Tips

Tips

• Storage overcommitment cuts waste, but don't over promise

  Thin provisioning is a commonly used feature to stretch storage resources, but it's also commonly abused.  Continue Reading

• Strategies to balance memory overcommitment and mitigate risk

  Memory management techniques that allow VMs to share resources are common, but you should follow these tips and strategies to reduce risk.  Continue Reading

• Production checkpoints enhance Hyper-V backup technology

  The latest release of Windows Server introduces a new, yet unique approach to Hyper-V check pointing, allowing administrators to run checkpoints in a production environment.  Continue Reading

• Watch CPU Ready metrics to regulate VM overcommit levels

  Administrators can get more out of their servers by overcommitting CPU resources and balancing VM distribution.  Continue Reading

• A smart organization's guide to VM sprawl management

  VM sprawl plagues the virtualized environments of many organizations. The key to overcoming it is incorporating automation and orchestration in your sprawl management plan.  Continue Reading

• An exploration of the different types of cloud computing

  From provisioning to monitoring resources, automation plays an essential role in the functions of all three types of cloud computing.  Continue Reading

• Linux container security is on the evolutionary fast track

  Although containers still have their drawbacks, the Linux container security benefits far outweigh the risks and their rapid evolution promises hope for the future of server virtualization.  Continue Reading

• Adding an additional virtual bridge to a KVM environment

  Virtualization expert Sander Van Vugt offers tips to simplify the process of adding a second software bridge to your KVM environment to run VMs in an isolated SDN.  Continue Reading

• Get right on target with the Microsoft iSCSI Target Server

  Microsoft eliminates the need for expensive storage devices such as SAN with new storage formats, including an offering for SCVMM.  Continue Reading

• NVDIMM and RDMA offer significant virtualization advantages

  Due to their effect on virtualized clusters, virtual SANs and overall database performance, new in-memory technologies like DRAM and RDMA networks are becoming more widely adopted.  Continue Reading

• VM sizing should be multiple choice, not open response

  One of the best tricks to ending VM overprovisioning problems is to give application owners a choice -- but only the choices you've preapproved.  Continue Reading

• Create a basic KVM cloud with a little help from Linux

  In-house KVM cloud delivers a safe environment for quickly provisioning virtual machines that is similar to cloud environments at a fraction of the cost.  Continue Reading

• Step-by-step guide to acing your OpenStack installation

  OpenStack's installation online instructions and step-by-step wizard, while helpful, leave much to be desired. Fill in the gaps with this guide to installing OpenStack on Ubuntu.  Continue Reading

• Building a foundation with software-defined architecture

  Like any good orchestra, all of the elements of your data center must work in harmony. Get your infrastructure back in tune by creating the ideal software-defined data center.  Continue Reading

• Comparing different hyper-converged platforms

  As hyper-converged infrastructure continues to gain momentum, vendors have raced to build their own platforms, sometimes at the cost of quality.  Continue Reading

• DHCP Guard and advanced Hyper-V network security features

  While not right for every situation, some advanced security features can add a layer of defense to prevent malicious intrusions and protect a virtualized environment.  Continue Reading

• Testing 1, 2, 3: Tips for the perfect virtualization lab

  Virtual labs are an asset to IT pros looking to avoid software-related issues in their production environment. In these tips, we take a closer look at what makes a good lab environment.  Continue Reading

• Get your head in the cloud: Intro to OpenStack components

  As the leading open source private cloud platform on the market, OpenStack is a viable alternative to licensed cloud computing software. But what sets it apart from its competitors?  Continue Reading

• When should a VM have a static MAC address?

  In most cases, administrators don't have to worry about a VM's MAC addresses, but sometimes setting a static address is the only way to avoid conflicts.  Continue Reading

• Automation nation: Choosing the right IT automation tools

  Automating multiple systems doesn't have to be a complicated task; with the right tools and a little help from the community, you, too, can embark on an automation journey.  Continue Reading

• Flash storage performance gives your SAN a boost

  All-flash arrays have quickly become an IT success story thanks to their ability to extend the life and flash storage performance of a storage area network with minimal cost impact.  Continue Reading

• A master class in CLIs and ESXi commands

  While the vSphere Web Client is useful for managing VMs, it isn't always the most reliable. In this collection of tips we explore how and why you should use CLIs and ESXi commands.  Continue Reading

• Breaking down VM compatibility and virtualization file formats

  When it comes to VM compatibility across multiple hypervisor environments, having a working knowledge of virtualization file and disk formats is essential.  Continue Reading

• How to enable RemoteFX and Hyper-V GPU offloading

  Microsoft's RemoteFX feature can help improve the performance of VMs running graphics-intensive workloads.  Continue Reading

• Demystifying application and SQL Server profile configuration

  Application and SQL Server profiles are essential to using System Center Virtual Machine Manager to deploy virtual machines, but creating them requires a little extra effort.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V virtual switch extensions increase switch functionality

  Hyper-V virtual switch extensions enable businesses to increase virtual switch intelligence without requiring structural changes to pre-existing topology.  Continue Reading

• Why should Hyper-V users care about nested virtualization?

