Containers and virtualization
Containerization software is taking over across the IT industry as the new favored IT infrastructure, as it enables high-speed and high-efficiency platform and software performance. Learn about the technology, its leading tools and how to use it from experts.
Top Stories
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Tip
19 Nov 2024
Ansible vs. Docker: Differences and similarities explained
Ansible and Docker play specific roles, but when used together, Ansible's playbooks and Docker's Dockerfiles provide greater control and configurability over servers. Continue Reading
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Conference Coverage
18 Nov 2024
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2024 news coverage
This guide to the North American and European KubeCon + CloudNativeCon events covers updates to Kubernetes and other open source cloud-native technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Sep 2019
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
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Feature
25 Sep 2019
Assess container hosting, management options based on these criteria
A company's plans to maintain traditional data centers, move to the public cloud or adopt microservices all play a major role in its container hosting and management decisions. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Sep 2019
How to craft a future-proof enterprise container strategy
There are many ways to plan an IT container management strategy. Follow these steps to map out an enterprise's needs for container software and tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Sep 2019
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
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Tip
19 Sep 2019
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
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Tip
19 Sep 2019
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
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Tip
16 Sep 2019
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
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News
13 Sep 2019
Google Cloud tackles Spark on Kubernetes
Google Cloud Dataproc is the first major cloud provider to integrate Apache Spark with Kubernetes as a managed service, but work remains to better link the two projects upstream. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Sep 2019
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
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News
11 Sep 2019
HashiCorp Consul plays to multi-platform strength with Azure
HashiCorp's Consul service mesh will be offered as a hosted service on Microsoft Azure, where it can link container clusters along with VMs in multiple regions. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Sep 2019
Consider the when, why and how of a Mesos-to-Kubernetes migration
Before choosing to migrate to Kubernetes, Mesos users should carefully prepare for the complexity of the move -- and first consider using the two technologies side by side. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Sep 2019
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
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Tip
03 Sep 2019
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
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Tip
30 Aug 2019
VMware Workstation vs. VirtualBox: Which is the better hypervisor?
The Type 2 hypervisor debate between VMware Workstation and Oracle VirtualBox has gotten tougher as the latter has caught up. Examine their advantages to see which fits your needs. Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2019
IT pros look to VMware's GPU acceleration projects to kick-start AI
The virtualization giant's recent acquisition of Bitfusion and its close partnership with Nvidia bring GPU virtualization to vSphere. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Aug 2019
Explore container deployment benefits and core components
As container adoption grows, the ecosystem of tools surrounding the technology expands as well. Explore the benefits of container systems for enterprise app deployments. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Aug 2019
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
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News
28 Aug 2019
Knative serverless Kubernetes bypasses FaaS to revive PaaS
Knative's emerging claim to fame is that it can turn Kubernetes into a next-gen platform as a service with both a Heroku-like developer experience and deep infrastructure control. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2019
Simplify SaaS integration with an IT service aggregator
SaaS management can cause as many headaches as SaaS apps prevent. Poor integrations between disparate tools can create bottlenecks and failures, but aggregators can help. Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2019
Istio service mesh hits OpenShift GA, but upgrades are slow
Istio service mesh, Kiali and Jaeger are generally available for Red Hat OpenShift 4, but it will be some time before users are ready for the latest version of the platform. Continue Reading
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Video
21 Aug 2019
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
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Tip
20 Aug 2019
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
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Quiz
20 Aug 2019
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
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News
08 Aug 2019
Mesosphere's Kubernetes pivot sets stage for IT vendor attrition
Mesosphere becomes D2iQ, and affirms that Kubernetes is eating the world. Is IT entering a golden age of interoperability, or on the verge of mass consolidation? Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Aug 2019
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
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Tutorial
06 Aug 2019
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
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Feature
29 Jul 2019
Compare Linkerd vs. Istio for service mesh technology
To decide between Istio and Linkerd for a service mesh platform, consider everything from performance and ease of use to support from major public cloud providers. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jul 2019
Kubernetes authentication project wrestles with migration problems
GKE users like the Workload Identity feature for Kubernetes authentication with GCP services, but similar improvements to core cluster security present a potential market-wide migration headache. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Jul 2019
What are micro VMs and how do they benefit data centers?
