A concept for tactical wide-area network hub management

Abstract

Tactical wide-area network (WAN) management is concerned with the facilities to monitor and control the resources that provide high-quality tactical area communications services. Narrowly focused approaches have resulted in fielding of network control facilities (NCFs) dedicated to the individual management of a single family of tactical devices. These piecemeal approaches are now being recognized as architecturally inadequate solutions for the future integrated services tactical WAN. This paper describes an application of commercially developed network management techniques to the specific case of the tactical WAN. In particular, a concept is presented for a scalable super-agent, positioned at tactical WAN backbone hubs, called the Equipment Management Tool (EMT). It is a general approach, applicable to both existing and emerging tactical communications equipment. The purpose of the EMT is to provide an efficient, unified means of management access to hub resources.<>