ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the systems management issues on management of distributed systems, with a particular focus on the cost issue. It provides a framework for understanding what the costs of systems management are in a netcentric or advanced client/server environment. The framework is applied to an outsourcing example to assess coverage of the environment by the vendors’ proposals and as a means to compare costs. The management of distributed environment framework is a comprehensive view of the distributed computing management picture. The framework focuses on four main areas: service management, systems management, service planning, and change management. The key to Service Management, and to the overall management of distributed client/server systems, is the use of a Service Level Agreement, which clearly articulates and documents the level of service the users expect to receive. Systems Management involves all functions required for the day-to-day operation of the distributed system, such as event monitoring, failure control, performance monitoring, and tape loading.
