Tips

Tips

• Using SQL Azure Reporting Services to offer data analysis services

  By adding Azure Reporting Services to your line card, you can provide customers with easy data analysis services. SQL Azure Reporting information can benefit your company, too.  Continue Reading

• Monetizing the cloud: Differentiate services through cloud billing

  Cloud billing should not be underestimated as a differentiator. But before cloud providers can achieve that, they must understand competitors' capabilities and customer needs.  Continue Reading

• VDI sizing and disk array controller requirements

  Find out how to help customers estimate their disk array controller needs around capacity and performance as part of a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) sizing exercise.  Continue Reading

• Tools for mainframe storage management

  Learn about the products that are available to help your customers handle mainframe storage management tasks from companies such as BMC, CA, EMC and IBM.  Continue Reading

• SMB SAN solutions: Storage networking options

  Find out which SMB SAN solutions might be a good fit for your customers. Storage networking options examined include Fibre Channel, FCoE, InfiniBand, iSCSI, AoE and SAS.  Continue Reading

• Cheat sheet: Talking to clients about cloud computing security risks

  Customers are jumpy about cloud computing security risks, and cloud providers must be ready for their questions with bulletproof answers. Here are questions you can expect.  Continue Reading

• Virtual storage appliance vs. traditional shared storage

  A virtual storage appliance can be a viable way to allocate storage for their virtual server infrastructure; it offers cost and complexity benefits compared with traditional shared storage.  Continue Reading

• PaaS: Cloud computing providers' next big opportunity for growth

  As providers look up the cloud stack for their next play, Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud computing services have caught their eye as the next opportunity.  Continue Reading

• Five business challenges every cloud reseller should prepare to tackle

  Becoming a cloud reseller requires many strategic changes for partners new to a services-oriented business model. Here are five challenges cloud resellers should prepare for.  Continue Reading

• Choosing the right VDI solutions for your customer

  Solution providers can get a leg up on competition by knowing the VDI solutions, such as Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and VMware View, that are available to customers so they can pick the best option.  Continue Reading

• Selling managed print services requires attention to detail

  Opportunities in managed print services exist, and solution providers can sell these services. Showing customers how creating efficiency in printer logistics including location optimization and inventory management is the key.  Continue Reading

• How to make cloud storage pricing both economical and profitable

  Cutting cloud storage pricing without eliminating profit margins isn't easy, but solving pricing problems could entice more enterprises into cloudsourcing critical applications.  Continue Reading

• CSP security: Penetration testing public cloud service providers

  Pen testing is vital for customers who entrust their applications to a cloud. Dave Shackleford explains how to test public cloud service providers.  Continue Reading

• How to diagnose disk array controller performance problems

  Learn about the components in a disk array controller and find out how to determine whether a customer’s performance problem originates with the controller as well as what’s causing the problem.  Continue Reading

• Opportunities abound for providing HIPAA compliance services

  Recent HIPAA updates mean many firms -- not just health care firms -- must now become HIPAA compliant. Kevin McDonald explains where to find them.  Continue Reading

• Book chapter: Software test methods for the CISSP exam

  Software test methods and testing levels for secure application development are covered in this excerpt from Elsevier’s CISSP Study Guide.  Continue Reading

• How to perform storage network performance analysis and fix storage network problems

  Learn how to conduct storage network performance analysis to troubleshoot and fix storage network problems relating to network capacity, adapters, cabling and switches.  Continue Reading

• Developing your cloud business model: A primer for cloud providers

  Cloud business models are numerous, but providers must weigh the benefits, risks and ROI of the cloud services they roll out, from SaaS, PaaS and IaaS to combo models.  Continue Reading

• How to do penetration testing: Overcoming problems and concerns

  A lot can go wrong with pen testing. Dave Shackleford discusses potential problems and how to fix them, or avoid them altogether.  Continue Reading

• Automated storage tiering for VARs: Intra-array vs. inter-array

  Learn about the differences between intra-array and inter-array automated storage tiering products and find out which one holds more opportunity for VARs.  Continue Reading

• Seven questions for backup and disaster recovery customers

  To determine whether your customers need to outsource their backup and disaster recovery services, they need to answer these questions, such as when was their most recent backup test, and allow you to explain the value you can provide in each area.  Continue Reading

