Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Everything you need to know about composable infrastructure

  Composability abstracts resources as services that can be dynamically composed and recomposed for specific applications. Learn about its many advantages, and why it isn't for everyone. Continue Reading

• Top guidelines for edge computing software selection

  Finding edge software that meets all your organization's needs requires help from both the business and IT sides. Get the right fit with use case information and developer input. Continue Reading

• Essential VxRail appliance hyper-converged questions answered

  Find out what you need to know as you investigate if Dell EMC VxRail HCI with vSAN hyper-converged software meets the needs of your organization's workloads and use cases. Continue Reading

• What enterprises look for with converged data center projects

  Learn about the state of the convergence market and what enterprises require for CI and HCI projects, the workloads they intend to run and which vendors are highest on their buying lists. Continue Reading

• Learn the basics of ACI network technology

  Application-centric infrastructure is one way to support an SDN setup. By learning the basics, admins can manage networks with automation and data abstraction. Continue Reading

• How VCF on VxRail helps achieve hybrid cloud victory

  Virtual Cloud Foundation on VxRail combines VMware software-defined private cloud technology with Dell EMC hyper-converged hardware to create an extensive hybrid cloud platform.Continue Reading

• Essential private cloud migration steps

  Executive buy-in, application evaluation and tool configuration are all important parts of cloud selection. With these steps, admins can ensure a smooth move to private cloud.Continue Reading

• Composable infrastructure platform flexes converged muscles

  Composability tailors resources as unified services to specific workloads. Find out how it works and compares to converged and hyper-converged infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Composable infrastructure techniques for the real world

  Automating your composable infrastructure engenders flexibility that enables enterprises to reshape the data center and keep pace with today's cultural and technological shifts.Continue Reading

• Selection criteria for converged data protection

  See if a converged backup product will meet your needs by exploring the features you should consider before investing in this relatively new kind of data protection platform.Continue Reading

• Illustrated history of the converged data center

  Data center convergence emerged as an alternative to the traditional data center and it continues to evolve. Learn more about CI, HCI and composable infrastructure in this infographic.Continue Reading

• Can next-gen SIEM help cybersecurity initiatives?

  More organizations are using SIEM, AI and cloud technology to minimize security breaches. Though despite interest, this combination is still in its infancy.Continue Reading

• Data center management as a service launches DCIM to the cloud

  DMaaS is an option for organizations that want to use cloud-based management. Though these offerings hold a lot of promise, there are concerns about cost and function.Continue Reading

• How Cisco and Nexenta software defines storage for HyperFlex HCI

  See how Nexenta's virtual storage appliance software can extend Cisco HyperFlex HCI storage capabilities without additional hardware or complex system reconfigurations.Continue Reading

• A close look at different types of hyper-converged architectures

  Learn more about the major kinds of hyper-converged infrastructure available as we explore the evolution of HCI from basic storage-compute nodes to newer disaggregated types.Continue Reading

• Answers to top server lifecycle management questions

  Unsure when to maintain, upgrade or ditch a server? Here's a look at your hardware -- and software -- care options.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

• 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

• 3 elements to consider for a hybrid cloud deployment

  Hybrid cloud uptake is increasing, as organizations demand greater infrastructure freedom across on- and off-premises environments and more control over the application layer.Continue Reading

• How to choose hyper-converged backup for data protection

  Data protection is essential for any hyper-converged infrastructure. How you back up data -- natively, agentless or using agents -- depends on your environment and other factors.Continue Reading

• Larger, expandable HCI nodes bring big infrastructure benefits

  Discover why a larger node strategy enables enterprises to better consolidate workloads in a hyper-converged infrastructure environment while reducing complexity and cost.Continue Reading

• When converged and hyper-converged -- and cloud -- converge

  Price, ease of management and use cases should determine if you use hyper-converged, converged infrastructure or on-premises public cloud stacks. There are differences, however.Continue Reading

• 3 ways to benefit from open source infrastructure

  Using open source infrastructure can reduce operating costs and streamline upgrades, but it's important to weigh the pros and cons before you jump on the bandwagon.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

• 3 vendors to consider for an HCI appliance

  HCI isn't just a software product; market vendors such as Nutanix, HPE and Pivot3 also have specific appliances for admins that want features for network and storage management.Continue Reading

