What if your computer could manage itself? Well, the development of autonomic computing or self-managing systems makes that possible. A concept pioneered by IBM, autonomic computing aims to overcome the growing complexity in the world of computers, leading some experts to dub it the ‘next era of computing’.

Considering that rarely a day passes without some technological innovation popping up, most of us have got used to coping with their intricacies and complexities. Therefore, it may surprise many people that an IT giant like IBM is scared of ‘complexity.’ Interestingly, that is precisely what IBM says is the next big problem that will hamper progress in IT businesses and prevent us from moving into the next era of computing. To counter this, IBM has put forth the concept of autonomic computing. However, despite its inception way back in 2001, there remain a number of unanswered questions and unexplored issues surrounding this concept.

Complexity -- the key challenge

Business and computing today work together and ideally thrive with each other’s support. But while both have become more complex, it is computing whose increasing complexity has been identified as a barrier toin the progress of businesses. This complexity is a consequence of the phenomenal

growth of computing power, along with the availability of all sorts of computer devices in the past few years. Large-scale computing networks and various distributed applications linked to them (for communication and computation) like , and the PDAs, cellular phones, laptops and other wireless communication devices pervading them, have turned into full-blown mammoths. The Internet has only fuelled this complexity by providing newer accessibility routesmethods to information, thereby leading to a higher more demand fors of sophisticated systems. The management and maintenance of such systems has become a major issue in itself. The problem becomes more intangible as more intricate interconnections between computing structures continue to be made and newer technologies keep getting integrated to support such a diverse environment.

IBM fears that this complexity may become so enormous that general management and maintenance may become difficult for not only complex, but also simple computing systems. And at some point, it might be beyond human ability to grasp and provide solutions tofor manageing and protecting systems. With so much information, and business investments and reputations at stake, failure due to non-management of complex issues would beis simply unacceptable. A solution is therefore needed.

Enter autonomic computing, exit complications

One solution to manage systems, however complex in nature, would be simply to just rope in more expert manpower. But shortage in manpower is itself a major problem facing most nations. Not only is the demand for skilled IT workers going to exceed supply in the coming years, human ability may not be able to cope with growing complexities. Besides, engagement of human resources to solve issues is a costly affair. Also, a tTypical end users are is not interested in the running of computers or taking care of theirits problems. Ideally, theyhe or she would like to just do theirhis or work on the system, and let the computing system take care of itself ‘automatically’. It is exactly with this view that IBM embarked on an ambitious project to provide a solution via autonomic computing in 2001.

What is autonomic computing? Perhaps, the best explanation is that ‘it is the ability of systems to be more self-managing’. According tos per Alan Ganek, VP autonomic computing, IBM (http://autonomiccomputing.org/home.html), “The term autonomic comes from the autonomic nervous system, which controls many organs and muscles in the human body. Usually, we are unaware of its workings because it functions in an involuntary, reflexive manner – for example, we don't notice when our heart beats faster or our blood vessels change size in response to temperature, posture, food intake, stressful experiences and other changes to which we're exposed. And, by the way, our autonomic nervous system is always working.”