The Details
USENIX set out—over 14 years ago—to create a special technical group for system administrators. USENIX continues to want to serve sysadmins. The current system, however, does not seem to be working. Although the costs are down (SAGE almost breaks even), progress is slow.

The challenge is, then, how do we continue to serve sysadmins while changing the environment to a successful one? USENIX wishes to continue the services to system administrators that they deliver well, including the LISA conference, ;login: magazine (which includes much sysadmin content), the salary survey, SAGE booklets, and the sage-members mailing list. However, building a much larger, member-driven SAGE would require a significant restructuring of USENIX's business processes and probably needs to be done within a wholly different organizational structure from that of USENIX and its STG model.

Therefore, it was resolved by the USENIX Board of Directors that the STG framework for SAGE governance be dissolved effective June 30, 2004. USENIX will continue to send renewal notices to and collect dues from SAGE members and will continue to run the LISA conference, provide system administration content in ;login:, and provide SAGE-related services including the salary survey, SAGE booklets, and the sage-members mailing list. The existing SAGE Executive Committee will serve out their terms, but no elections will be held to instate a new executive committee. During this wind-down phase of the SAGE Exec, their primary role will be to determine whether to pursue option (2) below and, if so, to initiate appropriate actions. During this time SAGE will be governed by a subcommittee of the USENIX Board composed of Geoff Halprin, Jon Hall, and Mike Jones, along with SAGE member David Parter and possibly another member of the SAGE community.

Option (1): USENIX continues to offer a SAGE membership and to provide the system administration program as an essential part of USENIX activities. Existing programs and services are folded back into USENIX, to be governed by a subcommittee of the USENIX Board. This option will start upon the dissolution of the STG framework and will be continued for the indefinite future or until programs and services are transferred to a new organization set up under option (2).

Option (2): Separate SAGE from USENIX and allow it to go its own way under the SAGE name. A detailed memorandum of understanding was passed, containing specific milestones that are go/no-go decision points. These milestones will be further refined when and if a separate SAGE organization comes into existence.

Whichever path SAGE chooses, USENIX remains committed to its members who are system administrators and looks forward to serving their needs in the future, independently and, if SAGE becomes a separate organization, in collaboration with that organization.