IT systems management and monitoring
Learn about the tools and technologies that enable more visibility into IT infrastructure, integration between IT management tools, tailored alerts for IT professionals and new areas of performance monitoring and management.
Top Stories
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Tip
28 Nov 2023
Hybrid cloud connectivity best practices and considerations
Private and public clouds stress networks in different ways and don't always play well together. Here's what to know to set up a cost-effective hybrid cloud network architecture. Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Nov 2023
Security highlights from KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2023
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon provided valuable insights for security teams supporting cloud-native development, including securing GenAI, platform engineering and supply chains. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Mar 2018
How does an effective logging strategy improve data analysis?
Logs and log analytics can produce vast amounts of information. Save time and use resources efficiently with an effective logging strategy that prioritizes relevant data. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Mar 2018
How to list the Hyper-V virtual processors configured for VMs
To see virtual processors configured for VMs on the local host, execute a simple PowerShell command. For vCPUs configured for VMs on remote servers, a script is needed. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Mar 2018
Use the Hyper-V QoS feature to manage storage IOPS
Quality of service addresses storage IOPS limitations by enabling administrators to stipulate a minimum and maximum IOPS value for a virtual hard disk. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Mar 2018
Enable and disable vTPM on Hyper-V VMs with PowerShell cmdlets
If you don't have Guarded Fabric or Shielded VMs, which have the Trusted Platform Module feature built-in, you need to manually enable virtual TPM for your Hyper-V VMs using PowerShell. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Mar 2018
Hyper-V Manager update in Windows Server 2016 replete with features
Microsoft developed several improvements to Hyper-V Manager in Windows Server 2016. These new Hyper-V features improve VM management with added security and flexibility options. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Mar 2018
Predictive IT analytics improves distributed application monitoring
Data analysis on app performance isn't an instantaneous process, but it's worth the wait given the time it will save IT admins in problem-solving in the future. Continue Reading
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Answer
20 Mar 2018
Manually initiate the Hyper-V replication failover process
Hyper-V replication failover only requires two steps. But before you initiate failover, perform some tests to ensure the recovery point has consistent data. Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2018
EBay's Elasticsearch hack consolidates Kubernetes monitoring
EBay made Kubernetes monitoring more flexible for developers and consistent for ops through modifications that are now part of Elastic's Beats software. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Mar 2018
Add virt-manager to your set of KVM management tools
KVM virt-manager provides a useful and simple VM management GUI. The console enables VM creation, deletion and troubleshooting. Learn the basics of its management and installation. Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2018
Datadog log monitoring software branches out as DevOps spreads
Datadog joins competitors such as SignalFx and Splunk in the quest to create Swiss army knife-style tools that track logs, events and metrics in one place for DevOps teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Mar 2018
Use an IT incident management system to enable automation
IT admins and gurus can't tackle every issue every hour of the day -- let alone predict them first. A dynamic combination of monitoring and incident management makes for better admins. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2018
Create SCVMM user roles to define management, tighten security
Using SCVMM user roles provides granular control in a virtual infrastructure. By defining a delegation model, admins also ensure that the infrastructure is more secure. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2018
Mount an ISO file to a virtual DVD drive with PowerShell
It's easy to manage external media from PowerShell. It's worth noting, however, that the command syntax varies depending on whether you're referencing an IDE or SCSI drive. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Feb 2018
Retrieve a Hyper-V event log with the Get-EventLog cmdlet
Use the Get-EventLog PowerShell cmdlet with the desired parameters to retrieve a Hyper-V event log. This command gets errors and warnings and exports them as a CSV file. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Feb 2018
Meet these SCVMM 2016 requirements before upgrading
Before upgrading to SCVMM 2016, ensure that you meet its hardware requirements, including SCVMM 2012 R2 and Update Rollup 9 or later, and have a supported version of SQL Server. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Feb 2018
Live-migrate Hyper-V VMs in and outside a failover cluster
PowerShell commands save time and enable admins to migrate multiple VMs outside a Hyper-V failover cluster from one host to another, as well as VMs inside the cluster between nodes. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Feb 2018
Customize a Hyper-V network adapter for security, performance
Look beyond basic network adapter settings in Hyper-V to enable features like IPsec task offloading, DHCP guard, protected networks, port mirroring and NIC teaming, among others. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2018
Three ChatOps examples demonstrate DevOps efficiency
IT collaboration tools are taking center stage in DevOps shops, where they create an environment of connection -- to applications, to peer knowledge and to automation tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2018
Three root cause analysis methods to help solve VDI issues
From performing a manual assessment to working with VDI vendors' proprietary tools, IT professionals have options for figuring out why problems are happening in their deployments. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jan 2018
Expand KVM storage with virsh commands
With a few steps -- the creation of files, the addition of XML code and the execution of commands -- you can use the virsh command-line interface to add storage to existing VMs. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jan 2018
Bulk manage a Hyper-V server group with PowerShell
