Data Center: Page

Comparing Unix versions: AIX, HP-UX and Solaris

In this comparison of the top Unix versions, learn what distinguishes the file systems, management tools and virtualization products in Sun Solaris, Hewlett-Packard HP-UX and IBM AIX file systems.

By Kenneth Milberg • July 8, 2009

How to install and use RRDTool to speed up MRTG monitoring

When monitoring a large number of hosts or devices with the MRTG graphing tool, the system experience frequent CPU spikes. In this RRDTool tutorial, learn how to install RRDTool and convert MRTG to use RRD storage to avoid system overload.

By Bill Bradford • June 24, 2009

Troubleshooting Linux boot problems

If your Linux server fails to show the login screen at startup, you have a boot problem. Learn some tricks on how to diagnose and fix a Linux server boot problem from Grub failure to init and runlevels.

By Sander van Vugt • June 17, 2009

How to install and configure MRTG, an essential sys admin tool

Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) is an essential tool that allows systems administrators to monitor and graph network traffic and more. In this tutorial, an expert explains how to install and configure MRTG on Solaris 10.

By Bill Bradford • June 10, 2009

Capacity planning tools tutorial for Linux and Unix

Effective capacity planning is a proactive way of ensuring that your data center servers will not prematurely run out of space or horsepower. Learn the tools available to help you, both native to Linux and Unix platforms including Solaris, Red Hat, HP-UX, and the free-form products that will work with any Linux or Unix distribution.

By Kenneth Milberg • May 6, 2009

Air flow management strategies for efficient data center cooling

To achieve efficient data center cooling, you must reduce your facility's air flow waste. In this tip, an expert outlines air flow management strategies and best practices that can improve data center air flow, including the installation of blanking panels, raised-floor tiles and hot-aisle/cold-aisle design.

By Vali Sorell, Contributor • March 31, 2009

Optimizing server energy efficiency

Reducing data center energy consumption is a hot topic in the IT industry, but server energy efficiency has only recently become a focus of discussion. Improving server efficiency means optimizing the main components that impact a server's overall power consumption: power supply, fans, CPU, memory, hard drives, I/O cards and ports, and supporting chipsets.

By Julius Neudorfer • Feb. 23, 2009

Recovering RDM data with VMware ESX troubleshooting

Accidentally deleting important VMware ESX partitions cost our expert raw device mapping data. But a last attempt with an unlikely solution finally saved the day – and the data.

By Edward Haletky • Feb. 23, 2009

Why you should delete outdated vCenter Server data

With SQL commands, you can delete superfluous vCenter Server database information and save disk space and boost system performance. But you need to monitor database table size.

By Eric Siebert • Feb. 23, 2009

Manipulating VMware log file space via log file rotation settings

VMware ESX and vCenter log files are crucial for troubleshooting and need to be readily available, but log files can be space hogs. You can tweak log rotation settings to prevent log files from taking up too much space and designate additional space to more important logs such as hostd, vpxa and vpxd.

By David Davis • Jan. 14, 2009

Manage CICS workloads with transaction classes

Using transaction classes is a great way to manage CICS workloads that come in varying or unpredictable increments. Learn how to define transaction classes, calculate a maximum active number and get examples on how to use transaction classes in this tip.

By Robert Crawford • Jan. 13, 2009

Creating virtual machine clones and templates without vCenter Server

Even if you don't have vCenter Server's virtual machine (VM) cloning feature, you can create VM templates with tools such as vConverter, vmkfstools and VMware Infrastructure Client – and a little technological prowess.

By Eric Siebert • Jan. 6, 2009

Understanding VMware ESX virtual machine physical and virtual hardware

You can better manage virtual machines by understanding the virtual hardware that makes up a VM. This tip explores VM physical and virtual hardware issues, including configuring virtual hardware and assigning virtual memory.

By Eric Siebert • Dec. 3, 2008

Solve the startup error 00161 and 00163 with IBM TP600?

Error 00161 on an IBM TP600 may be due to a faulty CMOS battery, and 00163 may relate to your version of utility PS2 EXE.

By SearchDataCenter.com Staff • Nov. 10, 2008

Override a SYSIN DD DSN in the proc from the JCL?

Override the SYSIN DD Domain Name Source (DNS) in proc using the Job Control Language (JCL) this code syntax.

By Mark Zelden • Nov. 10, 2008

Improving data center cooling capacity with chilled water plants

With a chilled-water plant, you can improve your data center cooling capacity and possibly prevent more drastic measures, such as having to build a new facility.

By Mike Flaherty, Contributor • Nov. 10, 2008

COBOL, VS-COBOL-II and MFCOBOL: What’s the difference?

The original COBOL compiler grew into greater addressability with VS- COBOL-II MFCOBOL and increased functionality in MFCOBOL.

By Jim Schesvold • Nov. 10, 2008

Ensuring server time synchronization with NTP on SLES

Synchronize your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server times using NTP time server. Two servers are recommended for enterprise situations, as redundancy will save the day in case of a disaster.

By Sander van Vugt • Oct. 31, 2008

Repairing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server using a Rescue CD

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server offers a Rescue CD for repairing the system if your hardware causes a crash at reboot. This tip shows you how to use it.

By Sander van Vugt • Oct. 31, 2008

Use DFHLS2WS to expose CICS applications as a Web service

DFHLS2WS is one of the Web services assistants that allows traditional CICS applications to provide or consume Web services without significant changes and without getting into the details of SOAP or XML coding.

By Robert Crawford • Oct. 28, 2008

How to troubleshoot RHEL performance bottlenecks

This tip provides a step-by-step approach to application-tuning, troubleshooting bottlenecks and enhancing performance on RHEL 5 systems.

By Kenneth Milberg • Sept. 30, 2008

Using OpenSSL to create and manage certificates

Establishing an independent certificate authority with OpenSSL enables you to create public key certificates and to verify that these public keys are authentic and that email messages are secure.

By Sander van Vugt • Aug. 19, 2008

gzip (GNU zip)

Gzip (GNU zip) is a free and open source algorithm for file compression. The software is overseen by the GNU project.... (Continued)

By TechTarget Contributor • Aug. 4, 2008

DRBD (Distributed Replicated Block Device)

DRBD (Distributed Replicated Block Device) is a Linux-based software component that facilitates the replacement of shared storage systems by networked mirroring. DRBD makes it possible to maintain consistency of data among multiple systems in a network. DRBD also ensures high availability (HA) for Linux applications... (Continued)

By TechTarget Contributor • July 22, 2008

VMware VI Client plug-ins and how to manage them

VMware VI Client plug-ins can provide a VirtualCenter implementation with a functionality boost. Discover more on plug-in management tactics and plug-in options, including the Juxtaposition RDP plug-in, in this tip.

By David Davis • July 14, 2008