Distributed Application Architecture (Scale-Out Architecture) for IT
The distributed application architecture topic center offers advice and tips for IT operations professionals handling new application types and the methods by which distributed, scale-out applications are deployed. These include virtualization containers and microservices, event-driven computing, and cloud application management.
Top Stories
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Conference Coverage
05 Oct 2022
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2022 news coverage
Trying to keep up with the latest news out of KubeCon + CloudNativeCon? Use this comprehensive guide to stay updated and informed on both the North American and European events. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Mar 2022
Micro apps vs. microservices: What developers should know
On the surface, the contrast between micro apps and microservices simply seems a matter of front-end vs. back-end concerns. But this isn't the only difference worth knowing. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Aug 2022
How to establish a Kubernetes governance strategy
Because Kubernetes is a large, complex tool that touches so much of the IT ecosystem, governance policies are important to meet both internal and external standards. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Aug 2022
What to do when a VM is compromised
When security incidents arise -- and they will -- IT administrators can restore, reset or completely wipe VMs to return them to health and get them back into production. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2022
Sigstore co-creator talks GitHub, Kubernetes and next steps
Dan Lorenc reflects on a whirlwind year for his open source project, now officially incorporated into Kubernetes and GitHub's npm registry, and his plans for the year to come. Continue Reading
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News
10 Aug 2022
AWS, Splunk and more launch cybersecurity analytics standard
AWS and other IT vendors will start building connectors based on a new standard schema meant to streamline data sharing between cybersecurity tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Aug 2022
DevOps vs. AgileOps: What's the difference?
While AgileOps may seem like a sign that the IT industry has reached 'peak Ops,' the approach could enable DevOps teams to further refine their operations. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Aug 2022
How to create and manage a rock-solid DevSecOps framework
Going from DevOps to DevSecOps requires a serious adjustment -- but it's a change that improves both the IT ecosystem and the IT department's collaboration prowess. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Aug 2022
Docker's rootless mode a welcome security update
Docker containers have root privileges by default -- a known security issue for several years. Now Docker's rootless mode separates containers from underlying infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
08 Aug 2022
Blue chips hone continuous compliance as GRC pressures mount
The concept of continuous improvement has found its way into IT governance, as companies such as Fannie Mae, JPMorgan Chase and John Deere embrace continuous compliance. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Aug 2022
Explore the 2022 application performance monitoring market
APM helps organizations get a leg up with insight into customers and applications -- and the market is only going to grow bigger as technology advances and becomes more complex. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
04 Aug 2022
Step-by-step guide to working with Crossplane and Kubernetes
Crossplane is built to extend Kubernetes resources to and from external sources like databases, the cloud or the edge. Try out the tool, and learn its processes with this tutorial. Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2022
Another new CloudBees CEO faces fierce CI/CD tools rivalry
Former SAP and Cisco strategy exec Anuj Kapur is tasked with keeping CloudBees CI/CD and DevOps platform tools relevant as the cloud-native arms race intensifies. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Aug 2022
An introduction to SRE documentation best practices
SRE documentation stands distinct from other types of IT documentation, not least because it's a core responsibility for site reliability engineers. What else makes it distinct? Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2022
Get to know Amazon DevOps Guru for system monitoring
Amazon DevOps Guru gives IT admins machine learning-driven insights into applications to respond to problems quickly and efficiently. Discover how it works and its benefits. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2022
AWS adds Kubernetes security tie-ins amid SecOps tool sprawl
Amazon Detective pulls Kubernetes security data into a broader threat detection and CSPM context as IT pros at large orgs seek integrated multi-cloud security workflows. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2022
How Zoom security incident response survived the pandemic
March 2020's influx of users meant the video conferencing company had to massively scale its incident response operation and the observability infrastructure that fed it, and fast. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Jul 2022
Is Kubernetes a hypervisor? How do they differ?
Kubernetes, on the surface, appears to perform the same task as a hypervisor. Does that make Kubernetes a hypervisor? The short answer: No. Let's clarify why it's not. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jul 2022
Putting up DevOps guardrails -- what does that mean?
