Patent attributes
An automation system is provided to automate any administrative task in a distributed database, such that the end user can input a goal state (e.g., create database with a five node architecture) and the automation system generates and executes a plan to achieve the goal state without further user input. According to another aspect, bringing existing database systems into automated management can be as complex as designing the database itself. According to some embodiments, the automation system is configured to analyze existing database systems, capture and/or install monitoring components within the existing database, and generate execution pathways to integrate existing database systems into automation control systems. Based on the current state information, the automation system is configured to generate an installation pathway of one or more intermediate states to transition the existing system from no automation to a goal state having active automation agents distributed throughout the database.