In Depth
In Depth
IT hardware
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All-flash vs hybrid flash for virtual desktop storage
With massive random I/O and a huge bias towards writes, virtual desktop storage – especially for the more feature-rich VDI 2.0 – requires the speed of all-flash and hybrid flash storage Continue Reading
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VMware vs OpenStack: How they handle storage
The opportunities and challenges presented by the two virtualisation environments when it comes to storage, backup and disaster recovery. Continue Reading
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OpenStack Manila: File access storage for the open source cloud
OpenStack Manila is the file level access method in development by the open source cloud platform. What is it, how does it work and when will it be ready? Continue Reading
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Marseille: Europe’s networking gateway to Africa
The city of Marseille in southern France is fast becoming a hub for datacentre and network operators who want low latency connections to Africa. Continue Reading
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Erasure coding vs Raid for disk rebuilds
Erasure coding as a means of data protection has emerged with object storage and offers an alternative to Raid systems Continue Reading
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Datacentre PUE: Who's keeping score?
With datacentre operators under increased competitive pressure to cut their PUE scores, are their ratings really all they seem? Continue Reading
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What’s slowing down your network and how to fix it
When using the network feels like wading through molasses, finding the cause can be a difficult process Continue Reading
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Docker storage 101: How storage works in Docker
Docker nails some of the shortcomings of virtualisation, but what about Docker container storage? Continue Reading
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Businesses need to equip staff with the tools to do the job
Workforces will become frustrated if they do not have the technology they need to deliver what their organisation wants Continue Reading
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Top five things you need to know about VMware Virtual Volumes
VMware’s Virtual Volumes (VVOLs) promise a revolution in storage for virtual machines, but what are the key things you need to know? Continue Reading
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Wi-Fi in the sky: The good, the bad and the ugly
With in-flight internet options spreading around the world, which services should discerning business travellers try, and which should they avoid? Continue Reading
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$/GB vs $/IOPS and how to compare enterprise storage pricing
While raw drive prices are pennies per GB, the actual cost of enterprise storage is much higher. Finding a baseline can save you money Continue Reading
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How to combat VM sprawl
VMs are easy to create, but when unmanaged they proliferate around your infrastructure. Here, we explain VM sprawl and how to combat it Continue Reading
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Cloud storage: The top five things that go wrong – and how to avoid them
Cloud storage provides cost savings and ease of management, but there are pitfalls – and here are the top five things that can go wrong Continue Reading
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A closer look at Google Container Engine
In just 12 months, Docker has transformed from a simple open-source container management project into a powerful platform Continue Reading
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Thin provisioning – hypervisor vs array
Thin provisioning can be done at the storage array or virtualisation hypervisor. We look at the pros and cons of each – or both Continue Reading
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Top five issues in VM backup
Virtual machine backup is a vital task for IT departments. But pitfalls abound. We look at the top five issues encountered in VM backup Continue Reading
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How the development of standards will affect the internet of things
As the internet of things (IoT) grows, so will the number of applications developed to control internet-connected devices and objects Continue Reading
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Flash storage 101: How solid state storage works
Why flash writes are troublesome, why endurance is limited and what suppliers are doing to overcome these issues Continue Reading
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Key challenges in storage and virtualisation, and how to beat them
Server virtualisation brings benefits but increases storage-capacity needs. Here we survey the key challenges and what to do about them Continue Reading
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Cloud, frozen pizza model and the immutable infrastructure
The architecture pattern for immutable infrastructure is based on the made-to-order pizza model Continue Reading
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A guide to scale-out NAS: The specialists and startups
Specialist suppliers and startups in scale-out NAS, a technology that’s gone mainstream for its superior ability to scale capacity and performance Continue Reading
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The internet of things is coming: Is your datacentre ready?