IT projects without proper communication and collaboration can be risky for organizations to take on -- that's where DevOps guardrails come in. Learn more below. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jul 2022
Mirantis Kubernetes deployment buy ups DevOps platform ante
The Mirantis Lens IDE will integrate the Lagoon Kubernetes deployment project to provide a self-service DevOps platform alternative with no developer Kubernetes training required. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jul 2022
Observability as code is key to the cloud operating model
Why is everything becoming 'as code'? Believe it or not, it's easier to manage and can save the headache of adopting a new, specialized tool. Use the tools you have for OaC. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2022
Patching best practices IT ops and security can agree on
Patches are necessary for maintenance, but can often cause a rift between IT ops and security teams. Follow these best practices to unify expectations and keep tension at bay. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2022
CNCF, CISA address hurdles to SBOM for cloud security
Discussions in the tech industry about how to overcome cloud security challenges for SBOMs include an early-stage CNCF idea that uses a graph database to manage transitory metadata. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jul 2022
Compare Docker vs. Podman for container management
Docker and Podman offer similar capabilities to manage containers, but Docker's security vulnerabilities might make Podman more appealing for some admins. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
14 Jul 2022
Follow this tutorial to get started with Azure Bicep
Azure Bicep enables IT ops teams working with IaC to create and deploy Azure resources in a more streamlined manner. Follow this tutorial to learn how. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jul 2022
New Red Hat CEO faces hybrid cloud challenges
Matt Hicks, now Red Hat CEO, and newly appointed Chairman Paul Cormier discuss the links between open source security and sustainability and Red Hat's hybrid cloud mission. Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 Jul 2022
IRL: Cisco Live 2022 goes full-stack o11y
Observability, or o11y, looks more deeply and broadly into an IT environment than traditional IT monitoring. At Cisco Live in June, Cisco unveiled plans for full-stack o11y. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2022
Adopt a zero-trust framework for a safer IT ecosystem
Zero trust sounds like opposition to DevOps' all-for-one culture model, but it's a safety model organizations should evaluate. Safeguard everything with identity authentication. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
08 Jul 2022
Use MicroK8s with Raspberry Pi in this tutorial
Kubernetes is important to tackle, but its resource requirements can balloon dramatically. MicroK8s lets individuals experiment with the platform -- try it on Raspberry Pi 4. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jul 2022
6 technical debt examples and how to solve them
Technical debt can be critical to an organization's success or failure -- and many don't even know it exists. Discover six examples of where it collects and how to eliminate it. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jul 2022
Secure your infrastructure against VM ransomware
More hackers are using VMs as an access point to install and deploy encrypted ransomware. Make sure your security strategy includes prevention, response and analysis. Continue Reading
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News
30 Jun 2022
Atlassian Confluence zero day triggers IT security ire
A critical Atlassian Confluence vulnerability disclosed this month draws critiques from some IT practitioners about the vendor's overall security posture. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2022
ServiceNow ITSM users recharge workflows with familiar tools
Digital transformation hasn't required Flex and the city of Santa Monica to replace the IT service management system they already had, and a new IT ops workflow is on the way. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jun 2022
Podman: A worthy alternative to Docker for containers
Podman has long stood in Docker's shadow, but 'Podman in Action' author Daniel Walsh hopes to shine a light on Podman within the container market. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Jun 2022
Do hypervisors limit vertical scalability?
Knowing hardware maximums and VM limits ensures you don't overload the system. Learn hypervisor scalability limits for Hyper-V, vSphere, ESXi and Red Hat Virtualization. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jun 2022
An introduction to VMware KVM mode
VM management often requires multiple monitors. KVM mode lets you set hot keys to navigate between VMs and the OS, so no task -- or workflow -- is lost among application windows. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jun 2022
Scrum vs. DevOps: Are they intertwined or redundant?
