Features

Features

• 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

• How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance

  How hypervisors dynamically allocate memory to improve VM performance  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Migrating to desktop as a service

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

• How to plan for desktop virtualization

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

• FAQ: Devising a server consolidation plan

  A server consolidation plan should optimize server capacity. A well-devised server consolidation project eliminates physical servers that waste resources and rack up hardware costs.  Continue Reading

• FAQ: Virtual applications pros and cons

  Virtual applications reduce hardware costs and ease application deployment. But there's a lot to consider when you virtualize mission-critical applications.  Continue Reading

• Hardware compatibility issues lead to virtualization problems

  Even little things like using USB drives for backups can cause major virtualization problems. A VAR shares his story about overcoming hardware compatibility issues.  Continue Reading

• Virtual machine migration FAQ: Live migration, P2V and more

  Virtual machine migration offers many benefits, but it can be complicated. Luckily, several tools can help you migrate a virtual machine and address security concerns.  Continue Reading

• How to make the most of hardware service contracts

  Identify the right amount of support for your data center to manage costs efficiently and keep servers running.  Continue Reading

• What does VMware really do?

  With Zimbra, VMware is moving away from virtualization and sending mixed messages about the kind of company it is, Server Virtualization Advisory Board member Greg Shields says.  Continue Reading

• Server colocation vs. segmentation for test and dev, production

  Some experts say server colocation is an easy way to save money. Others say it lets your testing and development environment drain resources from production applications.  Continue Reading

• VMware vs. VirtualBox: Which is better for host-based virtualization?

  Which is better: VirtualBox or VMware Workstation? Workstation is tightly integrated with VMware's suite, but VirtualBox is open source. Two virtualization experts weigh in.  Continue Reading

• Face-off: Generic VMware vSwitch vs. Cisco Nexus 1000V

  When it comes to comparing Cisco Nexus 1000v with the VMware vSwitch, two experts can't seem to agree which of the two is superior. Read both their sides and form your own opinion!  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of bundling hardware and software together

  Members of our Server Virtualization Advisory Board discuss the Virtual Computing Environment coalition and ponder the value of bundling hardware and software together.  Continue Reading

• Software license management for virtual environments and the cloud

  Understanding software licensing and support policies for virtualized and cloud environments is a key requirement for all virtualization projects.  Continue Reading

• Xen vs. KVM Linux virtualization hypervisors

  Which side wins in the Xen vs. KVM Linux virtualization hypervisor debate? Two IT experts weigh-in with their Xen-KVM comparisons.  Continue Reading

• Blades vs. rack servers for virtualization

  In this face-off, two veteran IT professionals debate blade vs. rack-mount servers, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of each in relation to virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• How to troubleshoot common ESX problems in VMware

  In this excerpt from VMware VI3 Implementation and Administration, learn some steps on how to identify ESX problems in virtual environments and solve them.  Continue Reading

• Introduction to Virtualization e-book

  Introduction to Virtualization covers data center virtualization for IT professionals who want to learn more about the benefits of this important and evolving technology. This e-book outlines the basics of virtualization technology, including ...  Continue Reading

• To P2V or Not to P2V? The rules of the road for virtual migration

  Physical-to-virtual migration is sometimes touted as a turnkey event. But without understanding your server environment, P2V tasks are hardly seamless.  Continue Reading

• Virtual lab management planning best practices

  Given the low risk, companies often embark on virtualization projects by virtualizing a test and development environment. But even virtualized lab environments can pose problems.  Continue Reading

• Server virtualization hardware shopping guide

  With virtual architecture, your hardware considerations change, so you can’t make hardware purchases in isolation. Virtualization has implications for CPU, memory, storage and network bandwidth.  Continue Reading

• Managing change in dynamic virtual environments

  Virtualization brings flexibility and dexterity, enabling rapid change. But change management processes are at odds with that flexibility. How can you reconcile the two?  Continue Reading

• Should you host email on virtual machines?

  Virtualizing mission-critical systems like email can aid with storage and disaster recovery. But without understanding system requirements and mandates like Sarbanes-Oxley, you’ll get derailed  Continue Reading

• Eliminate I/O bottlenecks, improve VM performance

  Virtualization deployments often introduce I/O bottlenecks at various levels of your physical infrastructure and undercut the gains of virtual servers. But with today’s tools, you can identify and loosen I/O choke holds at their source.  Continue Reading

• Storage architectures for virtual environments

  Early server virtualization implementations relied on storage area networks and particularly Fibre Channel. But new storage options are potentially less complex and costly.  Continue Reading

• Running databases on VMs: The time is now

  Contrary to popular wisdom, virtual machines can handle the workload of production databases.  Continue Reading