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Manage

Learn to apply best practices and optimize your operations.

• Prepare for Windows Server 2008 end of life

  Admins must prepare their workloads for the Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 end of support. Otherwise, they risk the possibility of significant security breaches. Continue Reading

• Use centralized encryption methods in large-scale IT environments

  Whether data is stored in a VM or in the cloud, centralized encryption key management is critical to prevent theft and protect data from unwanted eyes. Continue Reading

• Server virtualization in DevOps continues to offer advantages

  Virtualization's role in DevOps technologies continues to persevere by providing strong isolation, flexible OS options and an assortment of sophisticated tooling. 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

• 7 HPC workload virtualization best practices

  If you are running high-performance computing workloads in a virtual environment, use our handy checklist to see if you are optimizing your environment to its fullest. Continue Reading

• Micro VMs bridge the gap between full VMs and containers

  Micro VMs address full VM and container disadvantages, all while providing a lightweight container architecture and retaining VM security for each instance.Continue Reading

• Use these features and techniques to ensure Hyper-V security

  To successfully enhance the security of Hyper-V hosts and VMs, admins should consider network security, guarded fabric technology, Generation 2 VMs and Secure Boot.Continue Reading

• What IT admins need to know about cloud application patching

  When they host apps in a SaaS or PaaS environment, IT teams offload some patching duties to cloud providers. But other responsibilities become even more important.Continue Reading

• Tips and tools to achieve a serverless DevOps workflow

  Serverless functions bring the benefits of event-driven computing to a CI/CD pipeline -- but to get there, DevOps teams might need to lean heavily on services and tools from the major cloud computing providers.Continue Reading

• Persistent memory in Hyper-V VMs offers better data retention

  When coupled with virtualization, persistent memory bridges the gap between traditional memory and storage devices by offering better performance and availability.Continue Reading

• Secure configuration management tasks with a certificate authority

  A CA server is a limited shield for the data that configuration management tools collect, but IT admins can use one for many tasks -- like to create custom certificates -- and boost security.Continue Reading

• GPU repurposing helps improve infrastructure cost efficiency

  A GPU's cost efficiency decreases when left idle. But, by putting GPUs to work for virtual desktop infrastructure sessions, admins can reduce costs and ensure improved performance.Continue Reading

• Embrace an app-centric approach to monitoring in the cloud

  Cloud computing minimizes the need for IT teams to worry about infrastructure hardware -- which means their monitoring strategies can, and should, hone in on apps and the user experience.Continue Reading

• Don't buy a GPU for machine learning unless you have the workload

  Virtual GPUs and machine learning might seem like a perfect match, but specialized chips might not be worth the investment if your workloads won't use the cards' full capacity.Continue Reading

• Obtain and deploy Hyper-V with Admin Center rather than VARs

  Using Admin Center to deploy Hyper-V over VARs can offer admins flexibility and the ability to remotely manage servers, but the push toward cloud migration can be an issue.Continue Reading

• Cloud adoption questions every IT admin should ask

  For all of a cloud service's benefits, there are limitations, such as restricted access to infrastructure, that cause IT teams to be leery of adoption.Continue Reading

• Apply automation for streamlined IT asset management

  Without accurate data, IT asset management processes fail. But, with automation and self-service capabilities, admins can efficiently track assets -- from onboarding to end of life.Continue Reading

• When to use a micro VM, container or full VM

  Choosing among VMs, containers or micro VMs depends on workload isolation and security needs, and admins should understand the different use cases before making a decision.Continue Reading

• Combat these common DevOps challenges and mistakes

  A DevOps transition is hard enough, so don't make it harder. Watch out for common pitfalls, such as missing metrics, leadership missteps and automation mistakes.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

• Avoid chaos with an IT crisis management playbook

  A minor IT issue can quickly snowball into a major catastrophe without a carefully constructed crisis management plan, but just what details should an organization include?Continue Reading

• Support Hyper-V security with these important protocols

  A virtual environment's security can make the difference when it comes to malicious attacks, preventing unauthorized OS or firmware codes from running at boot time.Continue Reading

• VM automation strategies and benefits for sizable workloads

  Before automating VMs, admins must consider several factors, such as workload size and cost efficiency. Otherwise, automated VMs can cause issues rather than yield benefits.Continue Reading

• Don't neglect your IT architect skills in public cloud projects

  Public cloud infrastructure is beyond the veil for IT admins: unknown and untouchable. But depending on the deployment -- and the cloud -- admins still have architecture to manage.Continue Reading

• Avoid SDDC security risks during implementation

  Moving workloads to a software-defined data center can pose challenges. When updating systems, admins should address potential security risks with proper care to avoid issues.Continue Reading

• Assess AIOps benefits and challenges for enterprise IT teams

  To successfully reap the benefits of an AIOps implementation, IT teams first have to navigate some crucial cultural and technical shifts.Continue Reading