To keep up with a complex CI/CD environment, IT ops teams can choose between Scrum or DevOps -- or use them together. Discover the roles and benefits of each approach. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jun 2022
How to approach sustainability in IT operations
Running Kubernetes clusters can add up in cost and energy use. To address the problem, IT teams must know where to look to save energy and set conservation goals. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jun 2022
An overview of hardware support for virtualization
Intel, AMD and Arm processors optimize virtualization in multiple ways. Read up on the features for Intel VT, AMD-V, Armv9, Intel APICv, and AMD AVIC tech, as well as how they support VMs. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jun 2022
Develop a DevOps branching strategy to promote efficiency
Projects in DevOps environments can move quickly, which often creates chaos. To curb the confusion, use a branching strategy to track changes as teams work simultaneously. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2022
Evaluate PowerVS for a streamlined hybrid cloud environment
Move on-premises IT environments into the cloud with PowerVS and determine if PowerVM is a better option than -- or a better companion to -- the hybrid cloud. Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Jun 2022
Splunk .conf22 focuses on scaling observability for the cloud
The Splunk .conf22 event highlighted different ways companies can expand their observability practices at multi-cloud scale to gain a competitive edge. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jun 2022
7 principles of observability in modern applications
Organizations must keep these seven principles top of mind when monitoring and organizing data to institute observability practices that resolve problems quickly. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jun 2022
Fielding IT management challenges: Supply chain edition
As IT operations teams grapple with global supply chain disruptions and a skills shortage, they must work with IT leadership to make some tough decisions. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jun 2022
How to learn Golang: A DevOps engineer's experience
While some languages don't provide much proprietary support for new learners, Go makes it simple for anyone interested in the language to pick up the basics in a couple hours. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jun 2022
Splunk AIOps development to be led by new 'hands-on' CEO
Splunk product development will be led by the company's new CEO following another high-ranking exec's departure, prompting speculation about the vendor's long-term priorities. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2022
Observability vs. monitoring: What's the difference?
Although observability and monitoring are different concepts, they aren't mutually exclusive; both provide IT administrators with valuable insights on their systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2022
Address Hyper-V VM network issues for peak performance
Microsoft Hyper-V can sometimes experience poor network performance or connectivity problems. When that happens, there are several things you can do to resolve the problem. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2022
Splunk Enterprise users push more data into DevSecOps
Splunk shops are expanding their collection of log and observability data to offer developer self-service, correlate ops with security alerts and consolidate edge management. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jun 2022
Common use cases for observability
These use cases for observability enable an organization to dig deeper into its systems monitoring and analysis to get ahead of potential issues and alert IT staff. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jun 2022
8 observability best practices
Observability enables organizations to analyze data on a continuous basis and act on it quickly. Learn best practices for implementing the technology. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2022
DevSecOps demands focus on developer experience, IT pros say
It's not enough to set up an approved path to production to establish DevSecOps, experienced platform engineers say; developer experience and collaboration are equally important. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2022
OpenTelemetry inspires CDF's event-driven architecture plan
The CDEvents project and others like it aspire to standardize how CI/CD pipeline tools share data, filling a role similar to OpenTelemetry's in the observability realm. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2022
New CD Foundation GM fights CI/CD pipeline fragmentation
Former Ericsson engineer Fatih Degirmenci will coordinate between CDF projects and CNCF working groups to secure software supply chains and ensure interoperability among tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2022
The 3 pillars of observability: Logs, metrics and traces
Logs, metrics and traces offer their individual perspectives on system performance. When analyzed together, they provide a complete picture of your infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Jun 2022
Ubuntu snap vs. apt: Which package manager to use and when
Choosing an appropriate package manager depends primarily on your organization's specific IT ecosystem. Determine when snap or apt is the better call. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jun 2022
DevOps goals and objectives for a smooth adoption roadmap
Start your organization's DevOps adoption journey with the right set of metrics -- and drill down from there. And while no two orgs are the same, they share some key goals. Continue Reading
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News
02 Jun 2022
Kubernetes multi-cluster users tap service mesh alternatives
Istio service mesh is back in the spotlight since joining the CNCF, but the foundation's existing projects are preferred by IT pros focused on multi-cluster Kubernetes resiliency. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
02 Jun 2022
How to set up a K3s cluster
Admins have choices when it comes to selecting a Kubernetes distribution. One such option is K3s, which can be used for development or production. Here's how to get started. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Jun 2022
DevOps architect vs. engineer: What's the difference?