Gartner estimates the IoT will see 26 billion units installed by 2020 – channelling huge volumes of data traffic into datacentres Continue Reading
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Scale-out NAS product survey: The big six
We survey the big six storage array makers’ scale-out NAS product ranges Continue Reading
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Key storage performance metrics for virtual environments
We run the rule over storage performance metrics – latency, throughput and IOPS – that are key to optimising virtual machines Continue Reading
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Big Apple revolution: How to manage Macs in the enterprise
Apple’s products were once niche devices. Now, following a consumer-led initiative, they are widely used across the enterprise Continue Reading
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Big players target object storage at cloud and archive
All but one of the big six storage vendors have object storage products that target public and private cloud environments and/or archiving use cases Continue Reading
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Backup vs replication, snapshots, CDP in data protection strategy
Best practice data protection strategy combines backup with snapshots, CDP and replication for different levels of recovery Continue Reading
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Micro-datacentre: What IT problems it solves and what workload systems suit it
A micro-datacentre is a smaller containerised datacentre system designed to solve different problems or to handle different workloads Continue Reading
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Will silicon photonics replace copper cabling in mainstream datacentres?
Silicon photonics can increase bandwidth in servers, improve data transfer speeds and reduce complexity. But are datacentres ready for it? Continue Reading
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OpenStack storage: Cinder and Swift explained
is a rising star in private cloud infrastructures. But what about OpenStack storage? We run the rule over OpenStack Cinder and Swift Continue Reading
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In-memory databases - what they do and the storage they need
In-memory databases offer high performance data processing, but how do you protect data in volatile DRAM and what kind of storage is needed for longer term retention? Continue Reading
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Principles of compliance in the financial services industry
Compliance in financial services can appear a staggeringly complex web of laws and regulations, but some key principles apply, says Mathieu Gorge of Vigitrust Continue Reading
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Erasure coding vs Raid as a data protection method
Erasure coding is mooted as a potential successor to Raid and backup software Continue Reading
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Write-through, write-around, write-back: cache explained
Cache is vital for application deployment, but which one to choose – write-through, write-around or write-back cache? We examine the options Continue Reading
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VMware versus Hyper-V storage comparison
VMware versus Hyper-V storage: How do the two leading hypervisors compare when it comes to deploying storage and in terms of their key storage features and functionality? Continue Reading
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Would the real flash storage successor please stand up?
Flash storage will hit a wall in development terms by around the end of the decade. But which successor is best placed to replace it: Memristor, MRAM or phase-change memory? Continue Reading
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Can the mainframe remain relevant in the cloud and mobile era?
IBM mainframes run more than 1.1m transactions per second, yet the mainframe has remained largely unfashionable. We investigate Continue Reading
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Converged stacks: What they are and the benefits they bring
We survey the converged stacks market: Servers, storage and networking in pre-configured product bundles for specific virtualisation and application use cases. Continue Reading
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Cloud storage options in Scandinavia
It has never been faster or cheaper to store data in the cloud and Scandinavian businesses have taken up cloud storage with gusto Continue Reading
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No more email? Why companies are turning to collaboration technology
Collaboration technologies are helping companies improve their employees' work-life balance Continue Reading
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A guide to APM for the network manager
Has application performance management become a much needed discipline for the network manager? We examine the issues for IT departments Continue Reading
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The UK’s problem with power
Datacentre power buyers say Britain’s deregulated energy market is as complex as trading in derivatives Continue Reading
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Flash storage: What it is and where to deploy it
A guide to the key decisions in flash storage: MLC vs SLC, all-flash vs hybrid, whether to add flash to an existing SAN, flash as a tier vs cache, and more Continue Reading
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Create a mobile policy employees can trust
With Gartner predicting a fifth of all enterprise BYOD projects would fail by 2016, we look at how businesses can embrace mobility successfully Continue Reading
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The future of the tablet computer in the enterprise
Tablets come in all manner of profiles and on a variety of platforms – but which will shape up as the workplace favourite of the future? Continue Reading
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VDI storage basics and persistent versus non-persistent desktops
A look at the fundamentals of VDI storage and how to specify storage for likely workloads and persistent versus non-persistent desktops. Continue Reading
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Next generation hotspots: The future of Wi-Fi?
A new solution for connecting to wireless hotspots could change the user experience forever. But as Steve Evans points out, there will need to be more collaboration in the telecoms and networking industries before we start to reap the benefits. Continue Reading
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BlackBerry Enterprise Server – Should you stay or should you go?
