Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Accelerate software delivery by practicing Lean DevOps

  The Lean methodology focuses on increasing efficiency and reducing waste -- practices that can also streamline DevOps projects. Review the benefits of combining the two approaches. Continue Reading

• When should you use K3s vs. MicroK8s?

  Looking for an efficient, user-friendly alternative to traditional Kubernetes? Compare the popular lightweight distributions K3s and MicroK8s to decide which is best for you. Continue Reading

• When and how to run databases on Kubernetes

  Deciding whether to move your database onto Kubernetes requires careful consideration, especially when choosing among deployment options. Here's what to keep in mind. Continue Reading

• Cloud-native and observability takeaways from Cisco Live

  Industry analyst Paul Nashawaty recaps key announcements from Cisco Live 2023 and shares his take on what to expect next in cloud-native development and full-stack observability. Continue Reading

• Compare Rancher vs. OpenShift vs. Tanzu for Kubernetes

  Kubernetes management platforms simplify container orchestration at scale, but each has unique pros and cons. See how SUSE Rancher, Red Hat OpenShift and VMware Tanzu stack up. Continue Reading

• Manage complexity in Kubernetes with AI and machine learning

  Learn how DevOps teams can enhance performance and observability in Kubernetes with AI and machine learning techniques. Evaluate pros, cons and use cases.Continue Reading

• Automating modernization: Takeaways from Red Hat Summit 2023

  Get an industry analyst's take on major announcements from this year's Red Hat Summit and AnsibleFest and how the developments fit into today's IT landscape.Continue Reading

• Evaluate Google Anthos for Kubernetes management

  Discover the benefits and drawbacks of the Google Anthos platform, and compare it to other options for managing Kubernetes deployments in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.Continue Reading

• Generative AI use cases for DevOps and IT

  Generative AI is often associated with creative projects, but it has promising use cases in DevOps and IT workflows -- if organizations account for its risks and limitations.Continue Reading

• Learn how to use the PowerShell Trim method

  With the Trim method in your PowerShell toolbox, you can write scripts to remove unwanted characters from strings without using regular expressions. Get started with this tutorial.Continue Reading

• Improve Kubernetes network performance with Cilium and eBPF

  Learn how the Cilium Kubernetes plugin and eBPF framework can improve network efficiency and security, then walk through installing Cilium on a K3s cluster with sample code.Continue Reading

• Unify business and IT with DevOps value stream management

  Value stream management can be a powerful tool to align DevOps with the business by optimizing data analysis and improving collaboration and reporting.Continue Reading

• How advances in GPT-4 could revolutionize app development

  Although public attention has recently centered on ChatGPT, the underlying GPT-3 and GPT-4 models could be even more transformative, particularly for application developers.Continue Reading

• At KubeCon 2023, observability and FinOps high on the agenda

  With data sprawl increasing as IT budgets shrink, observability and FinOps were hot topics at KubeCon Europe 2023. Get an industry analyst's perspective on trends to watch.Continue Reading

• The promises and risks of AI in software development

  Incorporating AI into software development could be transformative, but it raises ethical and practical concerns. What does AI-generated code mean for the tech sector's future?Continue Reading

• Takeaways and emerging trends from KubeCon Europe 2023

  An industry analyst shares key highlights and trends to watch from this year's KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe, including adoption of large language models and WebAssembly.Continue Reading

• Evaluate the GitOps model for your organization

  For some organizations, GitOps leads to faster, higher-quality software delivery -- but for others, DevOps or NetOps is a better fit. Learn what factors your team should consider.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes operator vs. controller: What's the difference?

