Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Use AI tools to simplify operations inside your data center

  AI is a cornerstone technology that will be part of future-proofing the data center. It will control operations like cooling, network optimization and configuration management.  Continue Reading

• Rack vs. blade server: What's the difference?

  Components in a physical data center are held in rack servers or blade servers. Learn the differences, what type of environment you need and which server uses work best.  Continue Reading

• With CentOS going away, what should users do?

  Red Hat discontinued CentOS and replaced it with CentOS Stream. Other distributions, like Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux, provide free Linux OSes to the public.  Continue Reading

• What is database refreshing?

  IT testing and software development constantly requires fresh data. It's easy to run a database refresh and generate new data for sandbox or production tasks.  Continue Reading

• Colocation data center outage response and support

  Navigating data center malfunctions when hardware is off premises can be tricky. Organizations must have strong SLAs with their colo provider to ensure appropriate response times.  Continue Reading

• Is third-party threat a viable server maintenance contract tactic?

  When negotiating server hardware and maintenance agreements with vendors, server customers can threaten to go elsewhere. But how effective is that tactic?  Continue Reading

• What is a top barrier to fruitful server refresh cycle negotiations?

  Successfully countering server vendor sales tactics requires forecasting hardware and maintenance needs. Lacking a solid, consolidated forecast can be a recipe for failure.  Continue Reading

• How should I choose a new server hardware configuration?

  It's important to consider current and future business needs when choosing a server to ensure you'll have adequate CPU, memory, storage and network resources.  Continue Reading

• What does HCI 2.0 mean for hyper-convergence?

  Like composable infrastructure, next-gen hyper-convergence promises to ease procurement and management by, among other things, enabling users to add disparate IT resources independently.  Continue Reading

• 5 reasons why hyper-converged infrastructure could be right for you

  The reasons for going hyper-converged vary. Often, however, organizations deploy HCI technology to effectively address one or more of the five issues outlined in this article.  Continue Reading

• Are Nutanix products hyper-converged hardware, software or cloud?

  Nutanix may still offer branded appliances, but there is a lot more to the hyper-converged infrastructure pioneer's product offerings than that nowadays.  Continue Reading

• Which converged infrastructure vendors are businesses considering?

  Today's fast-paced business landscape has led enterprises to increasingly turn to convergence vendors. See why, which they are choosing and who leads the market.  Continue Reading

• Top hyper-converged platform features to look for in an HCI system

  Know software compatibility, maximum scalability and long-term potential of hardware support from vendors before buying a hyper-converged infrastructure system.  Continue Reading

• What hyper-converged network details should I consider?

  No longer a second-class citizen to compute and storage, networking is now integral to most HCIs. Keep in mind certain networking facts when adopting hyper-convergence, however.  Continue Reading

• Should admins learn about serverless computing?

  Serverless architecture is beneficial to organizations that use virtualization and function-as-a-service models. Here's what admins should know about it.  Continue Reading

• How do I measure overall TCO when comparing HCI vendors?

  Comparing the TCO of deploying different HCI vendors' platforms makes it likelier you'll pick the right one for your organization. Start the process with our checklist.  Continue Reading

• Erasure coding vs. RAID: Pros and cons for hyper-convergence

  Hyper-converged systems, like any other, require data protection. We describe using RAID and erasure coding for hyper-convergence to help you pick the best option for your HCI.  Continue Reading

• HCI management layer vs. native hypervisor management

  See why inherent differences between hyper-converged and native hypervisor management tools tend to make one better suited for managing virtualized HCI resources than the other.  Continue Reading

• Essential hyper-converged backup, data protection questions to ask

  Procure a hyper-converged infrastructure, and you'll need to protect the data residing in that environment. Ask and answer these questions to determine the best HCI backup approach for your organization.  Continue Reading

• HCI hardware or hyper-converged software: Which is better for me?

  Appliance-based hyper-convergence integrates software with hardware, while software-only HCI enables you to use the hardware of your choice. Each type has pluses and minuses.  Continue Reading

• What are viable Open19 use cases and hardware options?

  Open19 is working with vendors to make hardware for its open source infrastructure. The goal is to support a growing number of off-premises use cases, such as edge computing.  Continue Reading

• Why is composable infrastructure important and what are its uses?

  The ideal function of composability is to make IT infrastructure more flexible, manageable and scalable than ever. It isn't for everyone, however; at least, not yet.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between Open19 and the Open Compute Project?

  Though the Open19 initiative and Open Compute Project seem to have a similar goal, they do differ in type of support, hardware requirements and licensing practices.  Continue Reading

• What hardware can I use in an Open19 rack?

  Open19 is a partnership that guides organizations to use open source rack servers. The organization's cages, power shelves and network switches make upgrades easy.  Continue Reading

• What is HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged with Composable Fabric?