DevOps engineers and architects work in the same environment, but their roles, skills and experience differ. Learn what each entails and how to prepare for one over the other. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2022
A beginner's guide to Hyper-V checkpoints
Hyper-V checkpoints help mitigate problems with upgrade rollouts. They can pile up, so they require some storage space and management. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2022
How to track -- and measure -- technical debt
Technical debt can grow without an organization's knowledge or control -- unless they address it at the start. Here are different methods and tools to track and manage it. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 May 2022
Where the future of AIOps use cases will take IT ops
AIOps is poised for rapid growth and maturity as it becomes accepted in the market. Organizations should draw plans to integrate it into DevOps and systems management. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 May 2022
Whip up recipes with 'Elasticsearch 8.x Cookbook'
Elasticsearch is a powerful and potentially complicated tool. With 'Elasticsearch 8.x Cookbook,' users can split exercises into manageable bites. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 May 2022
5 best practices for VM patch management
'Patching is my favorite!' said no IT admin, ever. Reduce the headache by patching everything -- even the hard-to-reach components -- and testing patches before rollout. Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 May 2022
Highlights from KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2022
Now that KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe has come to a close, check out these updates from vendors across the conference floor. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 May 2022
How to run Docker on an Azure VM
Microsoft Azure offers a lot of container management services for enterprises to choose from. One of those options is Azure Container Instances. Here's how to get started. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 May 2022
9 managed Kubernetes services to consider
To counter the complexity and stress of running, deploying and managing Kubernetes, turn to a managed Kubernetes service. Compare and contrast nine popular tools. Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2022
Cisco, CNCF leader urges corporate open source contributions
Critical problems in open source security require major increases in open source contributions from enterprises -- and not just in code, according to Cisco's head of open source. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
19 May 2022
Use Dapr on Kubernetes to build microservices in production
Dapr is an application runtime that targets cloud-native application development. Developers can use it to streamline their workflows. Here's how. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 May 2022
Reduce cloud waste with careful DevOps cost management
To keep up with swift business demands and managing the costs of the cloud, organizations can turn to DevOps. Follow these four principles to reduce waste. Continue Reading
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News
19 May 2022
Citi gives software supply chain security kit to OpenSSF
The financial services company's prototype system based on CNCF's software supply chain security guidelines joins OpenSSF's $150 million open source standards campaign. Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2022
Embattled New Relic cuts Kubernetes observability overhead
New Relic made its Kubernetes observability agent more efficient and added vulnerability management to its APM tool but is struggling financially as open source tools proliferate. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 May 2022
Proactive backup measures simplify virtual server recovery
Backups and CDP are two ways to prevent VM data loss. Backups can quickly restore data despite file recovery limits. CDP stores every piece of data in use but may lag in production. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 May 2022
Demonstrate ROI in IT with these metrics
When IT ops teams must validate a project's worth to the business to receive funding, they have to look beyond general benefits. Here are several metrics that help prove ROI. Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2022
Red Hat CEO: We're going SaaS-first with OpenShift
Red Hat President and CEO Paul Cormier offers a glimpse into the OpenShift roadmap as IT reckons with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and hybrid work. Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2022
Red Hat CEO on IBM, VMware and hybrid cloud coopetition
Two years into his tenure as Red Hat CEO, Paul Cormier discusses his company's relationship with IBM and how it's competing with its own partners in hybrid cloud. Continue Reading
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Conference Coverage
12 May 2022
Red Hat Summit 2022 news and conference guide
Use this Red Hat conference guide to get the latest information from keynote speakers and industry experts on current trends and emerging technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2022
Important DevOps engineer programming languages to learn
We've learned that DevOps demands some code knowledge -- but there are a lot of languages to choose from. Think about CI/CD, object-oriented languages and infrastructure as code. Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2022
OpenShift boosts DevSecOps with VMware Tanzu in its rear view
Red Hat expands OpenShift, with VMware Tanzu poised to capture at least some of its vast vSphere install base as enterprises get serious about container-based DevOps platforms. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 May 2022
Brace IT ops teams for server end of life