• Ensuring NAS access from Windows and Unix clients

  In many large and complex computing environments, administrators need to supply access to a NAS device from both Windows and Unix clients. Find out how to configure your systems for this requirement.  Continue Reading

• Selling your customers on a private cloud computing environment

  The challenges of public clouds and the appeal of business continuity during Internet outages make the idea of private cloud computing compelling to your customers eyeing the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Tackle your client's security issues with cloud computing in 10 steps

  So your client wants to move to the cloud? Your job just got harder. Kevin McDonald lists 10 steps to protect your client (and yourself).  Continue Reading

• Practicing defense-in-depth: Implementing a defense-in-depth strategy

  Implementing a defense-in-depth strategy can protect your customers’ Web applications from attack. Take a layered approach with intrusion prevention, encryption and code review.  Continue Reading

• Guide to PCI documents: PCI levels, assessments and reports

  There are a myriad of different documents for understanding, assessing and reporting PCI DSS compliance. This guide explains which documents to use and where to find them.  Continue Reading

• VMware VADP: How vStorage APIs for Data Protection can benefit VARs

  Find out about the benefits of VMware VADP (vStorage APIs for Data Protection) and how it compares with VCB, as well as the benefits and risks they present to storage VARs.  Continue Reading

• Improving software licensing management with application metering

  Solution providers can augment their relationship with customers by using application metering to save them money on unneeded software licensing costs.  Continue Reading

• Quick steps for implementing Master Data Services

  VARs can follow a few basic steps to implement Master Data Services for their customers. Learn the different ways to migrate customer data into the model.  Continue Reading

• How Storage vMotion works and what it can be used for

  Learn how to use Storage vMotion to solve customers’ virtualization-related problems with migration, performance load balancing, RAID rebuilds and VM sprawl.  Continue Reading

• The importance of a vSphere health check to VARs

  Performing a vSphere health check for your customer not only ensures their environment is performing well, but also gives you opportunities for value-adds such as tools and applications.  Continue Reading

• XenServer Workload Balancing setup and configuration steps

  Workload Balancing can help VARs ensure their customer's VMs are placed on placed in the best-available hosts. Read here how set up and configure this feature to save your customers money.  Continue Reading

• Securing employee smartphones: iPhone security settings, deployments

  The iPhone Configuration Utility is useful for securing multiple iPhones. In this tip, Mike Chapple recommends specific security settings and deployment methods.  Continue Reading

• Powerful trio: BitLocker settings plus EFS and NTFS file encryption

  Start with BitLocker, then layer on NTFS and EFS, and you’ll have a powerful trio of tools to protect customer data. Phil Cox shows you how.  Continue Reading

• Storage management and maintenance: Virtual servers vs. physical servers

  There are multiple differences when it comes to storage management of virtual servers vs. physical servers. Learn which areas could or should be handled differently.  Continue Reading

• The RAID rebuild process and its impact on customers

  Read up on the RAID rebuild process and how data protection drops during a RAID rebuild, to help customers decide whether to plan around the limitations of traditional RAID.  Continue Reading

• Storage array-based automated tiered storage products: Pros and cons

  Find out how implementing an automated tiered storage system in a storage arrays can cut costs, how it works and what the advantages and disadvantages are.  Continue Reading

• How to use BitLocker as part of a customer data protection program

  BitLocker can be an effective tool in your data protection services. Phil Cox gives specific recommendations for implementing BitLocker to protect your client's data.  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 audit object access categories, user permissions

  Solution providers can configure Windows 7 audit object access and user logon and logoff settings to achieve optimal security levels in their customer's environment.  Continue Reading

• Configuring Windows 7 audit, group policy settings

  Learn the ins and outs of Windows 7 audit and group policy settings, including account logon and management, and other factors to consider when configuring auditing controls.  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 audit policies, user privileges configuration

  Find out how to audit Windows 7 audit policies themselves and read what you need to know about configuring Windows 7 user privileges.  Continue Reading

• Using Citrix Xen Server Platinum trial software

  Before recommending that your customer upgrades to Citrix XenServer Platinum edition, you can demo the features and licensing by using Citrix's free evaluation software.  Continue Reading

