Systems automation and orchestration
Get expert guidance and practitioner-written tutorials to improve your organization's automation and orchestration processes, offering advice for beginners and pros alike.
Top Stories
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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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News
15 Nov 2024
AI gateways, Kubernetes multi-tenancy loop in LLMOps
There are many areas of IT infrastructure affected by the emergence of LLMOps; for each, there were products and projects rolled out this week at KubeCon. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2024
An IT ops guide to CMDB automation
Automating repetitive tasks like software upgrades, lifecycle management and incident reports with a configuration management database can improve IT efficiency and reduce risk. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2024
Dynatrace adds price tier, data pipeline amid cost crunch
Dynatrace looks to accommodate observability data growth more affordably, but enterprise IT pros have many emerging alternatives to tackle this growing problem. Continue Reading
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Video
29 Jan 2024
How to create and deploy AWS Lambda functions with Terraform
Deploying AWS Lambda functions with Terraform can save time and reduce risk. In this video tutorial, learn the proper deployment steps. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2024
Credit Karma preps 'Zero-touch' Argo Rollouts
The Intuit subsidiary is in the process of moving to a homegrown event-driven progressive delivery platform and has already contributed some related code upstream. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2024
From distributed to true edge: 4 edge computing examples
The optimal applications for edge computing remain in contention as the technology evolves. These examples highlight a shift from distributed computing to true edge environments. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
24 Jan 2024
Boost productivity with these PowerShell GUI examples
PowerShell scripts can be tedious to write and difficult to use. These easy-to-follow commands can help teams build GUIs for their PowerShell scripts to save time and effort. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Jan 2024
infrastructure as code (IaC)
Infrastructure as code, also referred to as IaC, is an IT practice that codifies and manages underlying IT infrastructure as software. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Jan 2024
Kubernetes
Kubernetes, also referred to as K8s for the number of letters between K and S, is an open source platform used to manage containerized applications across private, public and hybrid cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Dec 2023
Comparing Copilot for Microsoft 365 vs. GitHub Copilot
There are significant differences between the various copilots that Microsoft has brought to market. Find out details about two of the most prolific copilots. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Dec 2023
hyperautomation
Hyperautomation is a framework and a set of advanced technologies for scaling automation in the enterprise. The ultimate goal of hyperautomation is to develop a process for automating enterprise automation. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2023
Cisco Security Cloud adds Isovalent for multi-cloud networks
The commercial backer of open source networking and security projects Cilium and Tetragon comes under Cisco's control for cloud-native network security. Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2023
Server-side Wasm to-do list lengthens for 2024
Server-side WebAssembly hype peaked in late 2022, but a year later, its path to general availability for key features remains long and cloud portability alternatives are emerging. Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2023
DevSecOps pros prep for GenAI upheavals in 2024
Generative AI models have been a hot topic of discussion in 2023, but their real-world impact on each of the major IT disciplines is just beginning. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2023
SUSE Rancher Kubernetes regroups amid platform trend
It's been a year of seismic shifts for SUSE's Rancher Kubernetes management products as market buzz shifts to platform engineering, forcing changes in strategy heading into 2024. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Dec 2023
business process automation (BPA)
Business process automation (BPA) is the use of advanced technology to complete business processes with minimal human intervention. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2023
IBM engineers hatch Linux Foundation HashiCorp Vault fork
IBM engineers working on Open Horizon within the Linux Foundation begin a Vault fork as challenges continue for HashiCorp, which also addressed Terraform Cloud pricing angst. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Dec 2023
6 quick server troubleshooting tips
Understand, communicate, monitor, check logs, ask for support. Follow these guidelines and make troubleshooting server problems quick and easy. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Dec 2023
digital process automation
Digital process automation (DPA) uses low-code development tools to automate processes that can span multiple applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Nov 2023
Stop errors with these PowerShell ValidatePattern examples
Using regular expressions to validate input information and generate a tailored error message on a new user script can prevent unnecessary support tickets. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Nov 2023
