Autonomic Computing

Software Agents

In this last example in this chapter, we need to review and understand the significance of software agents in an autonomic environment. This technology is one of the key and core technologies that drive true autonomic functionality.

Software agents—or, to use a standard industry term, agents—can be defined as autonomous, problem-solving computational entities capable of effective operation in dynamic and open environments. Agents are often deployed in environments in which they interact, and maybe cooperate, with other agents (including both people and software) that have possibly conflicting aims. Such environments are known as multiagent systems. Agents can be distinguished from objects (in the sense of object-oriented software) ...