IT Operations: Page

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.

By Paul Korzeniowski • Dec. 19, 2016

Idempotent configuration management sets things right -- no matter what

Idempotency ensures a system won't stray from its designated desired state, sending alerts to systems administrators if a requested change would cause a disruption.

By Clive Longbottom • Dec. 16, 2016

Release management best practices for every IT team

No one likes an app that implodes once it reaches production. IT operations teams can save themselves some headaches by implementing release management from the initial design on.

By Brian Kirsch • Dec. 13, 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.

By Clive Longbottom • Dec. 7, 2016

A SaltStack tutorial to start mastering data center minions

With a basic understanding of SaltStack minions, modules, grains and other concepts, IT administrators have the power to scale up configurations.

By Sander van Vugt • Dec. 2, 2016

CMDB best practices remain out of reach for many IT shops: Free chapter

Most IT pros know what a CMDB is, but mastering the database and asset management is difficult -- though not impossible.

By Meredith Courtemanche • Dec. 1, 2016

Microsoft Windows Features on Demand

Microsoft Windows Features on Demand is a feature that allows system administrators to add or remove roles and features in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, and later versions of the client and server operating system to alter the file size of those operating systems.

By Stephen Bigelow • Nov. 30, 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.

By Brad Casey • Nov. 29, 2016

Microsoft SCORCH lights an automated path to more efficiency

System Center Orchestrator tackles tedious tasks and can even make autonomous decisions based on conditions set by the Windows administrator.

By Stephen Bigelow • Nov. 28, 2016

Ways to make the application deployment process clear and flexible

The application deployment manual must be flexible, and short enough to actually follow. A process that can't change with the evolving IT system isn't of much use to anyone.

By Brian Kirsch • Nov. 21, 2016

Understanding Exchange Online’s Role-Based Access Control model

The Role-Based Access Control model manages and evaluates permissions in Exchange Online. Admins can explore the model, create new permissions and customize roles.

By Adam Bertram • Nov. 18, 2016

Why orchestration services are important in the DevOps age

Automation and orchestration services are critical for modern IT systems to function well. Learn more about how these functions facilitate IT processes and workflows.

By Brian Kirsch • Nov. 18, 2016

Use Windows PowerShell DSC to construct file servers from scratch

Administrators can take control over the deployment of common resources, such as Windows-based file servers, using PowerShell Desired State Configuration.

By Adam Bertram • Nov. 16, 2016

Salt minions and grains facilitate deployment at scale

A tiered management setup and finely grained monitoring capabilities make SaltStack's configuration management tool worth considering.

By Sander van Vugt • Nov. 15, 2016

Know how to handle IT incident management to avoid chaos

When an important application goes down, you'd better have the right IT incident management processes and procedures in place to fix it.

By Clive Longbottom • Oct. 17, 2016

Log Parser Studio provides flexibility for Exchange troubleshooting

Administrators can use default queries in Log Parser Studio or modify existing queries to analyze logs and troubleshooting Exchange issues.

By Michel de Rooij • Oct. 14, 2016

Mimic production with the right staging environment

With public or private cloud templates, it becomes easy to copy your production IT environment for staging new code as often as development needs it.

By Mike Pfeiffer • Oct. 11, 2016

IT service delivery model uses BPM to translate ops to biz

A business process management structure for IT service delivery can bridge the gap between IT and the rest of the business, allowing IT leaders to sit at the table for important decisions.

By Kurt Marko • Oct. 4, 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.

By Stuart Burns • Sept. 28, 2016

CFEngine configuration management tool up close and in-depth

CFEngine is a widely known and used configuration management tool. Learn about its primary features and functions and if and how your organization could benefit from it.

By Clive Longbottom • Sept. 23, 2016

Inside Docker configuration management functions

Docker may not be a standard configuration management tool, but it possesses a set of capabilities that have made it a growing player in the CM market.

By Clive Longbottom • Sept. 22, 2016

The Cobbler configuration management tool’s ins and outs

Cobbler is a configuration management tool best suited for Linux-based IT environments. Learn more about this tool and if it can benefit your enterprise.

By Clive Longbottom • Sept. 21, 2016

These Windows configuration management tools can prevent mishaps

It's a challenge to limit downtime and speed up deployments in the data center. Configuration management tools can help IT maintain control.

By Tim Warner • Sept. 16, 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.

By Brad Casey • Sept. 15, 2016

SaltStack configuration management tools and their many functions

SaltStack is a relatively new tool in the configuration management market with powerful capabilities and an active user community. Read more about this emerging product here.

By Clive Longbottom • Sept. 14, 2016