0
Remember Maslow's hierarchy of needs from school? The theory asserts that every human shares the same set of basic physical and psychological needs in order to be happy, with more primal needs like food and shelter taking precedence over emotional needs like love and companionship.

A while back, I was pondering what would be necessary to fully automate a network, and it occurred to me that a very similar hierarchy of needs can be laid out for a computer network to achieve its optimal state.
1. A Functioning Network
At the very bottom of the hierarchy is everything a network requires to function: Routers, switches, cabling, power, and so on, just as tier one of Maslow's hierarchy encompasses everything a human needs to stay alive. At this stage, a network can function, and can even function well, but it cannot adapt or grow.
Many small businesses operate their networks at this stage for years with no major problems. After all, when left alone, computers and networks tend to just keep chugging along. And if your entire network comprises a cable modem, a switch, and a few access points, it's entirely possible that it will run for years without needing Continue reading