Continuous Integration (CI) is a software development methodology that uses small and frequent incremental changes to the code base, which are incorporated into a rapid build and test environment. Each change integrated into the source repository is verified by the...
Infrastructure
How to Monitor NetApps with Nagios
I just came to the realization that I've been working with Network Appliance filers for over a decade now. They're great -- rock solid stability, an ever expanding feature set, excellent tech support, and they're certified against...
SPK Releases vCAD™
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SPK and Associates, LLC (SPK) is excited to announce the release of their new Virtual Engineering Platform – vCAD™. vCAD is an easy-to-use product that allows engineers to quickly set up and manage cloud workstations...
Maximizing Enterprise Agility with SAFe in Jira
Enterprises are increasingly turning to frameworks that can support scalable agility and robust project management. The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) has emerged as a leader in this arena. It provides a comprehensive methodology for large-scale Agile project teams. ...
Adapting Business Practices for Green Engineering
As global temperatures rise, environmental regulations are becoming stricter in an attempt to prevent climate change from progressing. As a result of these regulations, businesses across industries are facing pressures to implement green engineering practices. ...
Confluence upgrading to 4.0 from 3.8
Recently, we upgraded Confluence to 4.0, the latest revision and was pleasantly surprised by the process. The upgrade was seamless, well documented, and no major issues found. Upgrading confluence would have been really simple if we wanted to retain the same server....
Improve your build, test and deployment with ElectricCommander
Repeatability is a intuitive aspect of daily life. If you throw a ball up, it must come down. If you throw it twenty times, the same thing will happen, up and then down. When repeatability doesn't occur we get anxious. Repeatability is equally an essential quality in...
Outsourcing is the Best Way to Stay Flexible, Even Elastic!
The technology industry loves buzzwords. The decade of the '80s was all about synergy and paradigm shifts. In the '90s, it was the web and the Internet. The turn of the century brought talk about virtualization and social media. Today it's all about the cloud. Of...
Macs in a Corporate IT Environment
Macs running OS X have been around for quite some time, but only recently have they gained enough traction with our customers at SPK to be used as their day to day desktop environment. Historically, IT organizations have been reluctant to embrace this change. This...
To SSD or not to SSD
What is an SSD? The term SSD (Solid State Drive), can refer to any drive that uses solid state components to store information, or more to the point - has no moving parts. When we hear terms like 'Flash Drive' or 'Thumb Drive', we typically don't think SSD, but...
Upgrade to HWMonitor Pro and Make Your Computer’s Sensors Work For You!
Some time ago, I wrote an article about CPUID’s wonderful tool, HWMonitor. Today I want to follow up on that and give a few tips on how to make it more useful. Firstly, HWMonitor is a free tool, but CPUID publishes a Professional version of the product, predictably...
Maximizing Efficiency with a RACI Matrix
For years, I’ve enjoyed working with clients on difficult projects. In my early career, I did a lot of work for a cloud and infrastructure company where I mainly worked with internal teams. However, when I did get the chance to work with external clients, I found...