Data center ops, monitoring and management
Data center operations are the fundamental workflows that keep a data center operating. Monitoring and management of data center resources comprise the most central data center ops. Learn more about data center software and best practices for monitoring and managing devices and equipment across the data center.
Top Stories
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Tip
18 Nov 2024
Understand the power usage effectiveness metric
Data center admins must monitor power efficiency through PUE metrics. There are three PUE levels, with PUE 1.0 as the best. However, various conditions can impact the rating. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Nov 2024
Data center cooling systems and technologies and how they work
Extreme heat and cold can keep equipment from operating at peak efficiency. Explore cost-efficient and cost-effective cooling technologies and smart options for your facility. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Aug 2022
computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit
A computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit is a device that monitors and maintains the temperature, air distribution and humidity in a data center, network or server room. Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Jul 2022
Quantum computing market sees new partnerships, progress
From Infineon and Oxford Ionics' partnership to Cambridge and Honeywell's merger and QCI's new Entropy Quantum Computing, explore the major new leaps in the quantum market. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jul 2022
Create file server screens and quotas in FSRM
File Server Resource Manager can help data center admins keep track of what files get stored on their servers and how much space users take up. Learn to use key FSRM features. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Jul 2022
These Azure Logic Apps examples assist with your admin needs
Admins can get some automated assistance with provisioning and monitoring by learning how to work with triggers in Microsoft's integration platform as a service. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Jun 2022
POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface)
POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) is a set of standard operating system interfaces based on the Unix operating system. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jun 2022
Words to go: Learn basic Linux terminology
What is a distro? What does swappiness mean? How are Xen and KVM different from one another? Familiarize yourself with basic Linux terminology for beginner users. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jun 2022
data center management
Data center management refers to the set of tasks and activities handled by an organization for the day-to-day requirements of operating a data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jun 2022
Send automated messages with this Azure Logic Apps tutorial
Learn to use the Microsoft cloud-based product to automatically send an email or a message from Microsoft Teams when you need to know if a task completed properly. Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Jun 2022
Notes from Lenovo's ISG analyst summit
Lenovo is more than just a PC company. In its recent analyst summit, the company revealed its goals with AI, edge, cloud services, HCI as well as growth in foreign markets. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Jun 2022
economizer
An economizer is a mechanical device that reduces the amount of energy used to cool a data center or other buildings. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Jun 2022
Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan)
Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan) is a free Microsoft tool that enables IT administrators to organize, group and control multiple remote desktop connections. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2022
How to set up automated log collection with PowerShell
Gathering logs from on-premises Windows Server systems or Office 365 cloud services is a necessary but tedious job. Try a PowerShell script to ease the pain. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Jun 2022
z/OS
Introduced in 2000, IBM z/OS is a 64-bit mainframe operating system (OS) developed by IBM for its family of enterprise z/Architecture mainframe computers. Continue Reading
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Opinion
14 Jun 2022
SUSECON 2022 highlights include container management, edge
SUSECON featured several key product launches and trends, including business-critical Linux, containers and the edge. But how will SUSE impact the market? Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jun 2022
What's the current state of quantum computing?
