Tips

Tips

• Optimizing SQL Server 2008 performance

  This tip details the key areas that solutions providers should focus on when implementing SQL Server 2008, including memory capacity, storage configuration and disk alignment.  Continue Reading

• How to resell cloud storage services

  Find out what the two main options are for resellers who want to get involved in cloud storage services but don't want the risk and cost involved with developing their own services.  Continue Reading

• How to become a cloud storage services provider

  Find out what steps to take to become a cloud storage services provider, including making decisions around business scope and infrastructure, whether via a turnkey system or a build-your-own approach.  Continue Reading

• FCoE: How to prepare customers for it

  Find out which customers are better suited for Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and how you should prepare them for the specification, now that it's been ratified.  Continue Reading

• Analyzing data in a virtualized server environment

  You may know the basics of a green data center, but this chapter excerpt provides actual data that compares a virtualized server environment with a regular server environment.  Continue Reading

• How to manage EMC, NetApp arrays with Perl scripting

  The more pieces of hardware you have, the more complicated managing them becomes. Find out how one consultant simplifies management of EMC Symmetrix DMX and NetApp arrays using Perl scripting.  Continue Reading

• Comparing I/O virtualization and virtual I/O benefits

  How do you differentiate between virtual I/O and I/O virtualization? In this tip, Greg Schulz details what each method can contribute to server performance and infrastructure and also compares their distinct qualities.  Continue Reading

• New features in Windows Server 2008 R2

  There are quite a few notable new features in Windows Server 2008 R2, including support for only 64-bit processors and the inclusion of Hyper-V R2.  Continue Reading

• New features in Microsoft Exchange Server 2010

  Microsoft's beta of Exchange Server 2010 has new features that address connectivity, disaster recovery, compliance and other issues, according to two experts.  Continue Reading

• Wireshark 1.2 tutorial: Open source network analyzer's new features

  Wireshark, the open source network analyzer, is useful for network solution providers or consultants who troubleshoot business networks. Find out about new features of Wireshark 1.2 in this tutorial.  Continue Reading

• How to solve out-of-space problems on NetApp replicated volumes

  Running out of space on a NetApp replicated volume is a dicey situation to be in. Find out how one solution provider solved the problem for his customer, using a lot of trial and error.  Continue Reading

• Top five virtual desktop environment management issues

  Find out how to overcome the top five virtualization management issues in your virtual desktop environment.  Continue Reading

• Top five virtual desktop infrastructure management problems

  The demand for desktop virtualization and virtual desktop infrastructure is on the rise. Find out how to address common issues and improve customers' virtual desktop environments.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Office SharePoint compliance and security concerns

  Find out which SharePoint compliance and security concerns are covered under specific U.S. laws and regulations.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting a failed SQL Server 2008 installation

  Learn about the various tools and methods for troubleshooting a failed SQL Server 2008 installation.  Continue Reading

• VARs: How to become a managed services provider

  On the road to becoming a managed services provider, VARs find they have options ranging from building their own systems to reselling services from distributors and vendors. Which is right for you?  Continue Reading

• Reducing power consumption with green IT solutions

  Good for bottom lines and for the environs, green IT is not a hard sell to clients that need help putting green IT strategies and solutions into practice.  Continue Reading

• Step-by-step: How to size a virtual tape library (VTL)

  A lot of factors go in to selecting the right size virtual tape library (VTL) for customers, such as the initial backup data set, daily change rate, retention period and data reduction rates from deduplication and compression. Follow our ...  Continue Reading

• Testing LAN switch interoperability: A series of best practices

  Ensuring LAN switch interoperability is crucial when extending existing LANs or building new ones. The Tolly Group compiled a list of functions that must be tested to ensure true interoperability.  Continue Reading

• XenServer installation and deployment guidelines

  Learn about best practices for XenServer installation and deployment in areas such as media and server hardware, storage and network configurations.  Continue Reading

• Remote vulnerability scanning: Process, roles and responsibilities

  During hard times, it's important to go the extra mile to accommodate anything your customer may need. Rounding out your security offerings can make you invaluable to customers. Consider offering options such as vulnerability scans, pen testing and ...  Continue Reading

• Network security monitoring using transaction data

  Using transaction data -- or application-specific traffic data -- in network security monitoring can give you a new line of defense.  Continue Reading

• Data breach prevention techniques: Helping customers avoid data breaches

  Several serious data breaches have been highlighted in the news lately, making data loss prevention a hot topic for security managers and solution providers alike. Allen Zuk explains how data breaches occur and what you can do to better protect your...  Continue Reading

• How to perform a network security audit for customers

  David Jacobs describes how to perform a network security audit for customers. Learn what you need to look for when at the customer site, and how to express the importance of a security audit to your customers.  Continue Reading

• VMware storage protocol decision: Why not NFS?

