This Week In IT: 12/7/12

Is Oracle’s Non-Relational Database Right for Your Project?, Another Terrific IT Certification Resource, Get Thin: A Buyer’s Guide to 1U Servers, Resurrect Dead Laptops with Virtualization Technologies, Cloudification: Stop Abusing the Cloud, and more.

• Microsoft Launches Cloud Deployment Partner Program

Following request from partners to provide cloud deployment support focused on driving a faster adoption of Office 365. 

• CenturyLink Launches Savvisdirect Cloud Service Suite

Savvisdirect combines CentryLink's North American services with its global infrastructure. 

• Dell Building KEMP's New Load Balancing and ADC Platform

KEMP's new LoadMaster entry will be based on DEll's PowerEdge R320 platform. 

• Is Oracle’s Non-Relational Database Right for Your Project?

When your data management requirements do not demand all the features of a relational database you should consider an alternative method.

Cloudification: Stop Abusing the Cloud

As far as buzzwords go, the "cloud" we so often refer to these days is about as fuzzy as it can get. 

• Silicon Graphics Offers Tesla K20 for Servers

HPC systems maker's servers now available with Nvidia's Tesla K20 family of GPU accelerator. 

• AMD Launches Piledriver Opteron 3300 and 4300

AMD has updated its Opterons with Bulldozer core to the Piledriver core. 

• HP Announces Unified Storage Architecture

New storage solutions based on a single architecture but designed to address businesses and enterprises of all sizes. 

• Get Thin: A Buyer’s Guide to 1U Servers

Server hardware is often optimized for a particular mix of three resources: compute capability, storage, and network connectivity.

• Another Terrific IT Certification Resource

Mirek Burnejko’s excellent IT Certification Master is one of just a handful of general, unbiased, and up-to-date information certification repositories on the Web. 

Slideshow: Top Paying Technology Jobs by Position

The world of IT is in constant ferment, and it’s fascinating to watch how new tools and technologies give rise to new jobs for people who practice various specialties. 

• Amazon Announces Automated Data Workflow Service

Introduces AWS Data Pipeline, a new service that manages data flow from disparate locations to correct destinations.

• How to Resurrect Dead Laptops with Virtualization Technologies

Hardware failure doesn't necessarily mean the irrevocable loss of current applications, settings and data for the typical portable PC.

• Global Server Revenue Declined in Q3

Gartner estimates that server vendors were able to increase their shipments by 3.6 percent in the third quarter, but suffered a 2.8 percent revenue decline at the same time.

• What Happens When Spreadsheets Meet Big Data?

Spreadsheets were an early driver for PC use because they were easy to use and fit a wide range of problems. Those same characteristics make them a good option for working with big data as well.

• Get Ready for Big Changes in Microsoft Certifications

A big block of upcoming exam retirements in the Microsoft program speaks loudly about the company’s desire to move its installed base forward, onward and upward.

• Top 5 Web Certifications for IT Pros

If you want to understand how to build and design good Web sites, and create interesting and approachable content for such sites, read this article.

Slideshow: Gadgets for the System Administrator's Toolbox

Favorite product types that are clever additions to every data center. 

James Alan Miller is Managing Editor of Tom's IT Pro. He is a veteran technology journalist with over seventeen years of experience creating and developing magazine and online content. Founding editor of numerous business and enterprise computing sites at the internet.com network, James headed up the After Hours section at PC Magazine, as well as hardware and software sections of various Windows publications.

See here for all Tom's IT Pro articles written by James.

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