Features

Features

• Tips and tools to control sprawl in your VM environment

  Using management tools is just one way to prevent sprawl in your VM environment. It's important to be proactive with your VMs to fight sprawl.  Continue Reading

• Mix hardware and software for the best VM high availability

  Administrators must implement a level of resilience and availability that is appropriate for each individual workload.  Continue Reading

• Three mistakes that can doom your private cloud design from day one

  Don't fall into the trap of rushing your private cloud deployment. Slow down and learn how to avoid these three common private cloud design mistakes.  Continue Reading

• Twitter Roundup: Interop Las Vegas 2014

  With Interop Las Vegas 2014 bringing in top tech companies and professionals, here's a look at the Twitter chatter from the attendees.  Continue Reading

• Benefits, requirements and drawbacks of server I/O virtualization

  Server I/O virtualization allows for increased consolidation, improved management and improved performance and doesn't have any major drawbacks.  Continue Reading

• Five quick links: Getting familiar with container-based virtualization

  Container-based virtualization is a more secure option than hypervisors, but is it the right fit for you? There are positives and negatives to both.  Continue Reading

• Choosing disaster recovery options that fit your virtual needs

  Periodic backups may not be enough to protect your VMs, but there are a variety of disaster recovery options that can meet your needs.  Continue Reading

• Five virtual server security oversights that can paralyze a data center

  Failing to define and enforce some simple virtual server security policies can leave your infrastructure battered and broken.  Continue Reading

• Smarter hardware: Evaluating virtualization-aware storage options

  Virtualization solves a lot of problems, but it also presents new storage challenges. Virtualization-aware storage can help improve performance.  Continue Reading

• We have the answers to your Server Message Block 3.0 questions

  If you have a burning question about Server Message Block 3.0 -- about what's new or if you're ready to take it to production -- we have answers.  Continue Reading

• Keep your virtual Java platforms in tune with these guidelines

  Author Emad Benjamin introduces the different types of large-scale Java platforms in this chapter and details the four key requirements for them.  Continue Reading

• Better IOPS in a flash: Why now is the time to start using SSD storage

  Using SSD storage is one of the fastest ways to improve IOPS and VM performance. Find out why our experts say now is the time to invest.  Continue Reading

• What virtualization admins need to know about flash storage

  A new generation of solid-state flash storage can add speed to virtual environments. With prices dropping and writes improving, flash could shine.  Continue Reading

• Pinpointing application performance problems in a virtual data center

  Hardware performance is relatively easy to monitor, but acceptable hardware metrics do not always translate to smooth application performance in a virtual environment.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization isn't perfect, but SLAT minimizes hypervisor overhead

  Processor technology improvements, such as Second Level Address Translation, have improved virtualization performance by reducing hypervisor overhead.  Continue Reading

• Five tips to heed when moving from virtualization to cloud computing

  Moving from virtualization to cloud computing seems like the next logical step, but it isn't easy. If you're ready, these five tips can help.  Continue Reading

• Five mistakes to avoid when developing a server consolidation plan

  There's a lot to consider when developing a server consolidation plan. Don't fall victim to these five common oversights.  Continue Reading

• Myths persist about advantages and disadvantages of virtualization

  Server virtualization is now pervasive, but it's not uncommon to still hear myths about the advantages and disadvantages of virtualization.  Continue Reading

• Why is virtual server capacity planning so difficult?

  Virtual server capacity planning is critical to tracking resource use to ensure peak performance and minimize downtime.  Continue Reading

• Is more better? Heterogeneous hypervisor environments have pros, cons

  Heterogeneous hypervisor environments offer a financial advantage, but is this just a transitional phase that will lead back to homogeneity?  Continue Reading

• Five quick links that will improve your Hyper-V live migration

  Find out how to perfect your Hyper-V live migration including how to increase the speed and how to best secure the transition.  Continue Reading

• Server virtualization trends to expect in 2014

  Vendors released many important products and features over the last year, but what's in store for server virtualization trends in 2014?  Continue Reading

• VMware stymied in its quest for world domination

  VMware has been, and still is the virtualization market leader. But, it's facing challenges, not the least of which are coming from its own user base.  Continue Reading

• Virtual data center challenges and management tools that help conquer them

  Constant refinements and upgrades can cause virtualization challenges -- such as VM sprawl -- but management tools can help smooth the process.  Continue Reading