  Choosing the right storage protocol for VMware isn't a no-brainer, even though the file-based nature of NAS/NFS might make it seem so. Find out what the key considerations should be when guiding customers toward a storage protocol.  Continue Reading

• Storage RFP: Selection process mistakes and best practices

  Learn from the mistakes made by vendors and resellers in the recent selection process for $2 million in storage equipment. Find out where the storage RFP and selection process went bad for the losers and what best practices the winner followed.  Continue Reading

• Router and switch upgrades: Five reasons your customer should invest

  Mid recession, customers are avoiding investment in even basic router and switch upgrades, but one surefire way to convince them is long-term savings that will outweigh investment.  Continue Reading

• Evaluating VMware alternatives for server virtualization software

  Learn how VMware alternatives may help your customers meet their server virtualization software needs.  Continue Reading

• The top five data theft protection tools for solution providers

  Find out what five products top the list of the best tools for helping customers handle data theft protection, whether the data is in transit or at rest.  Continue Reading

• Daemonlogger for packet capture and redirection

  Daemonlogger, a packet capture tool by Marty Roesch, has two features that prove helpful to security solution providers. Learn what those features are in this edition of Traffic Talk.  Continue Reading

• Native management tools for VDI: VMware vs. Citrix and Microsoft

  Compare the native management tools of VMware vs. Citrix and Microsoft in the first of a two-part series on desktop and application virtualization management tools.  Continue Reading

• Five keys to owning server virtualization projects

  To address the entire lifecycle of a customer's server virtualization project, concentrate on these five key areas: assessment, architecture, migration, training and ongoing management.  Continue Reading

• VMware ESX essentials: Virtual Machine File System

  This section of our chapter excerpt on storage from the book "VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center" explains the difference between direct- and network-attached storage and how to configure a client's network file system devices.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for securing domain controllers at the branch office

  Companies that implement domain controllers at branch offices face a number of challenges, security-related and otherwise. Follow these best practices to keep branch-office domain controllers secure and effective.  Continue Reading

• Understanding Snort's Unified2 output

  In this edition of the Snort Report, learn how using Snort's source code can help solution providers understand Snort's new Unified2 output.  Continue Reading

• Network security algorithms introduction

  This section of our chapter excerpt on network algorithms explains three important subtasks that arise with intrusion detection and outlines tools such as Bloom filters and Aho-Corasick trees.  Continue Reading

• Customizing SharePoint with third-party applications and Web Parts

  As third-party SharePoint products proliferate, learn about the different types of SharePoint add-ons and how to help clients customize their SharePoint environment.  Continue Reading

• Explaining deduplication rates and single-instance storage to clients

  In order for clients to make an educated purchasing decision on a deduplication system, they need to understand the key factors that influence deduplication rates. Learn about these factors and further your understanding of single-instance storage.  Continue Reading

• Using VMware NetQueue to virtualize high-bandwidth servers

  Sometimes high-bandwidth servers are left out of the virtualization picture due to I/O issues, but a new VMware queuing feature, NetQueue, alleviates these performance problems while allowing you to virtualize more servers.  Continue Reading

• Using Snort 2.8.3 to inspect HTTP traffic

  Since the last Snort Report, Snort 2.8.3 has been released. In this issue, expert Richard Bejtlich discusses the best methods to learn about the new features of Snort 2.8.3 and how to use them when inspecting HTTP traffic.  Continue Reading

• OS virtualization vs. hypervisor: Why you should offer both

  As server virtualization fever sweeps through the industry, make sure you're prepared for the eventual rise of OS virtualization. Learn about the benefits of OS virtualization and prepare to offer OS virtualization along with the hypervisor model ...  Continue Reading