When used together, VMs and containers can provide key benefits to an admin's workload, such as isolation and security, without having to deal with typical disadvantages. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Jul 2019
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
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Feature
19 Jul 2019
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
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Feature
18 Jul 2019
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
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News
17 Jul 2019
Container security improves overall enterprise IT posture
Enterprise IT pros worried about security when containers were first introduced, but as containers are put into production, they can actually present ways to tighten security practices. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2019
Look inside the Mesosphere DC/OS distributed operating system
IT organizations that run large, distributed workloads on clusters should examine the Mesosphere DC/OS approach, but be forewarned: It takes a lot of components to simplify ops. Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2019
Kubernetes security tool gives IT a leg up on DevSecOps
An emerging real estate firm tasked with DevSecOps sought an assist from startup Alcide, which bakes Kubernetes security best practices into its software. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jun 2019
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
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Tip
28 Jun 2019
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
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Tip
26 Jun 2019
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
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Feature
25 Jun 2019
The history of Docker's climb in the container management market
When the concept of containers became stale, Docker brought containers back to the forefront by creating container management software, and the company continues to evolve. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jun 2019
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
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News
20 Jun 2019
IT pros brace for wave of M&A in microservices security
Microservices and DevOps have made IT security a shared responsibility among enterprise stakeholders, and experts expect this shift to prompt mass consolidation among vendors. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jun 2019
Deploy Microsoft IIS server, .NET apps in Windows containers
Instead of investing money in migrating your existing .NET applications to .NET Core to modernize them, deploy them in Windows containers with a simple script. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2019
Alaska Airlines charts course for DevOps security
As Alaska Airlines plots a flight path to a hybrid cloud infrastructure, it will navigate with an automated DevOps security tool that spans multiple IT environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jun 2019
Apply AI to container monitoring and management -- piece by piece
While the application of AI to container monitoring and management is possible, it first requires certain operations practices and carefully integrated tool sets. Continue Reading
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Video
12 Jun 2019
Build a GitOps pipeline with this Kubernetes, Jenkins X tutorial
Follow the steps outlined in this video tutorial to establish a GitOps deployment workflow with Google Kubernetes Engine, GitHub and Jenkins X. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jun 2019
Automate declarative configuration management for IT ops success
AWS CloudFormation is one of the top options for configuration management -- but it isn't without flaws. Compare AWS to other tools to pick the best option for your organization. Continue Reading
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News
31 May 2019
Palo Alto Networks buys Twistlock, PureSec for container security
Palo Alto Networks snaps up Twistlock and PureSec to broaden its cloud security portfolio and give enterprise IT shops more options for container and serverless security. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 May 2019
8 common Docker commands beginners should know
IT professionals who are new to Docker can use this cheat sheet of common commands to quickly ramp up with container deployment and management basics. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 May 2019
What is the Citrix vSwitch Controller and what does it do?
