IT systems management and monitoring
Learn about the tools and technologies that enable more visibility into IT infrastructure, integration between IT management tools, tailored alerts for IT professionals and new areas of performance monitoring and management.
Top Stories
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Feature
18 Dec 2024
Top data center infrastructure management software in 2025
DCIM tools can improve data center management and operation. Learn how six prominent products can help organizations control costs, manage energy and track assets. Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2024
AWS, Red Hat hybrid cloud wares court VMware converts
Broadcom has softened some of its stances on VMware licensing and public cloud, but competitors stay poised to pounce on customers looking to defect. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 May 2020
Forget monitoring alerts, turn to IT root cause analysis
Alerts get your attention, but they don't always tell you where the core of a problem is to be found. Maybe it's time to shift your IT management strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 May 2020
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
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News
15 May 2020
Essential firms forge on with AIOps for incident response
AIOps systems for incident response have helped a bank and a provider of care services in the home streamline operations amid a pandemic emergency and an ongoing IT skills shortage. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2020
A comprehensive guide to Open vSwitch and its capabilities
Distributed multilayer switches are essential to managing several network connections between VMs. Open vSwitch offers admins automated and dynamic network control for virtual systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 May 2020
Optimize your VM monitoring strategy with these tools
Keeping track of hundreds of VMs and applications can be difficult. However, monitoring tools such as OpManager and vSphere can help admins ensure successful system performance. Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 May 2020
Remote work technologies to account for in 2020 IT budgets
In light of a crisis like COVID-19, IT organizations must amend their budgets to invest in technologies that can support remote access and foster employee collaboration. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Apr 2020
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
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Tip
20 Apr 2020
How zero-touch IT operations can be a burden, not a benefit
In their pursuits of end-to-end automation, IT operations teams should be careful not to downplay the importance of human staff. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Apr 2020
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
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Tip
10 Apr 2020
Container logging tips for IT troubleshooting and more
Don't just leave container log data on a host and forget about it. Instead, establish a detailed strategy to index, search, correlate and analyze that data. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Apr 2020
Find value in real-time application monitoring
What started as a way for administrators to know if a system went offline has morphed into a broad combination of monitoring that involves admins, engineers and operations staff. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2020
AI pen testing promises, delivers both speed and accuracy
AI is making many essential cybersecurity tasks more effective and efficient. AI-enabled penetration testing, or BAS, technologies are a case in point. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Apr 2020
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
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Tip
06 Apr 2020
Using AIOps for cybersecurity and better threat response
AIOps platforms, when properly tuned, can benefit all of IT in important ways. Learn how these advanced security tools improve threat detection and response in myriad ways. Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2020
Log monitoring refinements control data growth, costs
Whether it's pricing according to access frequency or reducing the volume of logs sent by IT infrastructure, fresh IT monitoring approaches make cloud-native visibility manageable. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Mar 2020
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
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Tip
30 Mar 2020
Employ log management best practices to better analyze, protect data
Log files generate vast amounts of data, which negatively affects performance. As a result, admins should build logging strategies to prioritize and protect data. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Mar 2020
Set IT vendor selection criteria to evolve with the times
As enterprises' IT tool sets expand to include more specialized providers for cloud and DevOps deployments, they face new vendor management challenges. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Mar 2020
How to set up a chaos engineering game day
Is it fun to spend the day breaking stuff in a war room with your coworkers? Of course, but more than that, it's vital to the security and stability of certain applications. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Mar 2020
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
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Video
19 Mar 2020
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
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Tip
10 Mar 2020
Dig into the pros and cons of memory ballooning
Ballooning is an effective VM memory management technique, but it does have its downfalls, such as potential memory overcommitment and halting application performance. Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2020
Biometrics firm fights monitoring overload with log analytics
Log analytics tools have become more popular as enterprise IT pros contend with complex, continuous microservices application deployments at scale. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Mar 2020
Third-party VM monitoring tools offer alternatives to native vendors
Many admins rely on native tools to monitor VMs, such as Microsoft System Center, but third-party alternatives can offer improved capabilities, such as cost savings and integrations. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Feb 2020
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
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Tip
27 Feb 2020
5 IT security measures to safeguard distributed environments
In today's complex IT landscape, it's easy to make mistakes that leave applications and data vulnerable. Follow these five tips to create a comprehensive security plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Feb 2020
Top 10 VM backup tools for VMware and Hyper-V
Admins who rely on VMware and Hyper-V workloads might have trouble choosing the right backup tool for their VMs. Admins can use this article to better inform their purchasing decisions. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
21 Feb 2020
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
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Tip
17 Feb 2020
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
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Tip
14 Feb 2020
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
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News
12 Feb 2020
Grafana Loki users reap log data savings, with tradeoffs
Grafana Loki won't replace advanced log analytics tools, but it may be a boon for shops that want to collect massive amounts of log data for troubleshooting applications. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Feb 2020
What should I know about IP address management systems?