  Kubernetes operators and controllers both manage cluster resources but play distinct roles in the Kubernetes ecosystem. Explore their differences and learn when to use each.Continue Reading

• How to choose IT operations metrics that deliver real value

  The sheer volume of data collected in today's IT environments can be overwhelming. But by focusing on the user experience, IT ops teams can pinpoint the metrics that matter most.Continue Reading

• Simplify code with for_each and dynamic blocks in Terraform

  In this tutorial, get hands-on practice using Terraform features like dynamic blocks and the for_each attribute to write cleaner, more reusable code for cloud deployments.Continue Reading

• The rise of the non-developer

  Low-code and no-code tools are often touted as solutions to the developer talent shortage -- but they might not be the full answer for companies facing a lack of tech skills.Continue Reading

• When to use the Windows command prompt vs. PowerShell

  The Windows command prompt and PowerShell can accomplish similar tasks, but how they do so might push users toward one option over the other. Check out these examples to see why.Continue Reading

• PowerShell vs. Bash: Key differences explained

  Windows admins have the option to use Bash, a Linux shell, but the command-line tool doesn't stack up one to one with PowerShell for Windows deployments.Continue Reading

• Step-by-step guide: Get started with Weave for Kubernetes

  Looking to streamline network management for Kubernetes clusters? Learn when and how to use CNI plugins, then walk through the steps of a Weave installation for Kubernetes.Continue Reading

• The role of IT ops in digital employee experience management

  Automated tools for measuring and analyzing employees' digital experience satisfaction can help IT ops predict problems, identify areas for improvement and cut costs.Continue Reading

• Strategies for Kubernetes multi-cluster management

  Running multiple Kubernetes clusters has numerous advantages, but it also introduces technical complexity. Keeping these tips in mind can simplify multi-cluster management.Continue Reading

• How much does a VM cost? A guide for IT ops

  VM prices can vary widely depending on factors such as resources and use, making it challenging to predict spending. Use this VM cost guide to estimate pricing for your organization.Continue Reading

• Why Wasm is the future of cloud-native app development

  Just over a month into 2023, the popularity of WebAssembly is already on the rise. An industry expert explains why Wasm will have far-reaching effects on cloud-native development.Continue Reading

• What to keep in mind when securing virtual environments

  Virtual environments can contain numerous vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit -- with potentially devastating results. Use these tips to select security tools and strategies.Continue Reading

• Where IT operations management is headed in 2023

  Between an economic downturn and increasing technical complexity, IT ops management faces a challenging year. An expert analyst shares his predictions for areas of focus in 2023.Continue Reading

• Reduce Kubernetes spend with these 10 Kubecost alternatives

  IT teams have several options other than Kubecost to monitor Kubernetes spending, from dedicated Kubernetes-specific tools to full-fledged cloud management platforms.Continue Reading

• Will developers become archaic? Analyst predictions for 2023

  Organizations must continue innovating and optimizing to keep up -- but these advances could set developers up for extinction. Explore an industry analyst's predictions for 2023.Continue Reading

• 8 tips for building a multi-cloud DevOps strategy

  DevOps practices and tools have many benefits for application development, deployment and monitoring in complex IT environments that span multiple clouds.Continue Reading

• What's next: Predictions, challenges and IT trends for 2023

  As organizations look to address ongoing ops skills shortages and increasing complexity in their IT environments, they'll invest in cybersecurity, AI and automation.Continue Reading

• Top observability tools for 2023

  Observability tools can give developers and IT administrators better insight on applications to improve delivery, performance and customer experience -- and avoid potential issues.Continue Reading

• Carefully weigh these DevOps pros and cons

  DevOps can help organizations gain a competitive edge through fast and iterative software development cycles. Still, there are tradeoffs to consider.Continue Reading

• When not to use Docker and how to choose an alternative

  Docker might be the default for container orchestration, but what if it doesn't meet your needs? Explore why Docker might not be the right fit and what might be.Continue Reading

• Explore network plugins for Kubernetes: CNI explained

  With Container Network Interface plugins, IT teams can create and deploy network options for diverse Kubernetes environments. Learn how CNI works and compare top network plugins.Continue Reading

• Looking back on KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2022

  With this year's KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America over, review vendor updates on topics ranging from cloud-native adoption to AIOps approaches and ease-of-use offerings.Continue Reading

