An autonomic computing roadmap
In a nutshell, administrators spend too much time doing repetitive tasks that the system should be able to do for itself. For example, when Michelle in accounting installs a new bookkeeping client, she shouldn't have to learn about operating systems, run time environments, and how to check how much drive space and RAM she has before she can get it installed. The installer should be able to check for her and, preferably, resolve any problems before continuing.
Additionally, if a database's log file is about to fill up its drive, the system should be able to provision a new one without the administrator having to keep an eye on it and doing it manually. When an international consortium of hackers targets your server for attack, it should be able to defend itself without completely shutting down.
The autonomic computing field is still in its infancy, of course, but in many of these cases, the tools are out there, ready for you to use to make your applications more autonomic. This article discusses what you can use today to make your applications and systems more self-sufficient.
