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Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

• Modern HCI environment shaped by evolving IT priorities

  Hyper-convergence simplified deployment and scaling of IT resources over the past decade, but modern IT is far more complex than it once was. HCI vendors evolved, but have you? Continue Reading

• Examining hyper-converged infrastructure costs and savings

  There are several factors to consider when calculating HCI costs, including licensing, storage, networking and CPU types. In addition, costs might include support contracts. Continue Reading

• WFH technologies prosper with ongoing remote access needs

  The work-from-home cat is out of the bag, and many skeptical executives have now seen its benefits, boosting markets for technologies like VPN, VDI, HCI that make it all possible. Continue Reading

• Build an effective IT asset disposal process

  Whether vendor guidance or internal analysis prompts asset disposal, managers must decide how to transfer data, map hardware-supported workflows and reduce downtime. Continue Reading

• IT asset retirement in the data center

  Is your data center equipment starting to show signs of aging? These performance metrics can evaluate hardware health and help you decide if assets should be maintained or retired. Continue Reading

• The ins and outs of Google Cloud Anthos on NetApp HCI

  Combining NetApp HCI with Anthos from Google enables enterprises to more easily implement and maintain a hybrid cloud infrastructure that supports modern applications and more.Continue Reading

• Take control of Hyper-V power management for cost efficiency

  Organizations can better manage Hyper-V power consumption through various means, such as using Hyper-V power plans, server cores and SCVMM capabilities.Continue Reading

• How to prevent and recover from server failure

  Hardware, software and facility issues can lead to server failure. With the right protocol and preventive maintenance, you can reduce failure amount and troubleshoot time.Continue Reading

• Top infrastructure modernization strategy challenges

  Increase the odds of IT modernization success by learning about the challenges and obstacles others have faced when attempting to modernize their infrastructure for their business.Continue Reading

• How to mold HCI appliances to workload requirements

  Ensure the hyper-converged infrastructure appliance you choose matches your workload requirements -- and not the other way around -- to maximize the benefits of hyper-convergence.Continue Reading

• Tools and tips to track server power consumption

  Server power requirements differ for each organization, but it's still essential to monitor peak loads and track how much power your servers consume to avoid outages.Continue Reading

• 7 top open source network monitoring tools

  Network is an essential part of infrastructure health and requires constant monitoring. To meet specific OS and hardware requirements, open source tools can be the best fit.Continue Reading

• Quickly repurpose HCI hardware for hosting virtual desktops

  Virtual desktops are tailored for remote work situations, and hyper-convergence makes a great VDI host that stands up quickly in a pinch. Consider these factors, though.Continue Reading

• HCI bolsters COVID-19 work-from-home infrastructure

  Redirecting hyper-converged systems or reusing older hardware can help organizations support a sudden influx of many more remote workers. Discover the challenges you might face.Continue Reading

• Two-pronged approach to scaling remote work infrastructure

  Hastily supporting large numbers of workers who all of a sudden find themselves at home requires quick thinking on the part of IT. Just as important is what you do afterward.Continue Reading

• Open Compute Project influence, open source hardware gain momentum

  With open source hardware more feasible than ever, catch up on how Open Compute Project consortium uses open source to develop more efficient server and infrastructure designs.Continue Reading

• Data center power infrastructure essentials prevent downtime

  Power infrastructure upkeep is essential to reduce damage in an unplanned outage. UPS and generator maintenance, plus disaster planning, should be a part of regular operations.Continue Reading

• A look at software-defined networking upgrade guidelines

  SDN brings the benefit of a mostly software-based update process. However, admins still must consider which updates are necessary and if a hardware refresh is required.Continue Reading

• Plan for a successful ITIL implementation

  Corporate buy-in and training are essential for organizations that decide to adopt the ITIL framework. Admins should also help decide if the library is the right service option.Continue Reading

• Key components for negotiating an HPC colocation contract

  When it comes to HPC colocation, there are specialized areas to cover in a service-level agreement. Review provider protocols for power, security and network connectivity.Continue Reading

