Professional admins with tightening IT budgets are always looking for new tools that will help them do more with less. This month we feature some popular open source applications for deploying, configuring, updating, and monitoring software and systems on the network.

Automate admin tasks with the powerful Cfengine framework.

The powerful Bcfg2 provides a sophisticated environment for centralized configuration management.

Find out how the free and flexible Zenoss tool can help you monitor your network.

If you get right down to it, the Linux kernel is the real Linux. This month we focus on tools for tuning and tailoring the kernel.

If you work with third-party hardware drivers, or even if you just need to fix a broken system, someday you might need to upgrade the Linux kernel.

Tune up your systems and search out bottlenecks with these handy performance tools.

We'll show you how to tune up your Linux system for multimedia applications.

Eavesdropping on conversations on a LAN is easier than ever thanks to insecure VoIP installations. You don't need to bug restaurant booths or tap phone lines – standard Linux tools are all a hacker needs.

WLANs give you Internet access without a bird's nest of wiring. But if you don't take security seriously, you might find yourself with uninvited guests.

Add security to your website with a one-time password system.

Don't let intruders crash your dance. We'll show you how to test your firewalls and intrusion detection systems with hping.

At the Niederrhein University future admins implement spam defense mechanisms by attracting the attention of the Viagra Mafia. The results are pertinacious blacklists and expert knowledge of methods for combating the menace.

This month we examine techniques for deploying and managing virtual systems.

This simple command-line tool helps you keep ahead of your virtual infrastructure.

A virtual appliance combines the benefits of virtualization with the simplicity of a single-service device. We show you how to roll your own virtual appliances with VWware Studio and SUSE Studio.

Rocks offers an easy solution for clustering with virtual machines.

Yes, you can do that with Linux… Even if you want to live in an open source world, it's still full of Windows. This month we study strategies for Windows integration.

Linux clients sometimes need a little help to connect to Windows VPN servers.

Likewise Open provides smooth integration with Active Directory environments. We show you how to install and configure the admin-friendly authentication system.

Xrdp helps your Windows terminal clients connect to Linux.