• AnsibleFest 2022: Automation across distributed environments

  IT environments are more distributed than ever, making infrastructure management increasingly challenging. Ansible's automation capabilities can help IT ops handle the complexity.Continue Reading

• Compare container orchestrators Apache Mesos vs. Kubernetes

  Exploring options for container orchestration? Kubernetes' popularity doesn't mean it's always the best choice. Discover the tradeoffs and use cases of Mesos vs. Kubernetes.Continue Reading

• What we can learn from the top DevOps articles of 2022

  From runbooks to open source tools and self-service portals, 2022 was a big year for DevOps. IT teams preparing for 2023 should brush up on their understanding of DevOps.Continue Reading

• 5 distributed tracing tools to ease application monitoring

  DevOps and IT teams can use distributed tracing to monitor microservices and ensure applications run smoothly. Explore five tools to help pinpoint any system issues.Continue Reading

• How automating distributed cloud infrastructure changes IT

  As IT environments become increasingly distributed and complex, organizations are exploring how automation can address their evolving IT operations and infrastructure needs.Continue Reading

• What to consider in scaling automation for distributed cloud

  Infrastructure automation accelerates IT ops, fosters innovation and creates competitive advantage -- but executive support is essential, especially in complex cloud environments.Continue Reading

• What is K3OS and how does it relate to K3s?

  Discover the potential benefits of adopting K3OS, a lightweight Linux distribution developed to run Kubernetes workloads in low-resource environments.Continue Reading

• Compare running Kubernetes on VMs vs. bare-metal servers

  Planning to run a cloud-native application with Kubernetes? Compare the advantages and drawbacks of deployments on VMs and physical servers.Continue Reading

• Get to know Amazon DevOps Guru for system monitoring

  Amazon DevOps Guru gives IT admins machine learning-driven insights into applications to respond to problems quickly and efficiently. Discover how it works and its benefits.Continue Reading

• Compare Docker vs. Podman for container management

  Docker and Podman offer similar capabilities to manage containers, but Docker's security vulnerabilities might make Podman more appealing for some admins.Continue Reading

• IRL: Cisco Live 2022 goes full-stack o11y

  Observability, or o11y, looks more deeply and broadly into an IT environment than traditional IT monitoring. At Cisco Live in June, Cisco unveiled plans for full-stack o11y.Continue Reading

• What is observability? A beginner's guide

  Observability is a management strategy focused on keeping the most relevant, important and core issues at or near the top of an operations process flow.Continue Reading

• Evaluate PowerVS for a streamlined hybrid cloud environment

  Move on-premises IT environments into the cloud with PowerVS and determine if PowerVM is a better option than -- or a better companion to -- the hybrid cloud.Continue Reading

• Splunk .conf22 focuses on scaling observability for the cloud

  The Splunk .conf22 event highlighted different ways companies can expand their observability practices at multi-cloud scale to gain a competitive edge.Continue Reading

• Observability vs. monitoring: What's the difference?

  Although observability and monitoring are different concepts, they aren't mutually exclusive; both provide IT administrators with valuable insights on their systems.Continue Reading

• DevOps architect vs. engineer: What's the difference?

  DevOps engineers and architects work in the same environment, but their roles, skills and experience differ. Learn what each entails and how to prepare for one over the other.Continue Reading

• A beginner's guide to Hyper-V checkpoints

  Hyper-V checkpoints help mitigate problems with upgrade rollouts. They can pile up, so they require some storage space and management.Continue Reading

• 9 managed Kubernetes services to consider

  To counter the complexity and stress of running, deploying and managing Kubernetes, turn to a managed Kubernetes service. Compare and contrast nine popular tools.Continue Reading

• Future of containers faces tools surplus, skills shortage

  Container adoption seems inevitable, but it's not going to be smooth sailing. Experts weigh in on the state of container management -- and where it needs to go.Continue Reading

• Don't force your IT applications into edge computing

  Edge computing's primary concern is latency -- and most applications introduce too much. Consider the edge as a companion environment, not an approaching transformation.Continue Reading

