Conference 44.370::system_management

27.0. "ADG systems management" by RDGE28::TLINDE (Everything became softly amorphous, as if ...) Tue Aug 26 1986 12:54

I'm in  the process of putting together a proposal to the ADGT on how
best to organise systems management for the group.  I don't think the
smf can continue in its present form (one system manager per machine)
with the move to clusters  and future allocation of systems resources
to people/projects on an as-needed basis.

The ADG system manager will be the central contact for all of ADG for
any matter relating to ADG systems  resources.    However,  she  will
require people to whom she can delegate  routine  tasks  during  peak
times and who can act in her absence.    We  also need to ensure that
the  needs of the different groups are taken into  account  when  she
does her planning, etc. 

At  the moment, I'm thinking along the lines of a systems  management
support  team  (smst), with one person nominated per group (Euro Dev,
UK Dev, Euro  Support).  The groups' consultants would be included in
the smst for h/w  strategy  planning,  etc.   The group reps would be
trained in routine systems management tasks and other areas necessary
to the job.

The group reps should be prepared to give a long term  commitment  to
their smst duties, and will probably need to spend up to 20% of their
time on systems  management activities.  They should also be prepared
for some restrictions, such  as are necessary to ensure that at least
one (and preferably two) system managers are around at any time, etc.

I also thought it might  pay to get each of the reps to specialise in
a given area - say large  VAXen  and clusters, MicroVAXen, and Office
environment - but this has its drawbacks (larger loss of expertise if
one person is out or leaves).

Anyway, what do you think of the smst  idea.   I'd like comments (for
and against), and any questions around areas I might have forgotten.

Thanks,

Tony.

    The CSC in Viables are in a similar situation to us. Have you found
    out how they have solved the sys mgmt problem and if it works or
    not?
    
    Ian

re:- < Note 27.1 by RDGE28::HAYES "Ian Hayes, ext. 4992" >

>    The CSC in Viables are in a similar situation to us. Have you found
>    out how they have solved the sys mgmt problem and if it works or
>    not?
    
You should  know  I  wouldn't  do  any  more  work  than is absolutely
necessary.  I'll  be  talking  to  CSC, Engineering and SWAS about how
they get hold of  various  services  (including system management) and
will learn from their experience. 

Long term, I expect IS Resources  (and  some analagous planning group)
to take over a large part of the system management function, but until
someone else can provide the level of quality  and  responsiveness  of
service that is expected of our system manager(s), we'll  be doing the
job ourselves.


Tony.

PS - Ian, I don't have a contact in CSC;  do you know who is in charge
of service delivery (or just system management) there?

    System manglement at Viables is now done by the operations group,
    under the leadership of Mike Baldock - he is probably best to talk to
    regards real operational stuff. He has Rod Peploe, Pete Alvis and Chris
    Berry and a few others looking after the systems... 
    
    steve
         

    A good contact is Ian Smith - used to work for Jim Stephens in UK
    local development.