Autonomic

A monitor-analyze-plan-execute (MAPE) computer system capable of sensing environments, interpreting policy, accessing knowledge (data --- information --- knowledge), making decisions, and initiating dynamically assembled routines of choreographed activity to both complete a process and update the set of environmental variables that enables the autonomic system to self-manage its own operation and the processes it oversees. An autonomic system is identified by eight characteristics: a) Knows the resources to which it has access, what its capabilities and limitations are, and how and why it is connected to other systems. b) Is able to configure and reconfigure itself depending on the changing computing environment. c) Is able to optimize its performance to ensure the most efficient computing process. d) Is able to work around encountered problems either by repairing itself or routing functions away from the trouble. e) Is able to detect, identify, and protect itself against various types of attacks to maintain overall system security and integrity. f) Is able to adapt to its environment as it changes by interacting with neighboring systems and establishing communication protocols. g) Relies on open standards and requires access to proprietary environments to achieve full performance. h) Is able to anticipate the demand on its resources transparently to users.