• Know the risk of hyper-converged vendor lock-in, myths and facts

  The risk of HCI vendor lock-in is real. The reason why is different than you might think, however. See how it often comes down to financial, not technical, limitations in this article.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

• Data center cooling systems advance, incorporate natural sources

  Despite concerns around water-based cooling technology, organizations are developing new hardware setups that rely on fjords and oceans to effectively cool dense server racks.Continue Reading

• 4 essential KPIs for edge computing management

  If you want to track edge deployment activity, look at storage, network and processing resources to guide workload configuration and maintenance needs.Continue Reading

• Colocation vs. cloud: Quiz yourself on these workload expansion options

  Colocation or cloud? Data centers have plenty of expansion options beyond building a new facility. Learn about each option -- and test your knowledge -- with this quiz.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

• A guide to IaaS provider selection

  Adding a cloud infrastructure service requires proper evaluation procedures and research. For a smooth transition, assess VM shapes, developer skill sets, licensing and security.Continue Reading

• How do I size a UPS unit?

  Your data center UPS sizing needs are dependent on a variety of factors. Develop configurations and determine the estimated UPS capacity that will meet your current and future needs.Continue Reading

• With atoms and lasers, IonQ makes a quantum computing leap

  Startup IonQ is taking a decidedly sci-fi approach to quantum computing, using atoms to store information, along with sophisticated lasers to retrieve and process that data.Continue Reading

• Use cloud HCI as a stepping stone to hybrid cloud deployment

  More organizations are taking a hyper-converged infrastructure approach to deploying their hybrid clouds. Discover the motivation behind the strategy.Continue Reading

• 3 hyper-converged cloud infrastructure benefits

  A hyper-converged cloud enables IT managers to overcome the challenges of managing compute, storage and network resources as separate tiers and move to the cloud in stages.Continue Reading

• Enterprise adoption of hyper-converged storage gains traction

  Hyper-convergence may be on the upswing, but concerns about vendor lock-in, integration and the independent scaling of resources, including storage, limit its appeal for some.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged technology ready for next step, multi-cloud

  The height of the next hyper-converged infrastructure wave will revolve more around finding the right use cases rather than the right technology and architecture.Continue Reading

• Guarantee HCI software compatibility with cloud apps

  IT execs must evaluate an organization's current on-prem and cloud setup before selecting a hyper-converged offering to avoid security holes, disjointed workflows and poor user experience.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

• How to build a successful colocation strategy

  Proper evaluation of a colocation data center means reviewing geographic location, cost structure and accessibility to ensure the facility is right for their organization.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

• Open source virtualization expands VM hardware and OS options

  Dive into open source virtualization software with VirtualBox, KVM or QEMU. Each offers customizable VM management capabilities and legacy hardware support.Continue Reading

• Yes, pertinent, cost-effective hyper-converged platforms for SMBs exist

  Why the simplicity and potential cost savings of a hyper-converged infrastructure from the likes of DataCore, Scale Computing and StarWind may be the way to go for some SMBs.Continue Reading

• A guide to hyper-converged data resiliency options and requirements

  What you need to find out from HCI vendors to architect a resilient hyper-converged environment that will protect data against failure, error and attack.Continue Reading

• 4 considerations for choosing a private cloud provider

  Key features to look for from a private cloud provider include interoperability, scalability and how familiar admins are with the provider's technology.Continue Reading

• 4 essential composable infrastructure questions answered

  Learn how composable IT works, and find out when this highly flexible, programmable infrastructure model makes sense for your servers, network, and storage and when it doesn't.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

• Data center GPU market set for growth, AI workflows

  As GPU adoption increases, vendors and organizations are consistently addressing challenges in hardware installation and software development. Even so, the market is poised for growth in 2019.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

• Buy server hardware with these key functions in mind

  Find the right server hardware for your data center by evaluating what leading vendors offer in terms of processors, memory, storage, connectivity, hot swapping and security features.Continue Reading

• HCI storage advancements require network technology upgrades

  Flash storage options make HCI scalability easier, but they also require newer network hardware. Data center admins are looking at NVMe-based fabrics as a possible fix.Continue Reading