John Chen’s recent open letter to BlackBerry customers holds many promises for the future Continue Reading
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SMB 3.0 brings enterprise-class storage to Hyper-V deployments
SMB 3.0 is Microsoft’s replacement for the “chatty” CIFS file access storage protocol that offers enterprise-class storage to Hyper-V deployments Continue Reading
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Make a high-performance computing and high-availability datacentre
High performance computing and high availability systems are no longer limited to engineers and scientists. But is your datacentre ready? Continue Reading
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How Capgemini keeps its Merlin datacentre green and energy-efficient
Capgemini's Swindon-based Merlin datacentre is one of the most energy-efficient in the world. But what makes it green? Continue Reading
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Cloud file-sharing for enterprise users
Cloud file-sharing services have become near-ubiquitous among enterprise users. We survey the risks, benefits and alternatives to Dropbox Continue Reading
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iSCSI switch selection and configuration
iSCSI switch selection means looking out for the type of features that matter to iSCSI SAN traffic. We run the rule over the iSCSI switch market to see what’s available Continue Reading
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How to plan and manage datacentre redundancy
Provisioning of a datacentre to survive a range of failure scenarios has become critical for many businesses. Here's a datacentre redundancy plan Continue Reading
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LUN storage management for vSphere and Hyper-V
LUN storage partitioning has been transformed with the advent of virtualisation. Find out how it differs between VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V implementations Continue Reading
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How to monitor and improve the health of your datacentre
Any datacentre manager looking to support the business should take an end-to-end systems management approach to keep the datacentre in shape Continue Reading
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What’s wrong with flash storage: And what will come after?
Flash storage has taken the enterprise by storm, but its days are numbered due to an unfavourable combination of technological obstacles and manufacturing economics Continue Reading
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Virtualisation and the LUN: Storage configuration for VMs
Virtualisation and the LUN: Storage admins used to match LUNs to physical servers, but that’s all changed. Find out how in this guide to the basics of VM storage Continue Reading
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Sweating your datacentre’s IT assets - is it a good idea?
Amid economic uncertainties, businesses want to get more from existing IT assets. But does it make sense from an IT point of view? Continue Reading
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Wireless charging: The story so far...
Rupert Goodwins looks into the technology behind wireless charging and whether it is good enough yet for wider adoption Continue Reading
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VMware storage: SAN configuration basics
For VMware storage basics start here – the fundamentals of configuring SAN storage for VMware, such as VMFS, VMDKs, connectivity options and VMware storage features Continue Reading
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SSD RAID essentials: What you need to know about flash and Raid
With the advent of flash and high-capacity HDDs, what do today’s storage professionals need to know about Raid and its new variants? Continue Reading
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100Gbps Ethernet – is it time to move?
Do you need 100Gbps Ethernet in your datacentre, or is the technology just going through a hype cycle? Computer Weekly investigates. Continue Reading
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Wired vs wireless in the enterprise
What are the pros and cons of wired and wireless connectivity, and what does the future hold for the corporate environment? Continue Reading
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Top technologies that can make your datacentre green
Energy-efficient technologies that can reduce running costs in the datacentre and across the business Continue Reading
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In-house tape vs cloud archiving: What are the pros and cons?
Have cloud archiving services reached a tipping point that makes them cheaper and easier to manage than in-house tape archives? Continue Reading
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How 3D printing impacts manufacturing
With the ability to create on-demand specialist tools, any initial investment in 3D printing technology could quickly pay for itself. Continue Reading
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Top 10 gadget reviews of 2012
Inspect-a-Gadget has been busy reviewing a range of gadgets over the past 12 months and it has been another big year in the world of tech Continue Reading
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Shore up your organisation’s fleet with the right MDM
There are many mobile device management products, but approaches vary. We outline how to choose the right one for your business Continue Reading
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Deduplication and single instance storage cut primary data storage costs
Data deduplication and single instance storage can cut costs in primary data environments, but implementations vary between suppliers. Continue Reading
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Software-defined datacentres demystified
As datacentre managers increasingly rely on software and automation, what can a software-defined datacentre bring to the enterprise? Continue Reading
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How to manage your assets and control business costs
Asset lifecycle management allows the IT department to improve governance, mitigate risk and improve service quality and efficiency Continue Reading
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Tune Raid performance to get the most from your HDDs
Tune Raid performance at the storage controller to match application I/O demands to optimal hard drive (HDD) performance Continue Reading
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High-performance computing drives high-performance F1 cars to success
Jennifer Scott investigates how Formula 1 team Marussia uses a supercomputer to design and test its cars on a budget Continue Reading
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Blade servers: How to decide on Unix or Linux
If you’re contemplating Unix or Linux for your blade server, or a migration from one to the other, in this guide you will find everything you need to make up your mind. Useful Unix and Linux command lines also included. Continue Reading
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The consumerisation of IT: it’s a trickle, not a tide, but you still need to be ready
If media headlines and supplier claims are to be believed, organisations today are faced with an unstoppable tide of many different types of personal device connected to the corporate network Continue Reading
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Self-encrypting drives: SED the best-kept secret in hard drive encryption security
The SED solves many common data loss problems and is easy to use and manage with minimal impact on system performance – yet relatively few businesses and governments use SEDs. Continue Reading
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What is big data and how can it be used to gain competitive advantage?