As quantum computing comes closer to being a reality, learn how this style of computing can coexist with traditional computing. Discover major players and key use cases. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 May 2022
20 systemctl commands for system and service management
System and service management are vital to ensure customer satisfaction and service delivery. These systemctl commands can help ease those management tasks for admins. Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 May 2022
Key takeaways from Red Hat Summit 2022
At Red Hat's 2022 Red Hat Summit, the organization announced changes to edge strategy, Linux admin skill gaps and hardware and software modernization. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 May 2022
instruction set
An instruction set is a group of commands for a central processing unit (CPU) in machine language. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 May 2022
GNU/Linux
GNU/Linux is a Unix-like operating system made up of different OS components and services that create the Linux OS. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 May 2022
ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)
ASHRAE was formed in 1959 by the merger of the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE), founded in 1894, and the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE), founded in 1904. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
17 May 2022
Query event logs with PowerShell to find malicious activity
Every action on a Windows Server system gets recorded, so don't get caught by an avoidable security incident. Learn how to find potential security problems in event logs. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 May 2022
Why admins should learn how to use Azure Logic Apps
In an increasingly cloudy IT world, the iPaaS offering from Microsoft can bridge management gaps with automated workflows that require little technical expertise. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Apr 2022
horsepower (hp)
Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement in the foot-pound-second (fps or ft-lb/s) or English system, sometimes used to express the rate at which mechanical energy is expended. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Apr 2022
power usage effectiveness (PUE)
Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a metric used to determine the energy efficiency of a data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2022
Data center temperature and humidity guidelines
ASHRAE maintains a recommended list of humidity and temperature level standards for data centers. Discover how to keep your data center environment in tiptop shape. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2022
5 basic network commands for Linux and Windows
Linux and Windows use different network commands to run tasks that are common in both environments, such as network connectivity testing. But the commands often share similarities. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
28 Apr 2022
Avoid clock skew issues with external time source setup
Configure Active Directory domain controllers to use an external NTP server to avoid Kerberos authorization issues and other problems in your Windows environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Apr 2022
Windows Server 2022 security hardening guide for admins
Emerging threats continue to target the Windows ecosystem, but there are multiple methods to make it tougher to be the victim of a malicious hack attempt. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Apr 2022
How to set up a MySQL database in Linux
Learn to prepare for a SQL-based Linux database, create a new database and create database users with permissions. This enables you to work with many other services. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Apr 2022
Uptime Institute's data center tier standards
Data center tiers are a system created by Uptime Institute LLC to describe the availability of infrastructure resources in a facility. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Apr 2022
Use these PowerShell add-ons to supercharge your experience
These PowerShell new features and modules introduce several customization and functionality features to the popular automation tool to ease coding tasks for administrators. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2022
6 ways to perform microservices load testing
While it's not easy to conduct load testing in hectic microservices environments, certain best practices can help testing teams ensure fair and equal distribution of workloads. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2022
Advice for data centers looking to change operating systems
When you swap out a data center's primary OS, first, consider the purpose of your replacement OS and its optimal workloads. Then, you can create an OS migration plan. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Apr 2022
kernel panic
A kernel panic refers to a computer error from which the system's operating system (OS) cannot quickly or easily recover. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Apr 2022
data center resiliency
Resiliency is the ability of a server, network, storage system or an entire data center to recover quickly and continue operating even when there has been an equipment failure, power outage or other disruption. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Mar 2022
Discover disaster recovery and backup for edge networks
Proper backup and DR at the edge requires an awareness of the specific challenges edge devices present, and appropriate plans and tooling to help ease management. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Mar 2022
The global state of data center sustainability
Review green initiatives in the world of data centers: sustainable designs and practices, what other organizations are doing and where IT falls short. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Mar 2022
How to work with an SCCM technical preview lab
System Center Configuration Manager technical previews give Microsoft customers a way to test and provide feedback to the company for its device management product. Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2022
ServiceNow adds new RPA features to San Diego release
Doubling down on its RPA initiative, ServiceNow unveiled the San Diego version of its Now Platform that contains an RPA Hub and a complete overhaul of the product's interface. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Mar 2022
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is an enterprise Linux operating system (OS) developed by Red Hat for the business market. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Mar 2022
8 things to know when switching from Windows to Linux
Switching to Linux from Windows can present new challenges for beginner Linux admins. Here are eight tips to keep in mind when adopting a Linux OS if you've only used Windows. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Mar 2022
Businesses building data center network automation internally
Companies develop their own data center network automation software for security compliance, and they need tools closely aligned with their specific networks. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Mar 2022
Strategies, benefits of data center network automation
Data center networks aren't new, but ways of managing them are -- such as with data center network automation. Strategies include cloud automation, DevOps automation and more. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Mar 2022
3 colocation trends to consider in 2022
Key developments in the data center services market include smaller, more flexible deployments, AI optimization and a continuing focus on sustainability. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Feb 2022
hot/cold aisle
The hot and cold aisles in the data center are part of an energy-efficient layout for server racks and other computing equipment. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2022
Automation brings NetOps to the next level
Automation and AI can help enterprise NetOps teams attain the data insights they need to deliver services more efficiently and create a more agile, proactive network. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Feb 2022
Key data center trends in 2022
In 2022, data centers will introduce a variety of new technologies. Expect a focus on hybrid cloud, solid-state storage, DCIM and sustainability measures. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Feb 2022
11 key considerations prior to a data center upgrade
When you upgrade your data center, know the 11 key steps you must take to ensure neat migrations, good availability, continued security and limited downtime. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Feb 2022
ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) is the primary organization for fostering the development of technology standards in the United States. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
14 Feb 2022
How to use PowerShell with the Azure REST API
With PowerShell automation coupled with the Azure REST API, it's easy to build a script to create, power on and remove virtual machines in Microsoft's cloud platform. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Feb 2022
How can data centers support a remote workplace?