• Cloud gateways for primary storage: Benefits and challenges

  Most IT shops that have ventured down the cloud storage road have restricted their use to backup or archiving. Now cloud gateways are making primary storage use cases feasible.  Continue Reading

• Utilizing vSphere features, resource controls for VM priority

  Solution providers can show customers the value of virtualization by configuring vSphere features and resource controls to prioritize VMs and give them proper access to resources.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Hyper-V R2 VM import and export

  Completing a Hyper-V R2 VM import and export may be more complex than necessary, but this tip explains how to work around issues such as being unable to move VMs after an import.  Continue Reading

• PCI and virtualization: Enabling VMs with PCI compliance services

  The new PCI DSS security standard allows merchants to run a virtualized environment and still be compliant. David Jacobs explains they will need your help with tools and processes.  Continue Reading

• Using XenConvert for XenServer 5.6 workload, machine conversions

  Solution providers using XenConvert to convert XenServer 5.6 physical machines and workloads to a virtual environment should also know best practices for troubleshooting issues during conversion.  Continue Reading

• High-availability solutions for SQL Server 2008 R2

  Find out how to implement SQL Server 2008 R2 high-availability solutions, including failover clustering, database mirroring and log shipping, and learn how they affect a database.  Continue Reading

• NAS services: Standalone NAS system vs. NAS gateway vs. virtual NAS

  Read up on the pros and cons of three options that customers have when adding NAS services to their storage environment: installing a standalone NAS system or a NAS gateway or creating a virtual NAS on the SAN.  Continue Reading

• Managing virtual machines in vSphere

  When modifying and managing virtual machines in vSphere, solution providers should make sure to know how to use other tools and methods besides the vSphere Client.  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 administrative tools, part 1

  Get an overview of seven of the 14 Windows 7 administrative tools, including Event Viewer and Performance Monitor, in part one of this two-part series.  Continue Reading

• Configuring XenServer 5.6 alerts for hosts and VMs

  By configuring XenServer 5.6 alerts in your customers' environments, you'll ensure that you automatically receive notifications when problems occur on hosts and virtual machines.  Continue Reading

• Common application compatibility issues for Windows 7

  There are quite a few ways to solve Windows 7 legacy application compatibility issues, and knowing them can save you time during the deployment process.  Continue Reading

• Application performance management as a service: What does it take?

  Traditional network monitoring is fast morphing into application performance management, a growing market segment targeting enterprise users that has service possibilities for the telecom carrier, but only if the right vendor partnerships and ...  Continue Reading

• Selling SIEM: Security information event management for solution providers

  Customers usually lack the knowhow to implement and manage a SIEM product on their own, which creates an opportunity for VARs and solution providers. Ben Rothke explains how to make SIEM products work for customers.  Continue Reading

• Selecting the top Windows 7 command-line utilities

  There are hundreds of Windows 7 command-line utilities to choose from but the utilities detailed in this tip are especially useful to solution providers for managing Windows 7.  Continue Reading

• Object storage: Object-based storage devices challenge file systems for unstructured data sets

  For large unstructured data sets, object storage and object-based storage devices carry several advantages over a traditional file system architecture. Learn about the scalability and data protection characteristics of object storage.  Continue Reading

• Managing a XenServer environment with the Xen command line

  The Xen command line offers options such as the xe command to perform difficult tasks in a XenServer environment, but the XenCenter interface may work best for easy tasks.  Continue Reading

• Exploring vSphere HA features for failure protection

  vSphere HA provides protection for areas in your customer's virtual environment where failures may occur, such as guest OSes and the network.  Continue Reading

• Using Microsoft Upgrade Advisor for SQL Server 2008 R2

  A solution provider can use the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor to analyze SQL Server and highlight issues that may arise during a SQL Server 2008 R2 upgrade.  Continue Reading

• PCIe SSD pros and cons, use cases, and VAR recommendations

  Learn the pros and cons of PCIe SSD, how NAND flash works, typical use cases for PCIe SSD, as well as the vendors and products in this space. Plus, get recommendations for VARs interested in selling PCIe-based SSD to customers.  Continue Reading