Cisco IOS (Cisco Internetwork Operating System)
Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is a collection of proprietary operating systems (OSes) that runs on Cisco hardware devices, including Cisco Systems network devices, routers and network switches. Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2023
IT pros wary as Microsoft Copilot juggernaut gains steam
Microsoft is now 'The Copilot company,' along with GitHub. But concerns linger about the accuracy of AI-generated results, code lineage and long-term job security. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Nov 2023
Logistics firm taps Netflix Conductor service to manage AI
SPI Logistics looks to a microservices orchestration service provider founded by the creators of Netflix Conductor as it prepares to weave AI into developer workflows. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Nov 2023
Veteran platform engineers share lessons learned, wish lists
Platform engineering is the new DevOps, but few companies have reached maturity; reps from early adopter orgs shared tips, caveats and a call to action at KubeCon. Continue Reading
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Opinion
13 Nov 2023
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2023 cloud-native vendor highlights
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2023 served as a hub where vendors and IT pros discussed the latest advancements in cloud-native technologies. Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2023
Generative AI brings changes to cloud-native platforms
Generative AI took over tech in 2023, and cloud-native platforms are no exception. The need to support LLMs is already affecting CNCF projects, including Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2023
Behind the scenes, Spotify's Backstage a work in progress
Spotify-created Backstage, now a CNCF project, is popular as enterprises add developer portals to internal platforms, but setup is hard, and getting dev buy-in can be even harder. Continue Reading
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Video
31 Oct 2023
Set up a Terraform S3 backend with this video tutorial
Storing your state files remotely makes for more stable infrastructure. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a Terraform AWS S3 backend to properly secure state files. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2023
LaunchDarkly feature management adds built-in workflows
Large enterprises use feature management to cope with traffic spikes and speed up releases but must plan carefully to avoid technical debt. LaunchDarkly updates could help. Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2023
Generative AI gets AIOps closer to ultimate goal
BigPanda's generative AI-driven root cause analysis keeps it at crux of IHG's AIOps. Glean's natural language processing and suggestions will free up time for Cruise devx team. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
24 Oct 2023
Learn how to use Terraform modules with examples
Running modules can benefit Terraform usability. Explore what a module in Terraform is, when you should use them, and run through some Terraform module examples. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
18 Oct 2023
How to tame Gradle dependency version management
Need to quickly and easily switch between versions of your dependencies at build time? Gradle's dependency catalogs are the answer. Here's how to use them. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
16 Oct 2023
Automate IT operations with VMware and Ansible
When paired with VMware, Ansible software can help automate IT tasks. Learn the steps to install Ansible and how to set up a virtual machine through vCenter. Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2023
Pulumi, HashiCorp competition expands to developer platforms
Developer platform choices for enterprise IT continue to proliferate as infrastructure-as-code rivals rush to create tools targeting platform engineers. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2023
Exec: Key new HashiCorp Terraform feature enabled by BSL
HashiCorp Terraform Stacks will be available in the free Community Edition in part due to development funded by its recent license change, one company official says. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2023
Terraform Registry TOS change stokes open source ire
Community members allege that HashiCorp quietly changed the terms of service for its Terraform Registry in order to complicate efforts to fork the code. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
10 Oct 2023
Discover advanced regular expressions in PowerShell
Learn how to develop more sophisticated regular expression techniques by understanding how to work with lookarounds with different operators. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Oct 2023
How AI affects low-code/no-code for DevOps
Low-code and no-code tools expand the DevOps community in an organization and -- when coupled with AI -- can enhance the effectiveness of their workflows and products. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2023
A guide to the key stages of AIOps
The key stages that make up AIOps all play an important role in achieving desired results. Successful adoption hinges on a team's ability to master them. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Sep 2023
workflow automation
Workflow automation is an approach to making the flow of tasks, documents and information across work-related activities perform independently in accordance with defined business rules. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Sep 2023