  At first glance, nested virtualization doesn't seem to have much to offer to production environments -- so what is it good for?  Continue Reading

• Essential policies for configuring VMs in a lab environment

  Lab VMs can be an effective tool for testing out software in a safe environment. However, if configured incorrectly, lab VMs can pose serious risks to production environments.  Continue Reading

• The relationship between VM clustering and high availability

  Server failure can cause devastating setbacks and cost businesses untold amounts each year. Avoid the dangers of disaster recovery with VM clusters and high availability.  Continue Reading

• Xen Meditation: Installing Xen hypervisor on Ubuntu

  One of the advantages to using the Xen hypervisor is its adaptability to a number of different OSes. In this helpful guide, Walker Rowe takes us through the installation process on Ubuntu.  Continue Reading

• Learning to love the Xen hypervisor

  In recent years, the Xen hypervisor has become popular with major companies such as Amazon and Rackspace. So what's behind all this new interest from cloud providers?  Continue Reading

• Virtualize workloads with virtual SAN and virtual Fibre Channel

  Every administrator knows that storage is the key to any successful virtual data center. The real question is what options should IT departments consider when looking for storage hardware?  Continue Reading

• Today's white box server brings features at a bargain price

  With white box servers, new vendors are challenging traditional models all while providing administrative staff with a more economic strategy for data center virtualization.  Continue Reading

• Creating a plan for VM sprawl management

  In this continuation of our series on VM sprawl control, Brian Kirsch offers two methods for removing resources without eliminating important data from your server.  Continue Reading

• How to find problem VMs and solve virtualization sprawl

  With the advent of virtual infrastructure and "free" VMs, administrators are seeing a rise in VM sprawl, making environments difficult to manage. In order to combat this issue, you must first locate any and all problem VMs.  Continue Reading

• Understanding Windows Server and Hyper-V licensing models

  As Microsoft prepares to make major changes to the licensing models for Windows Server 2016 and Hyper-V, it's essential to understand the fundamentals of licensing in virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• Build a free Hyper-V Server failover cluster

  While it can complicate Windows Server licensing, the free Hyper-V Server allows users to build fault-tolerant environments and failover clusters.  Continue Reading

• Are top-tier, vendor-specific certifications worth the effort?

  Different levels of certification come with unique challenges; consider this advice when deciding whether higher level certification is the right choice for you.  Continue Reading

• Tips for generating the perfect VM image

  Image-based VM deployments can dramatically increase consistency when creating new VMs. Use these tips to configure the perfect VM on the first try.  Continue Reading

• Choosing storage back end for open source virtualization environments

  When setting up open source virtualization environments, users should consider the benefits of both VM files and physical devices for optimal storage back end.  Continue Reading

• Identify potential cloud security breaches

  With the increasing popularity of the cloud over traditional data centers, it's important to be aware of some of the potential risks of cloud computing.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V PowerShell and ForEach loops save time, boost power

  Not all cmdlets are made alike: Here's a how-to guide to reduce administrative overhead and get the most of out of Hyper-V with PowerShell and ForEach loops.  Continue Reading

• Picking the right VM live migration settings

  Selecting the best VM migration settings is about balancing performance with bandwidth needs.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization can ease Windows Server upgrade challenges

  Upgrading an OS or application can be a complex and time-consuming process, but cloning and snapshots can make the process easier.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V Automatic Start Action gets your VMs running

  Hyper-V gives administrators several options for automating the startup and shutdown of VMs on a host.  Continue Reading

• Hypervisor updates and containers give ARM processors a leg up

  It's still too early to tell if ARM processors are the way of the future, but recent developments bode well for the architecture.  Continue Reading

• Why VMware's NSX software will become a data center requirement

  Product integrations and a more granular approach to security may soon make VMware NSX a required piece of a business's infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Change boot settings from a VM BIOS