With only a few steps, you can use SCVMM to bring a Hyper-V server under management. This is limited, however, so use the SCVMM Command Shell to bulk manage Hyper-V servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2018
Hyper-V cmdlets for daily operational tasks
With simple scripts, enable or disable VM Integration Services and Live Migration on Hyper-V hosts, reset VM replication stats, grant or revoke VM access, and optimize VHD files. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jan 2018
Copy files from the host to a Hyper-V machine
There are many ways to copy files from the host to a Hyper-V machine, including Enhanced Session Mode and the Copy-VMFile PowerShell cmdlet. Follow these steps for each method. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jan 2018
Use virt-install to install VMs from the command line
Learn the basics of virt-install, including standard use cases, executing it on CentOS 7, different command-line options and the creation of kickstart files. Continue Reading
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Quiz
11 Jan 2018
Quiz yourself on Red Hat virtualization pricing and updates
The Red Hat Virtualization platform can be a powerful tool in your arsenal. Take this quiz on RHV pricing, updates and functionality to see if you know your stuff. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2018
Time-series monitoring tools give high-resolution view of IT
DevOps monitoring tools based on time-series databases create a steeper learning curve than traditional monitoring software, but arm IT pros with richer data for troubleshooting. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2018
PowerShell commands for Hyper-V update bulk VM configuration
Admins who don't have access to SCVMM can make configuration changes to multiple Hyper-V VMs at once with a few PowerShell scripts and the ForEach loop approach. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Dec 2017
Use virsh commands to manage KVM networking
Virsh commands enable you to manage network properties and can be used alongside brctl commands to help you create additional virtual bridges in your KVM environment. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Nov 2017
Enterprise shops look to AIOps for IT root cause analysis
IT ops pros look to AIOps tools to help find the smoking gun in failing IT stacks, but some call automated root cause analysis more dream than reality. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Oct 2017
Windows Server containers and Hyper-V containers explained
It's important to not only understand the differences between these two container types but also the specific requirements, deployment considerations and management practices. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Jun 2017
Configure NIC teaming with different modes in Hyper-V
The switch independent mode uses different switches and can support both active/active and active/standby operation, while the dependent mode only uses one switch. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 May 2017
Log management systems benefit greatly from AI
Organizations with massive volumes of IT operational data need log management tools that can quickly and adeptly process it. AI embedded into tools might be the answer. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Apr 2017
Deep dive into Hyper-V files and folders
Understanding all aspects of a Hyper-V installation now makes it easier to troubleshoot problems later. Look under the hood of Hyper-V files and folders to prep for the worst. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Dec 2016
Agent vs. agentless: Monitoring choices for diverse IT ops needs
All management tools must run on a device, but the standards for agent and agentless monitoring vary widely. The determination is easier once you understand monitoring data needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Dec 2016
Simplify your platform with IT systems management tools
So much effort goes into simply keeping an IT infrastructure up and running. Imagine what more could be accomplished once you automate some of those tasks with IT systems management tools. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Nov 2016
Should I allow SSH tunneling connections through the firewall?
Allowing users to tunnel through a firewall to access any site creates a security risk. How big of a risk is it? It depends on how much you trust your users. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2016
Setting up and controlling resources on a Proxmox cluster
You're learned how to create Proxmox hosts and group them into a cluster. Now it's time to add resources to your cluster and assign access rights to them. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Aug 2016
Patch servers the right way without wasting time
Apply these server patching best practices to save time, reduce complexity, and build an optimal schedule and toolkit. Continue Reading
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Answer
01 Aug 2016
How do I size capacity for VMware oversubscription?
What best practices and tools can I use to allocate the right resources in an oversubscribed virtualization deployment? Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Mar 2016
Adding an additional virtual bridge to a KVM environment
Virtualization expert Sander Van Vugt offers tips to simplify the process of adding a second software bridge to your KVM environment to run VMs in an isolated SDN. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Jan 2016
How can active-active clustering use load balancers?
Active-active clustering and cloud services enable IT workload resilience or redundancy in the enterprise. How does load balancing influence these setups? Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Jan 2016
Hardware vs. software load balancer: Which is better for an enterprise?
Can a software load balancer perform with the same capabilities as a hardware load balancer? Decide which aides enterprise the best in this hardware vs. software load balancer comparison. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Nov 2015
What works for daily event log monitoring?
I have 80 Windows servers in the data center. What can I use for daily event log monitoring? Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2015
Change boot settings from a VM BIOS
Often overlooked, a VM's BIOS is more limited than a physical machine's BIOS, but will allow you to adjust boot settings. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Sep 2015
Three steps to avoid server NIC teaming problems
NIC teaming can help reduce resource contention and improve VM performance, but don't fall victim to common mistakes when setting it up. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Mar 2015
What's the effect of network switch buffer in a data center?