Best practices for network automation with Python
Python libraries, version control, documentation and object-oriented programming provide helpful best practices for network engineers tackling network automation with Python. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2023
Linux Foundation ups ante on HashiCorp, hosts Terraform fork
All eyes are on HashiCorp's response now that a community-driven fork of its Terraform infrastructure as code tool has been officially relaunched as a Linux Foundation project. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Sep 2023
Generative AI emerges for DevSecOps, with some qualms
New and developing tools use natural language processing to assist DevSecOps workflows, but concerns linger among developers about security risks as well. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Sep 2023
How to use NAPALM for efficient network management
NAPALM is a flexible Python library that can integrate with Ansible modules, support multivendor environments, and ease network management and automation strategies. Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2023
Server-side WebAssembly takes shape, but faces challenges
Server-side Wasm's release next quarter will provide a cleaner way to connect apps, followed by further improvements in early 2024. Will it be enough to convince skeptics? Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Aug 2023
New features show VMware Tanzu's impact on dev community
Despite questions of a sale, VMware Tanzu remains a strong influence in the developer community, especially with added features announced at VMware Explore 2023. Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2023
OpenTF begins HashiCorp Terraform fork, pledges donation
The vendor-led group says it wants to donate a fork based on the latest open source version of the infrastructure as code tool to a foundation, ideally the Linux Foundation or CNCF. Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2023
VMware, Cisco prep generative AI for SecOps
Generative AI has the potential to go beyond identifying anomalies in known data to create new information, such as incident summaries or security policies -- as well as new risks. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
22 Aug 2023
How to run ML workloads with Apache Spark on Kubernetes
IT staff looking for ways to maintain ML workloads with ease are increasingly turning to Apache Spark. Follow these simple steps to set up a Spark cluster on Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Aug 2023
Terraform
HashiCorp Terraform is an infrastructure as code (IaC) software tool that allows DevOps teams to automate infrastructure provisioning using reusable, shareable, human-readable configuration files. Continue Reading
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News
14 Aug 2023
Confusion mounts amid HashiCorp open source change
Ripple effects from HashiCorp's switch to BSL spread through the industry, raising questions among enterprise users and trepidation about the future of corporate open source. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Aug 2023
shift-left testing
Shift-left testing is a software testing approach in which the code is tested in the earlier stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2023
HashiCorp open source change targets competitors
HashiCorp moves to a Business Source License for all its future product releases that prohibits use for commercial purposes, renewing questions about open core business models. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Aug 2023
policy engine
A policy engine is a software component that allows an organization to create, monitor and enforce rules about how network resources and the organization's data can be accessed. Continue Reading
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News
01 Aug 2023
Experts expect Sumo Logic match post-New Relic acquisition
New Relic and Sumo Logic were both taken private by the same firm, as consolidation -- and attrition -- continues among observability tools. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Jul 2023
Enterprises rework log analytics to cut observability costs
Organizations such as Netflix could be a harbinger of an observability cost crisis, where monitoring cloud-native apps comprises an untenable portion of operational costs. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jul 2023
Industry tackles observability's data management problems
Enterprises and the vendors they buy from have begun to fundamentally rethink data management for observability, including a new startup with close ties to Cisco. Continue Reading
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Definition
25 Jul 2023
containers (container-based virtualization or containerization)
Containers are a type of software that can virtually package and isolate applications for deployment. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jul 2023
An introduction to Git for network engineers
Git can be a useful tool for network engineers who manage complex infrastructure, especially as networking increasingly overlaps with software, automation and DevOps. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2023
Dell Moogsoft AIOps buy could start filling gaps post-VMware
Dell's purchase of Moogsoft this week could help it regain some enterprise software appeal it lost when it spun out VMware. But the future is unclear for Moogsoft users. Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Jul 2023
Why AIOps will look at generative AI tools to grow adoption