As networks continuously gain more devices, outdated IP address management methods face new challenges. Despite this, IPAM is still crucial for any organization's network. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Feb 2020
Right-sizing VMs improves performance, combats resource contention
Admins looking to reduce resource contention and improve system performance can right-size their VMs, but application owner pushback and software restrictions can pose issues. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Feb 2020
Use secrets management tools for centralized security control
Improper secrets management leaves IT orgs vulnerable to attacks. A secrets repository can help -- but it requires commitment, along with a willingness to change existing workflows and processes. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2020
Modernize ops practices to manage hybrid IT infrastructure
Hybrid IT management requires ops teams to rethink everything from networking to the way they oversee system configurations. Third-party tools, including those for IaC, can help. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
30 Jan 2020
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
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News
28 Jan 2020
Cisco folds AppDynamics AIOps into its infrastructure tools
Cisco shops might welcome new integrations between AppDynamics AIOps tools and Cisco Intersight management software, but whether they will draw in other users is uncertain. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jan 2020
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
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Tip
22 Jan 2020
Overcome these challenges to detect anomalies in IT monitoring
Faster and more accurate anomaly detection is a major benefit of machine learning in IT systems monitoring -- but it's not something that enterprises can achieve overnight. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2020
Explore native and third-party VM automation tools' features
VMware and Microsoft offer native tools that provide VM automation capabilities, but admins should also look at third-party vendors, such as Chef, Puppet and SolarWinds. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jan 2020
Gain deeper IT insight with machine learning for log analysis
As the log analysis tool market evolves, machine learning plays an increasing role in helping IT teams discover significant anomalies and outliers in their data. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2020
SecOps and IT ops merge revs IT monitoring platform rivalry
Enterprises want consolidated monitoring platforms for SecOps and IT ops data. Here's how Sumo Logic plans to compete in that market in 2020 with IP from its JASK acquisition. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jan 2020
Alaska Airlines plans to switch IT onto autopilot with AIOps
Alaska Airlines' e-commerce division will chart a course for hands-off IT ops and a sharper focus on strategic SRE duties through AIOps tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Dec 2019
Red Hat Virtualization 4.3 updates to Cockpit are minor, but beneficial
Cockpit hasn't seen many changes with the latest RHV 4.3 update, but it still provides beneficial capabilities, such as the ability create a VM from a template or migrate a VM to a different host. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Dec 2019
Virtualization automation challenges underscore AI usefulness
Automation helps reduce the complexity of virtual systems, but admins might find that adoption challenges and temporary resolutions underscore its usefulness. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Dec 2019
Containers, automation and AI shape 2020 IT trends
In 2019, Kubernetes took Docker's crown and DevOps matured. As IT operations teams ring in the New Year, they should keep an eye on these 2020 IT predictions. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Dec 2019
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
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Tip
13 Dec 2019
5 tips to help IT administrators use AIOps tools effectively
AIOps tools can simplify virtual system management, but you should consider a few things prior to adoption: business processes, employee skills, volume of data and AIOps complexity. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2019
Consider these 5 FAQs for network monitoring best practices
New technologies are transforming how organizations plan network management and monitoring, introducing questions about legacy system upgrades and the number of tools required. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Dec 2019
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
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News
25 Nov 2019
AWS rejects Elasticsearch trademark lawsuit claims
AWS' response to Elasticsearch's trademark infringement lawsuit denies the allegations, but experts say a settlement is likely and justifiably in the cards. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Nov 2019
Prevent help desk escalation with runbook documentation
IT operations teams are often stuck in a process loop to solve issues. Learn how tools, such as runbooks and libraries, break the cycle and help avoid problem escalation. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
20 Nov 2019
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
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Opinion
18 Nov 2019
Why it's time to rethink the DevOps vs. ITIL debate
