InformationWeek Reports : Virtualization

Fundamentals: How to Write an Effective SAN RFI

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:33:00 -0500

Storage and networking are ground zero for the next enterprise data center upgrade wave. This time, architecture designs will be based on virtualization and private clouds, not discrete servers and local disks. Translation: Plenty of IT teams are in the market for SANs. Here’s how to make vendors work for your business.

Research: State of Database Technology

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:35:05 -0500

We aren't surprised that 42% of our 760 respondents cite the ability to meet complex requirements as the top factor influencing their choice of operational database, or that virtualization and the cloud have lukewarm acceptance. But we do wonder about the 26% who still don't encrypt databases containing sensitive information.

Research: IT Pro Ranking: Data Center Networking

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:11:34 -0500

Cisco has an iron grip on the data center network. One reason is its reputation for quality: The company scores a 4.3 out of 5 for reliability, a rating no other vendor matched. That said, technology and market changes are loosening Cisco’s hold. Will the shift to virtual infrastructure, next-gen Ethernet and commodity switching components change the vendor pecking order? More than 500 IT pros weighed in to evaluate 7 vendors.

Strategy: Delegation Delivers Virtualization Savings

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:35:08 -0500

IT can't--and shouldn't--maintain absolute control over highly virtualized infrastructures. Instituting a smart role-based control strategy to decentralize management can empower business units to prioritize their own data assets while freeing IT to focus on the next big project.

Data Center Automation

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:16:03 -0500

Cloud environments are driving data center automation and making it more difficult to do. But if you want to free up resources for other priorities, it's a must.

Research: Outlook 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:32:41 -0500

Our annual survey finds 30% of companies still expect an IT hiring freeze, even as interest rises in emerging data center, social and tablet technologies, and as 56% of companies say they plan to increase IT spending.

Strategy: Education's Technology Dilemma

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:33:37 -0500

Today's technology should make it possible to engage students in new and unique ways, but tight budgets and aging infrastructure mean that’s not always possible. Find out how two public school districts are using technology in innovative ways to close the gap between growing expectations and shrinking budgets.

Capacity Under Control

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:38:33 -0500

Virtualization drives IT’s need to manage space.

5 Steps to Building A Private Cloud

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:25:35 -0500

Virtualization, automation and orchestration are the keys to making your IT infrastructure a business enabler rather than a cost center--they'll help you drive new initiatives through innovation and rapid service deployment. In this report, we lay out a staged approach to achieving this architecture.

Turn VM Chaos to Control

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:38:28 -0500

Five ways to streamline your virtual environment.

Data Center

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:46:05 -0500

Virtualization was just the first step to a modern architecture. Now it’s time to take on storage and networking, too.

App Virtualization: Far To Go

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:28:21 -0500

Golden images won’t cut it, but the alternatives are still limited.

State of Servers

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:37:06 -0500

Physical servers now host dozens of applications. Talk about too big to fail.

Virtualization: Complex Choices

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:04:33 -0500

As companies push virtualization to more--and more essential--systems, it starts to get really complicated.

Destination: Private Cloud

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:52:12 -0500

Getting to a next-generation virtualized data center will be difficult with today’s technology and standards.

Best Practices: Private Cloud Reality Check

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:28:58 -0500

A data center where server, network and storage resources are unified is key to enabling agile delivery of IT services. Call it a private cloud or convergence or a way to squeeze staffing levels or a recipe for vendors to lock you into their proprietary systems—whatever your take, it's the future for most data centers. But getting there isn't for the faint of heart or light of wallet.

The Zen of Virtual Maintenance

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 02:38:20 -0400

We offer five steps to help you develop a more enlightened approach to managing a highly available virtualized environment.

InformationWeek: October 31, 2011

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:28:18 -0400

Virtualization: What Next? -- Top 10 CIO Priorities -- Why Oracle wants Endeca -- Risky handoff: Cellular to Wi-Fi -- Inventor of C remembered -- 7 tips for BYOD -- Tablets go industrial

Fundamentals: Application Virtualization

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:02:28 -0400

Disk images are a convenient way to quickly deploy new VMs, but what happens when you need to distribute complete application stacks to multiple, private and public, virtualized environments? For that, we need reusable meta-configuration that can transform application and infrastructure requirements into cloud-specific configurations. A host of vendors across the virtualization ecosystem are striving to deliver just that. It’s still bleeding-edge technology, but well worth paying attention to.

Inside OpenFlow

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:33:34 -0400

Software-defined networking has a lot to prove in the modern, virtualized data center.

Virtualization vs. The Network

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:03:34 -0400

Server VMs create new switching and security problems.

Virtualization Security Checklist

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:10:07 -0400

Four steps to a more secure virtual infrastructure.

Research: IT Process Automation

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:06:02 -0400

Big enterprise systems management vendors have been on an acquisition run, assembling tools to support the 68% of respondents striving to orchestrate workflows across public and private clouds and automate their data centers. Have they been successful? While 46% say IT process automation is still too difficult, it's early yet: 53% have been at it less than three years. We'll explore best practices and key tools.

Strategy: The Long-Distance LAN

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:47:41 -0400

Connecting two data centers for always-on applications is a tricky business. We walk you through the challenges and evaluate the pros and cons of solutions such as VPLS and MLAG.

Four Steps to Virtualization Security

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:10:42 -0400

From access controls to separation of duties, we present four key steps to managing risk in your virtual environment.