AIOps generally sees limited results in its current implementations, but generative AI can potentially help expand and monetize these processes for organizations. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jul 2023
Splunk AI update adds specialized models for SecOps tasks
Splunk AI updates this week included specialized models for SecOps that detect and automatically respond to common issues such as DNS exfiltration and suspicious processes. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Jul 2023
provisioning
In the context of IT and computing, provisioning refers to the process of setting up IT infrastructure and providing access to authorized users to the various resources that are part of the infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jul 2023
Decide when and how to adopt an MLOps framework
Unsure where to start when it comes to standardizing your organization's machine learning processes? Explore key considerations and practical tips for adopting an MLOps framework. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jul 2023
server hardware degradation
Server hardware degradation is the gradual breakdown of the physical parts of a server. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
30 Jun 2023
Automate workflows by running PowerShell in GitHub Actions
By running PowerShell scripts in GitHub Actions workflows, admins can automate common DevOps and IT management tasks. Get started with these hands-on examples. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Jun 2023
cognitive computing
Cognitive computing is the use of computerized models to simulate the human thought process in complex situations where the answers might be ambiguous and uncertain. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
Banks dump Terraform for Crossplane infrastructure as code
Two EU banks favor Crossplane's reconciliation approach over Terraform's dependency graph, saying the former hastens deployments -- with a few migration caveats. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
23 Jun 2023
Learn by doing with these PowerShell regex examples
When you must find specific text in a large file, such as a system log, regular expressions can come to the rescue. Learn how to add this skill to your administrative arsenal. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2023
Chef founder's new venture: IT infrastructure digital twins
System Initiative, out in private beta this week, visualizes complex IT environments in digital simulations where users can test updates before real-world deployments. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Jun 2023
Knative
Knative is an open source project based on the Kubernetes platform for building, deploying and managing serverless workloads that can run in the cloud, on premises or in a third-party data center. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2023
HashiCorp Vault trims SaaS; Boundary hooks up Enterprise
HashiCorp Vault's appeal to a broader field of users gets a boost from a new entry-level cloud service, while a new Boundary Enterprise targets the high end of the market. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jun 2023
How to use GitHub Copilot for PowerShell coding projects
The integration of this code completion tool with VS Code can benefit administrators who want to automate jobs. But there are some limitations with this fledgling technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jun 2023
Kubernetes networking 101: Best practices and challenges
Before jumping into the landscape of CNI plugins for Kubernetes, it's important to understand the basic elements of Kubernetes networking. Follow this guide to get started. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
Sysdig CNAPP runtime threat detection wins over BigCommerce
Sysdig's fast, comprehensive data collection, now part of a larger CNAPP product, sealed the deal with the e-commerce company. Next, it might replace vulnerability management tools. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
08 Jun 2023
Manage multiple environments with Terraform workspaces
Terraform workspaces let DevOps teams manage configurations for different environments in a centralized way. Get started with workspaces through hands-on examples in this tutorial. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
06 Jun 2023
Compare Rancher vs. OpenShift vs. Tanzu for Kubernetes
Kubernetes management platforms simplify container orchestration at scale, but each has unique pros and cons. See how SUSE Rancher, Red Hat OpenShift and VMware Tanzu stack up. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jun 2023
Ansible playbook
An Ansible playbook is an organized unit of scripts that defines the tasks involved in managing a system configuration using the automation tool Ansible. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Jun 2023
Manage complexity in Kubernetes with AI and machine learning
Learn how DevOps teams can enhance performance and observability in Kubernetes with AI and machine learning techniques. Evaluate pros, cons and use cases. Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2023
AI and automation take center stage at AnsibleFest 2023
Amid excitement around the possibilities raised by AI and automation, experts at Red Hat Summit and AnsibleFest 2023 highlighted the importance of trust and responsibility. Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 May 2023
Automating modernization: Takeaways from Red Hat Summit 2023
Get an industry analyst's take on major announcements from this year's Red Hat Summit and AnsibleFest and how the developments fit into today's IT landscape. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 May 2023
