Features

Features

• Top data storage products of the year

  SearchStorage.com's Products of the Year awards are out. Find out which five products – in five categories -- made it to the top of the pile of storage hardware and software released last year.  Continue Reading

• Desktop virtualization implementation best practices

  Discover the best practices for implementing desktop virtualization and learn how to improve customers' virtual desktop performance through server and network monitoring.  Continue Reading

• Virtual desktop infrastructure: Five tips for improving virtual desktop performance

  Implementing virtual desktop infrastructure means that you have to switch emphasis from a client's local processing power to server processing power and network connectivity. Learn how to improve desktop performance and prevent errors before they ...  Continue Reading

• Ten steps for smooth desktop virtualization deployment

  Pulling off a successful desktop virtualization deployment project means you have to first understand which virtualization method is best for your client. This 10-step plan addresses common mistakes that are made in desktop virtualization deployment...  Continue Reading

• Offering network analysis in virtualized environments

  Offering network analysis and network monitoring services can be a lucrative business, but needs change when network analysis meets network virtualization. Learn the best practices for offering network analysis services in virtualized environments.  Continue Reading

• How to sell server virtualization projects

  This chapter excerpt, taken from the book Virtualization: Defined. A Primer for the SMB Consultant by Dave Sobel, is for solutions providers that are looking for ways to sell server virtualization projects to clients.  Continue Reading

• Benefits of desktop virtualization technology

  Learn about the benefits of desktop virtualization technology, including simple desktop management and improved desktop security, so you can explain its benefits to customers.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise desktop virtualization implementation and management

  Learn about enterprise desktop virtualization implementation and management and virtual desktop infrastructure technology.  Continue Reading

• Special IT projects survey: Top IT channel priorities for 2009

  The IT project survey results are in and more than 600 solution providers revealed their top IT channel priorities for 2009, including technical and budget concerns. We compared results with findings from a similar survey of IT users to find out how...  Continue Reading

• Virtual desktop software pros and cons

  Virtual desktop software cuts hardware costs, simplifies desktop management and uses less power, but it also requires more bandwidth and hurts graphics performance.  Continue Reading

• Thin clients vs. thick clients for desktop virtualization

  Find out when you should recommend thin clients or PCs (aka thick clients) to your desktop virtualization customers.  Continue Reading

• VMware data protection FAQ

  Find out about the options for VMware data protection and how to decide which approach is best for a particular customer. And, learn about other techniques and tools for VMware backup.  Continue Reading

• Advanced routing and switching considerations

  Routing and switching, the core functions of any network, are becoming more intelligent, with even low-end products now including features once only available to enterprise data centers. Learn the routing and switching considerations that every ...  Continue Reading

• VMware ESX essentials: Fibre Channel and iSCSI

  This section of our chapter excerpt on storage from the book "VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center" explains the differences between Fibre Channel and iSCSI as well as the configurations a client is able to use when working with VMware ...  Continue Reading

• Green IT solutions guide

  Use our green IT solutions guide to find tips for recommending green networking, security, storage and systems services to your clients.  Continue Reading

• Parallel NAS FAQ

  Offering parallel NAS services can bolster your enterprise storage services portfolio. Learn how to decide if parallel NAS is right for a customer, as well as how to prepare for a parallel NAS deployment.  Continue Reading

• Network virtualization explained

  Virtualization has moved beyond just server and storage capacities and now encompasses the network as well. Learn about network virtualization considerations to understand before deployment, some major opportunities in network virtualization for ...  Continue Reading

• Remote backup services FAQ

  Learn about offering remote backup services, including the challenges and the best options for your customers.  Continue Reading

• Access control compliance and corporate governance considerations

  As regulatory compliance obligations play a more prominent role in client businesses, solution providers need to focus more on access control compliance considerations. Learn about these access control compliance regulations and how to help your ...  Continue Reading