  SimpliVity with Composable Fabric incorporates HPE's software-defined networking technology for implementing, managing and automating a fully connected and composable mesh fabric.  Continue Reading

• Is HCI but a stop on the road to composable architecture?

  Find out if composable infrastructure is the next step in the evolution of HCI, if it is a completely different type of IT infrastructure or if the truth is somewhere in between.  Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of hyper-converged flash storage

  Find out why and for what use cases and application workloads 100% solid-state flash may not be the best storage choice for hyper-converged infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• How do I successfully install server GPU cards?

  Adding GPUs to your data center requires testing and research. To get the most out of the hardware, upgrade cooling resources and confirm software compatibility.  Continue Reading

• Which GPU specs are most important?

  When selecting GPUs, look at processing power, memory and OS support. These factors ensure hardware compatibility and effective performance in the data center.  Continue Reading

• What containerization technology do I need for my data center?

  Containers in the data center can help maximize server capacity, but there are a few things to consider before a Docker or Kubernetes implementation.  Continue Reading

• What can admins use as a data center GPU?

  There is no formal standard to differentiate consumer and data center GPUs. Still, you should evaluate processing speeds and hardware requirements before GPU installation.  Continue Reading

• What does GPU hardware do in the data center?

  Once part of the gaming industry, GPUs are gaining traction in data center infrastructures. Learn why the power of GPUs makes them fit virtualization and data-heavy applications.  Continue Reading

• What are some useful remote server management tools?

  Choosing software for remote server monitoring and maintenance depends on organizational and administrative needs. Here are a few programs to include in your search.  Continue Reading

• What do I need to know about remote server management?

  The ability to manage servers requires evaluating WAN connection options, available repair staff and software capabilities. This tip offers insight into how it all comes together.  Continue Reading

• Can I use server automation for remote management?

  Depending on your server management workflow, you might want to consider automation and orchestration. Before going forward, you should figure out what scripts are necessary.  Continue Reading

• How can I secure my remote server management tools?

  If you monitor a lot of servers, it's important to make sure the tools you use to remotely manage them are secure. Encryption and password best practices can help.  Continue Reading

• Which basic Linux file management commands should I know?

  File management is an essential part of working within Linux. Knowing a few basic commands makes it easier to move content and avoid file misplacement.  Continue Reading

• Which data center KPIs are the most useful?

  As admins evaluate data center performance, they need ways to look at both short-term and long-term data. KPIs offer one way to evaluate components, such as storage.  Continue Reading

• What network security methods do I need to keep data safe?

  How can you maintain network security beyond the standard firewall and blacklisting tactics? Encryption and digital rights management can ensure organizational data stays safe.  Continue Reading

• How do I protect my OS with Linux security features?

  Linux has a security framework with multiple layers, which makes it hard to maintain permissions and privileges. User-based profiles and whitelisting can help you oversee OS access and give you peace of mind.  Continue Reading

• How do I integrate storage into a blade server architecture?

  Blade servers come in a variety of configurations. In order to effectively manage your data center, you'll want to consider your storage needs, blade location and types of data workflows.  Continue Reading

• How is RHEL in the cloud different than in the data center?

  Implementing RHEL in the cloud isn't exactly the same as using cloud technology in the data center, especially when addressing swap and support concerns.  Continue Reading

• SIEM benefits include automated monitoring, malware mitigation

  SIEM tools deliver automated alert actions, normalize log data and provide intelligent filtering, all of which can help IT administrators lighten their workloads.  Continue Reading

• Which Windows Server deployment features work best with HCI?

  There are features in Windows Server 2016 that are specific to hyper-converged infrastructure, but many of the more basic functions also can be used to customize and improve HCI.  Continue Reading

• What are the top SIEM use cases?

  SIEM tools help organizations detect and mitigate malware and viruses, but they also allow administrators to offload traffic when an attack hampers performance.  Continue Reading

• What are the options for log management in Linux?

  Linux administrators should use syslog and systemd-journald together for smart log analysis. But there are also open source log management tools to consider.  Continue Reading

• Should my organization consider systems management services?

  IT staff have a lot on their plate, so outsourcing systems management to a third party might be appealing. But organizations must choose a reputable provider that meets their needs.  Continue Reading

• Do I need an information systems management degree?

  IS management degrees are table stakes for many IT job seekers. Hands-on experience and specific certifications make applicants more desirable.  Continue Reading

• Are hyper-converged infrastructure appliances my only HCI option?

  Preconfigured hyper-converged appliances aren't your only option anymore. Software-only and build-your-own hyper-converged infrastructure have unique pros and cons.  Continue Reading

• What Linux storage benchmarking tools are best?

  Several tools and commands can come in handy to storage admins looking to benchmark I/O performance on Linux systems. But not all benchmarking tools are created equal.  Continue Reading

• Follow these steps to assign vSphere permissions and roles

  Admins can use vSphere permissions to assign VM controls to different IT groups within their enterprise. Follow the networking example below to get started.  Continue Reading

• How can I prevent data loss during a Linux distribution upgrade?