• How to create a DevOps self-service portal

  Remote DevOps teams need the tools to build and deploy applications independently -- that's where self-service portals come in. Discover the benefits and how to build one.Continue Reading

• Atlassian Team '22 wrap-up: Connect dev, ops and service

  The Atlassian Team '22 conference focused in on new tools like Compass, Atlas and Analytics, with an optimistic eye to the future.Continue Reading

• How to choose the best CPU for virtualization

  Selecting the right CPU for virtual infrastructures depends on many factors, including feature sets and hardware specs. Proper configuration of processor resources is also crucial.Continue Reading

• Compare 8 tools for IT monitoring

  IT monitoring is a staple in any IT environment. Before deciding what to use, examine all the options available and compare the features, benefits and costs of the top tools.Continue Reading

• VCP exam prep: Learn what help the VMware course provides

  The VMware Certification Professional badge is for admins with network, storage and data center virtualization know-how. Get insight into course specifics and structure.Continue Reading

• Compare open source orchestration tools for DevOps

  Orchestration is a vital piece of the modern IT ecosystem puzzle. Compare popular tools and learn how they fit together.Continue Reading

• Need a replacement? Try these 5 Docker alternatives

  Docker might be the authoritative choice for containers, but with the way the market is changing, it might not always be. Here are five other options that have merit.Continue Reading

• Virtualization trends in 2022 highlight flexibility, app delivery

  Organizations require virtualization systems that not only support different types of applications but also simplify IT administration, forcing vendors to adapt accordingly.Continue Reading

• Virtual network load balancing tools and tips

  There are many virtual load balancer options for IT teams to choose from, and each offers something a little different. Compare four of these tools here.Continue Reading

• How to install and deploy Quay on Red Hat OpenShift

  Quay enables Red Hat OpenShift users to store and manage container images -- with added advantages. Follow this tutorial to install and deploy the container registry.Continue Reading

• Access free courses with the Microsoft ESI program

  Do you qualify for the Microsoft ESI program? Here's more about it from someone who has taken advantage of it, and why you should consider it to upgrade your skill set.Continue Reading

• Threat modeling and DevOps: A partnership in the making

  Proactive threat modeling is a perfect fit for DevOps' iterative nature. Follow DevOps principles of collaboration, automation and feedback for a successful pairing.Continue Reading

• Build on the Anywhere Operations trend with composability

  The ability to access infrastructure remotely is crucial for IT organizations to meet business initiatives. Composable infrastructure is one way to support this model.Continue Reading

• What is DevOps? The ultimate guide

  The word 'DevOps' is a combination of the terms 'development' and 'operations,' meant to represent a collaborative or shared approach to the tasks performed by a company's application development and IT operations teams.Continue Reading

• 12 DevOps KPIs you should track to gauge improvement

  What's missing from your DevOps workflow? Cold, hard, impartial numbers. Track these key metrics to ensure DevOps processes achieve stated goals.Continue Reading

• ITIL vs. DevOps: What path should an enterprise choose?

  Frameworks and methodologies must keep pace with technology stacks. ITIL fell too far behind between the release of ITIL 3 and ITIL 4, but there might be a middle ground.Continue Reading

• Find the right service mesh tool for Kubernetes environments

  Kubernetes is an industry must-have, but still lacks in certain areas -- that's where service mesh comes in. Discover four service mesh tools to use with your Kubernetes platform.Continue Reading

• What to know for your virtualized storage selection process

  Not all storage virtualization is created equal. Get familiar with the types, methods and implementation considerations before you buy hardware or software for your organization.Continue Reading

• When to use Kubernetes operators vs. Helm charts

  Not sure whether to use Helm charts or Kubernetes operators? Walk through examples to learn when to use each one, looking at factors like application complexity and team maturity.Continue Reading

• Take advantage of eBPF's monitoring capabilities on Linux

  The benefits of an eBPF program extend wide, including into monitoring and observability. See how the Linux kernel utility increases how much of a system an admin can monitor.Continue Reading

• What is IT/OT convergence? Everything you need to know

  IT/OT convergence is the integration of information technology (IT) systems with operational technology (OT) systems.Continue Reading

• Why use containers vs. VMs in a modern enterprise?