What's causing buffer? How much buffer should ideally be available in a network switch? Is there any standard available for buffer? Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Jan 2015
How do I use SR-IOV for Hyper-V VMs?
Single Root I/O Virtualization, or SR-IOV, can help reduce latency and increase I/O throughput when enabled for Hyper-V VMs. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Dec 2014
Dell OpenManage enterprise system management overview
Dell's OpenManage product suite provides tools and modules to manage both Dell and third-party IT infrastructures. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2014
Know your data center monitoring system
You can't depend on a building system to run the data center. Implement a BMS and a DCIM tool to monitor and predict system changes, tighten security and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jan 2014
Scale up vs. scale out: Debate evolves over how to upgrade data centers
Pick sides on whether to scale up vs. scale out servers. It will establish what method to enhance server performance makes sense for your data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Oct 2013
Five tips for selecting system management tools
Too much granularity? Not enough? Need alerts? Maybe not. There are five considerations for systems management tools -- and cost isn't one of them. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Oct 2013
Tips and tricks to improve memory paging on servers
Memory paging helps virtual machines share a server's memory resources nicely, but can throttle performance. A few simple tricks will optimize paging. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2013
How and when to enable hardware-based TPM security on servers
Most servers include a Trusted Platform Module, but you only want to turn it on and manage TPM when the server handles high-value encrypted workloads. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Aug 2013
The requisite and advanced features of performance monitoring software
All performance monitoring tools must include certain core features, and advanced features can boost application performance and return on investment. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jul 2013
Tailoring server BIOS settings for cool servers without wasting energy
A few tweaks to server BIOS settings will keep fans quiet and workloads processing smoothly, allowing data centers to consume less energy. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2013
Recognizing and correcting common VM migration problems
A careful and systematic approach can speed the recognition and correction of common VM migration problems. Continue Reading
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Answer
16 Apr 2013
How KVM over IP makes remote systems management easier
Remote systems management using KVM over IP is helping businesses avoid the costs associated with travel while improving support response times. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2013
Using Zabbix with embedded devices via SNMP monitoring
Some devices you want to monitor with Zabbix cannot have software installed. For these appliances, SNMP monitoring may be the right choice. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jan 2013
Avoiding access issues with Microsoft Network Access Protection
Configuration problems can make Microsoft Network Access Protection overly zealous and lock out users who need data center access. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Dec 2012
Tips for improving server reliability and available memory
New memory modules and system capabilities can increase available memory and reliability on mission-critical servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Oct 2012
Common causes of a failed Hyper-V live migration
Hyper-V live migration helps admins maintain infrastructures. But a few common configuration snafus can cause failures. Do you know what to look for? Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jan 2012
Managing and monitoring server log data
See how proactive system administrators help themselves avoid a security breach by putting an effective log management policy in place. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Dec 2011
Data center monitoring system considerations
An effective monitoring system can track environmental variables and alert admins of a potential problem before it becomes a critical emergency. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Nov 2011
Prioritizing alerts with server monitoring tools
Setting and prioritizing alerts with server monitoring tools can help an administrator respond quickly to critical problems without being bothered by insignificant alarms. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Oct 2011
Weighing the pros and cons of the Trusted Computing Platform
When used as designed, trusted computing can provide a high level of security, but limitations and potential for abuse prohibits its usefulness. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2010
Using OpenNMS and SNMP for open source systems management
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) can allow a deeper look into system information gathered from OpenNMS. This tip walks through network monitoring with OpenNMS and SNMP. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Nov 2010
Hyper-V Dynamic Memory vs. VMware memory overcommit
Memory allocation can be a guessing game in virtualized environments. Hyper-V Dynamic Memory and VMware memory overcommit tackle the problem in different ways. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jun 2010
Improve benchmark performance with simple optimizations
While benchmarking is great for measuring system performance, benchmarking tools themselves are applications capable of overtaxing the CPU. However, simple optimizations can ensure benchmark performance by preventing these tools from overwhelming the system. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Oct 2009
Check server specs before upgrading your operating system
Operating system upgrades can be tricky with the number of variables involved. Users need to research server hardware specifications and OS requirements before upgrading. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Feb 2009
Using HP Systems Insight Manager (SIM) 5.2 for systems management and monitoring
Hewlett-Packard (HP) Co.'s Systems Insight Manager (SIM) 5.2 offers systems management and monitoring for HP servers or WMI-, SNMP- or WBEM-enabled systems. SIM works with HP's Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) management modules to detect hardware problems and can monitor system information such as processor and memory utilization, network bandwidth, and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Feb 2008
Windows Server 2008: PowerShell basics and top commands
The Microsoft PowerShell team offers up the top commands and usage scenarios for the new command line shell and scripting language for Windows Server 2008 Continue Reading
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Answer
20 Mar 2007
Best practices for naming VMware virtual machines
Are you naming your VMware virtual machines in a way that will help you keep track of where they are and what they do? If not, you must read this expert response by Andrew Kutz. Continue Reading