• Don't be labeled 'legacy admin,' update your virtualization job skills

  As more companies consider multiple hypervisors, make sure your skills are keeping pace with the changing virtualization job market.  Continue Reading

• Try NUMA architecture for advanced VM memory techniques

  Servers with newer NUMA infrastructure can boost VM performance if administrators pay attention to memory size characteristics.  Continue Reading

• Five steps to choosing the best hypervisor for your company

  Now that Microsoft has closed the gap with VMware, IT pros have a difficult decision when it comes to choosing the best hypervisor for their needs.  Continue Reading

• The nitty-gritty of VMware NSX

  VMware NSX has become a point of pride for the vendor. Before you jump on the network virtualization bandwagon, get all the facts.  Continue Reading

• Tackling virtual server security and compliance challenges

  Today's data centers face many unique virtual server security and compliance challenges. Our Advisory Board weighs in on how to solve them.  Continue Reading

• The 'what, where and why' of VMCS shadowing

  When performance issues strike systems hosting multiple VMMs, VMCS shadowing comes to the rescue.  Continue Reading

• Refresh your approach to private cloud capacity planning

  Traditional approaches to capacity planning won't work when it comes to private clouds. Third-party tools can help ease the pain.  Continue Reading

• Update your approach to virtual server backups

  Don't stay stuck in the past when it comes to VM backup methods and tools. Modern hypervisors and third-party tools provide more options than ever.  Continue Reading

• Let's get this straight: VM live migration

  As live migration features have evolved over the years, the terminology around the technology has become more confusing. Let us help you sort it out.  Continue Reading

• Will VMware NSX polarize or unite server and networking teams?

  Software defined networking could break down silos and create a converged IT family, but there's bound to be sibling rivalry along the way.  Continue Reading

• The road to VMware Certified Professional exam success

  When you're studying for your VMware Certified Professional certification, don't forget to learn these 20 crucial terms.  Continue Reading

• What enterprise IT departments can learn from cloud companies

  The success of cloud companies hinges on their ability to create an efficient infrastructure, and enterprise IT can learn from this approach.  Continue Reading

• Developing a strategy to identify and fix VM performance issues

  Many factors can hamper VM performance. A careful troubleshooting process can help IT administrators identify and correct VM performance issues.  Continue Reading

• Twelve PowerShell command line tips, tricks and helpful hints

  Don't let the PowerShell command line overwhelm you. We collected some of the most important info, and broke it down into 12 easy-to-digest pieces.  Continue Reading

• Will open source hypervisors ever be popular among enterprises?

  Open source hypervisors now offer many of the same core capabilities as VMware and Microsoft, but their market share still trails. What gives?  Continue Reading

• Virtualization management tools can help reduce server power usage

  Emerging virtualization tools that automatically migrate workloads to optimize data center resources help improve server power usage.  Continue Reading

• Buying server hardware for a scalable virtual infrastructure, part 2

  Buying server hardware for a scalable architecture requires careful consideration. Here are three things to keep in mind.  Continue Reading

• Buying server hardware for a scalable virtual infrastructure, Part 1

  Part 1 of this series explores how trends in buying server hardware have been influenced by the scale-up vs. scale-out architecture debate.  Continue Reading

• Three hypervisor and virtual environment security concerns

  Virtualization offers many benefits but also comes with plenty of risks. Keep these three things in mind when planning virtual environment security.  Continue Reading

• Four quick tips for troubleshooting Microsoft Hyper-V cluster problems

  Having trouble with your Microsoft Hyper-V cluster? These troubleshooting tips can help you identify and fix the problem.  Continue Reading

• Expert predictions for what to expect at VMworld 2013

  VMworld 2013 is right around the corner and speculations are growing about what VMware will reveal. Our Advisory Board experts share what they expect.  Continue Reading

• Setting up VMs to fail: When a disposable VM makes financial sense

  The idea of a disposable VM may not be popular with IT pros, but some prominent companies are saving a lot of money by designing for failure.  Continue Reading

• Five strategies for VM sprawl control and prevention

  Be proactive with your VM sprawl control strategies to avoid resource shortages and performance problems.  Continue Reading

• Face-off: Weighing the pros and cons of using multiple hypervisors

  More companies are using multiple hypervisors, but do the advantages outweigh the challenges? Two experts give different opinions so you can decide.  Continue Reading