• Infrastructure modernization via hyper-convergence can equal success

  How hyper-convergence can help modernize IT infrastructures to better meet challenges like the digital transformation of the business and the adoption of edge computing.Continue Reading

• A guide to data center maintenance outsourcing

  Data centers have a lot of moving mechanical parts to maintain. It's beneficial to leave electrical and fire system upkeep to the professionals instead of doing it all in-house.Continue Reading

• Top infrastructure and operations technology myths of 2019

  Admins are consistently evaluating technology to improve I&O efficiency. Cost, integration and business goals are key components to this process and cutting down any hype.Continue Reading

• Use GRUB to fix Linux boot problems

  GRUB is a handy tool to help admins solve any Linux booting issues. Reinstalling or manually implementing GRUB are two main approaches to getting your system back up and running.Continue Reading

• Guidelines to tackle multi-cloud and hybrid IT management

  Managing infrastructure isn't just the on-premises data center anymore. Software selection, architecture configuration and governance are key components of any hybrid IT setup.Continue Reading

• How pay-as-you-go hyper-converged hardware pricing works

  With consumption-based pricing, vendors deploy an HCI on premises, while you pay a subscription fee. It promises to lower upfront costs and reduce headaches. But is it right for you?Continue Reading

• Get eco-friendly with LEED data center certification

  The U.S. Green Building Council helps companies make existing and new data centers eco-friendly. HVAC, lighting and monitoring technology help increase infrastructure efficiency.Continue Reading

• Develop a 7-step server maintenance checklist

  For effective server maintenance, admins must perform proactive hardware and software checks. Any list must include dusting, log review and software patch tests.Continue Reading

• New hardware, use cases shape server benchmarking needs

  Advancements in server hardware help admins address the latest data-intensive use cases. But this brings questions about the place of industrywide benchmarking standards.Continue Reading

• Manage Windows Server HCI with Windows Admin Center

  Download and install Microsoft's free and easy-to-use Windows Admin Center to manage local and remote Windows Server-based hyper-converged infrastructure clusters.Continue Reading

• A look at HCI hardware maintenance

  Resource forecasting, capacity planning and upgrade compatibility are essential components of hyper-converged infrastructure maintenance. Learn why admins must implement them.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 to maintain your hyper-converged data center

  Data center managers can run HCI once it's out of the box, but the technology still requires performance monitoring and support to bring IT benefits to the organization.Continue Reading

• Continuous HCI platform maintenance ensures system health

  These best practices will help data center managers keep their hyper-converged platform in tip-top shape and make the process of deploying future updates simpler.Continue Reading

• Improve server rack physical security with ISO standards

  Safeguarding information access is essential to data center operations. With ISO Standard 27001 and the right locking mechanisms, you can prevent a security breach at the server hardware level.Continue Reading

• Top tips for moving workloads to hyper-converged technology

  Take security and management seriously when migrating workloads to HCI. Closely evaluate supporting systems -- and the applications and hyper-converged system itself --- as well.Continue Reading

• Addendum sets ASHRAE 90.4 as energy-efficiency standard

  The publication of ASHRAE 90.4 in 2016 brought a new set of energy guidelines, but the industry still used Standard 90.1. A new addendum has changed protocol and best practices.Continue Reading

• How to realize the benefits of software-defined infrastructure

  Software-based infrastructure and services can streamline management and application data. Before you add them to your data center, consider workload needs and existing hardware.Continue Reading

• 4 essential components to edge data center maintenance

  Security, connectivity and remote management are integral parts of any edge architecture. Here's how to include them in your infrastructure.Continue Reading

• How to address HCI's resource provisioning challenges

  Provisioning in hyper-convergence is often imbalanced. Integrating more powerful, higher-capacity nodes with HCI software or taking a more hybrid approach can help.Continue Reading

• Decrease legacy hardware security gaps

  Dated infrastructure poses security threats to organizations -- especially with the amount of sensitive data used today. Address these concerns with active inventory audits.Continue Reading