• Admins now require data center skills 'a mile wide'

  The role of a data center professional is changing in the face of cloud, the internet of things and evolving security. One hiring manager talks about the changes and why admins need broader skill sets.Continue Reading

• HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged FAQs get answered

  When HPE bought SimpliVity in 2017, it raised questions about the two company's HCI products, even though they were existing partners. We answer some of those questions.Continue Reading

• What you need to know before buying hyper-converged technology

  Learn how to determine your organization's need for hyper-converged infrastructure and to evaluate offerings from top HCI vendors to find the right fit.Continue Reading

• Weighing open converged infrastructure against composable

  OCI and composable infrastructure are both touted as the latest in convergence, but it is important to know how they differ before making an IT buying decision.Continue Reading

• Choosing the best OS: Linux server vs. Windows Server

  When determining the best server OS for a data center, you have Windows Server and multiple Linux options. For both, you'll want to look at vendor support, cost and functionality.Continue Reading

• How to successfully perform a data center upgrade

  When data center hardware becomes outdated, there are a few options. Here are ways that admins can ensure that a migration is efficient and downtime is minimized.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

• Evaluate Linux server distros for your data center

  Linux is known for its reliability and flexibility in the data center. To select the proper distribution for your servers, you'll need to evaluate your application and support needsContinue Reading

• Is hyper-convergence infrastructure becoming stratified?

  As more options for converged or hyper-converged IT types come to market, organizations may find themselves siloed into an option by size.Continue Reading

• Secondary storage structure is based on workload needs

  Using secondary storage can improve the performance of mission-critical applications, but deciding what data is secondary in importance isn't as easy as it seems.Continue Reading

• Pivot3 HCI: 7 things you should know

  Where did Pivot3 first target its hyper-converged storage systems, and where is it focused today? Find out answers to these and other frequently asked questions.Continue Reading

• Navigate data center management software selection

  Software evaluation can be a lengthy process, especially with both open source and commercial options. Functionality and support can help you form a short list of possibilities.Continue Reading

• 7 hyper-converged secondary storage questions answered

  Combining HCI and the use cases of secondary storage, such as data recovery and archiving, was a challenge, but a few companies took up that task and launched a new market.Continue Reading

• Examples of hypervisors and how they're supported in HCI products

  Hypervisor support in hyper-converged infrastructure has evolved over time. Find out how as we assess the past and current place of individual hypervisors in these architectures.Continue Reading

• Definition of hyper-converged infrastructure evolves, as do products

  Defining hyper-convergence can be a challenge. Focus instead on learning about hyper-converged infrastructure product options and how they fit your data center and cloud plans.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged product comparison: What leading HCI vendors offer

  Before you purchase a hyper-converged infrastructure system, use the criteria and factors examined here to evaluate 10 leading HCI products.Continue Reading

• Composable architecture options versus CI and HCI

  While converged, hyper-converged and composable infrastructures all share some degree of similarity in convergence, important differences can affect your IT architecture choices.Continue Reading

• Answers to NetApp FlexPod commonly asked questions

  Wondering which version of FlexPod is ideal for your situation? In this FAQ, find out the answer to this, as well as other common NetApp and Cisco FlexPod questions.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged products offer big benefits to IT environments

  Hyper-converged technology offers benefits such as scalability to help reduce the storage footprint, and enables organizations to pick the hardware and configuration to best suit their needs.Continue Reading

• Datrium open converged infrastructure makes HCI flexible

  Datrium calls its less rigid form of converged infrastructure open convergence to highlight its greater scaling flexibility versus converged or hyper-converged infrastructures.Continue Reading

• Converged data center migration practices to avoid data loss

  Refreshing data center hardware is no simple task, especially for organizations with multiple workflows. Before completing an upgrade, make a plan for backups and workload management.Continue Reading

• Nutanix hyper-converged Flows into multi-cloud and more

  With the introduction of Flow, Beam and Era, Nutanix has made a clear statement that it's aiming for a comprehensive Nutanix enterprise cloud OS.Continue Reading

• Accelerated processing units advance data center performance

  As you come across more complex data center workflows, you can begin exploring options for accelerated processing, such as GPUs or TPUs.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