• Data center migration quiz: Forklift vs. swing

  There are two possible approaches to a data center migration: forklifting the application hardware to its new location or using a "swing" approach, with an entirely new setup at the new location. Take our quiz to find out which method makes sense ...  Continue Reading

• How to troubleshoot DNS server failures

  DNS server failures are one of the most critical types of malfunctions on a Windows network. Learn a basic knowledge of troubleshooting techniques and how to execute quick tests to narrow down the cause of DNS server failures.  Continue Reading

• How to resolve DNS server failures

  DNS server failures can occur in your customer's environment for a number of reasons, but most often the problem is related to the client -- not the DNS server. This tip explains how to resolve DNS server problems when a workstation is incorrectly ...  Continue Reading

• Key aspects of cloud computing services

  Learn about the key aspects of cloud computing services and why these services are increasing at such a fast rate.  Continue Reading

• Using Wireshark and Tshark display filters for troubleshooting

  Display filters can be used to analyze different types of network traffic. In this Traffic Talk tip, Richard Bejtlich explains how to use Wireshark and Tshark display filters for security and network troubleshooting.  Continue Reading

• Three steps to a successful data center migration plan

  When designing a data center migration plan, it's crucial to ensure that your client's business will be protected during the migration. Learn about the three steps to a successful data center migration plan: knowing what to migrate, upholding SLAs ...  Continue Reading

• High-availability options in SQL Server 2008

  SQL Server 2008's high-availability options can address all of your customers' high-availability needs. Learn about using failover clustering, database mirroring, log shipping and replication to keep a database accessible to users.  Continue Reading

• Flash-based solid-state disk vs. DRAM-based solid-state disk

  The solid-state disk market isn't new, but there is a whole new group of entrants to it, with a new approach. Find out which makes the most sense for customers -- flash-based solid-state disk or DRAM-based solid-state disk -- and what the key ...  Continue Reading

• How to establish decommissioning policies and procedures

  The management of end-of-life storage assets represents a relatively untouched sector of the compliance market, making it a prime service opportunity for solution providers. Learn about this field and how to establish effective decommissioning ...  Continue Reading

• Hardware lifecycle management: How to decommission storage hardware

  Hardware lifecycle management has become a critical aspect of responsible storage management. Resellers must learn how to safely and securely decommission storage hardware so that customers' confidential data is not exposed.  Continue Reading

• Configuration Tips for VoWLAN Access Points

  Learn how to configure VoWLAN access points.  Continue Reading

• Bridging the IT/business gap in business intelligence projects

  When deploying a business intelligence project for your customers, there is often a gap between the IT department and the business department. Learn how to bridge that gap by getting the right people involved in the project and following established...  Continue Reading

• Four steps to designing a cloud storage services strategy

  Resellers wondering how to respond to customer inquiries around cloud storage should consider four options: ignore it, become an agent, set up cloud services for customers or offer their own cloud storage services.  Continue Reading

• DNS troubleshooting and analysis

  This first edition of Traffic Talk takes a look at the Domain Name System (DNS), the mechanism that translates IP addresses to hostnames and back, plus a slew of other functions. Learn how to identify problems with DNS records and learn more about ...  Continue Reading

• Top three best system monitoring tools

  Choosing a system monitoring tool to recommend to your customers is complex, made more so by the number of products on the market. To help speed up the selection process, we chose the top three products for you to consider.  Continue Reading

• System Recovery and Diagnostic Tricks: Backup and Restore Center

  This chapter excerpt from "Tricks of the Microsoft Windows Vista Masters" covers Vista's Backup and Restore Center and provides you with key information on complete system backup, how to access backup with virtual servers or PCs and how to use the ...  Continue Reading

• Backup window reduction methods

  Customers struggling to meet their backup windows have a number of choices to cut their data at the source. Find out which of the three options is best suited for them.  Continue Reading

• Business intelligence consulting: Problems and solutions

  The basic problem for those involved in business intelligence consulting is the need for an integrated system to manage project components such as project management, collaboration and SDLC tools. Without a technological solution to the problem, BI ...  Continue Reading

• iSCSI, FCoE or InfiniBand for storage networking?