The vSwitch Controller provides admins with extensive visibility into the network environment, making it easier to optimize that environment and improve application performance. Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2019
GKE, Azure roll out Windows Kubernetes support
Cloud service providers rolled out Windows Kubernetes support this week, which may take some of the burden of Linux container management requirements out of the hands of Microsoft-only shops. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 May 2019
Managed container services face-off: Enterprise PKS vs. OpenShift
VMware Enterprise PKS and Red Hat OpenShift are two leading container platforms with many differences. Assess the technologies in terms of hybrid cloud support, tool ecosystems and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 May 2019
When to choose Hyper-V containers over VMs
There are different use cases for Hyper-V containers and VMs, but the most important thing to take into consideration when choosing between them is your application needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 May 2019
Compare Mesos vs. Kubernetes for container federation
While Mesos dominates for large-scale deployments, Kubernetes is at the center of a flourishing ecosystem of tools. So, which one meets your container federation needs? Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2019
OpenShift architecture bakes in CoreOS Operator automation
OpenShift 4.1 promises easier container management for IT ops pros, but getting there from OpenShift 3 could be tricky for enterprises with large deployments. Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2019
OpenShift-Azure ties deepen as IT sets sights on multi-cloud
Enterprises will consider an OpenShift managed service on Azure as part of a multi-cloud strategy, but Kubernetes won't necessarily make workloads cloud-agnostic. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 May 2019
Learn the ins and outs of Hyper-V containers
Hyper-V containers, which are secure and lightweight in nature, can be managed using the Docker command line or PowerShell and are best suited for stateless applications. Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2019
Docker Enterprise pricing shake-up leaves unanswered questions
IT pros begin to evaluate the long-term budget implications of a significant change to the Docker Enterprise pricing scheme. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 May 2019
How to save and reuse a Windows container image
With five simple steps, you can create a Windows container, save it as an image and reuse it to create new containers with the same configuration and settings. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Apr 2019
How to deploy a Docker container to the cloud
Docker is highly portable and widely available across all major cloud platforms, including AWS and Microsoft Azure, but it's important to properly plan your container deployment. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Apr 2019
Choose between 5 hosted hypervisors based on features, use cases
Hypervisors such as VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, VMware Horizon 7, Oracle VM VirtualBox and Parallels Desktop provide value to small data centers in different ways. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Apr 2019
Compare the top 5 bare-metal hypervisors
Hypervisors such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix Hypervisor, RHV and Oracle VM Server for x86 provide value to enterprise-level data centers in different ways. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Apr 2019
How to properly prep a container infrastructure
To deploy containers in production, an organization must put in place the appropriate infrastructure. Here are the specific steps to take to begin that process. Continue Reading
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News
23 Apr 2019
Rancher's Kubernetes updates boost security, UI performance
Enterprise IT pros expect changes to Rancher's Kubernetes management tools to bolster security configuration and UI performance. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Apr 2019
Kubernetes underpins Docker container technology dominance
Given the ever-evolving nature of enterprise technology, some IT predictions just never come to be. Let's see how one particular forecast for Docker containers held up. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Apr 2019
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
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Quiz
19 Apr 2019
Test your Kubernetes terminology expertise with this quiz
Can you ace this quiz on Kubernetes architecture and component terminology? Assess your knowledge of these terms and whether you need to hit the books -- or online documentation. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Apr 2019
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
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Tip
15 Apr 2019
Evaluate key service mesh benefits and architecture limitations
Service mesh technologies can provide request routing, authentication and even health checks. IT organizations that handle container and microservices deployments should plan to maximize the benefits of service mesh, and address implementation concerns, before going all-in. Continue Reading
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News
10 Apr 2019
Cloud Foundry PaaS undergoes seismic shifts as IT evolves
Cloud Foundry undergoes drastic changes as infrastructure automation technology develops, to the point where some industry experts see more erosion than evolution. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Apr 2019
AWS Firecracker microVMs provide isolation and agility
Firecracker aims to bridge the gap between VMs and containers with microVMs, which are secure, lightweight instance types for stateless workloads. Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2019
Users forge ahead with Cloud Foundry-Kubernetes integration
Complementary roles for Cloud Foundry and Kubernetes are clear to IT pros, and the community plans to knit the two more closely together with the Eirini project. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Apr 2019
Evaluate these hyper-converged infrastructure features
There are six things you should consider when reviewing HCI platform features and functionality: optimizations, storage, hypervisors, management, expandability and integrations. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Mar 2019
How hyper-converged infrastructure benefits virtual workloads