  Often overlooked, a VM's BIOS is more limited than a physical machine's BIOS, but will allow you to adjust boot settings.  Continue Reading

• Get started with systemd Linux containers in five minutes

  If you've heard the Docker buzz and are curious to give containers a try, Linux systemd containers are a quick and easy way to get your feet wet.  Continue Reading

• Licensing implications of a free Hyper-V installation

  Microsoft Hyper-V is free, but there are also very good reasons to purchase Windows Server with Hyper-V rather than install the standalone hypervisor.  Continue Reading

• When to choose VMware vCenter appliance vs. a Windows install

  There are distinct advantages and limitations administrators should consider when deciding whether to use the virtual appliance version of vCenter.  Continue Reading

• How Microsoft Nano Servers will change VM management

  While Nano Servers will improve hardware consolidation, they will also challenge traditional server management practices.  Continue Reading

• Three steps to avoid server NIC teaming problems

  NIC teaming can help reduce resource contention and improve VM performance, but don't fall victim to common mistakes when setting it up.  Continue Reading

• Pick and choose when to use Hyper-V PowerShell cmdlets

  The amount of time you can save by using PowerShell cmdlets is enticing but in certain situations you should explore other methods.  Continue Reading

• Weighing the pros and cons of application containers

  There are several potential advantages to using containers, but don't jump right in without considering the potential challenges it can introduce.  Continue Reading

• Recovery tools and tips for your virtual server backup strategy

  The measure of good backup software can often be how powerful the recovery tools are. Make sure to avoid these mistakes when backing up virtual servers.  Continue Reading

• How CPU and memory affect application performance

  Application performance will change depending on if you want more cores, better clock speed or what you choose for memory.  Continue Reading

• Application performance dependent on network, I/O

  The decisions made by a system admin regarding network and I/O could affect application performance.  Continue Reading

• Why systemd Linux containers make sense

  Why complicate container management with a new platform when systemd can help you deploy and manage containers today?  Continue Reading

• Key criteria for selecting the best hypervisor

  If you're looking to introduce virtualization into your data center or considering a second hypervisor, there are many viable options available.  Continue Reading

• Do you need a brand name server for virtualization?

  Virtualization has helped commoditize hardware, but many still value brand name servers. Here's why they might not be getting their money's worth.  Continue Reading

• Local storage isn't just for hyper-converged products

  Caching software and the hyper-converged trend has renewed interest in local storage, but you don't need an expensive appliance to see the advantages.  Continue Reading

• When legacy Windows OS won't play nice with your hypervisor

  Try these troubleshooting options if you need to run an unsupported version of Windows as a guest OS on your VM.  Continue Reading

• Reduce costs with a hybrid cloud approach

  Cloud service providers and in-house options both have pros and cons, so a hybrid cloud approach could be the right fit.  Continue Reading

• How virtual controllers work in Hyper-V 2012 R2

  Even though the SCSI and IDE virtual controllers both host virtual hard disks, their different features and support numbers make them right for different situations.  Continue Reading

• How difficult is a VM migration to the public cloud?

  Migrating a VM to a public cloud is seldom easy. Cloud migrations are often fraught with unexpected challenges and support or compatibility issues.  Continue Reading

• Many still reluctant to adopt hybrid cloud approach

  The hybrid cloud approach can help cut costs in numerous ways but there are still businesses that are reluctant to make the jump.  Continue Reading

• The power of the SMB protocol in Hyper-V

  The SMB protocol allows admins to achieve high availability, reduce operational costs and migrate virtual machines faster.  Continue Reading

• Choosing the best cloud server for your hybrid cloud

  Hybrid cloud hinges on data management and data movement, which is important to remember when choosing a cloud server.  Continue Reading

• Why micro-segmentation is good for server admins

  Network micro-segmentation promises better security, but another primary benefit may be easier administration.  Continue Reading

• Guest OS and VMM profiles are backbone of a VM template

  When it comes to guest OS and hardware profiles, determining how many of each and what to name them all depends on your environment.  Continue Reading

• Rely on the hypervisor for VM load balancing

  While administrators should aim to evenly distribute workloads, there's no substitute for automated load balancing features.  Continue Reading

• How VMM profiles can work with a service or VM template -- or both

  There are six different types of VMM profiles but not all of them all compatible with the VM and the service templates.  Continue Reading

• To virtualize or not: Workloads that should stay physical

  While virtualization can bring many advantages, it may not be the right approach for every workload.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft's Nano Server is shaking up containers

  Nano Server is more than a slimmed down operating system, and it could have a big impact on how applications are deployed.  Continue Reading