Now a DevOps platform, OpenShift ups value -- and complexity
Red Hat raises OpenShift's profile as a DevOps platform with software supply chain security but faces questions about networking strategy and observability staff departures. Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2023
Event-Driven Ansible early adopters share lessons learned
Beta testers of the new Event-Driven Ansible tool from Red Hat said expanding automation and moving toward self-healing systems requires fresh skills and organizational shifts. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 May 2023
GitOps
GitOps is an operational framework that applies DevOps practices, such as continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) and version control, to infrastructure automation. Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2023
Ansible Lightspeed leads Red Hat generative AI agenda
Red Hat leans on IBM's expertise in training Watson Code Assistant to write Ansible playbooks, as worries linger about AI-generated code risks and rivals hold a strong lead. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 May 2023
Generative AI use cases for DevOps and IT
Generative AI is often associated with creative projects, but it has promising use cases in DevOps and IT workflows -- if organizations account for its risks and limitations. Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 May 2023
3 rules to adapt cloud change management policies
Having a change management policy can minimize risk when it comes to making changes. Follow these rules to adapt cloud change management policies and compliance within the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
18 May 2023
Learn how to use the PowerShell Trim method
With the Trim method in your PowerShell toolbox, you can write scripts to remove unwanted characters from strings without using regular expressions. Get started with this tutorial. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 May 2023
Improve automation skills with the AD Administrative Center
You might know that you can use PowerShell to handle repetitive Active Directory tasks. But were you aware the Active Directory Administrative Center can help write the code? Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Google teases generative AI expansion within its own cloud
Google's new generative AI features, including a coding assistant, were tied closely to GCP in preview demos this week, while industry experts said its LLM still lags rivals. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Cloud repatriation vs. multi-cloud: IT seeks cost relief
Amid fiscal worries, IT orgs reassess cloud investments. Whether they go back on-premises or expand to multi-cloud, they face similar distributed computing management challenges. Continue Reading
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News
05 May 2023
For enterprise generative AI adoption, custom models are key
Enterprise interest in deploying generative AI is on the rise, but challenges remain around security, infrastructure requirements and integration with existing systems. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 May 2023
C shell
C shell (csh) is a Unix shell that provides a command-line user interface (UI) to interact with an operating system (OS). Continue Reading
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Definition
04 May 2023
cloud orchestration (cloud orchestrator)
Cloud orchestration is the use of programming technology to manage the interconnections and interactions among workloads on public and private cloud infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2023
Observability maven 'cranky' about AIOps embraces GPT
Honeycomb's observability tools will add natural language queries via OpenAI's GPT API, a departure from its co-founder and CTO's broader stance on AI in IT ops tools. Continue Reading
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News
02 May 2023
Citing data privacy, GitLab syncs with Google generative AI
GitLab's deal with Google lets it keep sensitive customer data in the GitLab cloud while training models, amid enterprise concerns about generative AI licensing and security risks. Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 May 2023
How advances in GPT-4 could revolutionize app development
Although public attention has recently centered on ChatGPT, the underlying GPT-3 and GPT-4 models could be even more transformative, particularly for application developers. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Apr 2023
How ChatGPT can assist with network management
Network professionals can use ChatGPT as a tool to automate mundane processes, write code, design networks and perform other tasks related to network management. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Apr 2023
configuration file
A configuration file, often shortened to 'config file,' defines the parameters, options, settings and preferences applied to operating systems (OSes), infrastructure devices and applications in an IT context. Continue Reading
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News
20 Apr 2023
Sidecarless eBPF service mesh sparks debate
As cloud-native service meshes expand beyond Kubernetes, open source community members raise concerns about the security and suitability of eBPF in sidecarless architectures. Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Atlassian demos ChatGPT tie-ins for Confluence, Jira Cloud
Atlassian teased early previews of cloud platform AI that supports natural language queries and automated links between Jira, Confluence and third-party products. Continue Reading