• Host-based IDS/IPS Partner Program Directory

  Use our Partner Program Directory to choose a host-based IDS/IPS vendor partner. Whether you are looking for a new partner program or want to see what your competition's partner programs are like, our easy-to-read checklists will help you weigh the ...  Continue Reading

• Tech Watch: Telepresence solutions

  Telepresence solutions may just be recession-proof, and solution providers looking to enter the telepresence market will find a range of technologies for companies big and small to choose from.  Continue Reading

• Access control management

  Access control management presents many opportunities for security solution providers. As businesses grow and more employees are added, efficient access control management becomes essential. Learn how to best manage your customer's access control ...  Continue Reading

• Data center cost containment FAQ

  When embarking on data center cost containment projects, solution providers need to ensure that they are prepared every step of the way. Our Project FAQ examines the most frequently asked questions about data center cost containment, from green data...  Continue Reading

• How to work with business intelligence vendors

  Working with business intelligence vendors presents a different set of issues than working with many other types of technology vendors. Find out about the differences and learn how a vendor-neutral approach compares with a vendor-specific approach.  Continue Reading

• Key considerations in developing a storage area network design

  The best storage area network design for your customers will take into consideration a number of critical issues: uptime needs, scalability, security and disaster recovery. Find out how each of these factors will influence storage area network ...  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel and iSCSI: Dueling storage networking protocols

  You've probably heard the mantra that Fibre Channel SANs are used at big companies while iSCSI SANs are good for SMBs. But why? Drill down into the cost and performance differences between Fibre Channel and iSCSI so you can guide your customers ...  Continue Reading

• Implement access control systems successfully in your organization

  Access control is an important step toward mitigating an organization's security risks. Learn the importance of an access control system and how to implement it successfully.  Continue Reading

• Storage architecture choices: SANs

  Storage area networks offer a number of benefits over DAS and NAS -- even for companies with only 100 employees. Find out why certain customers are better candidates than others and what the typical costs are.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 networking tips for solution providers of 2008

  Read the top 10 networking tips as chosen by our solution provider readers, covering topics such as maximizing WLAN performance, network troubleshooting and calculating bandwidth.  Continue Reading

• NetScout Systems Partner Program Checklist

  Learn the benefits of becoming a NetScout Systems reseller partner with our Partner Program Checklist.  Continue Reading

• Hitachi Data Systems Partner Program Checklist

  Learn the benefits of becoming a Hitachi Data Systems reseller partner with our Partner Program Checklist.  Continue Reading

• Introduction to business intelligence tools and reporting

  As businesses grow and accumulate more data, the role of business intelligence reporting grows and becomes more complicated. Learn about the business intelligence tools and approaches VARs use to grow their businesses and stay ahead of the ...  Continue Reading

• Assess your customers' disaster recovery risk

  Disaster recovery planning services could add revenue to your reseller business, while saving your customers from bankruptcy if a natural disaster or terrorist attack destroys their servers. This feature article introduces the first installment of ...  Continue Reading

• Weigh your backup and DR technology options

  Learn more about specific backup and disaster recovery technologies -- such as tape and online backup and remote mirroring -- to assess which one best fits your clients' needs.  Continue Reading

• Strategies for disaster recovery contingency planning

  Create strategic disaster recovery plans for your clients and protect them from data loss if a disaster should strike. This feature article introduces the second installment of our Disaster Recovery Hot Spot Tutorial  Continue Reading

• IP traceback via logging

  This section of our chapter excerpt on network algorithms teaches how to respond to the issue of IP traceback by using efficidnt packet logging and Bloom filters.  Continue Reading

• Detecting worms

  This section of our chapter excerpt on network algorithms teaches how to detect worms using Code Red and Smaller technologies and how each can present slow response and constant effort.  Continue Reading

• Approximate string matching

  This section of our chapter excerpt on network algorithms suggests that approximate string matching could be implemented at wire speeds by using minwise hashing and random projection theories.  Continue Reading