  While iSCSI is clearly emerging as the storage networking protocol of choice for SMBs, the choice for enterprises isn't so clear-cut. The decision is between Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and InfiniBand. Learn the pros and cons of all three ...  Continue Reading

• Host-based vs. VTL vs. NAS data deduplication

  Leveraging data deduplication can maximize your client's storage capabilities. Learn how to choose the right data deduplication technology to meet your client's storage needs.  Continue Reading

• Data management concerns of MDM-CDI architecture

  Read about the data management concerns associated with MDM-CDI architecture.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting 802.1x port-based authentication systems

  Learn how to most effectively troubleshoot 802.1x problems that may arise on your client's wireless network.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting 802.1x missing supplicant problems, part 1

  Learn how to diagnose and solve 802.1x missing supplicant problems.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting 802.1x missing supplicant problems, part 2

  Learn how to deal with peripheral devices and hubs that don't have 802.1x supplicants in this chapter excerpt of Implementing 802.1x Security Solutions by Jim Geier.  Continue Reading

• SharePoint implementation best practices

  Any SharePoint implementation requires careful planning, with proper attention to infrastructure issues, the discovery stage and topology planning. Learn best practices to deliver an efficient portal that suits your customer's needs.  Continue Reading

• Making the most of selling antivirus services

  Read Mike Rothman's observations on the antivirus market as it pertains to the channel and find out how selling antivirus services can provide other business opportunities.  Continue Reading

• Failover clustering, network load balancing drive high availability

  Windows shops with mission-critical servers, applications and servers can use Windows Server 2008's failover clustering and network load balancing features to ensure high availability.  Continue Reading

• When Snort is not enough

  Sometimes, Snort isn't enough to complete a detection and response operation. Learn when and how to support the Snort network intrusion detection system with complementary tools and techniques.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery planning: Addressing malicious data corruption

  Malicious data corruption is a real problem, but many disaster recovery strategies don't include the means to guard against it. Storage service providers should be able to determine when such corruption has occurred at customer sites and put ...  Continue Reading

• How to extend your client's wireless access point range

  Some WLAN installations require multiple access points. But before you go that route and install more WLAN access points, use these steps to determine how you can extend the wireless access point range of the current devices.  Continue Reading

• Penetration testing 101: How to offer pen test services

  A penetration test can reveal vulnerabilities in your customer's network. Learn about the different types of pen test services to eliminate these vulnerabilities and ensure the security of your customer's network and applications.  Continue Reading

• How to configure wireless access points

  A crucial part of any WLAN installation is configuring wireless access points. Learn which configuration options -- such as IP address, transmit power and beacon interval -- are best for your customers.  Continue Reading

• Optimizing iSCSI SANs with the right Ethernet switch

  The choice of Ethernet switch for your customer's iSCSI SAN might seem inconsequential, but choosing the wrong one can hamper future SAN growth. Find out what factors should govern your choice of Ethernet switch.  Continue Reading

• How to maximize WLAN performance

  With greater demands being placed on WLANs, learn what you can do to improve WLAN performance for your clients, such as choosing the right physical layer and properly setting access point channels.  Continue Reading

• Network session data analysis with Snort and Argus

  This edition of Snort Report departs from the standard format to introduce Argus, a session data collecting tool that can work alongside Snort. Learn how session data can complement Snort's alert data for network session analysis  Continue Reading

• How to select a wireless access point vendor

  With so many wireless access point vendors on the market, which ones do you recommend to your clients and choose for their networks? Using the selection criteria in this tip -- including standards, interoperability and security -- you'll be able to ...  Continue Reading

• Linux server virtualization pros and cons

  Linux server virtualization is a viable option for your customers' data centers, but it's important to understand both the benefits and drawbacks before you go down the road to Linux virtualization.  Continue Reading

• Choosing network equipment vendors: Multi-vendor vs. single-source

  A plethora of network equipment vendors means that you have limitless solution offerings at your disposal. Do you specialize in one vendor or create multi-vendor partnerships? Learn the pros and cons of supplementing your tier one vendor partner ...  Continue Reading

• Three ways to prevent virtual machine sprawl

  The introduction of virtualization technology into data centers and server rooms leaves customers vulnerable to virtual machine sprawl. Learn what techniques should be used to avoid the problem.  Continue Reading

• Common injection attacks

  Hackers can cripple a system's security with injection attacks. Learn how to avoid these malicious attacks by understanding the different kinds of injection attacks and how they operate.  Continue Reading