As organizations look to more closely align their business and IT goals, they should combine DevOps and ITIL practices, rather than commit exclusively to one methodology over the other. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Nov 2019
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
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Tip
11 Nov 2019
Types of Hyper-V scheduler for simultaneous multithreading in VMs
Hyper-V's classic and core schedulers both enable use of simultaneous multithreading in VMs, but the core scheduler prevents VMs from ever reserving an entire CPU core. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Nov 2019
Capitalize on the advantages of open source software in IT
Open source tools, including those for IT management, might be free, but there are broader pros and cons that might tip the scales for some enterprise buyers. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2019
New Relic catches up in serverless monitoring with IOpipe
IOpipe's IP and expertise will help New Relic catch up with the latest serverless monitoring trends, such as AWS Lambda Layers support and event-driven frameworks. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2019
Conduct an incident post-mortem for ongoing DevOps improvement
A thorough and effective post-mortem process can strengthen a DevOps organization -- but first, teams must be ready to dig deep and leave blame behind. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Oct 2019
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
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Feature
29 Oct 2019
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
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News
24 Oct 2019
Elastic SIEM spring release will complete Endgame tie-in
Endgame agents can now send endpoint security data to the Elastic SIEM, but UI and data schema integration -- and the ability to take action on endpoints -- will come next year. Continue Reading
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News
23 Oct 2019
SAP's McDermott joins ServiceNow to push enterprise growth
SAP's Bill McDermott will take over as ServiceNow CEO, replacing John Donahoe, in a move that analysts say could take the fast-growing ITSM vendor in new product directions. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2019
Perform these steps to monitor Windows Server with Nagios Core
Nagios is no newbie to the server monitoring world, but setting it up for Windows takes a few extra steps. Learn how Nagios Core, originally meant for Linux, can monitor Windows servers. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Oct 2019
After ransomware virus, Merck's medicine was network automation
After a ransomware attack, Merck decided the best remedy was to deploy network automation tools designed to transform how it handled network configuration changes. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Oct 2019
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
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News
11 Oct 2019
Ticketmaster unifies DevOps monitoring with Confluent Kafka
Ticketmaster troubleshoots and secures distributed applications using Kafka stream processing as a central hub for data collection. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Oct 2019
Match cloud application monitoring to integration needs
An enterprise's cloud migration includes several elements: a new security process, budget redistribution and a monitoring system that integrates cloud and on-premises apps. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Oct 2019
Obtain, deploy and manage Oracle VM templates
Oracle VM templates, which come with a guest OS, application software and preset configurations, help admins streamline VM deployment, and they can set them up in just a few steps. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Oct 2019
How does time-series analysis work in IT environments?
IT monitoring metrics are crucial for enterprises to gauge performance and plan for future events. But admins should understand the tradeoffs between a time-series and point-in-time analysis. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Sep 2019
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
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News
26 Sep 2019
Turbonomic adds features to Application Resource Management
The new features include continuous service optimization in Kubernetes and accurate container planning to ensure that applications have sufficient resources to perform. Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2019
BizDevOps, DevOps feedback loops guide IT transformation
BizDevOps has been the priority for Dynatrace customer American Fidelity the last four years, guiding the company's IT priorities amid ever-increasing technical complexity. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2019
AIOps tools mature as cloud infrastructure grows
DevOps monitoring tools gain refined features as IT complexity soars, but their advanced AIOps automation hasn't yet gone mainstream. Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2019
ManageEngine Applications Manager adds OCI monitoring
ManageEngine rolls out support for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure performance monitoring in its Applications Manager platform. The tool can also predict growth. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Sep 2019
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
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Tip
12 Sep 2019
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
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Answer
10 Sep 2019
What are some examples of embedded hypervisors?