Cliff Saran discovers how big data can deliver big business benefits without excessive IT investment Continue Reading
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Buyer's Guide: HP's Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) put to the test
In the world of datacentres and large-scale enterprise networks there has always been some form of perceived trade-off between performance and resilience. Building in resilience is absolutely essential of course, but it has historically affected ... Continue Reading
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Google adds real-time traffic data to Android map app
Google has updated its algorithms to support real-time data for its map application for smartphones running on the Android operating system (OS). Continue Reading
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What is Near Field Communication (NFC)?
Near-field communication (NFC) allows data to be exchanged between devices via short-range, high frequency wireless communication technology by combining the interface of a smartcard and reader into a single device. Continue Reading
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Facing up to security perils of outbound traffic
What about the threat from within and, more specifically, the security issues that arise from outbound traffic risks? Continue Reading
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Integrating San and Nas
Sas and Nas systems are very different types of storage, with different features that serve different business needs. Here are eight best practices for integrating San and Nas. Continue Reading
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Data storage hardware quiz
Storage hardware, also known as primary storage, is a critical aspect in running your storage shop. How does your knowledge of storage hardware stack up? Take our quick quiz and find out today! Continue Reading
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Checklist for purchasing hardware-based encryption
Encryption appliances sit inline on a network and use specially designed electronics to encrypt data at line speeds, essentially eliminating the performance penalty imposed by encryption software running on a general server. While software-based ... Continue Reading
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San availability and reliability
This chapter outlines some of the techniques and tactics used to achieve high availability and redundancy in a San (FC or iSCSI). These can include port aggregation, trunking, and failover. Continue Reading
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Storage session downloads: infrastructure track
This track looks at San and Nas issues, virtualization, distance demands, remote offices and how to build out systems. Continue Reading
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Firewall deployment options increase for enterprises
With a growing number firewall configuration options, companies need to spend more time and put more effort into determining how to design and deploy firewalls. Continue Reading
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Data migration product specifications
Part of the Tiered Storage Buying guide focusing on product specifications for data migration tools. Continue Reading
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Tiered Storage School: Table of Contents
Get a better understanding of what tiering can do for your storage, how it works and why a tiered plan can aid in backup, DR, overall management and long-term archive Continue Reading
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ISCSI TCP/IP TOE card purchase considerations
A look at the specific considerations in purchasing iSCSI Continue Reading
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ISCSI TCP/IP TOE card specifications
Key specifications for a cross-section of popular iSCSI TOE cards. Continue Reading
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4 Gbit Fibre Channel switch purchase considerations
As SANs scale up, data centres often upgrade and expand the SAN switch infrastructure. Here's what to look for when scaling Continue Reading
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4 Gbit Fibre Channel switch product specifications
Product snapshots highlighting key specifications for a cross section of popular director-class 4 Gbit and faster FC switch products. Continue Reading
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Storage consolidation: WAN acceleration and WAFS technology overview
One important avenue of storage consolidation is the consolidation of remote office storage; this is where WAN acceleration and WAFS technology comes into play. Continue Reading
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Storage consolidation: SRM tools overview
SRM tools are an important part of storage consolidation. They allow admins to monitor the storage environment, allocate and organise available storage, and offer insights into future trends. Continue Reading
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IP storage switch and router specifications
Key specifications for a cross section of popular IP storage switch and router products. Continue Reading
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IP storage switch and router purchase considerations
The choice of an IP switch or router demands careful consideration of issues including port speed, segmentation, interoperability and security Continue Reading
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Mobile data services development trends in 2007
Darrell Jordan-Smith takes a look at new data services architectures and development tools emerging in 2007 and the ongoing development efforts of the Java Community and others. Continue Reading