• Implementing network access control products: How to prep your clients

  There's a reason why NAC projects are so often abandoned. Your clients are not making the right preparations before they launch network access control products.  Continue Reading

• Data encryption methods: Lay out the options for your customer

  Rich Mogull of Securosis explains why partners need to live up their name and team up with customers on encryption implemenation and integration.  Continue Reading

• SAN vs. NAS storage and virtualization: Three recommendations for VARs

  Learn the advantages and disadvantages of SAN vs. NAS storage when addressing the issue of storage and virtualization environments with customers.  Continue Reading

• The elements of a regulatory compliance program

  In this video, Richard E. Mackey Jr. reviews a compliance program structure that will incorporate any of the regulations and guidelines that your customers will need to comply with.  Continue Reading

• Network troubleshooting to fix storage performance problems

  Learn about three storage performance problems -- including with NAS replication, with an EMC array and in an Exchange server environment -- that were fixed with network troubleshooting.  Continue Reading

• Network convergence services: Bringing storage onto the network

  With data center infrastructures converging, knowledge of converged network services would benefit any networking solution provider. In this tip, you'll learn about storage protocols, convergence configuration and other best practices related to ...  Continue Reading

• Citrix XenServer 5.5 resource pools: Requirements, creation process

  This tip teaches solutions providers the benefits of using resource pools in Citrix XenServer 5.5, as well as how to create and manage the pools.  Continue Reading

• Third-party tools for Microsoft Hyper-V R2: Top 5 must-haves

  Check out this list of top the five third-party tools for Microsoft Hyper-V R2 that can help solutions providers improve Hyper-V management, monitoring, backup and recovery.  Continue Reading

• Open source Xen vs. Citrix XenServer

  Our expert compares the three major open source Xen contenders with Citrix XenServer to help you determine which Xen management product is best for your customers.  Continue Reading

• Big vSphere features that don't get much attention

  The Virtual Machine Communication Interface and Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling are two big vSphere features that provide great benefits but are often overlooked.  Continue Reading

• Hypervisor comparison: Weighing hybrid environments

  Last year, a hypervisor comparison meant choosing one hypervisor to suit a particular environment. Now, solutions providers must consider the hybrid approach.  Continue Reading

• One-time password (OTP) token tips for a heterogeneous environment

  Many stumbling blocks can torpedo your one-time password token deployment. Learn how to secure your clients' ever accelerating OTP implementations.  Continue Reading

• NAS server sizing and configuration factors

  Find out what questions to ask customers when helping them configure a NAS server, including the number and speed of disk drives that the hardware will support, whether SSD will be used and user I/O demands.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server 2008 R2 system requirements: Hardware and software

  SQL Server 2008 R2 system requirements vary depending on a few factors. Learn the hardware, software and disk space requirements, which can differ based on individual components.  Continue Reading

• Introduction to NERC CIP 004 compliance standards: Training personnel

  Ernie Hayden explains how to comply with NERC CIP 004, an electric utility standard that focuses on the insider threat.  Continue Reading

• How to choose the right iSCSI initiator type

  Find out how to choose the right iSCSI initiator type for your customers: a software iSCSI initiator or a hardware iSCSI initiator. In addition, find out which use cases are most suitable for each type of initiator.  Continue Reading

• Using an incremental backup strategy to save your customers money

  An incremental backup strategy can save customers money by reducing the demands on backup targets and infrastructure, yet many are still doing full backups. Educate them on the reasons why incremental backups make more sense than full backups.  Continue Reading

• Citrix XenServer license considerations

  Sure, XenServer is available for free now. But your customers still have to obtain a XenServer license for certain XenServer components.  Continue Reading

• SSD vs. HDD when fixing performance problems

  Learn about using SSD vs. HDD to address customers' application performance problems and find out how to evaluate CPU utilization, queue depth and disk latency to determine if your customers can benefit from SSD.  Continue Reading

• VMware's standard and distributed virtual switches: What resellers need to know

  Understanding VMware's standard and distributed virtual switches is an important step for resellers planning to offer their customers network virtualization services and VMware virtual switches. Get a reseller-level explanation of the vSphere ...  Continue Reading

• NERC CIP training: Understanding 'critical cyber asset identification'