• Red Hat aims high with Red Hat Cloud Infrastructure

  Hot on the heels of RHEV 3.2, Red Hat plans to integrate the platform with OpenStack in an offering called Red Hat Cloud Infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• When avoiding in-house development leads to business success

  While in-house development has become a common practice for many big cloud providers, smaller companies often benefit more from automation tools.  Continue Reading

• Recognizing and correcting common VM migration problems

  A careful and systematic approach can speed the recognition and correction of common VM migration problems.  Continue Reading

• Buying the next generation of hardware for virtualization

  Virtualization is still changing how we use hardware. Here's what you should know about buying the next generation of hardware for virtualization.  Continue Reading

• RISC technology, ARM processors trending in server virtualization

  New 64-bit ARM processors are better equipped to support virtualization than before, but not all workloads are good candidates for the technology.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization vs. cloud: Let's get this straight

  Reports of clouds abound, but true clouds are hard to come by. Turns out, many don't know what separates virtualization vs. cloud. We're here to help.  Continue Reading

• Memory paging techniques hypervisors use to improve VM performance

  Virtualization often puts memory at a premium, but hypervisors employ a set of memory paging features to enhance performance and do more with less.  Continue Reading

• Best of VMworld 2013 Awards criteria

  The Best of VMworld 2013 Awards will recognize top virtualization and cloud products at the show. The deadline to submit your nominations is July 26.  Continue Reading

• How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance

  How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance  Continue Reading

• Virtual data centers could use a fresh look at IT security policies

  Often, the biggest challenge to virtual data center security is actually legacy IT security policies that prevent efficiency and aggravate employees.  Continue Reading

• Incorporating vCenter Orchestrator into your automation arsenal

  Are you considering jumping into vCenter Orchestrator? Here's some expert advice on where to get started and how to use VMware's automation tool.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization widens schism between server and networking teams

  Virtual networking has revived tensions between server and networking teams within data centers, but it's a dynamic both sides must embrace.  Continue Reading

• Strike a common-sense balance when deciding what to automate

  Consider the many factors that determine the potential return on investment when deciding when and what to automate.  Continue Reading

• Server virtualization benefits for mission-critical workloads

  The server virtualization benefits that have transformed data centers also extend to mission-critical applications.  Continue Reading

• Why enterprise IT should embrace the cloud business model

  Many cloud providers offer catalogues of fixed-configuration VMs, and adopting this cloud business model could greatly benefit enterprise IT.  Continue Reading

• What to consider before virtualizing mission-critical applications

  If they're not broken, why fix mission-critical applications by virtualizing? The same reasons you virtualize other apps: Efficiency and flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Drawing up an effective VMware vSphere design from scratch

  Planning for a VMware infrastructure can be a daunting task, especially for a beginner. VSphere design expert Scott Lowe describes what to expect.  Continue Reading

• How do you know if your business needs to build a private cloud?

  Cloud computing is a hot topic these days, but it's not right for everyone. Our experts weigh in on when it makes sense to build a private cloud.  Continue Reading

• Important considerations for security and protection of VM data

  The flexible nature of virtualization means you have plenty of options for protecting VM data. Ask yourself these three questions to avoid DR errors.  Continue Reading

• Dry advisories leave many unsatisfied with VMware security updates

  A recent survey reveals that many customers expect more from VMware security updates -- something Tom Howarth has been saying for years.  Continue Reading

• Three ways to boost server efficiency and avoid hypervisor contention

  If your hypervisor isn't performing at its best, ask yourself these three questions to see if you should pay more attention to server efficiency.  Continue Reading

• Infrastructure provisioning challenges: Linking physical and virtual

  Infrastructure provisioning tools often fail to bridge the management gap between physical and virtual. Is vendor standardization the answer?  Continue Reading

• The Microsoft Hyper-V snapshot explained

  Snapshots are an important management tool, but they aren't an alternative to backups. Find out how a Hyper-V snapshot works and how to use it.  Continue Reading

• The future of data centers: Software-defined, or not?

  The prospect of virtualizing the entire infrastructure could change the future of data centers, but many challenges still stand in the way.  Continue Reading

• Keeping up with virtualization and mobile technology security

  As virtualization extends its reach, IT needs to focus its efforts on maintaining a resilient data center and mobile technology security.  Continue Reading

• FAQs you should answer before starting P2V conversions

  P2V conversions can trip up even experienced IT pros. Be sure you know the answers to these frequently asked questions before starting a migration.  Continue Reading

• It's a growing trend, but are multiple hypervisors the right answer?

  More large organizations are turning to multiple hypervisors to improve performance or reduce costs, but is now the time to jump on the bandwagon?  Continue Reading

• Balancing disaster recovery costs in a virtualized world

  Virtualization has changed the way IT pros look at availability, helping reduce disaster recovery costs while maintaining high levels of protection.  Continue Reading

• Crash course: Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V introduction

  Looking for a quick Hyper-V introduction? We've got you covered with these tips highlighting important changes to Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V.  Continue Reading

• Everyone has an opinion on VMware vs. Microsoft

  When it comes to VMware vs. Microsoft, everybody has something to say. Recap the year's biggest news with these top five quotes.  Continue Reading

• Server virtualization trends and predictions to watch for in 2013

  We're at the end of another year, and our experts are polishing their crystal balls to tell you what server virtualization trends to expect in 2013.  Continue Reading

• Editors pick best virtualization techniques and management strategies

  Take a look at our list of the best tips of 2012 for virtualization techniques, new technologies and virtual infrastructure management strategies.  Continue Reading

• Room for improvement: Where virtualization vendors are falling short

  For all the recent improvements, virtualization vendors and third-party providers are still falling short of customer expectations in some areas.  Continue Reading

• Examining the value of a virtualization certification

  Pursuing virtualization certification can be time-consuming and can drain your wallet. Is the potential payback worth the investment?  Continue Reading

• Virtualization makes big data analytics possible for SMBs

  Big data isn't just for large companies with fat wallets. A virtual Hadoop deployment lets budget-conscious SMBs benefit from big data analytics.  Continue Reading

• VMworld 2012 expert predictions

  Thousands of IT pros will head to VMworld 2012 in a few weeks, but what can they expect to see? Our Advisory Board members discuss their predictions.  Continue Reading

• Migrating to desktop as a service

  Once you choose DaaS, take a structured approach to ensure success.  Continue Reading

• The server market weakens while niche vendors are on the rise

  Don’t be caught out of the loop. Check out what’s going on in the virtualization market and the world of data center design.  Continue Reading

• How to patch a virtual environment

  These four tips offer guidance for patching in a complex, virtualized data center environment.  Continue Reading

• VMware and Citrix changing course: Buzz from the virtual water cooler

  VMware and Citrix made some interesting moves this past week, prompting some colorful commentary. Read up on what you may have missed.  Continue Reading

• Server Virtualization Quotes: VMware Forum 2012

  Take a look at what happened this week in the world of server virtualization through quotes from VMware Forum 2012.  Continue Reading

• The data center’s hidden cost

  Power consumption never stops in the data center, but few consider its real costs.  Continue Reading

• What not to do when you’re consolidating: Five common VM mistakes

  Get better consolidation ratios by avoiding these typical problems.  Continue Reading

• Products of the Year 2011: Virtualization management

  These are the Products of the Year 2011 winners in the virtualization management category.  Continue Reading

• Products of the Year 2011: Virtualization security

  These are the Products of the Year 2011 winners in the desktop virtualization category.  Continue Reading

• Products of the Year 2011: Hardware for virtualization

  These are the Products of the Year 2011 winners in the hardware for virtualization category.  Continue Reading

• SearchServerVirtualization.com Products of the Year 2011

  SearchServerVirtualization.com's annual Products of the Year awards recognize innovation and performance in data center technologies. Nominate a product today!  Continue Reading

• How to plan for desktop virtualization

  Tackle virtualization deployment in phases—not as an all-or-nothing proposition.  Continue Reading

• Best of vForum Awards 2011 nomination form: SINGAPORE

  Hosted by TechTarget the Best of vForum Awards 2011 will take place during vForum in Singapore, 9 November 2011. Enter so your IT project can receive the recognition it deserves.  Continue Reading

• What new virtualization features do you want?

  New virtualization features keep getting more advanced, but there’s always room to improve. Our advisory board members share their wish lists.  Continue Reading

• IT certifications: How does virtualization stack up?

  Unlike some IT certifications, VMware certifications can actually boost salaries. Now other virtualization vendors are getting in on the act.  Continue Reading

• Elastic computing calls for virtualization management overhaul

  Inside an enterprise cloud, IT shops wait for orchestration and monitoring tools to catch up with the complexities involved in offering self-service, on-demand computing.  Continue Reading