  Thinking about making the switch from VMs to containers? Compare container features against VMs to determine whether you should change where you host your applications.Continue Reading

• An introduction to eBPF and where it shines

  With eBPF, developers can customize Linux OS software without changing the kernel. Discover the utility's basics and how it can be used for networking, monitoring and security.Continue Reading

• Differences between Kubernetes Ingress vs. load balancer

  To manage Kubernetes cluster traffic, admins have a few choices. Compare Kubernetes Ingress vs. load balancers, as well as the NodePort and ClusterIP service types.Continue Reading

• Battle of the buzzwords: AIOps vs. MLOps square up

  Another -Ops has entered the arena: MLOps. Is it just another buzzword, or does the term hold its own weight? Learn more about it and how it compares to AIOps.Continue Reading

• Quiz yourself on the latest IT trends from 2021 so far

  From a string of acquisitions to companies embracing DevSecOps, 2021's news cycle hasn't slowed down. Do you know the top stories? Find out with this quiz.Continue Reading

• Compare ARM templates vs. Terraform for infrastructure as code

  ARM templates and Terraform are popular infrastructure-as-code options. Check out an Ubuntu Server VM example in each approach and learn the pros and cons of these tools.Continue Reading

• Will DevOps spell the death of the CMDB?

  While CMDBs still have value, they no longer dominate IT management. See what CMDB integration options remain and why IT admins should look beyond the repository software.Continue Reading

• Evaluate 3 application performance monitoring strategies

  There is more than one approach to performance monitoring, and each comes with its own advantages. Compare these three strategies to find the right fit for your organization.Continue Reading

• Don't limit observability to 3 pillars

  Logs, metrics and tracing are the pillars of observability but fall short in system health comprehension. Learn why data source tracking gives better insight into your environment.Continue Reading

• 5 ways SDDCs, virtualization management change business ops

  The use of software-defined data centers alters business buying criteria, removes traditional IT team silos and requires organizational investment in admin skill sets.Continue Reading

• Should IT organizations use a SaaS management platform?

  The proliferation of SaaS has created a real challenge for IT teams trying to get a handle on all their apps. See why a SaaS management platform might be the right fix.Continue Reading

• AI augments capacity planning with machine learning smarts

  With lower costs and better task optimization, AIOps can revolutionize IT infrastructures. Learn why this approach is a must-have for enterprises.Continue Reading

• Build self-healing IT systems for data resilience

  With an autonomous approach to system infrastructure, companies can save time and costs. Learn why IT admins should adopt this type of automation and how to implement it.Continue Reading

• Continuous delivery vs. continuous deployment: Which to choose?

  Continuous delivery and continuous deployment both compress and de-risk the final stages of production rollout. Learn how to choose the proper path for your organization.Continue Reading

• IDC analyst: Serverless tech will change the future of IT ops

  IDC's Mary Johnston Turner discusses how the development and increasing maturity of serverless technology and AI will upend how IT operates.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between AI and IT automation?

  AI and automation go hand in hand, but there are important differences between them. Learn the basics and how an IT org can combine them to improve workflows.Continue Reading

• What is container management and why is it important?

  Container management refers to a set of practices that govern and maintain containerization software. Container management tools automate the creation, deployment, destruction and scaling of application or systems containers.Continue Reading

• How Puppet works: Using the configuration management tool

  With Puppet, enterprises can manage configurations and simplify the DevOps process as a whole. Grasp how it works, and see if it's the right choice for your organization.Continue Reading

• Understand IT change management vs. configuration management

  When examining change management vs. configuration management, it's easy to confuse them. These examples illustrate how they intertwine, but still address different areas.Continue Reading

• What is server virtualization? The ultimate guide

  Server virtualization is a process that creates and abstracts multiple virtual instances on a single server.Continue Reading