• Searching for multiple strings in packet payloads

  This section of our chapter excerpt on network algorithms explains how to use the Aho-Corasick algorithm for searching for multiple strings in one pass and the the classical approach of the Boyer-Moore algorithm.  Continue Reading

• IP traceback via probabilistic marking

  This section of our chapter excerpt on network algorithms teaches how to defend a client's network against IP traceback issues by understanding denial-of-service attacks and probabilistic marking.  Continue Reading

• Data deduplication cheat sheet

  As organizations look to save money, data deduplication has emerged as a convenient and cost-effective method of reducing storage needs and expenses. Use this collection of data deduplication resources to hone your knowledge of data deduplication ...  Continue Reading

• Partner Program Directory: Authentication vendors

  The market offers a wide range of authentication vendors. Use our Partner Program Directory to compare the benefits of various vendors' programs.  Continue Reading

• Network design documentation

  Inadequate network documentation can lead to a multitude of problems for solution providers. Learn the importance of network documentation and what network design documentation a solution provider needs from customers.  Continue Reading

• Using virtualization to achieve green data centers

  Green is the hottest color in IT these days, so make sure your knowledge of green data centers is up to snuff. In this Q&A, virtualization expert Toby J. Velte discusses the future of cloud computing for solution providers and how to use ...  Continue Reading

• Websense Partner Program

  Learn about bandwidth management vendor Websense's partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Partner Program Directory: Bandwidth management vendors

  Need help choosing among the many bandwidth management vendors in the market? Use our Partner Program Directory to compare the benefits of each vendor's program.  Continue Reading

• PCI compliance services FAQ

  The PCI compliance standard must be met by every company who accepts credit cards as a form of payment. But what exactly does it mean to be PCI-compliant? Andrew Plato, president and principal consultant of Anitian Enterprise Security, answers ...  Continue Reading

• Host server storage and network performance

  This section of our chapter excerpt on performance optimization explains why you should split your disks across multiple channels and how to configure your physical network adapters to achieve optimal performance.  Continue Reading

• Configuration of the guest operating system

  This section of our chapter excerpt on performance optimization offers tips on increasing the performance of a Microsoft Windows environment on a physical server and installing the latest version of VMware Tools on a virtual machine.  Continue Reading

• Host server processor and memory performance

  This section of our chapter excerpt on performance optimization explains why it is important to examine the physical hardware of your host server and why a client should add as much memory to the VMware ESX Server host server as possible.  Continue Reading

• Configuration of the host server

  In order to achieve the best performance optimization, it is essential that your clients understand the importance of configuration of the host server. Learn how to check installed hardware items and how to discuss the benefits of VMware ESX Server...  Continue Reading

• Configuration of the virtual machine

  This section of our chapter excerpt on performance optimization offers tips on enhancing performance of a virtual machine by removing hardware, assessing the virtual machine processors, examining memory and more.  Continue Reading

• Implementing robust network design projects

  In order to execute seamless network design projects, it is crucial for solution providers to understand their clients' need for minimum downtime and network flexibility. Learn about some of the most important considerations for a robust network ...  Continue Reading

• Best systems blog posts

  Check out this collection of the best systems-related blog posts from the past five months.  Continue Reading

• Network design considerations checklist for providers

  There are many network design considerations that every solution provider should take into account before embarking on a network design project. Knowing these trends and caveats will help you make the best network design planning and network design ...  Continue Reading

• Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) FAQ

  When deploying virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) projects, solution providers need to ensure that they've got the best information about the technology. Our Project FAQ examines the most frequently asked questions about desktop virtualization ...  Continue Reading

• Identity management: Compliance and trends

  There are no specific identity management compliance regulations. But identity management tools and procedures can be used to help make your customer's environment compliant. The final installment of the identity management Hot Spot Tutorial ...  Continue Reading

