[net.unix-wizards] Managing multiple UNIX systems

kramer@ames-nas.arpa (05/13/86)

I am looking of information about automated system management for a large
number of heterogeneous UNIX systems.  I am including in system management such
things as operator control and interface to different systems, system 
performance and usage monitoring, network performance monitoring, 
system and network configuration modification in response to changes 
in the environment, handling operator requests, and other tasks.  We need to 
put together a system which will automate as much of this as possible, 
hopefully with an Expert System or AI approach.  The processors range for 
PCs to Silicon Graphics IRIS to Amdahls to a Cray-2. The flavors of 
Unix range from VAX 4.2bsd to UTS System V.  The networks are TCP/IP based
LANs and WANs (wide area nets).  Of course, all these components will be
changing with time, so the system has to be flexible.

There are some hardware/operating system specific AI systems which do some of
this work, documented in IBM journals.  There are also some custom systems
which have been developed, for example at Los Alamos, but I do not
know of a system which is designed for UNIX machines or which is a
comprehensive AI approach. Can anyone give pointers to existing
studies, work, systems or products which would satisfy some of our 
needs?  Thanks a lot.
						Bill Kramer
						kramer@ames-nas.arpa