• Save on licensing with a multi-hypervisor environment

  Shifting some workloads from VMware to Hyper-V to rely on multiple hypervisors takes time and effort, but the flexibility and cost savings might just be worth it.Continue Reading

• Reality strikes when enterprises deploy Kubernetes in production

  It's easy to run containers with Kubernetes, but Kubernetes in production -- with enterprise security, monitoring and compliance demands -- is a different story.Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere HA capabilities ease VM management

  VMware vSphere HA provides admins with the ability to manipulate their virtual environments to avoid excessive VM restarts and ensure peak performance.Continue Reading

• Micro VMs can present unique management challenges

  The haphazard deployment of micro VMs can eventually lead to issues ranging from IP address depletion to serious performance problems resulting from extreme resource contention.Continue Reading

• 3 tools admins can use for private cloud capacity planning

  Admins can better manage their private clouds with capacity planning tools, such as specified quotas, resource monitoring and predictive scheduling.Continue Reading

• Use ManageEngine OpManager to monitor your virtual environment

  ManageEngine OpManager offers monitoring capabilities that enable IT teams to gather resource metrics, such as CPU usage and I/O operations, to help manage their environments.Continue Reading

• What to do when virtualization management tools go cloud

  As more tools transition to the cloud, SMBs that keep workloads on-premises must make a decision about how they'll manage their virtual environments going forward.Continue Reading

• Inherit and manage a virtualization environment with these strategies

  Stepping into a management role when it comes to a newly inherited virtualization environment can be a challenge, but with the right approach, you can ease the transition.Continue Reading

• DevOps for networking hits chokepoints, tangled communications

  NetOps complements DevOps in enterprises that need to scale application delivery efforts up and out. Networking tools -- and teams -- need to advance to find their place in CI/CD pipelines.Continue Reading

• Adapt IT operations skills for QA roles

  IT admins who want to transition into a QA role can lean on their existing skill sets around data analysis, documentation and more, but the move still presents a learning curve.Continue Reading

• Combine containers and serverless to optimize app environments

  Rather than pick a side in the debate around containers vs. serverless computing, DevOps shops would benefit from putting both of these complementary technologies to use.Continue Reading

• Strategies for managing multi-hypervisor environments

  Efficient multi-hypervisor management often comes down to where you place your workloads in terms of compatibility and security and how accessible your management tools are.Continue Reading

• 4 types of virtualization IT admins should know

  Server virtualization is a fact of life for most IT admins, but there are other types of virtualization -- network, storage, desktop and application -- that IT pros should know.Continue Reading

• Manage Windows containers and Hyper-V containers with these tools

  You can use a number of tools for Windows and Hyper-V container management, including Docker and PowerShell, depending on your experience and skill set.Continue Reading

• Enterprise DevOps growth evident in CI/CD, container data

  CI/CD tool sets combine with containerization development to create fertile ground for IT organizations to grow into DevOps practices.Continue Reading

• Implement these 5 ALM best practices from dev to deployment

  Enterprise applications are anything but simple. To wrangle the software, resources and code of these critical apps, be smart with IT tooling, management and other aspects of support.Continue Reading

• How DevOps teams use a CMS for documentation, collaboration

  DevOps teams should choose a CMS that enables continuous, integrated content management, and select tools for internal document sharing that build an easily searched and categorized knowledge base.Continue Reading

• Bookmark this expansive guide to DevOps for Windows

  Native Windows DevOps tools and Azure DevOps services enable Microsoft shops to keep pace with Linux setups.Continue Reading

• Improve help desk management for smooth IT operations

  A streamlined help desk benefits both IT ops teams and end users. Learn how to improve your organization's help desk with these expert tips on templates, automation and AI.Continue Reading

• Multi-hypervisor environments provide cost savings, flexibility

  Adopting multiple hypervisors might make more sense than going with a single vendor, depending on cost, the types of workloads you run, and your performance and reliability needs.Continue Reading

• Server hardware to run ROBO virtual workloads

  Examine remote office/branch office technology trends, review server hardware options and ensure you can effectively manage virtual resources before implementation.Continue Reading

• 4 branch office server management best practices

  Setting up a ROBO server involves specific hardware and software configuration considerations, such as ensuring redundancy and connectivity for remote management.Continue Reading

• Use PowerShell Docker to manage Windows container components

  Take advantage of the PowerShell for Docker module to easily create and manage Windows containers in your environment with this step-by-step installation guide.Continue Reading

• Assess the micro VM market with AWS Firecracker

  Consider the benefits of AWS Firecracker as it compares to other micro VMs and system containers, but be wary of its limitations before installing this virtualization technology.Continue Reading

• Get familiar with these SLA maintenance tips

  The basics of SLA management come at the intersection of business goals and the reality of possibility. IT teams must learn how to strike a balance between specific and conditional promises.Continue Reading