• Virtual SAN software isn't a storage savior

  Virtual SAN's use of drive bays make it seem like a viable option for storage but the additional burden it brings to traffic could have a negative impact.  Continue Reading

• Using a shared virtual hard disk in Hyper-V 2012 R2

  Instead of having to take a lot of time working with the storage team, the shared virtual hard disk feature allows admins to deploy guest failover clusters.  Continue Reading

• Protect your virtual infrastructure from a single point of failure

  Removing every potential failure point is usually prohibitively expensive. Instead, start by mapping potential failures and assessing business needs.  Continue Reading

• Creating custom VM placement rules

  Moving workloads across an environment is much easier now with the different features companies offer. But a certain host server might not be a good fit for a certain VM.  Continue Reading

• Don't forget to configure these SCVMM 2012 R2 settings

  SCVMM offers a wide variety of configuration options but some settings can be overlooked or are unknown because they don't appear directly in the management console.  Continue Reading

• Reducing energy costs with virtualization and automation

  Virtualization allows administrators to cut down on the number of servers needed, which helps reduce energy consumption and save money.  Continue Reading

• Strict policy alone can't prevent virtual server security breaches

  Strict virtual server security policies are worthless if IT can't follow them. Protect your environment by setting realistic expectations and staying flexible.  Continue Reading

• Local storage solves some problems, creates others

  Local storage helps address virtualization-related IO performance problems but raises potential security concerns, especially for cloud environments.  Continue Reading

• Tactics to minimize VM power consumption

  Tracking and managing VM resource consumption can help administrators save power by allowing them to shut down unnecessary hosts.  Continue Reading

• Containers have proved to be production ready

  Now that containers have been generally available for a year, the hype surrounding the technology is fading some but there are still plenty of positives.  Continue Reading

• SCVMM 2012 R2: Exploring storage support options for virtualization

  System Center Virtual Machine Manager supports multiple storage types, but it's up to the administrator to classify and provision that storage.  Continue Reading

• Virtual server security challenges: Data theft and destruction

  Physical servers had built-in security safeguards that VMs don't. While it'd be hard to sneak off with a server, a VM can be stolen with little fuss.  Continue Reading

• Two tools to help move a virtual or physical workload to Azure

  Microsoft's MAP Toolkit and VM Readiness and Assessment tool both offer important information regarding a workload migration to Azure.  Continue Reading

• Virtual server security concerns we all forget

  Keeping our environments secure is of critical importance, but all too often we lose sight of what availability and security really mean.  Continue Reading

• Planning the private side of your hybrid cloud architecture

  A hybrid cloud gives organizations flexibility but it also comes with unique performance and security challenges.  Continue Reading

• Plan ahead when moving a virtual or physical workload to Azure

  In order to smoothly move either a virtualized or physical workload to a public cloud, a lot of planning is required before the migration.  Continue Reading

• Prepare your VMs for cloud portability

  The ability to move workloads to the cloud offers many advantages, but make sure your VMs can make a smooth transition.  Continue Reading

• How SDN and SDS are shaping future clouds

  Software-defined networking and storage are enabling organizations to segregate workloads while also enabling agility and rapid scaling.  Continue Reading

• What to do when you outgrow your hypervisor cluster

  Before you start buying new hardware, take time to evaluate why you need more cluster capacity and make a plan to anticipate future needs.  Continue Reading

• Are containers, SDN and hybrid clouds the future of virtualization?

  Hybrid clouds, containers and SDN all seem like they could be the future of virtualization, but deciding when to implement a technology is a key decision.  Continue Reading

• Building your virtual infrastructure with SCVMM 2012 R2

  SCVMM 2012 R2 plays a vital role in managing your Hyper-V infrastructure. Learn how to set it up properly to avoid potential problems.  Continue Reading

• An introduction to building SCVMM application profiles

  Building application profiles with SCVMM can help automate the deployment process and reduces the potential for inconsistencies.  Continue Reading

• Why every administrator needs a virtual laptop

  You know the advantages virtualization brings to servers, so why not reap the same rewards by creating a virtual copy of your laptop?  Continue Reading

• Using SCVMM 2012 R2 to manage your virtualization infrastructure

  There is a lot of flexibility when you manage your virtualization infrastructure with SCVMM 2012 R2. But here are some guidelines to follow when doing so.  Continue Reading

• Oddball clouds and new ways to build a virtual infrastructure

  New technologies and trends are changing how we look at virtualization and could affect how companies design and build their data centers.  Continue Reading