System management tools for unix systems?

[Simon van Veen]

Hai,

I am currently investigating the tasks of unix system managers.
The goal of this investigation is: can ``Artificial Intelligence''
be of any help in system management.

With system management I mean: management of system information,
management of datacommunication, management of disks, files, tapes,
printers, processes, users, security etc, etc.

One of things that strikes me is that the system managers do not use
proper tools for system management.
Actually they make their own small tools for certain tasks.

What I would like to know is:
- Do tools exist? and if they do, what is their functionality?
- Does anyone have other solutions to the management problem?
- Is it possible to use ``Artificial Intelligence'' techniques for
  management of unix systems? and how?

Please e-mail your responses to me, thanks,
						Simon

--

  ________  Simon J. van Veen
  \      /  PTT Research Neher Laboratories
  /\    /   P.O. box 421