• GitOps provides an answer for complicated IT deployments

  Version control isn't a new concept in IT, but ops pros are applying it to distributed environments for declarative configuration management.Continue Reading

• Steps to safely build and manage a preproduction environment

  A well-run testing lab is a true asset to developers. An uncontrolled one, on the other hand, is a massive liability that can cost dearly. Plan lab builds along these guidelines.Continue Reading

• Add Elasticsearch nodes to a cluster in simple steps

  Elasticsearch, part of the Elastic Stack with Logstash and Kibana, uses YAML for configuration scripting. Follow these steps to configure an Elasticsearch cluster with two nodes.Continue Reading

• Determine the cost of app customization in the cloud

  Cloud applications are like icebergs: There's a lot users don't see below the surface. One apparently small change could have a massive ripple effect on operations.Continue Reading

• Non-IT software vendors stir up IT tool selection process

  Many non-IT vendors now offer homegrown software -- a model that carries benefits and risks. Weigh the pros and cons around support, availability and other factors before making a decision.Continue Reading

• Get informed of the risks associated with docker.sock

  Container security is a new area for many IT admins, and enterprise IT organizations can easily set up Docker in ways that compromise access control -- potentially exposing the host.Continue Reading

• Create Vagrant boxes with Packer for rapid IT environment builds

  Vagrant boxes enable IT admins to test infrastructure updates in production-identical QA environments. Follow this Vagrant tutorial to build a machine and export it to a Vagrant box.Continue Reading

• How to update configurations via the Salt state file

  Salt users must grasp the concepts around state files for configuration changes and updates. Follow along with this tutorial, which also features Cassandra, to get started.Continue Reading

• Control Docker containers with the Nginx load balancer

  Docker is an efficient container platform, but it isn't perfect. Follow this Nginx load balancer tutorial to provide your container environment with high availability across multiple nodes.Continue Reading

• Top 5 SCVMM PowerShell commands

  Manually making changes to Hyper-V hosts and VMs is very time-consuming. Manage System Center Virtual Machine Manager with PowerShell commands to make administration easier.Continue Reading

• Manage application log files with the right tools and guidelines

  IT operations teams face costly and complicated steps to monitor the crucial data in log files. Learn to use log management and aggregation tools to interpret trends without waste.Continue Reading

• How to improve help desk support via knowledge management

  Your organization's help desk support system could be more efficient. Find out how knowledge management and natural language processing solve hidden IT woes.Continue Reading

• 10 tips to approach IT operations processes with confidence

  Stuck in the NOC over the holidays? To pass the time, improve your ability to plan projects and quash production infrastructure incidents with confidence.Continue Reading

• Bookmark 10 popular tips on containers and Kubernetes

  Should we go with an open source or commercial option? What about DevOps? These 10 essential tips explain how containers fit into complex modern IT environments.Continue Reading

• Without DevOps metrics, forget about DevOps glory

  DevOps doesn't provide easy comparison points to quantify improvements. So how do you know if you're on the path to success or just spinning your wheels?Continue Reading

• A configuration management plan can unite tools and teams

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• Manage Salt minions in large environments in symphony

  IT organizations must create, enforce and update configurations in a standardized manner. Learn how to direct Salt minions to install software without repetitive manual work.Continue Reading

• Use Puppet for Windows ops automation with dsc_lite

  With DSC and dsc_lite, as well as a native option, users operate in Puppet within the familiarity of PowerShell settings. Here's how each approach works.Continue Reading

• AIOps use cases address complexity in virtual data centers

  The ever-growing complexity of virtual infrastructures is making management a struggle, but an AIOps platform can enable admins to transform raw data into useful information.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery procedures deserve daily attention

  An occasional disaster recovery test sounds like a good idea. But routine work on DR readiness might be the difference between a minor bump and a major disruption.Continue Reading

• Put your IT disaster recovery plan to the test

  Operations teams need to make DR planning and preparation a priority every day of the year -- not just at test time. Here's how to keep apps and systems out of harm's way.Continue Reading

• Meet data center compliance standards in hybrid deployments

  Data center compliance is a moving target that shifts with standards and technologies. Don't get sidetracked by the complexity -- prioritize performance while maintaining compliance.Continue Reading

• Simple-to-automate IT tasks: Stop doing these 3 things

  There are certain tasks that no IT ops administrator should still do manually. No more excuses -- take these easy operations processes off your plate, and let scripts or tools take over.Continue Reading

• Is read-only mode a viable approach to container hardening?