• Explore Robin hyper-converged Kubernetes for containerized apps

  Robin Systems new scalable and agile Kubernetes HCI platform aims to take the pain out of deploying and managing complex data-intensive systems in a containerized environment.Continue Reading

• 3 ways to approach legacy hardware maintenance

  Budget, maintenance cycles and specialized use cases are all reasons to keep legacy hardware. Minimize costs and outages with service contracts and emulation options.Continue Reading

• 5 steps to include on your software update checklist

  Training, testing and automation are all essential components to software updates. Implementing these concepts makes version maintenance a less herculean task.Continue Reading

• 83 useful Linux commands

  Enterprise administrators and managers who use this guide of essential Linux commands, utilities and tools will find ways to manage files, get process status updates and more.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

• Flexible consumption models lower IT overhead, help investments

  Flexible consumption lets you track infrastructure usage and decrease tech investment overhead. It may seem similar to the as-a-service model, but there are differences between the two.Continue Reading

• Prepare your organization for 100G data center Ethernet

  Leaf-spine topologies, Ethernet and optics research are driving the next generation of data center networking infrastructure. Stay ahead of the curve with these technologies.Continue Reading

• Deploying a hyper-converged cluster with mismatched hardware

  Software HCI implementations make it possible to build HCI clusters from mismatched hardware. Even so, see why matched hardware can make deployment easier to manage and maintain.Continue Reading

• Linux features beyond server management

  Due to its open source nature, Linux is constantly gaining new capabilities. Here's a look at some common use cases and features.Continue Reading

• 6 top hyper-converged infrastructure management tips

  These tips address specific aspects of HCI management and illustrate ways to better integrate these systems with third-party tools and overall IT infrastructure.Continue Reading

• How to cultivate the ideal IaaS agreement

  As you expand your infrastructure, you might use service providers for certain components. Make sure you get a comprehensive SLA that addresses responsibilities, costs and security.Continue Reading

• A 6-step guide for hardware disposal

  Asset tracking, information logging and security measures should all be a part of hardware decommissioning. Don't miss a step with these considerations.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

• How to enhance FTP server security

  If you still use FTP servers in your organization, use IP address whitelists, login restrictions and data encryption -- and just a few command prompts -- to keep them secure.Continue Reading

• Red Hat CTO: Scalability, usability key RHEL 8 components

  Linux software is expanding its use cases for data center and cloud options. Red Hat CTO Chris Wright details how the company is helping improve IT management and visibility.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

• Hyper-converged infrastructure benefits by reducing IT complexity

  Businesses turn to hyper-convergence to reduce data center complexity so IT can more directly support business goals and capitalize on the value of data.Continue Reading

• Micro data centers build edge computing opportunities

  Organizations can use micro data center deployments to increase on-site data processing. Admins can get their setups right with options from Dell and HPE.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 composable infrastructure goes hand in hand with private cloud

  Some companies are opting out of SAN upgrades or costly converged systems in favor of composable architecture to build servers and storage on the fly. But will the concept take off?Continue Reading

• Build a comprehensive outline for your data center budget

  Including all necessary data center expenses during budget planning can be daunting. IT managers can start with costs for software licenses, hardware upgrades and cloud migration.Continue Reading

• Top 5 Linux performance commands for system administrators

  Figuring out Linux host performance issues is time-consuming without the right tools. The top, vmstat, iostat, free and sar commands can help get CPU, device and memory data.Continue Reading

• Can IT admins benefit from a DevOps environment?