• Network infrastructure FAQ

  There are many components involved in a network infrastructure project. In this FAQ, Allen Zuk discusses how to manage a network infrastructure project, what kinds of technologies and equipment you'll need and how to deal with long-term operational ...  Continue Reading

• Desktop virtualization cheat sheet

  As the popularity of desktop virtualization continues to grow, the opportunity to profit from desktop virtualization services grows as well. Use this collection of desktop virtualization resources to hone your knowledge of desktop virtualization ...  Continue Reading

• CommVault, Inc. Partner Program

  Learn about data management software vendor CommVault, Inc.'s partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Creating an email retention policy

  An email retention policy takes the guesswork out of technological decisions when deploying an email archiving system. Learn best practices for creating an email retention policy. Also: the future of data archiving.  Continue Reading

• Tech Watch: Biometric devices

  After years of slow growth, the biometrics market is expected to triple by 2010. Find out how biometric devices that support fingerprint readers could lead the way in that growth and what segments resellers should focus their efforts on.  Continue Reading

• Partner Program Directory: Application performance management vendors

  There's a wide range of application performance management vendors. Use our partner program directory to compare the benefits of various vendors' programs.  Continue Reading

• Tripwire, Inc. Partner Program

  Learn more about configuration control software vendor Tripwire, Inc.'s partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Identity management best practices and precautions

  There are several identity management best practices to take into consideration before deploying an identity management solution. Along with the best practices, however, there are some precautions to know about when embarking on an identity ...  Continue Reading

• Password-protecting a router

  This section of the chapter excerpt focuses on one level of security -- password protection -- for routers.  Continue Reading

• Configuring privilege levels

  This section of the chapter excerpt focuses on supporting multiple administrative levels of router configuration.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization technologies explained

  Virtualization technologies are becoming an integral part of the management and maintenance of IT environments. Learn how virtualization technologies allow IT administrators to better utilize their hardware and simplify their environments. Once ...  Continue Reading

• Cisco Security Device Manager Overview

  This section of the chapter excerpt introduces Security Device Manager (SDM) and how to configure, launch and navigate it.  Continue Reading

• Storage virtualization solutions explained

  Storage virtualization solutions aggregate available storage space and pool it into one spot, making it easier to manage and maintain.  Continue Reading

• Application virtualization solutions explained

  Application virtualization solutions make managing and maintaining an IT environment much simpler. Learn the benefits and drawbacks to application virtualization solutions, and how to make the best choice for your customer.  Continue Reading

• Server virtualization explained

  Server virtualization can improve server utilization in your customers' IT environments and allow for better workload management. Although there are many benefits, there are also drawbacks to server virtualization that can affect deployment. Find ...  Continue Reading

• Channel Explained: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

  VoIP has emerged as a convenient, reliable and cost-effective network option for businesses of all sizes. In this Channel Explained you'll learn how VoIP works, what to consider before deploying it in a company, and how to take advantage of the ...  Continue Reading

• How email archiving benefits your client

  Your customers need email archiving, definitely for e-discovery preparedness and possibly for regulatory compliance. Find out about the methodology and benefits of email archiving in this first installment of our Hot Spot Tutorial on data archiving.  Continue Reading

• Introduction to identity management solutions

  Identity management solutions allow business customers to manage end-user data in a secure way. Keeping track of which employees have access to what is a daunting task, and becomes almost unmanageable at the midsized and enterprise level. Identity ...  Continue Reading

• Exinda Partner Program

  Learn about network optimization vendor Exinda's partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Nimsoft Partner Program

  Learn about monitoring software Nimsoft's partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Imprivata Partner Program

  Learn about authentication management software vendor Imprivata's partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Quest Software Partner Program

  Learn about applications and systems software vendor Quest Software's partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Aladdin Partner Program

  Learn about security software vendor Aladdin's partner program in this standardized checklist.  Continue Reading

• Business impact analysis

  A business impact analysis not only brings in consulting revenue; it can also give you greater insight into what your customers' pain points are. Find out what's involved in a BIA and how to conduct one for your customers.  Continue Reading

• PCI compliance checklist: Top five channel mistakes and how to avoid them

  Regulatory compliance can make or break your customer's business. Learn about the top five PCI mistakes made by solution providers and how you can help your customer avoid making them, from oversimplification to not logging enough data.  Continue Reading

• How easy is it to transition existing customers to managed services?