• Introduction to network centralization and decentralization

  Network centralization is an attempt to improve efficiency by taking advantage of potential economies of scale. Decentralization is an attempt to improve speed and flexibility by reorganizing networks to increase local control and execution of a ...  Continue Reading

• How to use shared object rules in Snort

  Service providers can learn how to get shared object rules working on Snort sensors.  Continue Reading

• Stay competitive with Software as a Service business intelligence services

  Big and bulky business intelligence systems are being delivered directly to customers as Software as a Service (SaaS), making customers' shops more agile but also changing the playing field for value-added resellers (VARs). To stay competitive, VARs...  Continue Reading

• Charging and rating requirements for new communications media

  As a VAR or a consultant, you provide valuable communications means to your clients. But how should you be compensated? Learn how to appropriately charge your customers for the services you provide as a networking VAR or consultant.  Continue Reading

• Three low-cost approaches to high-availability databases

  High-availability databases can be an expensive proposition. But if your customers don't have the budget for a high-end system, there are cheaper options. Here we examine the pros and cons of log shipping, replication and database mirroring.  Continue Reading

• Checklist: Five steps to assessing a customer's antivirus protection

  Your customers' antivirus protection may not be up to par. This Channel Checklist offers service providers and VARs five steps to follow with customers to shore up their antivirus protection strategies.  Continue Reading

• Channel Checklist: Top five tools for troubleshooting a WLAN

  Customers with WLAN connectivity problems are quick to place blame on airwaves. Service providers know the problem may run deeper. These five WLAN tools will help you investigate the problem and find the real culprit.  Continue Reading

• Google Hacking: Ten security searches that work

  Security assessments are important to keep your customer's site secure. Using these 10 simple Google searches, learn how to assess the security of your customer's site.  Continue Reading

• How to diagnose and troubleshoot database performance problems

  Database performance problems can wreak havoc with Web site performance and cost your customers lots of money. Diagnosing problems is much easier when you rely on this systematic approach.  Continue Reading

• Snort frequently asked questions

  Snort users are asking about its capabilities. These frequently asked questions about Snort discuss what the open source security tool can do and the right ways to use Snort.  Continue Reading

• How to secure the chain of custody in a digital forensics investigation

  Digital forensics experts are expensive, which means most customers are turning to service providers to gather evidence and secure a chain of custody. Learn these best practices in securing a chain of custody to help you improve your methodology for...  Continue Reading

• Cisco router configuration security checklist

  VARs and SIs need to make sure that their clients' network devices are secure and correctly configured. Use this Cisco router configuration security checklist to ensure maximum security for your clients' networks.  Continue Reading

• Q&A: The art of cost-effective network systems design

  Learn best practices for cost-effective network systems design that ensures performance, scalability, redundancy and security. Discover the role played by virtualization and the importance of network security.  Continue Reading

• Tips and tricks for using Snort and its limitations

  Learn about the limitations and capabilities of Snort, including the implications of running the network inspection and control system in active and passive mode.  Continue Reading

• Checklist: Top five security assessment tools

  Performing a thorough penetration test or security assessment for customers means service providers have to have a comprehensive bag of ethical hacking tools. This channel checklist has the top five ethical hacking tools every security reseller ...  Continue Reading

• Snort 2.8.0 new features: IPv6 and port lists

  Snort 2.8.0 comes with new features long desired for the open source intrusion detection system, including IPv6, port lists and packet performance monitoring. Learn about the new IPv6 and port lists that VARs and systems integrators can use to ...  Continue Reading

• Firewall troubleshooting: How to modify the scope of Windows XP and Vista firewall rules

  When working with firewalls, your client might run into problems, even if active Windows XP firewall rules are confirmed. Learn how to modify the scope of a Windows XP firewall to enable the rule, as well as how to configure Microsoft Vista firewall...  Continue Reading

• Use Netstat to determine which ports to open on a Windows firewall

  When troubleshooting a Windows XP firewall, the solution is often simply opening the right firewall port. But what port should you open? This tip walks you through using Netstat to identify which firewall port an application uses.  Continue Reading

• SAN-based storage virtualization: Five benefits for your customers

  Storage virtualization holds promise, but still has a lot of problems. SAN-based storage virtualization could offer some solutions. This tip outlines five value propositions for SAN storage virtualzation.  Continue Reading