  To pass Critical Infrastructure Protection standards, utilities must ensure that all critical assets and cyber assets are both properly identified and protected. Ernie Hayden explains how to get the process done right the first time.  Continue Reading

• Social networking security still a gray area for some customers

  While there are many companies today that have embraced the use of social networking sites, there are still some that are skeptical. No matter how customers view social networking, there are some inherent security issues that need to be addressed. ...  Continue Reading

• Traffic Talk: Testing Snort with Metasploit

  Are your customers' network security solutions working as expected? Learn about testing Snort with Metasploit in this detailed tip from Richard Bejtlich, complete with code examples and step-by-step instructions.  Continue Reading

• Creating a virtual machine and VM configuration in VMware vSphere

  In VMware vSphere, creating a virtual machine is pretty easy. By selecting the correct VM configuration and virtual hardware options, solutions providers can really benefit.  Continue Reading

• Comparing Hyper-V R2, vSphere and XenServer 5.5 pros and cons

  Comparing the pros and cons of Hyper-V R2, vSphere and XenServer 5.5 will not only help you recommend the right product, it'll also help you to optimize their virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• Installing Citrix XenServer 5.5 and XenCenter

  Solutions providers that are looking for alternatives to Microsoft Hyper-V R2 and VMware ESX or vSphere will find that installing Citrix's XenServer 5.5 is a painless process.  Continue Reading

• Top three Windows 7 system monitoring tools

  When troubleshooting a Windows 7 system, it isn't always easy to diagnose problems. These system monitoring tools make it a relatively painless process.  Continue Reading

• Manage Windows 7 hardware with Device Manager

  Updating driver components and troubleshooting dicey devices gets easier with Windows 7 Device Manager, which helps solutions providers manage hardware, processors and disk drives.  Continue Reading

• New SQL Server 2008 R2 editions, features and licensing

  Become an expert on the features, functions, pricing and licensing models of the four new SQL Server 2008 R2 editions.  Continue Reading

• How to use user-agent strings as a network monitoring tool

  User-agent strings, elements of HTTP headers, can be used as a network monitoring tool to reveal information about client networks without affecting network performance or privacy. Learn more in this tip by Richard Bejtlich.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Management Console Remote Server Administration Tools

  The Remote Server Administration Tools in Microsoft's Management Console helps VARs create customized Windows platform services to suit their customers' needs.  Continue Reading

• Configuring Microsoft Management Console in Windows 7

  Using the Microsoft Management Console in Win 7 has certain benefits, including error notifications and help with administrative tasks.  Continue Reading

• Offering fixed mobile convergence services benefits WLAN solution providers

  Offering fixed mobile convergence (FMC) services can help wireless LAN solution providers add considerable value by helping customers reduce total cost of operation, improve reliability and increase business productivity.  Continue Reading

• Steps to FCoE readiness

  FCoE-compliant products are shipping, and there are problems in the data center that could be solved by the technology. Find out what steps to take to get your company and your customers ready for FCoE and what projects are good candidates for it.  Continue Reading

• Citrix XenServer 5.5 hardware requirements

  Finding out the Citrix XenServer 5.5 hardware requirements before you begin implementation can save your customers' money on additional hardware purchases.  Continue Reading

• How to deploy NetFlow v5 and v9 probes and analyzers

  Session data from NetFlow is useful for network intrusion detection and collecting network security monitoring data on your customers' networks. It's Cisco's preferred method for providing session data, although the open source community provides ...  Continue Reading

• Efficient storage provisioning: Capex and opex savings

  Find out how efficient storage provisioning techniques through the use of storage virtualization, thin provisioning and storage domains can cut capital expenses (capex) and operating expenses (opex) for customers.  Continue Reading

• Getting to know the NERC CIP standards

  Recently imposed security regulations on the electric grid have electric utilities scrambling to become compliant. Solution providers can offer a valuable service to these utilities by becoming familiar with the North American Electric Reliability ...  Continue Reading

• Social media security policies: Helping customers understand the threats

  In this edition of Patrolling the Channel, Daniel P. Wallace, a Detroit, MI-based information security consultant, discusses how security solution providers can assist customers with secure social media use. Learn how to craft a social media ...  Continue Reading