Remote work presents a variety of challenges to businesses. Here's what an organization can do to provide adequate resources for its at-home workers and admins. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Feb 2022
Unix
Unix -- trademarked as UNIX -- is a multiuser, multitasking operating system (OS) designed for flexibility and adaptability. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Feb 2022
Categories of twisted-pair cabling systems
A twisted-pair cabling system is a cable consisting of one or several pairs of copper wires. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Feb 2022
Debian
Debian is a popular and freely available computer operating system (OS) that uses a Unix-like kernel -- typically Linux -- alongside other program components, many of which come from GNU Project. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Feb 2022
utility computing
Utility computing is a service provisioning model where a provider makes computing resources, infrastructure management and technical services available to customers as they need them. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Jan 2022
SUSE
SUSE (pronounced soo-sah) is a multinational company that offers enterprise-grade open source products based on Linux technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2022
Create data center electrical safety guidelines
Compose a comprehensive electrical safety strategy and keep your data center staff safe from electrical hazards. Learn what best practices and standards you should consider. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jan 2022
How to choose the right DCIM tool for better configuration
DCIM tools can ensure your data center runs efficiently by keeping track of hardware, software and the physical environment. Here's what you should consider before choosing one. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2022
Protect your data center from ransomware attacks
Consider how best to protect your data center from ransomware attackers: Keep safe, air-gapped backups; consolidate your infrastructure and prioritize critical assets. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2022
Evaluate GPU vs. CPU for data analytics tasks
As data analytics becomes more commonplace, you might wonder what processor best suits such complex tasks. The CPU and GPU specialize in different tasks but excel together. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Jan 2022
abend (abnormal end)
An abend (abnormal end) is an unexpected or abnormal termination of an application or operating system that results from a problem with the software. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Jan 2022
capacity on demand (COD)
Capacity on demand (COD) is a purchasing option that allows companies to receive equipment with more computer processing, storage or other capacity than the company needs at the time of purchase, and have that extra capacity remain unused and unpaid for until the company actually requires it. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jan 2022
Hidden colocation cost drivers to look out for in 2022
These unexpected charges and fees can balloon colocation costs for enterprise IT organizations. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
13 Jan 2022
What to consider when selecting an IaaS provider
A good IaaS should act like a partner, tailored to your infrastructure. Keep these criteria in mind when selecting a provider for your organization's IaaS. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2022
LG Electronics, IBM partner on quantum computer research
Looking to expand software available for its quantum computers, IBM has added LG Electronics to its Quantum Network to explore offerings for the AI and IoT markets. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Jan 2022
Cygwin
Cygwin is a collection of open source tools that allows Unix or Linux applications to be compiled and run on a Microsoft Windows operating system (OS) from within a Linux-like interface. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Jan 2022
Foster health and safety in the post-pandemic data center
Data centers adapted to a new set of circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic. As work and the pandemic continue to change, here's how data centers can continue to evolve. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Dec 2021
high-performance computing
High-performance computing (HPC) is the practice of using parallel data processing to improve computing performance and perform complex calculations. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2021
What you should consider when right-sizing a data center
How does an organization decide the appropriate size and density for its data centers? Consider factors such as rack layout and available power first. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Dec 2021
bash (Bourne again shell)
Bash (Bourne Again Shell) is the free and enhanced version of the Bourne shell distributed with Linux and GNU operating systems. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Dec 2021
grid computing
Grid computing is a system for connecting a large number of computer nodes into a distributed architecture that delivers the compute resources necessary to solve complex problems. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Dec 2021
GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or GPL)
The GNU General Public License, often shortened to GNU GPL (or simply GPL), lists terms and conditions for the copying, modification and redistribution of open source software. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Dec 2021
lights-out management (LOM)
Lights-out management (LOM) is a form of out-of-band management. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Dec 2021
Red Hat
Red Hat is a software company that combines open source Linux operating system components with related programs into a distribution package that customers can order. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Dec 2021
Data center backup generators for mission-critical loads
To select the correct backup generator for your mission-critical data, learn the fuel, cost and efficiency considerations you should take into account. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Dec 2021
Monitor edge latency for IoT devices