  Moving your existing customers to managed services may prove to be more difficult than signing up new customers. Find out how you can make your customer's transition to managed services go smoothly.  Continue Reading

• Why are solution providers shifting to managed services models?

  Managed service providers are more proactive in addressing customers' issues and therefore experience increased profits and monthly compounded annuity-based revenues. Learn about the benefits of offering managed services and how to stand out from ...  Continue Reading

• How can managed services be marketed?

  To boost business, managed services providers must carry out specific marketing campaigns. Find out the best way to market yourself as a managed services provider.  Continue Reading

• What are the 3 core deliverables of basic MSP offerings?

  Developing an efficient managed services offering is essential to building loyal clientele. Learn about the three core deliverables that comprise a managed services offering.  Continue Reading

• How can managed services increase solutions and services sales?

  As a trusted advisor to your customer, you can sell more solutions and services by recognizing business opportunities in your customers' network. Find out how offering managed services can take you to the role of trusted advisor for your customer.  Continue Reading

• What should be included in a managed services agreement?

  A well-written managed services agreement should provide a common understanding of the services to be performed by the managed services provider for the client. Learn why the managed services agreement is often the first step taken by MSPs, the ...  Continue Reading

• Oracle OpenWorld 2008 coverage

  Find all of SearchITChannel.com's coverage of Oracle OpenWorld 2008 in one easy place.  Continue Reading

• ITIL v3

  ITIL v3 isn't just for IT. The framework establishes best practices in five IT disciplines, but solution providers can learn a lot by applying these practices to their own services business.  Continue Reading

• Performing a DR backup on a VMware ESX server

  This section of the chapter excerpt will focus on backup solutions provided by the VMware ESX server before a disaster and recovery options after a disaster.  Continue Reading

• Vendor tools

  This section of the chapter excerpt will focus on the possible backup tools provided by vendors for VMware ESX.  Continue Reading

• ESX Version 2

  This section of the chapter excerpt will examine the features of VMware ESX Version 2 and how they can help with disaster recovery and backup.  Continue Reading

• Securing Windows Server 2008: Implementing Server Core

  Aaron Tiensivu covers tips for implementing Server Core including administering Server Core with RDP in this chapter excerpt.  Continue Reading

• Securing Windows Server 2008: Server Core best practices

  Aaron Tiensivu covers Server Core best practices and implementation tips in this chapter excerpt.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery software and compliance considerations

  Disaster recovery software is necessary in any organization, but is especially important for public companies that need to comply with industry regulations. Testing and monitoring your client's DR plan is becoming simpler, however, as disaster ...  Continue Reading

• How to write an IT service-level agreement

  A service-level agreement (SLA) is a document that clearly lays out your responsibilities as a client's managed services provider. Learn how to write an SLA to protect your managed services business by avoiding confusion with customers that can lead...  Continue Reading

• What is your perception of green data storage?

  Green data storage means different things to different companies. By finding out what green data storage means to your potential customer, you can better meet their storage needs.  Continue Reading

• Channel Explained: Email security

  With email being the primary form of communication in most businesses, the importance of email security cannot be overlooked. In this Channel Explained piece, you'll learn how to deploy this technology, how to test it and finally what the future ...  Continue Reading

• Procedures for cooling blade servers

  Cooling blade servers can be expensive, demanding advanced technology and specialized skills. Learn about the various methods and solutions for cooling blade servers.  Continue Reading