Utility computing
A system in which networked resources, including PCs, servers and software, will take care of themselves - handle configuration, identify and fix ailments, allocate and optimize resources, and protect themselves from harm. The theory is that the more components can manage themselves, the less the burden that falls on IT staff.
The term "autonomic" comes from the autonomic nervous system found in mammals and other higher order creatures - it refers to things like the heart beating and the function of the sweat glands - in other words, to those necessary body functions that we don't have to think about in order to perform.
Some examples of vendor-driven autonomic systems include IBM's eLiza (now formally known as the IBM Autonomic Computing Initiative), Sun's N1 and Hewlett-Packard's Utility Data Center.
Additional Resources
Autonomic computing, Part 1
Discusses the theory in more detail. Network World on Storage, 10/02/02.
Autonomic computing, Part 2
Offers an overview of work in the field. Network World on Storage, 10/09/02.
Autonomic Computing
IBM Research's overview of the field.
IBM improves autonomic efforts
Also includes looks at efforts by Sun and user comments on the idea. Network World, 10/28/02.
Autonomic Computing
Programs crash, people make mistakes, networks grow and change. That's life, and computer scientists are finally building systems that can deal with it. Scientific American, 05/06/02.
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