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• From coding to automation, SRE skills reach far and wide

  A site reliability engineer wears many hats. In addition to development and IT troubleshooting responsibilities, this role requires top-notch communication skills. Continue Reading

• How to integrate DevOps into an IT monitoring strategy

  When it comes to IT monitoring, a DevOps toolchain presents opportunities and challenges. Follow best practices to ensure your teams see and fix problems appropriately. Continue Reading

• It's time to dismiss these 7 DevOps collaboration myths

  DevOps is taking root in IT organizations across the globe -- but that doesn't mean it's well understood. Misconceptions persist, but they can be conquered. Continue Reading

• Get started with threshold monitoring

  IT monitoring doesn't have to be difficult to set up and use. Learn how to set thresholds and dashboards, know when and how to escalate responses, and keep IT systems humming along. Continue Reading

• Learn Kubernetes step by step with this interactive book

  SearchITOperations spoke with author Zach Arnold about what IT pros can expect from The Kubernetes Workshop, an interactive book that progressively builds readers' knowledge of container orchestration. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is a configuration file?
  • What is AIOps (artificial intelligence for IT operations)?
  • What is change failure rate (CFR)?
  • What are ModelOps (model operations) analytics models?

  • What is LXD (Linux container hypervisor)?
  • What is a service mesh?
  • GitHub
  • Type 2 hypervisor (hosted hypervisor)

  View All Definitions

• Implement compliance-as-code with this Chef InSpec tutorial

  Rather than rely on manual compliance checks, IT admins can use Chef InSpec to automate the process. Watch this brief video to learn essential InSpec commands and run some practice scans.Continue Reading

• 5 IT automation examples that ops teams should implement today

  IT automation use cases are plentiful and highly variegated -- but organizations should emphasize these five examples in their roadmaps.Continue Reading

• Container auditing best practices for large-scale deployments

  Container auditing and reporting are essential security and compliance measures in a production environment. Apply these practices to uncover abnormalities, control user access and choose the right tool.Continue Reading

• How -- and why -- to add SolarWinds modules

  SolarWinds is known for its capabilities in network monitoring, but flexible modules give IT operations staff the ability to monitor systems far and wide.Continue Reading

• A Kubernetes namespaces tutorial to manage cluster resources

  Namespaces in Kubernetes serve several purposes -- from allowing teams to share a single cluster to enforcing resource quotas. Use this tutorial to get started with this important Kubernetes feature.Continue Reading

• Create an AKS cluster with this Ansible and Kubernetes tutorial

  IT admins familiar with Ansible can use the configuration management tool, alongside Azure Cloud Shell, to spin up a Kubernetes cluster in AKS.Continue Reading

• Craft a DevOps transformation roadmap around these 5 milestones

  As organizations embark on a DevOps journey, they can use these five milestones to ensure team members stay on track -- and collaborate efficiently along the way.Continue Reading

• How many Kubernetes nodes should be in a cluster?

  There's no one-size-fits-all answer in terms of how many nodes should make up a Kubernetes cluster. Instead, that number varies based on specific workload requirements.Continue Reading

• Lean on these core Ansible features for IT automation success

  These six articles break down Ansible playbooks, roles and other key concepts for IT pros who are new to the tool -- or could benefit from a refresher.Continue Reading

• Top Docker best practices for container management

  Many admins use Docker for container management, so they should explore best practices such as container backup procedures and exploring Dockerfile commands.Continue Reading

• 6 articles to modernize an IT log management strategy

  Enterprises must adapt IT log management best practices and tools to handle an ever-growing volume of log files. Here are several modern approaches to tackle IT logging efficiently.Continue Reading

• Expand your knowledge of Hyper-V virtual switch types

  Admins can create three Hyper-V virtual switch types: external, internal and private. The need for internet access and a secure network can help admins decide which one to use.Continue Reading

• 4 components of a disaster recovery plan to prepare for a crisis

  IT teams must take a proactive approach to crisis management and disaster recovery. Use these four guidelines around communication, monitoring and more to build a plan that works.Continue Reading

• Tap into these dark data use cases for IT ops and the business

  Untapped data sources cause enterprises to forgo a wealth of information that benefits both IT operations and the business. Here's why -- and how -- to shine a light on dark data.Continue Reading

• Lay the groundwork for a SecOps team structure

  A good partnership between IT operations and security teams requires trust, mutual commitment and continual work -- but results in significantly reduced security exposures and a healthier work culture for all.Continue Reading

• Configure advanced VM settings in vSphere 6.7

  Configuring advanced VM settings is no easy task. Some common questions admins ask include where to place VM swap files and how many sockets and cores they should use.Continue Reading

• What to expect as AI for DevOps advances in the enterprise

  While still an emerging practice, the use of artificial intelligence in DevOps shops will have major implications on monitoring, cost optimization and more.Continue Reading

• Walk through 5 common PowerShell uses for IT ops teams

  PowerShell use cases have expanded past Microsoft's original design -- but IT automation is still at the tool's core, whether it's to support an AIOps strategy or monitor server performance.Continue Reading

• Kubectl commands and best practices for new Kubernetes users

  Kubectl is a simple and powerful means to control containers in Kubernetes. But as with any CLI, it demands familiarity with available operations, resource types and associated syntax.Continue Reading

• VM networking best practices to boost network performance

  Admins who familiarize themselves with VM network switches and activity can better understand issues and employ best practices to mitigate lackluster network performance.Continue Reading

• Embedded hypervisor use simplifies hardware, improves performance

  Admins who use embedded systems generally see improved performance in VM instances, but improper implementation of hypervisors can lead to system and processor latency.Continue Reading

• Perform Nagios configuration step by step

  Nagios Core helps IT teams monitor system uptime and availability -- but first, they have to install and configure the tool properly. Follow this video tutorial to get started.Continue Reading

• 3 ways IT teams can use PowerShell in AI initiatives

  As they embark on AIOps strategies, IT admins -- particularly those in Windows shops -- can lean on a familiar tool for data gathering and issue remediation: PowerShell.Continue Reading

• Follow this Ansible Vault example for encryption best practices

  IT admins can choose between two types of encryption methods when they use Ansible Vault: file-level and variable-level. Walk through each model with this brief video.Continue Reading

• Dig into Kubernetes pod deployment for optimal container use

  Improve your Kubernetes deployment strategy with balanced application hosting and sound pod-to-nodes mapping. Learn the ins and outs of resource pools and Kubernetes communication.Continue Reading

• How to approach Kubernetes multi-tenancy for resource isolation

  Multi-tenancy in Kubernetes can partition IT resources and operations, but it can be tricky to determine just how much isolation is necessary.Continue Reading

• Build a SaaS disaster recovery plan for IT automation tools

  While cloud-based IT automation software offers speed and flexibility, it poses the same potential risk of other hosted tools: a loss of availability during an outage.Continue Reading

• Virtualization skills admins must have in 2020

  Industry experts Sander van Vugt, Brian Kirsch and Stuart Burns weigh in on what skills virtualization admins must have in 2020 to better meet growing industry demands.Continue Reading

• Why to use staging environments for IT infrastructure testing

  A well-built and efficient staging environment pays off in a more stable production deployment. For this reason, IT ops teams should perform isolated infrastructure tests in staging.Continue Reading

• Put these Terraform best practices into action

  Terraform enables IT teams to complete a range of tasks, from deployment to multi-cloud management. Apply this collection of best practices to get started with, or optimize your use of, the IaC tool.Continue Reading

• Use this Nagios monitoring tutorial for proactive IT monitoring

  Learn how to install and run Nagios to monitor your organization's IT assets. Follow these steps so you're prepared to catch problems before they get out of hand.Continue Reading

• Optimize platform costs, use with an IT asset management strategy

  Without a thorough asset management plan that accounts for the complexities of today's IT environments, organizations risk cost inefficiencies and suboptimal support for the business.Continue Reading

• Practical advice to integrate IT systems after a merger

  A merger or acquisition can devour an IT administrator's time in many ways -- from running and supporting parallel sets of infrastructure to managing automation and security.Continue Reading

• Visual Studio Code vs. the native console for PowerShell debugging

  Unsure whether to debug a PowerShell script in Visual Studio Code or the PowerShell console? Follow this tutorial to make the decision a little easier.Continue Reading

• Best practices for Hyper-V template creation

  Admins can streamline template creation through Hyper-V SCVMM with a few best practices, such as evaluating whether a VM is the right fit for template creation.Continue Reading

• Build a DevOps feedback loop with these CI/CD tools

  From Azure DevOps to Jenkins, DevOps teams can choose from a number of CI/CD tools to enable and maintain a continuous loop of feedback.Continue Reading

• Ensure Kubernetes high availability with master node planning

  Kubernetes ensures high availability in its worker nodes, but for a mission-critical workload, IT teams should take these extra steps for redundancy in the master node components.Continue Reading

• Increase data center efficiency with the NSX-T load balancer

  When creating a load balancer, the NSX-T Data Center software is a likely contender, but you must have the necessary NSX-T components, such as tier 0 and tier 1 routers, before beginning.Continue Reading

• IT incident management best practices to minimize disruptions

  IT issues can come out of nowhere, but an incident response plan can guide teams through troubled times. Follow these best practices to optimize each part of the plan.Continue Reading

• Use multiple Dockerfiles for complex application configuration

  Dockerfiles can help with application configurations, but there are some questions you must consider, such as how many Dockerfiles each application requires.Continue Reading

• Walk through common use cases for built-in Terraform functions

  Follow along with this Terraform tutorial to learn and apply various types of built-in functions -- including Numeric, String, and Date and Time -- within the IaC tool.Continue Reading

• How and why to set up an automation CoE for DevOps

  As DevOps automation efforts spread across IT and the business, use a center of excellence to establish standards, secure executive sponsorship and organize staff trainings.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes networking explained: Start with these building blocks

  To understand Kubernetes networking, admins must first master the core components of the container orchestration platform. Then, they need to map deployments to the right virtual networking model.Continue Reading

• Use this Kubernetes and Helm tutorial to simplify app deployments

  Helm charts are a helpful tool to deploy applications onto Kubernetes clusters. Follow this tutorial, which also features Windows and Chocolatey, to get started with the package manager.Continue Reading

• Deploy and configure a basic setup of Linux's LXD hypervisor

  Admins looking to use Linux's hypervisor dedicated to container technology can use several commands to deploy and configure a basic setup of the hypervisor.Continue Reading

• Emphasize app modernization in 2020 IT budget plans

  IT budgeting can be stressful and complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Communicate with business leaders and users to identify -- and capitalize on -- the right opportunities.Continue Reading

• A Jenkins video tutorial to set up a build job

  Jenkins can help IT operations admins perform a number of IT automation tasks -- but first, they have to be familiar with the tool. Learn how to create a Jenkins project, or job, with this video.Continue Reading

• How to deploy graphics devices using Hyper-V DDA

  Admins can map a VM to a GPU with Hyper-V, but they must first complete a few steps, such as prepare the VM and dismount the PCIe device from the host partition.Continue Reading

• Dockerfile commands for containerizing applications

  Admins can use Dockerfiles to containerize their applications and ease deployment. They can implement several commands to help them do so successfully.Continue Reading

• Decipher real-world AIOps use cases from the hype

  There are many AIOps use cases that apply to enterprise IT, but make sure you are familiar with what exactly the technology can -- and can't -- do before adoption.Continue Reading

• Say 'yes' to NoOps with the right technology and team structure

  Before embracing a NoOps model, be sure IT team members have a clear understanding of how the methodology changes the technologies they'll work with, along with their day-to-day roles.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes explained in 5 minutes

  Kubernetes brings order to enterprise container deployments -- but it's a complex technology to learn. Use this video to grasp core Kubernetes concepts in under 10 minutes.Continue Reading

• Build a Graphite dashboard for data analysis, visualization

  Data visualization is a powerful capability for IT admins and business managers alike. In this tutorial, learn how to create charts and dashboards in Graphite, an open source monitoring tool.Continue Reading

