Autonomic management

History

The term autonomic, like the term autonomous, comes from robotics and human related sciences.

Definition

• Autonomic management: Acting involuntary (on reflex) according to some predefined policies in order to keep the system up and running within its limits.
• Autonomic (in general): (a) acting or occurring involuntarily (reflexes) and (b) relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system or its effects or activity (http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomic).

Characteristics

• Autonomic management is sometimes used to refer to the set of management activities that take place in Autonomic Networks or Autonomic Systems.
• It also sometimes refers to all algorithms that automate management and/or control functions of traditional networks in such a way that they become more autonomic

Relation to Autonomous management

Compared to autonomous networks, autonomic networks are less intelligent and require a management interface.

• autonomous: (a) having the right of power of self-government; (b) responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole (http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonmous).