I've created a Network-Automation mailing list for discussions of issues related to automating network configuration and management, including (but not limited to) methods, mechanisms, techniques, philosophies, policies, and products. Since 1990 or so, much of the research in the system administration field has focused on automation. It's now well accepted that a well-run operation doesn't manage 10,000 servers individually, but rather uses tools like cfengine to manage definitions of those servers and then create instances of those servers as needed. In the networking world, though, most of us seem to be still manually configuring (and reconfiguring) every device. That's starting to change, though, and I've created the Network-Automation mailing list as a forum to help advance that change. See the list's web page for more information, to view archives, or to subscribe: http://www.greatcircle.com/network-automation I look forward to some interesting discussions there, and I hope you'll join us! -Brent -- Brent Chapman <brent@greatcircle.com> -- Great Circle Associates, Inc. Specializing in network infrastructure for Silicon Valley since 1989 For info about us and our services, please see http://www.greatcircle.com/ Network Automation blog: http://www.greatcircle.com/blog/network_automation