Realize the many advantages that HCI offers, such as streamlined virtual resource management and enhanced security and compliance practices. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Mar 2019
Hyper-converged infrastructure explained
HCI breaks down traditional IT silos by bundling compute, storage, networking and virtualization, which helps to streamline resource provisioning and management. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Mar 2019
Don't count out IBM virtualization on the Z platform
A mainframe can house hundreds of thousands of VMs and a wide range of workloads. Also, IBM Z provides virtualization management via Dynamic Partition Manager and Wave for z/VM. Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2019
Kubernetes for Windows hits GA, with limitations
Kubernetes support for Windows nodes was declared stable in Kubernetes 1.14, but extensive fine print remains. Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2019
Kubernetes management for 'Minecraft' has enterprise IT traits
What do 'Minecraft' servers and enterprise databases have in common? In the realm of Kubernetes management, more than you might think. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2019
5 Windows network drivers supported by containers
NAT is the default network for container applications, but there are four other available drivers. Each container network driver poses some limitations and must be used carefully. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Mar 2019
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
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Tip
19 Mar 2019
Bare-metal vs. VM container deployment considerations
Consider your performance requirements, portability needs and what level of isolation and security you want when deploying containers in your environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Mar 2019
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
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Tip
14 Mar 2019
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
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Feature
14 Mar 2019
Market evolves to address container security issues
Container use is gaining traction in virtual environments, but containers present unique security challenges that vendors and organizations must overcome. Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2019
F5-Nginx deal reflects mainstream trend toward microservices
F5 snaps up Nginx for cloud-native app support, and analysts predict a microservices gold rush as modern application architectures catch on in enterprise IT shops. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Mar 2019
Container management tools must overcome limitations
As container adoption surges, the management tools organizations need to support these deployments at scale are still in their infancy. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Mar 2019
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
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Tip
06 Mar 2019
How to configure Windows container networking
The default network setting for Windows containers is Network Address Translation, but you can also set up a transparent Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol or non-DHCP network. Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2019
Container security tools turn heads with expansion to hosts
Vendors that sell container security tools now face off against traditional security tool providers, as both vie for the attention of IT pros who look to fortify their cloud-native infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2019
Istio security drives Auto Trader UK move to GKE
The U.K.'s largest online automotive marketplace put Istio security features in place before it adopted containers and GKE, rather than the other way around. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2019
Compare the pros and cons of container management tools
From the ever-popular to the obscure, evaluate different container management options based on the user interface, documentation, ease of use, available features and integrations. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2019
What container management software features are important?
Because containers are easy to spin up, the infrastructure can quickly get out of hand. A tool that simplifies container management can help, if it provides certain capabilities. Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2019
VMware PKS adds Heptio IP, boosts container street cred
VMware adds bare-metal Kubernetes and an elite support squad from Heptio, but it's unlikely to get widespread interest with bespoke container orchestration on premises. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Feb 2019
Where container infrastructure and management investments yield ROI
Containers are efficient and flexible, but these benefits can come with a hefty price tag. Ensure these elements are in the container budget to escape unexpected charges. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
15 Feb 2019
Major I/O virtualization vendors and technologies explained
Technologies that virtualize I/O components offer a number of additional capabilities, such as direct memory access remapping and network queuing for each VM. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2019
Container security tools pitch service mesh integrations
Container defense in depth is a hot topic, and some IT pros approach it with a combination of third-party container security tools and service mesh security features. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2019
Linkerd vs. Istio fray dominates service mesh battle
Linkerd's maintainers admit it has a narrower range of features than buzz machine Istio. But after failed attempts to set up Istio, some early adopters believe less is more. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2019
GPU virtualization evolves with new chip types on the horizon
GPU-makers Intel, AMD and Nvidia all provide virtualization support; the next step is to merge CPU and GPU functionality to handle both application and math/graphics-related tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Feb 2019
Adjust IT team dynamics for a cloud-native approach
As enterprises set their cloud-native strategy, they'll need to navigate major changes -- both from a technical standpoint and in terms of IT team structure and management style. Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2019
Container security vulnerability prompts call to patch runC
The discovery of a container utility flaw means IT pros must patch most container runtimes, as well as practice defense in depth and beware of strangers with sketchy container images. Continue Reading