ABSTRACT

This chapter introduces a framework that can be applied to structure and organize the complexities of operations in distributed environments. Distributed computing technologies and architectures, both client/server and netcentric, can provide a wealth of new capabilities and advantages for those enterprises that adopt them. Most frameworks for managing distributed environments address only portions of the overall management effort, not the entire management picture. It is often easy to lose sight of how well an organization is or is not doing in managing its distributed environment. Rollout planning handles the greatest period of change in distributed system’s management: system rollout and installation. Systems management involves all of the activities and procedures required to keep a distributed system up and running on a day-to-day basis. Network computers are an example of diskless workstations. Capacity planning in the distributed client/server environment is notoriously difficult.