HandsFree Networks - Managed Service Infrastructure Provider

In this comparison, you will see that ReSOFT can be used to transform not only the more complex server level computers into autonomic computing systems but also, and especially, the myriad of edge devices, including desktops and mobile systems. Because of their volume and ever increasing complexity, the latter are the ones that threaten to overwhelm IT staffs.

Now, let's see to which extent ReSOFT technology today satisfies the autonomic computing system as defined by IBM.

1. To be autonomic, a computing system needs to "know itself"

Even at this early stage in its development, ReSOFT tracks the detailed hardware and software configuration of any system it runs on, and its resources. What's more important, ReSOFT also tracks and reports any and all changes that occur. This is not enough for truly autonomic computing. ReSOFT, with its powerful task automation technology, makes it possible to quickly automate any task that lets systems share knowledge about their configurations and resources enabling the sharing of resources where appropriate.

2. An autonomic computing system must configure and reconfigure itself under varying unpredictable conditions

Dynamic system reconfiguration in response to a changing environment is a highly complex activity, particularly when it involves multiple systems. Automated printer installation and removal is an example of how ReSOFT makes it possible for systems to configure and reconfigure themselves with minimal human intervention. Other examples of the implementation of this autonomic computing capability being planned or being implemented include:

• Automated user set up and migration
• Automated application or system configuration changes

3. An autonomic computing system never settles for the status quo - it always looks for ways to optimize itself

At this point, none of the ReSOFT DARTs (automated problem resolutions and management procedures) delivers this kind of capability when interpreted in the narrowest sense of the word. However, the foundation for the development of system optimization DART is already present in ReSOFT, namely:

• Real-time event driven mechanisms that make it possible for a system to monitor itself
• The capability to develop a DART that takes real-time action in response to the feedback received from the event driven monitoring mechanisms

When optimization is viewed from a broader perspective, ReSOFT already includes a DART that helps optimize system performance in a number of ways, including:

• Problem detection and resolution, and
• System maintenance

4. An autonomic computing system must perform something akin to healing

Real-time problem detection, diagnosis, and resolution WITHOUT end-user intervention is one of ReSOFT's core strengths and fundamental capabilities. With ReSOFT, the resolution of any known software related problem can be automated. Initial examples of this capability include:

• Connectivity problem resolutions covering all TCP/IP connectivity problems
• Time and date problem resolution
• Automated user lockout problem resolution

5. An autonomic computing system must be an expert in self-protection

Real-time event detection, flexibility, and the ability to quickly adapt to a changing environment are particularly important for effective self-protection. With ReSOFT it's easy to quickly build mechanisms to protect systems against specific types of intrusion and provide more general-purpose protection functions. ReSOFT already includes a number of such automated procedures, including:

• Start-up environment control that prevents the unwanted addition of executables to run at system start-up
• E-mail attachment and file download filtering that cover all e-mail and download sources on a system-by-system basis
• Program execution control that prevents the running of specific executables or classes of executables on any one system or group of systems on a network

6. Autonomic computing system knows its environment and context surrounding its activity, and acts accordingly

ReSOFT detects all activity that takes place on systems where it is installed. When necessary, knowledge about events is shared among systems. ReSOFT also monitors computing resources where it is not installed. This fine-grained event detection and information-gathering capability combined with the powerful ReSOFT task automation technology, enables the quick implementation of procedures that let a system adapt to the changing environment it operates in.

With the ReSOFT information gathering, event detection, and task automation capabilities in place, all IT staff has to do is identify the actions that should be taken based on the changing context systems operate in. ReSOFT will automate them.

7. By Definition, an autonomic computing system cannot be a proprietary solution

ReSOFT does not use any proprietary tools or environments for the implementation or running of any of its components. DART and the development environment necessary for their development are freely available.

8. An autonomic computing system will anticipate the optimized resources needed while hiding its complexity

One of ReSOFT's original goals was to hide system complexity and insulate users from system support and management processes. Today, all ReSOFT activities are completely transparent to the end-user, and have minimal impact on system performance.

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