Latency in edge devices can have several sources, stemming from software, network issues or old hardware. Here's how you can monitor and troubleshoot latency at the edge. Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
Honeywell, Cambridge Quantum form new quantum computing firm
Honeywell is merging its internal quantum computing divisions with Cambridge Quantum, forming a new company that promises to deliver a complete quantum computing software stack. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Nov 2021
CICS (Customer Information Control System)
CICS (Customer Information Control System) is middleware that sits between the z/OS IBM mainframe operating system and business applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2021
Best practices for data center risk assessment
Data centers contain risks such as height, environmental and electrical hazards. Keep your staff safe by assessing the level of risk and creating a comprehensive safety plan. Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
MemVerge to help balance HPC resources more efficiently
Partnering with the DMTCP Project, MemVerge supports the open source distributed multithreaded checkpointing technology, which could change the high-performance computing game. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Nov 2021
TCO (total cost of ownership)
Total cost of ownership (TCO) is an estimation of the expenses associated with purchasing, deploying, using and retiring a product or piece of equipment. Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2021
Kyndryl CTO talks strategy for the '$19 billion startup'
Kyndryl, the IBM services spinoff, debuted this week amidst varying analyst opinions as to how it would fare. Kyndryl CTO Antoine Shagoury lays out why he thinks it can succeed. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Nov 2021
Top Unix commands: 50 must-know commands with examples
Use these 50 Unix commands to manage and modify files, navigate directories, monitor your network and users, gather data, and automate system tasks and processes. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Nov 2021
What to know about managing power for edge devices
Keeping edge devices powered constantly can present challenges in sourcing and managing it. Learn the basics of getting and keeping power at the edge. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Oct 2021
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Oct 2021
Best practices for container security in the data center
Container sprawl and container repositories can introduce new vulnerabilities to a data center. Here's what organizations should watch out for and how to stay safe. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Oct 2021
Which processing units for AI does your organization require?
AI requires certain hardware infrastructure, such as hardware accelerators and proper storage. Learn what your organization requires to successfully support AI. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Oct 2021
ISO 9000
ISO 9000 is a series of standards, developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Oct 2021
Data center security compliance checklist
In five steps, create a security compliance plan for your data center. Discover different standards, learn audit schedules and develop procedures to align with compliance. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Oct 2021
Common Kubernetes terminology you should know
What are pods and nodes? How do namespaces differ from volumes? This list of common Kubernetes terms can give you a basic understanding of the container management platform. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Oct 2021
Linux operating system
Linux is a Unix-like, open source and community-developed operating system (OS) for computers, servers, mainframes, mobile devices and embedded devices. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2021
An introduction to using diff and patch together
Use the diff command in Linux to discover subtle differences between code files. Then, use the patch command to update those code files to match. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Sep 2021
Use colocation and cloud together
Rather than deciding between cloud or colocation, consider using both cloud and colocation. Colocation can support a hybrid cloud environment and help cut down on cloud costs. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Sep 2021
What does a DPU do?
Learn the basics of data processing units: What they are, what they do, who's making them and who's adopting them. Then decide whether your data center might use one someday. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Sep 2021
Colocation data center market moves closer to the edge
Data center co-location provides companies a way to expand and diversify their infrastructure. The market is growing to increase data distribution and help advance edge use cases. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Sep 2021
Can green colocation help orgs meet sustainability targets?
Colocation providers prioritizing sustainability draw customers seeking to offset carbon emissions. But many orgs can also take steps to address sustainability issues in-house. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Aug 2021
What is server sprawl and how to prevent it?
Server sprawl is when multiple underutilized servers take up more space and consume more resources than can be justified by their workload. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Jul 2021
Explore the benefits of data center as a service
For organizations that might struggle to purchase and maintain their own data centers, they can turn to DCaaS, which enables them to lease data center facilities from a provider. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jul 2021
IT industry standard training for data center admins
Axelos, IDCA and the Uptime Institute each offer training courses and certifications for data center admins to increase their knowledge of common data center standards. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
12 Jul 2021
How to script a Bash shell argument
This tutorial teaches you how to add arguments to your Bash scripts, which can simplify and automate a variety of Linux tasks in the data center and eliminate hassle. Continue Reading