A Retrospective on Twelve Years of LISA

Authors: Eric Anderson eanders@cs.berkeley.edu and Dave Patterson patterson@cs.berkeley.edu

Abstract: We examine two models for categorizing tasks performed by system administrators. The first model is the traditional task based model. The second model breaks tasks down by the source of the problem. We then look at the historical trends of the last 12 years of LISA proceedings based on these models. Finally, we analyze some of the more important tasks done by system administrators and propose future research in those areas. Our hope is that some of the academic rigor in analyzing research can be brought to systems administration without losing the practicality that makes the research valuable.

Things available:

• SQL for creating the database (29Aug99 version)
• Postscript for the paper
• Perl program for doing automatic bibliography generation based on the database
• Perl program for calculating the hierarchy of tasks as shown in the paper
• Perl program for generating the graphs shown in the paper

• 9Nov99: Finally put all the information up. The database is the one used in the paper. The paper itself has a minor typo changed, the Configuration Management and User Management categories became just Management.