Linux, Windows Server coexist with cross-skilled management and support
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Article
Run all the OSes you need
In the data center, multiboot servers to enable a heterogeneous OS mix that changes flexibly with IT workloads -- without running up a huge hardware bill. Alternatively, create virtual machines to run Windows Server, Linux and Unix OSes concurrently. Read Now
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Article
No one enjoys Windows and Linux patch management
Patches, death and taxes are three certainties in a typical sys admin's life, and IT orgs that support diverse operating systems can bet on painful patching. But it doesn't have to be that way. Read Now
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Article
Open maintenance windows to all servers
Put Linux and Unix servers in Microsoft's System Center Configuration Manager and manage Linux server support windows alongside those for Windows Server systems. Read Now
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Microsoft explores open source in OS products
Bash on Windows? SQL Server for Linux? Native containerization? For longtime server OS management and support techs, these changes at Microsoft are what happen when two worlds collide. Read Now
Editor's note
New developments of interoperability prepare server admins to better handle a mix of Linux, Windows Server. Using Windows Server management on PowerShell should feel familiar to Linux admins versed in command lines, and Bash has arrived on Windows.
For Microsoft shops that add Linux server support into the mix, a good working knowledge of PowerShell will ease the burden. PowerShell can now directly control Linux servers. And experts have advice to share on the best Linux OSes to suit enterprise needs.
Containerization is spreading across OSes too, as native Windows and Mac versions join Linux containers in enterprises, and abstraction technologies make it feasible to run Linux containers on Windows Server. The various and rapidly maturing OS options for containers ensure an admin's job is never boring.
1Linux lovers can learn Windows Server management
This might be the best time in Microsoft's history for Linux admins to take on Windows Server management and support tasks. PowerShell, Microsoft's command-line interface, is over a decade old and shows maturity for script execution. Configuration management tools enable administrators to customize less and automate more.
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Take charge of Windows Server systems
Linux administrators can extend configuration management tools to include Windows systems, adding standardization and automation to Windows Server management, script execution, groups and users, and more. Read Now
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Explore the world of PowerShell scripts
Linux admins are no strangers to the command line. If you have to run Windows Server to your domain, why not pick up PowerShell? Scripts, cmdlets and modules await your code-savvy attention. Read Now
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Windows Services fall under PowerShell's automation purview
PowerShell gives administrators the ability to scale up changes to hundreds of machines. To discover and change the services on Windows clients, follow these PowerShell tips. Read Now
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Get up to date on System Center
System Center is the management suite for Windows Server operations. The latest version added features such as shielded VMs, storage options for failovers, and more. Read Now
2Windows experts can pick up Linux server support
A requisite IT tool only runs on Linux. To save costs, the business can run some workloads on licensed Windows Server and others on free Linux OSes. A pilot containerization project uses Linux as the host OS for lower overhead. Whatever the reason, Linux server management is now the Windows Server admin's job.
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Power through Linux server management
Reluctant to invest the time in learning a new suite of Linux server OS tools? Don't bother: Microsoft's PowerShell can execute commands on Linux, local and remote servers. PowerShell Desired State Configuration deploys and manages Linux server OSes alongside Windows Server ones. Read Now
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PowerShell for Linux server OSes 101
With the expansion of PowerShell to Linux, Unix and Mac OSes, admins need to understand the differences between each version and how to get PowerShell for their server OS. Read Now
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Goodbye GUI; Hello, World!
Perhaps the most difficult part of the transition to Linux server management is shell scripting. Shell scripts can accomplish just about anything on Linux servers -- once you speak the language. Read Now
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Article
Work out the kinks for Linux VMs on Hyper-V
Windows Server's Hyper-V hypervisor runs Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and other VMs, but that doesn't mean everything works flawlessly. Here are a few of the issues, using RHEL 6.5 on Hyper-V as an example. Read Now
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Handle Linux server management at scorching speeds
Microsoft's System Center Orchestrator (SCORCH) can patch Windows Server and then restart a Linux service -- it's all in the integration packs. Read Now
3Get help to run Linux, Windows Server on cloud
Public cloud is changing, as Microsoft Azure gains momentum in enterprise IT shops. While Windows-based workloads become more prevalent in public cloud, cloud operations teams still must maintain core Linux skills to work with popular platforms from Amazon, Google and Microsoft. Here's a window into the world of public cloud for a busy cloud ops team.
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The public cloud welcomes Windows workloads
One cloud consultancy says about half of the workloads that clients run in public cloud today are Windows-based, which indicates a shift from cloud's Linux-dominated early years. Read Now
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Choose your RHEL cloud provider wisely
Enterprises evaluating RHEL deployment on a public cloud should compare the base image offerings and support limitations from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. Read Now
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Podcast
When Windows Server really means Azure
"Microsoft's big emphasis is getting people onto Azure -- whether it's Windows or Linux or using other Azure services that are more high level that don't care what OS they run on." Hear more from Wes Miller, research analyst at Directions on Microsoft, in this podcast. Listen Now