• Design your systems with virtualization architecture in mind

  Virtualized systems require several architectural components, such as virtual servers, hypervisors and OSes. Admins should get to know these components for a successful system design.Continue Reading

• Import and export Hyper-V VMs with Hyper-V Manager and PowerShell

  When migrating VMs, admins can use Hyper-V Manager's export and import capabilities for small sets of VMs or PowerShell for larger migrations from one host to another.Continue Reading

• Understand how to orchestrate Windows containers with Kubernetes

  Before you orchestrate your Windows containers with Kubernetes, you must install Windows Server 1809 or later and meet several other requirements.Continue Reading

• Try out the Graphite monitoring tool for time-series data

  Combined with third-party tools, Graphite provides a number of benefits for IT performance monitoring. Explore its core components -- including Carbon and Whisper -- and basic guidelines for installation.Continue Reading

• Explore SCVMM features for VM deployment and management

  SCVMM can help admins better manage their virtualization stacks by providing VM networking diagrams and templates, but there are certain requirements admins must meet before use.Continue Reading

• Master DevOps security with the right team setup and tools

  Before implementing a DevSecOps strategy, software developers, security engineers and IT ops pros need a firm grasp on their unique roles in the process.Continue Reading

• The history of virtualization and its mark on data center management

  Virtualization was a huge leap in data center technology with software such as hypervisors and virtual switches that expanded organizations' capabilities and redefined IT.Continue Reading

• Gene Kim explores DevOps transformation in 'The Unicorn Project'

  This chapter excerpt from Gene Kim's 'The Unicorn Project' touches on one of the book's core themes: Roadblocks occur when developers, ops and business leaders are misaligned.Continue Reading

• Grasp Docker networking basics with these commands and tips

  For a containerization novice, networking poses one of the biggest challenges. Use this breakdown of essential Docker networking commands and concepts, including host and bridge setups, to reduce complexity.Continue Reading

• Get to know Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager

  Oracle released Linux Virtualization Manager, a platform that lets admins configure, manage and monitor their virtual server environments.Continue Reading

• Let DevOps automation tools deliver for you

  With a good strategy and the right tools, you can create a workable pipeline at every stage. Here's how to approach the key areas of DevOps automation.Continue Reading

• Three keys to successful DevOps automation

  An effective CI pipeline starts with build automation. But there are other steps needed to produce results.Continue Reading

• How to create PowerShell modules with a Plaster template

  Follow along this tutorial to create templates in Plaster, an open source tool, and accelerate the development of PowerShell modules.Continue Reading

• Perform a Windows event log search with PowerShell

  Event log monitoring is vital to an IT environment's health and success, but finding a specific event in the flood is challenging. PowerShell enables admins to simplify this task.Continue Reading

• Get to know VM networking basics

  Admins can create a network between isolated VMs with the help of several features and products, such as network interface cards and virtual LANs.Continue Reading

• Apply staging environment best practices to an app lifecycle

  From the public cloud to blue/green deployment, there are a myriad of ways that IT teams can make the most of their staging environments -- and use resources they already have.Continue Reading

• How to implement GPUs for high-performance computing

  IT managers must take advantage of advances in virtualization technology, such as virtual GPUs, to efficiently manage increasingly complex data center operations.Continue Reading

• How do I manage ACL folder permissions with a PowerShell script?

  PowerShell scripts make short work of repetitive Windows tasks, saving admins time, effort and frustration. One simple area admins can manage with scripts is the access control list.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged infrastructure basics for virtualization admins

  Hyper-convergence provides many benefits, such as simplified provisioning and management, but virtualization administrators should get to know HCI technology before implementing it.Continue Reading

• Explore Docker vs. LXC through the lens of a three-tier app

  Containers are not small virtual machines, and they're not all the same under the hood. To make smart deployment choices, understand the nuanced differences between container types.Continue Reading

• Follow this Terraform and AWS tutorial to create a VPC

  As an infrastructure-as-code tool, Terraform simplifies and streamlines resource deployments. Follow along with this example, which features Amazon VPCs, to get started.Continue Reading

• Explore the basics of Kubernetes cluster networking

  IT admins who need a crash course in basic Kubernetes networking concepts can follow along with this four-minute video.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of CNCF projects and tools

  From Kubernetes to Envoy, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation has ushered in many leading open source technologies for the IT enterprise. So, how well do you know them?Continue Reading

• What is an embedded hypervisor and what value does it provide?