  It's important to prevent data loss during a Linux OS upgrade. How can partitions or disk drives help IT teams meet that goal?  Continue Reading

• How do I convert CPU hours to MIPS for mainframe capacity planning?

  For better mainframe capacity planning, how do I convert CPU hours to MIPS? And is there a way to calculate the relationship between MIPS and MSUs?  Continue Reading

• Should I make a storage LUN for each server?

  In some scenarios, more than one LUN per server makes sense. In others, it's better to maintain a one-to-one ratio. So which is better?  Continue Reading

• How do you verify a HA server or cluster is working?

  I want to ensure server high availability in my production IT environment. Is it better to test server HA and risk disruption, or trust in the systems' reliability?  Continue Reading

• What can I do to gain Java skills and leave mainframe programming?

  I have two years of experience in mainframe technology, currently working as a mainframe developer. I want to change to Java technology.  Continue Reading

• Can I use Mikrotik vs. Cisco switches in a data center?

  I'm purchasing rack-level access switches for an enterprise data center, and weighing Cisco vs. Mikrotik, which is less expensive.  Continue Reading

• Help! I deleted a Linux boot partition

  I deleted a partition on my Linux system, but I still see a boot menu. How do I re-install GRUB2 and not lose data?  Continue Reading

• How do I configure vSphere HA for automatic failover?

  I want to install a virtualization environment with physical servers for failover and a storage server to boot up some virtual servers in our network. How can I do this?  Continue Reading

• How do I size the physical server to host virtual machines?

  I want to convert a physical machine to a virtual machine. How can I select and size the right server infrastructure to host VMs?  Continue Reading

• How do I transfer a PS file from a mainframe to a Linux server?

  I need to transfer one PS file's data from a mainframe to a Linux server. Are there any JCL scripts that can do this for me?  Continue Reading

• Can you virtualize a NetBackup master server?

  I have only seen companies deploy a NetBackup master server on a physical server. Are there any drawbacks to using a VM as a NetBackup master server?  Continue Reading

• Which IBM 3592 tape cartridge has the highest capacity?

  There are a bunch of IBM 3592 'J' tape designations. How do you order the right capacity for your tape drives? Do you take compression into account?  Continue Reading

• What's the best data center network topology?

  You need to know these most common data center network topologies, and check out a host of alternative topologies waiting in the wings.  Continue Reading

• What to do when UPS sizing goes wrong

  UPS sizing is hard, with confusing terminology and an ever-shifting IT load. If you get the calculations wrong, don't worry about a Michael Bay movie scene in the data center. Here's what to do when UPS is too wimpy or too beefy for the task.  Continue Reading

• What's the highest server temperature you can handle?

  There's no correct inlet air temperature for all servers. Age, performance and design help determine how much heat your server can handle.  Continue Reading

• Is LRDIMM the best memory option for an enterprise server?

  Load-reduced DIMM allows for more memory and decreased latency than on-server memory typically has. So how does it compare to other DIMM designs?  Continue Reading

• How outdated practices harm data center grounding systems

  Isolated grounds are a solution lacking a problem. In fact, isolated grounds create problems for data center cabinet power and add expense all around.  Continue Reading

• What to do when a mainframe IPL stalls out without error messages

  When initial program load stalls out on a mainframe logical partition, the culprit is often consoles. Connectivity is one of many potential causes.  Continue Reading

• Issues with SELinux preventing virtual machine from accessing files

  Here's how to solve the problems when trying to access files via a virtual machine in SELinux.  Continue Reading

• Are blade servers obsolete?

  Blade servers maximize compute density on racks, but are their days numbered?  Continue Reading

• FM-200 systems: What data center managers need to know

  Get the lowdown on using FM-200 systems for data center fire suppression, and whether or not they're a good choice for your company.  Continue Reading

• 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.  Continue Reading

• Data center cooling and humidity control: CRAC or AHU?

  Data center physical environment expert Robert McFarlane discusses the best temperature and humidity control choices for a reader's data center.  Continue Reading

• Alert vs. log in the Snort /var/log/snort directory

  A Linux security expert explains that the difference between the Snort alert and log logs in the Snort /var/log/snort directory is based on how rules are written.  Continue Reading

• MySQL full outer join workaround

  A MySQL expert offers a workaround for the lack of syntax support for full outer joins.  Continue Reading

• NFPA 75: Raised floor fire protection

  Utilizing separate suppression 'zones' for both above floor and sub-floor spaces is a common practice in areas where the subfloor contains a significant hazard/fuel load.  Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of IPsec

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• Data center raised floors and ceiling height

  In this question, Bob McFarlane explains the benefits and drawbacks to different data center designs pertaining to cooling and airflow.  Continue Reading