  Can containers work in read-only mode, and how does this setup make a difference in security hardening?Continue Reading

• Try this Chocolatey tutorial to pick up Vagrant provisioning for Windows

  To install a Linux-based tool on a non-Linux machine, at least one intermediary tool is necessary. On Windows, use the Chocolatey package manager for a smooth process.Continue Reading

• Why teams create DevOps platforms to match projects

  Prebuilt platforms offer a wealth of capabilities without the hassle to integrate everything. But cherry-picking for exact needs yields tighter resource management.Continue Reading

• Boost DevOps cred with script management in Git version control

  DevOps teams use configuration management to automate patches and provisioning. They use version control to increase collaboration and change control. Learn how to combine the two.Continue Reading

• Use Active Directory for testing environments in DevOps shops

  AD enables admins to create testing environments almost identical to production environments through duplicated trees, interconnected forests and authentication best practices.Continue Reading

• 6 emerging technologies that belong in an IT operations plan

  A penny saved is a penny earned. But when it comes to AI, specialized compute engines and these other key emerging IT operations areas, a penny saved today is a dollar wasted -- or worse -- in the future.Continue Reading

• It's time to automate the help desk ticketing system

  The help desk is no admin's favorite job -- and no user's favorite place. But with a little automation and AI, the help desk can become a more palatable experience for both parties.Continue Reading

• Use Microsoft SCVMM to clone a VM

  There are some requirements you must meet to clone VMs with SCVMM, but the steps to clone an existing VM -- whether it's running, paused or shutdown -- are fairly simple.Continue Reading

• 3 virtualization infrastructure design rules to shape your deployment

  Admins can improve virtual infrastructure design by focusing their deployments on transparency and flexibility and critically evaluating emerging technologies.Continue Reading

• Cloud and containers rewrite monitoring and management rulebooks

  IT performance management is tricky when it stretches as big as the public cloud and scrunches as small as a microservice. IT ops techniques must change to keep up.Continue Reading

• Quantum supremacy and the path to encryption chaos

  Widespread use of quantum computing isn't as far into the future as some might think. When it arrives, this powerful computing technology could turn IT security upside down.Continue Reading

• Keep IT project planning on track with 5 principles

  Whether you're a seasoned IT vet about to take on the biggest project yet or a new team member spearheading an important build, follow a project planning approach that limits scope and hits goals.Continue Reading

• Direct NVMe performance with virtualization and storage tiers

  Non-volatile memory express technologies have a host of benefits, but admins must use virtualization and storage tiers to best target NVMe performance boosts.Continue Reading

• Incorporate NIST security and virtualization recommendations

  Review NIST virtualization security recommendations with this overview of hypervisor security guidelines, including tips on VM lifecycles and hypervisor platform management.Continue Reading

• Tame the virtualization infrastructure management beast

  IT administrators must manage virtual infrastructure requirements, such as patches, reboots and component lifecycles, to create and maintain an efficient data center.Continue Reading

• Design a custom Hyper-V Integration Services component

  The steps for creating a new component of Hyper-V Integration Services include registering an app, creating and binding a Hyper-V socket, and compiling server and client apps.Continue Reading

• A fine-tuned change request template minimizes user discontent

  Change management is an essential ITSM practice, but it doesn't have to come at the expense of end users. Use templates to clarify expectations and set changes in motion without disruption.Continue Reading

• Create VM templates without encountering errors

  Creating a VM template is a fairly straightforward process. Even so, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with Microsoft's documentation to avoid common mistakes.Continue Reading

• Anomaly detection methods unleash microservices performance

  When distributed applications run in containers, admins suddenly have a whirlwind of metrics to track instead of just a short list. These methods reach into the heart of the task.Continue Reading

• Create and configure a shielded VM in Hyper-V

  In just a few easy steps, including installing a Host Guardian Service server and creating certificates, you can shield a Hyper-V VM to protect it against access or tampering.Continue Reading

• Build a secure Docker host environment on Linux systems

  In the cutting-edge technology world of containers, don't lose sight of the fundamental security best practices that protect workloads and minimize attack surfaces.Continue Reading

• Application performance metrics and tools fit for modern architectures

  Distributed applications and cloud hosting have led to new application interactions and KPI categories -- and different performance concerns need different metrics.Continue Reading

• Build an IT maintenance plan around infrastructure needs

  Don't delay maintenance reboots. It's easy to forget to reboot hosts, tools and drivers, so use a reboot schedule to ensure your infrastructure remains functional.Continue Reading

• Continuous delivery pipeline tools build IT efficiency

  The range of CD tools available is as varied as the organizations that need them. Choose between three primary tool set constructions to suit your organization's structure.Continue Reading

• Most jobs in the IT industry pay well, but skills matter

  A survey of tech professionals identified which IT skills are most in demand. Find out how salaries compare from region to region, and how expertise affects compensation.Continue Reading

• Emotional intelligence in the workplace makes a difference

  Technologists need to know people as well as they know their craft. Applying emotional intelligence in the workplace helps convey ideas and change organizations.Continue Reading