  Embedded systems and hypervisors go hand in hand. By understanding both, admins can maximize system benefits such as multiple OS support and legacy code compatibility.Continue Reading

• How to create a successful DevOps organizational structure

  To build a DevOps organizational structure for speed and quality, align various skill sets with shared goals -- a process that requires a revolution, or evolution, of the status quo.Continue Reading

• Understand KubeVirt basics to help get you started

  Getting to know KubeVirt prior to use is essential. Though it relies on core Kubernetes technology, running VMs alongside containers is something you might be unfamiliar with.Continue Reading

• 5 IT video tutorials admins don't want to miss

  The best way to ramp up with a new technology or IT practice is to see it in action. Use these five video tutorials to visually walk through GitOps workflows, CI/CD pipelines and more.Continue Reading

• Use this Mesos and Marathon tutorial to try resource abstraction

  Marathon, the Mesos-based tool, eases large-scale container orchestration. Before you begin deployments, set up Zookeeper and Mesos with Marathon, and try a simple task.Continue Reading

• Are there tools or platforms that support AWS Firecracker?

  Although there are a handful of tools to help run Firecracker more easily, admins might find issues with the lack of major tool integration for the software.Continue Reading

• Can I install Ansible for Windows system management?

  Even though Ansible has its roots in open source software and Linux, is it possible to use the configuration management tool for Windows environments?Continue Reading

• How do I obtain, deploy and update AWS Firecracker?

  Firecracker can assist admins with creating and operating micro VMs, but improper installation and updates can cause potential issues.Continue Reading

• Container deployment considerations for successful implementation

  Containers can be useful for specific workloads but admins should consider certain factors, such as security and portability needs, before taking a containerized approach over VMs.Continue Reading

• Combine Puppet and Chocolatey to drive Windows DevOps

  Through the use of Puppet and Chocolatey side by side, Windows IT professionals can use Linux-like DevOps tools to automate the deployment and configuration of their systems.Continue Reading

• PKI authentication explained: The basics for IT administrators

  Public key infrastructure is part and parcel of modern digital business, from secure communications to data transmission and beyond. Admins must understand PKI to optimize its benefits.Continue Reading

• Effectively manage containers and improve workload performance

  Containers are increasingly popular, so it's vital that admins understand the tools available and learn how to manage containers before deploying them in production environments.Continue Reading

• Essential virtualization certifications for IT professionals

  As companies move beyond virtualization, the need for IT pros with fine-tuned expertise in cloud administration, ethical hacking, legacy infrastructure migration and automation rises.Continue Reading

• Get creative with feature flags in IT operations

  Feature flags give IT operations a range of possibility as broad as the imagination -- once you learn this dev-centric technique.Continue Reading

• When you create a DevOps workflow, avoid these missteps

  How can DevOps help? And how can you apply it correctly? These are important questions to consider before you attempt to create a DevOps pipeline.Continue Reading

• What are Ansible roles and when and how should I use them?

  Roles are one of several functions in Ansible that simplify and streamline IT automation processes. Dig into this quick overview to learn the basics of roles and potential use cases.Continue Reading

• Use Puppet Bolt to simplify configuration management

  Bolt, Puppet's cross-platform automation tool, is designed to minimize the learning curve for ops teams, but users still need to grasp its primary commands and elements.Continue Reading

• 5 DevSecOps interview questions employers are likely to ask

  To land that DevSecOps dream job, prepare to answer questions not only about specific IT and security tools, but about DevOps team culture as a whole.Continue Reading

• How to copy files to Windows containers

  Once you've deployed Windows containers in your production environment, you can start copying data and files to them using one of three methods, depending on file type and location.Continue Reading