The end of a server's life is rarely an enjoyable time. With it comes reevaluating applications and preparing for migrations. Here's what to keep in mind as the time approaches. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2022
Upstream Istio service mesh hones IT ops user experience
The Istio service mesh community has revealed further plans to simplify the project's notoriously difficult 'Day 2' management, which can't all be addressed by downstream vendors. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 May 2022
Future of containers faces tools surplus, skills shortage
Container adoption seems inevitable, but it's not going to be smooth sailing. Experts weigh in on the state of container management -- and where it needs to go. Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2022
Atlassian cloud outage postmortem seeks to build back trust
A detailed post-incident analysis of Atlassian's cloud outage last month is prompting both the vendor and its customers to revise and expand their resiliency plans. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
02 May 2022
How to secure passwords with PowerShell
Storing passwords in plain text is bad, but what methods are good? Try one of these approaches, such as secure strings or the SecretManagement module, to encrypt passwords. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2022
How to compare Docker images with container-diff
You could pay for a vendor to analyze container images for you, or you could use container-diff for free. Compare container images before deployment to avoid unfortunate mishaps. Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2022
Software supply chain security risks surround Kubernetes
Securing Kubernetes is complex enough, but its associations with the wider open source ecosystem and automated deployments add supply chain security concerns to the equation. Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2022
Kubernetes security targeted by perfect storm of threats
As Kubernetes prepares to phase out Docker upstream, attackers shift their focus to the container orchestration platform, where complexity creates its own vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Apr 2022
Don't force your IT applications into edge computing
Edge computing's primary concern is latency -- and most applications introduce too much. Consider the edge as a companion environment, not an approaching transformation. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Apr 2022
How to build a virtual router with VMware Workstation
Virtual networks in testing and development setups require virtual routers. In this step-by-step tutorial, use VMware and Windows tools to set up a virtual router. Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2022
IT pros hail Google's Istio service mesh donation to CNCF
Google's decision to donate Istio service mesh to the CNCF isn't a shocking one, but proponents of the project said it could broaden its adoption in a competitive market. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Apr 2022
How to create a DevOps self-service portal
Remote DevOps teams need the tools to build and deploy applications independently -- that's where self-service portals come in. Discover the benefits and how to build one. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Apr 2022
Basic virsh network commands to know
It's helpful to know how to use virsh commands to manage VMs and virtual networks; some cloud providers don't support Ansible or VirtualBox. Get started with a few commands. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Apr 2022
Do DevOps and the Theory of Constraints still relate?
The Theory of Constraints still holds weight in the IT industry decades later, but the adoption of DevOps slims down some of its relevancy. Here's how. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Apr 2022
Atlassian Team '22 wrap-up: Connect dev, ops and service
The Atlassian Team '22 conference focused in on new tools like Compass, Atlas and Analytics, with an optimistic eye to the future. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Apr 2022
The data team-IT operations divide delays data delivery
Extended delays in the data delivery process aren't just inconvenient; they're a hindrance to business success that data teams and IT operations must solve together. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Apr 2022
The future of OpenTelemetry for observability
To collect and analyze telemetry data from cloud-native apps, many organizations use OpenTelemetry for system observability. Discover its benefits and primary components. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Apr 2022
How to choose the best CPU for virtualization
Selecting the right CPU for virtual infrastructures depends on many factors, including feature sets and hardware specs. Proper configuration of processor resources is also crucial. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Apr 2022
Use Jenkins for deployment, support and provisioning in ops
IT organizations that keep Jenkins on the development side of the house miss out on the orchestrated workflow capabilities it brings to operations tasks. Continue Reading
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News
13 Apr 2022
IT pros lambaste Atlassian communication amid cloud outage
IT pros including affected Atlassian customers and prospective cloud users were critical of Atlassian's communications both publicly and privately during its ongoing SaaS outage. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Apr 2022
How to use abstracted repositories in dependency injection
Dependencies in software design can complicate matters. Dependency injection helps simplify it -- but it's not without its faults. Here's what you need to know. Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2022
Atlassian cloud outage could take weeks to resolve
As Atlassian's cloud outage neared the one-week mark, the company informed affected customers that it could take up to another two weeks to fully recover. Continue Reading