Reading Time-approximately: 4 minutesA host bus adapter (HBA) is a circuit board or integrated circuit adapter that connects a host system, such as a server, to a storage or network device. By Robert Sheldon and Carol Sliwa An HBA also provides input/output (I/O) processing to reduce the load on the host’s microprocessor when storing and retrieving data, helping to improve the host’s overall performance. An HBA and its associated disk subsystems are sometimes
Reading Time-approximately: 4 minutesA storage volume is an identifiable unit of data storage. It can be a removable hard disk, but it does not have to be a unit that can be physically removed from a computer or storage system. By Robert Sheldon and Paul Crocetti The term volume, as it relates to storage, can refer to a physical volume or logical volume. A physical
Reading Time-approximately: 8 minutesThe main types of network cables are coax, fiber optics, and shielded and unshielded twisted pair. As enterprises deploy new technologies, it’s critical to select the right cables. ByChris Partsenidis and David Jacobs Selecting cables is a crucial part of network design. Required data rate, cost and distance all dictate the range of choices for each connection. Some connections require
Reading Time-approximately: 4 minutesSome of the different types of network switches include managed, modular, unmanaged and stackable. Find out how different network switches dovetail and differ. By Andrew Froehlich These days, a switch is a switch, right? Well, not necessarily. While all network switches move data from point A to point B, many enterprise-grade switches have significant hardware and software differences that factor
Reading Time-approximately: 3 minutesFCAPS (fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security) is a network management framework created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The primary objective of this network management model is to better understand the major functions of network management systems. By Andrew Zola Introduced in the early 1980s, the goal was to move away from a reactive form of network management to a
Reading Time-approximately: 3 minutesWhen organizing cable clutter, network engineers should follow some common best practices, including the use of cable labels, cable ties and proper documentation. By John Burke and Chris Partsenidis Any successful cabling project starts with knowing the requirements for the cable needed. The speeds required, the distances covered, the need for power — all these factors will determine where to
Reading Time-approximately: 3 minutesChoosing the right CPU for virtual infrastructures depends on several factors, including feature sets and hardware specs. Proper configuration of processor resources is also crucial. By Ryann Burnett Choosing a CPU for virtualization and properly configuring it are just as important as choosing memory, storage and network resources; a processor that doesn’t make sense for the infrastructure or one that’s
Reading Time-approximately: 5 minutesVirtualization sprawl is a phenomenon that occurs when the number of virtual machines (VMs) on a network reaches a point where administrators can no longer manage them effectively. By Robert Sheldon Virtualization sprawl is also referred to as virtual machine sprawl, VM sprawl or virtual server sprawl. VM sprawl has become a common challenge for many organizations, and the more they rely on virtualization,
Reading Time-approximately: 8 minutesReady to move your on-premises apps to the cloud? From rehosting vs. redesigning to testing and monitoring, follow these key steps for a successful cloud migration. By Stephen J. Bigelow Businesses migrate workloads to the cloud for a variety of reasons. The public cloud is far more scalable than most on-premises data centers — its extensive array of resources, services
Reading Time-approximately: 4 minutesCloud migrations are inevitable for some enterprises as they navigate a move off premises or between clouds. Evaluate some of the latest migration trends and the pros and cons that come with each. By George Lawton and Sara Grier The last couple of years have brought a significant shift in how enterprises think and use the cloud — and the
What is COVID-19?
On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, China. ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed as the causative agent of what we now know as ‘Coronavirus Disease 2019’ (COVID-19). Since then, the virus has spread to more than 100 countries, including South Africa.
For more information on COVID-19 and government regulation: Click here
Emergency Hotline: 0800 029 999 WhatsApp Support Line: 0600-123456