  Admins might wonder if they need to pay attention to DevOps, but collaboration with developers helps minimize bad code and optimize processing hardware.Continue Reading

• Essential hyper-converged cloud questions answered

  Hyper-convergence can help make taking a cloud or multi-cloud approach to your architecture easier to implement, manage and scale. Read on to find out how and why.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

• Hyper-converged integrated systems crucial to long-term HCI success

  No HCI platform exists in a silo. Learn why hyper-converged systems must communicate, interact and integrate with third-party management tools and the wider IT infrastructure.Continue Reading

• How to get the most out of your SIEM system

  When it comes to threat protection, antivirus software is no longer enough. Data center admins need cloud-based SIEM to ensure their environments are fully protected.Continue Reading

• A data center planning and design guide for IT pros

  Data center design and management now goes beyond servers and networking cables. Defining budget and IT goals helps set an effective roadmap for data center architecture.Continue Reading

• Data center budget process should review business goals first

  Discover four factors data center managers should evaluate when allocating financial resources and areas to address to ensure funding requests meet execs' business goals.Continue Reading

• The hyper-converged network benefits from commingling HCI, SDN

  Merging software-defined networking with hyper-converged infrastructure platforms should simplify and ease the deployment, scaling and management of hyper-converged networks.Continue Reading

• How to prepare your data center for an HCI appliance

  Vendors tout hyper-converged infrastructure as a plug-and-play offering, but before you install anything in your data center, be sure your network supports the hardware.Continue Reading

• Tips for selecting a data center testing provider

  Finding the right service provider for data center tests can be time-consuming. To pick the right one, be sure to have realistic objectives and a detailed SLA.Continue Reading

• 10 top tips to maximize hyper-converged infrastructure benefits

  The most-read hyper-converged tips of the past year represent a range of best practices for procuring and implementing HCI as all or part of your overall data center architecture.Continue Reading

• Top server maintenance tips to extend hardware lifespan

  IT administrators can upgrade CPU, RAM and networking hardware to maintain smooth server operations and to maximize resources.Continue Reading

• How mainframe maintenance intersects with x86 server upkeep

  Mainframe maintenance overlaps with some x86 server upkeep tasks. Patching and storage management play a role in keeping mainframes up to date.Continue Reading

• A look at fundamental Linux sed commands

  The Linux stream editor is a useful way to run scripts in the data center. With these command examples, you can start to build your familiarity with sed.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

• Minimize downtime during a data center upgrade

  End users don't want their productivity interrupted by IT maintenance. With the right technology, testing and planning, you can reduce or eliminate downtime in the data center.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

• Nvidia partnership bolsters VMware live migration capabilities

  As part of vSphere 6.7.1, admins can now live migrate virtualized workloads supported by vGPUs. The Nvidia and VMware partnership improves high-capacity management capabilities.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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 14 SIEM reports and alerts to boost security

  Setting up an SIEM reporting infrastructure requires an overall knowledge of what data capture is available. With standard reports and event categories, you can ease implementation.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

• Streamline data center ops by adding functionality to your DCIM tool

  Once you've successfully set up DCIM software, it's important to evaluate what further capabilities you need and the ways you can improve data center planning.Continue Reading

• Ten Linux process management commands that simplify admin workflows

  If you work in Linux, chances are you have to do some process management. Here are some commands to simplify that workflow.Continue Reading

• Build your PowerShell command cheat sheet with these basics

  Even if you've previously used PowerShell, it's beneficial to add new commands to your reference sheet and keep your overall knowledge as current as possible.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

• Easily read a log file in Linux with command-line tools

  Depending on the specific Linux distribution you use, there is a variety of commands to help you locate, read and search log files within related program components.Continue Reading

• Hadoop cluster configuration best practices streamline workflows

  Organizations that deal with a variety of Hadoop configurations can streamline workflows through baseline configuration, tests and site-specific configuration files.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

• Hadoop cluster capacity planning best practices

  Trying to calculate Hadoop cluster capacities isn't always straightforward. It's important for organizations to include IOPS and compression rates in their predictions.Continue Reading

• Composable architecture keeps hardware flexibility

  With composable systems, an IT admin can get more choice from the devices on the back end and more choice on the devices it delivers the virtualized resources to.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

• IT support and service contracts ripe for savings

  If you don't pay close attention to IT support, service and maintenance contracts, start now. Chances are your organization is paying more than it needs to.Continue Reading