A virtualization layer in an embedded system provides better efficiency for tasks such as network virtualization. Some examples of embedded hypervisors include the Xvisor and ACRN. Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Sep 2019
ITIL 4 framework brings long-awaited flexibility to ITSM
After eight long years, the ITIL 4 framework finally saw the light of day in 2019 -- but what can enterprises expect to gain from the latest version, and those to come? Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Sep 2019
Get to know Hyper-V 2019 new features and functionality
Window Server 2019 showed fewer new features than first expected, but Hyper-V admins can benefit from improved support for shielded VMs and the new Admin Center feature. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Sep 2019
Embedded hypervisor use cases and benefits explained
An embedded hypervisor offers several benefits, such as VM security, system reliability and improved hardware use, and is ideal for admins looking to simplify their environments. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
05 Sep 2019
Learn to set up and use PowerShell SSH remoting
Remoting over SSH in PowerShell Core has some advantages over the traditional Windows PowerShell remoting method, but it will require a fair amount of manual configuration work. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Sep 2019
Considerations for embedded hypervisor implementation
Before incorporating an embedded hypervisor, admins must consider storage, memory, system performance and scheduling to help prevent latency issues. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Aug 2019
Defeat app killers and monster VM performance issues with ease
VM troubles got you down? Never fear: Some solutions to VM performance problems are as easy as looking in the right places and asking the right questions Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2019
Project Pacific outshines vSphere 6.7 U3, Platinum updates
VMworld's 'What's new in vSphere?' session at VMworld is a perennial attendee favorite, but the updates were overshadowed by the hubbub around Project Pacific. Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2019
VMware plans to overhaul vSphere for Kubernetes
VMware may be late to the Kubernetes party, but its plan to roll native support into vSphere could be a game changer. Continue Reading
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News
23 Aug 2019
SolarWinds Discovery offers low-cost way to manage IT assets
SolarWinds expands its IT service management offerings with a software service that lets IT teams locate, map and manage their software and hardware assets. Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2019
Splunk pricing worries some users amid SignalFx monitoring buy
Splunk wants to collect more data via SignalFx, but some users wonder how much it will cost to keep up with the proliferation of logs and metrics in the age of cloud monitoring. Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Aug 2019
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
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Feature
15 Aug 2019
Top AIOps use cases in network performance management tools
AIOps use cases in network performance management include automating certain network functions, including traffic analysis. But the data could be difficult to digest. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Aug 2019
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
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Tip
14 Aug 2019
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
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Answer
02 Aug 2019
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
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Answer
25 Jul 2019
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
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News
23 Jul 2019
ManageEngine Analytics Plus upgrades with AI assistant Zia
With Zia, IT teams can ask questions via voice or text to quickly access data and insight. Available with ManageEngine Analytics Plus, the AI intends to increase productivity. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jul 2019
5 Kubernetes adoption considerations you should think about
Understand the basics of Kubernetes, including how it works and its pros and cons, before deciding whether or not to adopt. Then, figure out how you plan to manage it. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jul 2019
Explore the Citrix guest UEFI boot feature for modern systems
A guest boot feature offered by Citrix provides admins with improved system performance, but they should be wary of its continued experimental status. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jul 2019
AWS OpsCenter and Moogsoft AIOps integrate for IT productivity
By integrating AWS Systems Manager OpsCenter and Moogsoft AIOps platforms, the vendors hope to reduce alert noise, automate remediation and solve incidents faster. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jul 2019
Snow Software launches new tech management suite
The new intelligence suite has six main tools that help manage the challenges due to growing IT operations, from spending and productivity to monitoring risk. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Jul 2019
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