Data Center: Page

Safer failover testing procedures for the data center

Haphazard failover testing can be dangerous, but you can minimize the potential risk of data loss or corruption by following a few straightforward procedures.

By Brien Posey • April 15, 2011

Dell Viking micro server recast as PowerEdge C5000

The Dell Viking started out as a custom box for low-end dedicated hosting and has graduated to a full-fledged micro server platform.

By Alex Barrett • March 22, 2011

Using DCIM tools to monitor data center power

Although DCIM tools include many capabilities for monitoring data center power and facilitating data center management, you should know their associated costs before implementing projects.

By Julius Neudorfer • March 14, 2011

1U servers: Features and capabilities introduction

1U servers are well suited to many everyday business tasks. This overview considers the key features -- from processor and memory support to network ports-- of various 1U server offerings.

By Stephen Bigelow, Senior Technology Writer; Lauren Horwitz • March 3, 2011

Increasing network bandwidth available to virtual machines

These three tips on increasing the amount of network bandwidth available to your VMs, including virtual network creation, can also potentially increase a host server's VM density.

By Brien Posey • Feb. 8, 2011

Working with Linux file system attributes

File system attributes can provide a valuable addition to the way you ensure security on your Linux server. Learn how to mount, list and change file system attributes in ext4.

By Sander van Vugt • Jan. 18, 2011

Improving IT efficiency with server virtualization technology

The Motley Fool turned to server virtualization technology as its answer to improving IT efficiency and flexibility in the wake of rampant data center growth.

By Stephen Bigelow • Jan. 3, 2011

Two forgotten but useful CICS transactions

While CICS has evolved its system interface, the lesser-known CICS transactions ADYN and CSFE can still be useful for debugging and other tasks.

By Robert Crawford • Dec. 15, 2010

VMware Fusion performance tips for Mac users

VMware Fusion for Mac allows you to run multiple guest OSes on Mac OS X, but VMware Fusion performance depends on several variables, including memory and hardware configuration.

By Mike Nelson • Dec. 9, 2010

RHEL 6 ditches System V init for Upstart: What Linux admins need to know

System V init is fading to a memory in Linux boot systems as the new Linux disdribution releases, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, switch to using Upstart. Learn what is different with this boot service and how to work with it to get your Linux boot administration tasks done.

By Sander van Vugt • Dec. 6, 2010

Move over SMPs: Distributed shared memory systems step in

Researchers are building ersatz SMP machines out of commodity x86 boxes, plus specialized hardware and software.

By Alex Barrett • Nov. 16, 2010

Managing virtual data center growth and virtualization challenges

With careful testing, planning and management, virtual data center growth doesn't have to be an issue, even with problems that crop up with some virtualization technologies.

By Stephen Bigelow • Nov. 8, 2010

Data center EPO vulnerability fixed in 2011 National Electrical Code

Data centers are no longer required to put the big red kill-switch on exit doors, thanks to a committee that convinced the NFPA to revisit its data center EPO regulation.

By Matt Stansberry • Nov. 5, 2010

Creating an inventory with nmap network scanning

Nmap network scanning generates a full system inventory, but it's only usable with the right parameters and output format. Learn how to create an nmap inventory in this tip.

By Ronald McCarty, Contributor • Oct. 25, 2010

Cisco et al. push memory-dense servers; but at what cost?

Today’s x86 servers offer impressive memory densities, but some IT shops want even more.

By Alex Barrett • Oct. 21, 2010

VMware maintenance checklist: Daily, weekly and monthly tasks

It's easy for systems admins to lose track of tasks when responding to alerts. Break down VMware maintenance into daily, weekly and monthly tasks so that important chores are not overlooked.

By Mak King • Oct. 4, 2010

The new mainframes: BladeSystem Matrix, Vblock, Exadata and Exalogic

Converged infrastructure platforms like Oracle‘s Exadata offer companies increased performance, but at the cost of vendor lock-in, causing some to dub these the new mainframes.

By Matt Stansberry • Oct. 1, 2010

Setting up a syslog server in Linux

A central logging server can make it easier to manage logs. In this tip, learn how to collect and centralize syslog messages from your hosts onto one syslog server in Linux.

By James Turnbull • Sept. 28, 2010

Uptime, TIA and BICSI: Who runs the data center design standards show?

With three major players in the game, where should you look for data center design standards? This tip discusses the similarities and differences between the Uptime Institute tier system, TIA-942 and BICSI 002-2010.

By Julius Neudorfer • Sept. 20, 2010

Refresh, Recompose and Rebalance - VMware View: Chapter 10

Mike Laverick explains the VMware concepts of Refresh, Recompose and Rebalance as the three main tasks that may need to be carried out on your linked clones.

By Michelle Laverick • Sept. 10, 2010

Kerberos authentication in RHEL: Easing Windows-Linux integration

Kerberos authentication for CIFS offers easier Windows-Linux integration. In this tip, learn how Kerberos authentication works and how to set it up in Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

By Sander van Vugt • Sept. 8, 2010

Unix overview: The latest features in AIX, HP-UX and Solaris

Each of the major Unix versions have been updated with useful new features recently. In this overview, get up to date on the features you should know about in the latest releases of IBM AIX, Hewlett-Packard's HP-UX and Oracle's Solaris.

By King Ables, Contributor • Sept. 7, 2010

The IT chargeback system in a virtual data center

Managing chargeback can be a difficult task. Multiple company departments may share server hardware in a virtual data center. Learn how to implement an IT chargeback system that charges departments for resources fairly.

By Brien Posey • Aug. 19, 2010

Server virtualization training and education needed for successful virtualization rollouts

Virtualization technology is still a long way from Plug-and-Play. Successful virtualization rollouts need staff with the proper education and skills, and IT admins need to understand when it's time to add staff or tinker with the training.

By Jonathan Hassell • Aug. 17, 2010

Optimizing Linux swap space usage

Today's powerful servers with plenty of RAM can make swap space seem like a thing of the past, but knowing how much you need can help keep your system running smoothly.

By Sander van Vugt • Aug. 16, 2010