Evolution, Not Revolution

One of the last things a CIO needs is to be told that the latest technology is an IT revolution. Delivering system-wide autonomic computing environments should never be considered in this context. The implementation of autonomic computing is an evolutionary process that requires planning and support with additional processes. The path to full autonomic computing should be carefully planned and implemented. The road map to autonomic computing is achieved through five levels.

  1. Basic level: This is the starting point for all IT environments. Each infrastructure element is managed independently by IT professionals who set it up, monitor it and eventually replace it.

  2. Managed level: Systems management technologies can be used to collect information from disparate systems into fewer consoles, reducing the time it takes for the administrator to collect and synthesize information as the IT environment becomes more complex.

  3. Predictive level: New technologies are introduced to provide correlation among several infrastructure elements. These elements can begin to recognize patterns, predict optimal configurations, and provide advice on what course of action the administrator should take.

  4. Adaptive level: As these technologies improve and people become more comfortable with the advice and predictive power of these systems, we can progress to the adaptive level, where the systems themselves can automatically take the right actions based on the information that is available to them and the knowledge of what is happening in the system.

  5. Autonomic level: The IT infrastructure operation is governed by business policies and objectives. Users interact with the autonomic technology to monitor the business processes, alter the objectives, or both.

Table 10.1 outlines the five levels of implementation.

Table 10.1. The Five Levels of Autonomic Computing Implementation (The purpose is to move from manual Level 1 to automatic Level 5.)
Basic Level 1Managed Level 2Predictive Level 3Adaptive Level 4Autnonomic Level 5
Multiple sources of system-generated dataConsolidation of data through management toolsSystem monitors, correlates, and recommends actionSystem monitors, correlates, and takes actionIntegrated components dynamically managed by business rules and policies
Requires extensive, highly skilled staffIT staff analyzes and takes actionsIT staff approves and initiates actionsIT staff manages performance against service-level agreementsIT staff focuses on enabling business needs
 Great system awarenessReduced dependency on deep skillsIT agility and resilience with minimal human interactionBusiness policy drives IT management
 Improved productivityFast and better decision making Busness agility and resiliency

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