use outside of PaaS in the cloud, they're being deployed in clusters of server infrastructure that are orchestrated to automate the deployment of containers. So is container orchestration right for IT? Well, that depends.
Beth Pariseau's feature this month, 'A New Day for PaaS' analyzes the way IT views PaaS, and how it's evolving. On the other hand, IT pros must dish out reality every once in a while to the business side, and often 'live on the edge' according to Alan Earls. But life on the edge can be dangerous, and it isn't just a figurative turn of phrase anymore, it's a physical location.
Both these stories, and much more, including columns from Bob Plankers and Mike Matchett, and what enterprise IT is thinking about VMware in the May issue of Modern Infrastructure.
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Tip
31 Aug 2015
How CPU and memory affect application performance
Application performance will change depending on if you want more cores, better clock speed or what you choose for memory. Continue Reading
By- Brian Kirsch, Milwaukee Area Technical College
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Feature
18 Jun 2015
Five cons of container technology
Containers promise rapid scalability, flexibility and ease, but they're not right for every workload. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Feature
16 Jun 2015
Brace your infrastructure for a microservices approach
Before transitioning to microservices, it's crucial to consider the effects on your underlying infrastructure and network -- and to plan ahead. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Feb 2015
How virtualization can get you into software licensing trouble
Maintaining proper software licensing in virtual environments can be a challenge. Find a strategy to cope or you could find yourself out of compliance and in hot water. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Nov 2014
What does ‘software defined’ actually mean?
Software defined is a term used to describe a wide variety of products, but it’s often used to catch your attention rather than describe a product’s function Continue Reading
By- SearchServerVirtualization Advisory Board
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Tip
10 Jul 2014
Component cloud model powers agile application development
In the future, IT pros see cloud as a place to spin up applications to respond to problems on the fly. The component cloud model is just step one. Continue Reading
By- Tom Nolle, Andover Intel
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Podcast
16 May 2014
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
By- Nick Martin, Senior Director of Content Strategy and Member Engagement
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Answer
22 Jul 2013
Virtual security tactics for Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors
It's no surprise that Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors require different security considerations, but we asked an expert to clarify. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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Tip
13 Mar 2013
Optimal BIOS settings for server virtualization
The ideal mix of performance and reliability starts with learning which server BIOS settings you should configure for a virtualized system. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor
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News
28 Aug 2012
Best of VMworld 2012 awards
A panel of more than 10 industry experts selected the best technologies for TechTarget'’s Best of VMworld 2012 awards. And the winners are … Continue Reading
By- Bridget Botelho, Editorial Director, News
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Quiz
15 Feb 2010
Quiz: The basics of server virtualization
Take this quiz to find out how much you know about the basics of server virtualization. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Oct 2009
Host and guest virtual machine: Definitions
We explain the two components of a virtual machine -- the host and the guest -- in this installment of virtualization explained series. Continue Reading
By- Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor