Tips

Tips

• Steps to make Linux Integration Services 4.1 work for you

  Linux Integration Services version 4.1 expanded support for guest OSes and Hyper-V backup tools. Follow these steps to install the service and reap the benefits of its features.  Continue Reading

• Deep dive into Hyper-V files and folders

  Understanding all aspects of a Hyper-V installation now makes it easier to troubleshoot problems later. Look under the hood of Hyper-V files and folders to prep for the worst.  Continue Reading

• When a single virtualization host makes sense -- and when it doesn't

  Multiple virtualization hosts are typically used for failover clustering purposes, but that isn't always feasible. Sometimes it's okay to use a stand-alone host.  Continue Reading

• Which approach is better: hyper-converged software or rack servers?

  IT clusters are undergoing a rapid transformation, and infrastructures are changing to reflect that fact. Hyper-converged software, in particular, seems like the way of the future.  Continue Reading

• SCVMM's ability to manage Azure VMs leaves a lot to be desired

  Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager is great for managing Hyper-V hosts and VMs, but it comes up short when managing Azure VMs.  Continue Reading

• Protect your infrastructure with virtualization security management

  Before implementing virtualization in your data center, assess all of its potential risks -- from system outages to cyberattacks -- and how to manage them.  Continue Reading

• Big servers are the better container host platform

  In an environment with a large number of containers, big servers better meet the needs of users because of the impact of containers on CPU bandwidth, storage I/O and networking.  Continue Reading

• Apache Mesos better utilizes resources, improves scalability

  Apache Mesos has become popular with major enterprises for its ability to scale linearly, reduce wasteful resource consumption and abstract storage, CPU and memory.  Continue Reading

• VMware load balancing involves multiple features and configurations

  Distributed Resource Scheduler and High Availability have their own use cases, but also work together to help balance workloads across the environment.  Continue Reading

• Configure a Server Core installation with the Server Configuration Tool

  The Microsoft Server Configuration Tool configures several aspects of a Server Core installation in Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016.  Continue Reading

• Differences between Windows Server Containers, Hyper-V Containers and VMs

  Isolation levels between Windows Server Containers and Hyper-V Containers differ. Although Hyper-V Containers leverage Hyper-V VMs, there are major differences between the two.  Continue Reading

• Compare the TCO and functionality of each major hypervisor technology

  Choosing the right hypervisor is crucial to the overall success of your data center -- thoroughly evaluate the total cost of ownership and functionality when making a decision.  Continue Reading

• How to write application code for an OpenStack SDK

  Though there is no official OpenStack SDK, there are plenty of SDKs that support OpenStack. Learn about SDKs as well as the requirements for using an SDK for OpenStack in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Navigate the ins and outs of VMware VVOL technology

  With these five quick tips, you'll be well versed in VMware VVOL advantages, requirements, components, management options and pre-implementation considerations.  Continue Reading

• When should you switch from Hyper-V replication to Storage Replica?

  If Hyper-V replication is meeting your needs, there is probably no reason to use Storage Replica, but if you need a feature that offers scalability, you should make the switch.  Continue Reading

• Container support grows to combat security issues

  As container technology evolves, so do container security methods. From VMware to Microsoft to Intel, vendors are getting in on the container market in a big way.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate hyper-converged technologies based on business needs

  Knowing the evolution of hyper-converged technologies and different platforms is important, but you also need to understand your current environment and organization.  Continue Reading

• Export an AWS instance to your hypervisor

  There are specific limitations you need to keep in mind when exporting an AWS instance to your hypervisor, but, otherwise, the process is pretty straightforward.  Continue Reading

• Perform a Hyper-V health check with these PowerShell commands

  Get reports on the general health status of Hyper-V hosts and VMs running on Hyper-V hosts, as well as information on installed roles and features with PowerShell commands.  Continue Reading

• How to choose between replacing and upgrading servers

  Be sure to research the risks and rewards of either replacing or upgrading servers and virtualization hosts before deciding which option is the right choice for your environment.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud: What it is, what it does and hybrid cloud use cases

  Hybrid cloud is one of the biggest buzzwords in IT today, but what exactly is a hybrid cloud, and how should you implement it? Learn that and more with this hybrid cloud primer.  Continue Reading

• Packstack deploys OpenStack components quickly and efficiently

  Developed by Red Hat's RDO OpenStack community, Packstack simplifies the OpenStack installation process by deploying OpenStack components automatically.  Continue Reading

• Consider these tips when migrating Azure VMs to Hyper-V

  Microsoft makes it easy to migrate Azure VMs to Hyper-V, but there are some post-migration cleanup tasks you need to complete before using the VMs in production.  Continue Reading

• How will VMs access solid-state drive storage in your data center?

  Solid-state storage is becoming more affordable and, as a result, more popular. Find out how to improve SSD storage performance by keeping operations close to the hardware.  Continue Reading

• Nine steps to a successful Hyper-V to VMware migration

  Before you migrate from Hyper-V to VMware, you should take a comprehensive inventory, set an agreed-upon schedule and communicate the potential impact to all relevant parties.  Continue Reading

• Nested virtualization offers flexibility and cost savings

  Although you can run into hypervisor and OS compatibility issues when trying to implement nested virtualization, if you do your due diligence, you'll realize significant benefits.  Continue Reading

• Monitor an environment with Simple Network Management Protocol

  Monitoring a large or complex environment can be a major undertaking, but the right technology can make it a more straightforward process. That's where SNMP comes in.  Continue Reading

• Address these storage issues to help find bottlenecks

  Drive configuration, server connection and storage backplanes are all things that can affect application latency. Start with these items when looking for storage bottlenecks.  Continue Reading

• Should your virtualization hosts be configured as Nano Servers?

  In most cases, running Hyper-V on Nano Servers, which have a smaller footprint than server cores, will result in significant performance and patch management benefits.  Continue Reading

• Identify bottlenecks and resolve VM performance problems

  Some of the infrastructure components behind slow performance include CPU, memory and networking. These tips will help you find and eliminate those bottlenecks.  Continue Reading

• Explore the benefits of deploying Windows Server 2012 SOFS with SCVMM

  There are two ways to deploy the Microsoft Scale-Out File Server, but only one method reduces install time, uses fewer IT resources and simplifies SOFS management.  Continue Reading

• Recognize and address application performance issues

  When monitoring your environment, you need to know the difference between bottlenecks and faults and understand performance data and application limits.  Continue Reading

• Create a high-availability strategy to prevent system failure

  High availability is an incredibly valuable concept, one that helps safeguard systems and components against failure. Improve your high-availability strategy with these tips.  Continue Reading

• How to defend your VMs and virtualization hosts against cyberattacks

  In an increasingly virtualized world, there's always the risk of falling prey to a cyberattack. The best way to prevent an attack is to have a solid security plan in place.  Continue Reading

• Steps for a successful VMware to Hyper-V migration

  Before you begin a VMware to Hyper-V migration, you need to ask yourself how many VMs you need to migrate and how much downtime the migration will require.  Continue Reading

• Proxmox resource pools simplify virtual resource management

  Open source Proxmox organizes virtual resources into pools, making it easier to assign user roles, effectively manage VMs and eliminate resource waste.  Continue Reading

• Weigh the differences between Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V checkpoints

  Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V offers two new types of checkpoints: standard and production. How can you determine which one to use for your virtualized workloads?  Continue Reading

• Get to know the versatile Get-VM PowerShell cmdlet

  The Get-VM PowerShell cmdlet obtains configuration properties of VMs running on a single local or remote Hyper-V server.  Continue Reading

• NVDIMMs provide faster speed and improved performance

  Using nonvolatile dual in-line memory modules instead of PCIe-connected NVMe SSDs in your virtual server equates to better speed and overall performance.  Continue Reading

• Familiarize yourself with Microsoft SCVMM features and uses

  With Microsoft SCVMM, you can leverage templates and profiles, deploy a Hyper-V cluster and create a database backup plan, among many other virtual environment management tasks.  Continue Reading

• Build a strong OpenStack cloud computing platform with these tips

  When it comes to the open source cloud computing market, OpenStack is the clear leader -- but it still has a ways to go. Learn more about OpenStack with these five quick tips.  Continue Reading

• What makes an SDS product successful?

  The software-defined storage approach involves a number of moving parts, including hyper-converged systems, networking for rapid data delivery and solid-state drives.  Continue Reading

• Latest version of Hyper-V offers greater support for Linux VMs

  From support for Secure Boot to the ability to hot add, Microsoft has made a number of improvements and added new features to Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V to boost Linux support.  Continue Reading

• Use a Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V shielded VM to improve host security

  There's been a great deal of buzz around the Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V feature, VM shielding. But how exactly does VM shielding work, and what benefits does it bring?  Continue Reading

• What level of redundancy is right for your data center?

  When it comes to ensuring high availability in your virtual infrastructure, it's okay to get a little redundant. Learn more about redundancy levels in this Advisory Board.  Continue Reading

• Revolutionize the data center with microservices and containers

  Software-defined infrastructure, microservices and containers are changing the way data centers are built and operated, resulting in an efficient data center that is easier to use.  Continue Reading

• The advantages to using Microsoft Azure VNet

  Microsoft Azure offers two kinds of virtual networks, one of which allows users to create connected Azure services and VMs to improve production-workload testing.  Continue Reading

• Managing containers challenges system administrator responsibilities

  While developers are in charge of container coding, providing the infrastructure and executing the code are included under system administrator responsibilities.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V Manager comes with a few improvements

  The Hyper-V Manager in Windows Server 2016 comes with support for alternate credentials, support for earlier versions of Hyper-V and updated management protocol support.  Continue Reading

• Deploy Docker Swarm and other containers with OpenStack Magnum

  OpenStack Magnum is used to deploy and keep track of containers, such as Docker Swarm, Google Kubernetes and Apache Mesos, but the project has other useful tools as well.  Continue Reading

• Evolution of the virtual GPU as a mainstream platform

  Virtual GPUs are becoming crucial to hybrid cloud planning. With companies like AMD, NVIDIA and Intel throwing their hats in the ring, expect improvements to the technology.  Continue Reading

• Use log analysis tools to help you find problems in your data center

  Log analysis tools do the heavy lifting when it comes to identifying the root cause of issues occurring in your data center, but they come with their own challenges.  Continue Reading

• Configure backing storage for KVM VMs with Ceph object storage

  Thanks to its scalability and affordability, Ceph object storage has become an increasingly popular option for configuring storage on KVM virtual machines.  Continue Reading

• Expert's insight on overcoming OpenStack challenges

  In this interview, Walker Rowe discusses cloud management, networking and OpenStack challenges with Edgar Magana, board member of the OpenStack Foundation.  Continue Reading

• Use OpenStack Sahara to build out Hadoop and Spark systems

  OpenStack Sahara is a command-line tool that makes installing and deploying Hadoop and Spark easier by streamlining the process and keeping track of complex details.  Continue Reading

• Conveniently manage resources with Azure PowerShell version 1.0

  Microsoft Azure PowerShell version 1.0 provides users with greater flexibility and reduces code complexity through the use of over 1000 PowerShell cmdlets.  Continue Reading

• An SCVMM database backup plan involves many considerations

  When developing an SCVMM database backup plan, you should use the Windows Server Backup tool, back up library servers and export SCVMM configuration to CSV files, among other things.  Continue Reading

• The top 20 virsh commands for hypervisor and VM management

  There are so many virsh commands that it can be hard to know which ones are best suited to your VM management needs. With this list, you have a great place to start.  Continue Reading

• End the battle between the system admin and the security team

  System administrators and security personnel need to set aside their differences in order to maintain security and performance levels and to protect their bottom line.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V feature helps with VM resource consumption

  With the Host Resource Protection feature from Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V, you no longer have to worry about VMs consuming too many resources and affecting nearby VM performance.  Continue Reading

• Effectively communicate and troubleshoot an upgrade failure

  When you're dealing with an upgrade failure, it's extremely important to not only communicate with end users and management, but also to understand the limitations of backups.  Continue Reading

• Why are so many companies turning to cloud-based DR products?

  Disaster recovery is expensive and complex, making many companies reluctant to formulate a cohesive strategy. Can cloud-based DR products change that?  Continue Reading

• Setting up and controlling resources on a Proxmox cluster

  You're learned how to create Proxmox hosts and group them into a cluster. Now it's time to add resources to your cluster and assign access rights to them.  Continue Reading

• Prepare your Azure resources before creating and deploying VMs

  From determining VM size and location to choosing the right storage options, there are a couple of things you should do before creating and deploying a VM in Azure IaaS.  Continue Reading

• Use QEMU Qcow2 and other tools for virtual storage management

  QEMU Qcow2 and libguestfs' guestfish tool can help improve your virtual storage management practices. Read on to learn how they are able to work together in your environment.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V's Discrete Device Assignment feature

  Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V's Discrete Device Assignment feature, best described as hardware pass through, is easily utilized via these simple steps.  Continue Reading

• Creating a cluster with shared storage in Proxmox

  In this tip, expert Stuart Burns shows us how to manage hosts without incurring downtime by expanding a single Proxmox node into a cluster with shared storage.  Continue Reading

• Consistently apply updates to VM hosts with SCVMM Maintenance Mode

  Want to find a faster, easier way to run routine maintenance in your virtual environment? Learn how to use PowerShell cmdlets to put VM hosts into Maintenance Mode in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Master IT documentation with the right tools and practices

  IT documentation cannot be overlooked when it comes to complex environments. As such, be sure to choose the appropriate tools and best practices for your company.  Continue Reading

• System benchmarking is a necessity in multi-server environments

  System benchmarking will do you no good if you're not obtaining the right information and you don't have a greater understanding of the multi-server environment.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V VM configuration version becomes increasingly important

  The VM configuration version determines the host type the VM can run on and its feature set. Upgrade the version or create a VM that will be backward compatible using these steps.  Continue Reading

• SCVMM 2016 new features ease virtualized infrastructure management

  SCVMM 2016 comes with new and improved features, including zero touch deployment, a new workflow for adding clusters, no downtime upgrades and production checkpoints management.  Continue Reading

• Prevent a rogue server from bringing down your data center

  Don't let unplanned changes take a toll on your virtualized environment. Stop rogue servers in their tracks by identifying them and then deciding whether to keep or remove them.  Continue Reading

• VMware VVOL technology drives progress in storage management

  VMware Virtual Volumes are on the cutting edge of storage virtualization, but require admins to reconsider their approach to storage provisioning prior to implementation.  Continue Reading

• Eliminate Hyper-V slow network performance with these tools and tips

  Network performance can make or break your virtual environment. With Hyper-V networking tools, you can maintain fast network performance and ensure your resources are distributed evenly.  Continue Reading

• Strike a balance when working with IT interns

  An intern can be a valuable asset to an IT shop, especially one that's low on resources, so don't waste her time or talents on trivial tasks.  Continue Reading

• Does the virtual storage area network still meet organizational needs?

  Before the virtual storage area network, there were Fibre Channel storage area networks and iSCSI. And, now it seems that an object storage system will better fit the bill.  Continue Reading

• Abandoning the narrative of containers vs. hypervisors

  Containers and hypervisors have long been pitted against one another, but developers are changing the narrative, finding a way to merge the capabilities of these two technologies.  Continue Reading

• IT cost reduction strategies for your virtual environment

  When developing IT cost reduction strategies, you need to figure out how you can take full advantage of your virtual environment, while still minimizing potential risks.  Continue Reading

• Use resource control to address costly storage issues

  With resource control, you'll not only be able to overcome storage resource challenges, but you'll be able to effectively support an expanding infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Effectively balance VM performance with VM density and cost

  To improve VM performance, use current generation VMs. Also, don't skimp on hardware, but avoid hardware emulation, configurations that increase overhead and resource contention.  Continue Reading

• Use and understand a Hyper-V failover cluster with these tips

  To build single or multisite Hyper-V failover clusters, you need to meet the proper requirements, choose appropriate hardware, and understand the inner workings of the cluster.  Continue Reading

• Develop and implement a strong virtual data center migration plan

  Moving a virtual data center from one physical location to another is a big undertaking, and without a well-thought-out data center migration plan, you are sure to run into issues.  Continue Reading

• Memory overcommitment causes hesitation over dynamic memory

  Some administrators advocate for the use of dynamic memory, while others vehemently oppose it, and there are compelling arguments both for and against. So, which side is right?  Continue Reading

• Get a leg up in the information technology industry with these tips

  The information technology industry is an innovative and exciting place, but also highly competitive. Learn what it takes to become a gainfully employed IT expert with these tips.  Continue Reading

• Learn the many benefits of SDN for clouds and clusters

  The benefits of SDN include flexibility, control, reduced costs and increased performance. As it's becoming more widely used, you should familiarize yourself with its processes.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2016 licensing will spur change from users, chip makers

  Microsoft's Windows Server 2016 licensing will move from a per-CPU model to a per-core model, a costly change for customers with more than eight cores per CPU.  Continue Reading

• Simplify your OpenStack installation with open source tools

  Struggling to install OpenStack? While there are no quick fixes, there are a number of open source tools on the market that can help reduce the complexity of installation.  Continue Reading

• Solve extreme storage and configuration problems within a storage infrastructure

  Configuration problems and extreme storage demands can take a serious toll on your storage infrastructure. Fortunately, with the right tools, these issues are easy to remedy.  Continue Reading

• Identify and overcome issues in your storage subsystem

  Issues in your storage subsystem can create bottlenecks that drastically effect storage performance. Identify these issues early on by running benchmarks and analyzing your results.  Continue Reading

• Reduce the cost of virtualization with open source Proxmox

  Thanks to its open source availability and full-featured graphical interface, Proxmox makes for an excellent alternative to more expensive virtualization platforms.  Continue Reading

• Understand how to allocate storage IOPS with QoS Management

  By tracking VM metrics and displaying the current storage IOPS data, you will be better equipped to use QoS Management to limit consumption or reserve storage as needed.  Continue Reading

• Implement a virtual DR plan to protect your infrastructure

  By understanding the evolution of and advantages involved with DR technologies, you will be better equipped to develop a strong, cost-effective virtual DR plan.  Continue Reading

• Respond to your first hypervisor host crash

  Though the benefits of virtualization outweigh the risks, a host server crash is extremely visible and causes concern with management. Be prepared to respond with efficiency.  Continue Reading

• Master clustered storage with Storage Spaces and Scale-Out File Server

  As part of its effort to develop a robust cloud OS, Microsoft has released a slew of new features in Windows Server 2012, including Storage Spaces and Scale-Out File Server.  Continue Reading

• Set VM failover priority levels with SCVMM

  Prioritizing VMs with the System Center Virtual Machine Manager is the best method for controlling a failover situation and determining how VMs are migrated between nodes.  Continue Reading

• Charting the rise of container-based virtualization

  A recent Docker survey indicates that containers are growing increasingly popular, in large part due to new security tools such as Docker Security Scanning.  Continue Reading

• Availability sets and other tools for ensuring high availability

  Microsoft's System Center Virtual Machine Manager offers a variety of options, including VM prioritization and host restrictions, for creating highly available VMs.  Continue Reading

• Are software-defined data centers the next frontier of virtualization?

  The hype surrounding software-defined data centers has reached a fever pitch, elevating businesses' expectations and raising new concerns.  Continue Reading

• An open letter to entry-level IT employees

  The world of IT can be unforgiving, especially for those just starting out. The keys to finding and maintaining success are humility, patience and an open mind.  Continue Reading