• Composable infrastructure platform FAQs get answers

  While the goal of hyper-converged infrastructure and composable infrastructure are much the same, the way they achieve that objective of on-demand IT infrastructure differs.Continue Reading

• Building and implementing a true SDDC platform

  Data center technology must keep up with changing infrastructures. With a software-defined data center, organizations can gain flexibility and automation.Continue Reading

• GPUs, FPGAs increase software-defined data center performance

  Some applications in your SDDC might need special hardware so they can function at their best. GPUs and FPGAs are an effective way to increase performance.Continue Reading

• New vSAN 6.7 features boost failover, ease management

  The latest version of vSAN puts the hyper-converged storage software into a wider range of use cases with better support for failover and a smoother management user interface.Continue Reading

• Four top open source SIEM tools you should know

  Open source SIEM software offers organizations a way to test capabilities and augment existing functionalities for analytics and log management. Get started with these options.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged infrastructure software aids IT flexibility

  Implementing a software-based hyper-converged platform can make it easier to scale components separately, but it has drawbacks as well, like multiple support sources.Continue Reading

• How hyper-converged secondary storage fits in the HCI world

  When converged secondary storage was added to hyper-convergence products, a new market sector was created that reduced the complexity of managing data retention systems.Continue Reading

• Craft a converged secondary storage strategy with care

  Secondary storage vendors have been offering converged technologies and products for a few years now, and the systems have become more feature-rich and cloud-capable.Continue Reading

• How to ensure hyper-converged infrastructure security

  To secure data in an HCI system, it requires tools and techniques that account for the unique features of hyper-convergence, such as shared resources and virtualized management.Continue Reading

• Agile workflows shift admins' IT procurement strategy

  Changing business needs and the move toward Agile workflows affect how data center managers make decisions about daily operations and IT purchasing.Continue Reading

• Your Red Hat Hyperconverged Infrastructure questions answered

  Red Hat HCI is software only, based on open source applications and is aimed for IT operations that want to use existing hardware in a DIY implementation.Continue Reading

• Why data centers need log management tools

  Log files contain rich and useful management data. With the right software tools and a few navigation tips, you can maximize and implement the information that logs provide.Continue Reading

• Data center monitoring best practices simplify software choice

  Metrics are essential to keep any data center operating smoothly. With monitoring software and best practices, admins can simplify their workflows and get usable data.Continue Reading

• What to know before selecting DCIM software

  Your DCIM needs will dictate what type of software is best for your workflow. Be sure to evaluate usability, expandability and which areas need monitoring.Continue Reading

• Find out answers for FAQs about Nutanix AHV and Acropolis

  Check out these answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Nutanix's Acropolis and AHV core hyper-converged infrastructure software products.Continue Reading

• Web server management best practices and essential features

  There are a lot of tools on the market for web-based server management. To find the best product, look for functions that automate workflows and add security.Continue Reading

• Top 4 advantages of a command-line interface

  With the simple look of the command-line interface, organizations don't always realize the advantages it brings to systems through pointed, accurate commands.Continue Reading

• Test your Storage Spaces Direct hyper-converged system smarts

  Windows Server 2016 took Microsoft into the HCI game, with hyper-convergence features based on Storage Spaces Direct, the upgrade from Windows Server 2012's Storage Spaces feature.Continue Reading

• Get to know SIEM software basics and benefits

  Security information and event management tools give organizations enhanced network management functionality, such as automatic reporting, data stream analysis and anomaly detection.Continue Reading

• Test your hyper-converged infrastructure storage knowledge

  Storage in a hyper-converged infrastructure is not limited to whatever disks the vendor decides to put into its base appliance. Test your knowledge of HCI storage with our quiz.Continue Reading

• Assess network device monitoring capabilities with these tips

  Organizations considering new network device monitoring software should evaluate the alerting capabilities and extensibility of several different tools before making a purchase.Continue Reading

• Certain solid-state storage characteristics benefit HCI most

  Depending on the workload demands, there are features of solid-state storage that can greatly enhance the performance of your hyper-converged infrastructure system.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

• Decide which application monitor software is right for you

  Organizations that want to implement application monitoring tools should consider how the tool gathers and reports information, as well as the purchase and licensing costsContinue Reading