Remote IP SATCOM monitoring and management

Abstract

Over the last few years, several IP satellite communication (SATCOM) systems, including: digital video broadcasting-return channel via satellite (DVB-RCS), iDirect, linkway, and joint network node (JNN) have become crucial in supporting the warfigtherspsila missions in the global war on terror (GWOT). However, the use of similar but disparate SATCOM technologies by various services and organizations has prevented a unified remote monitoring and management capability from being developed, thus requiring unnecessary duplication supporting the various systems. This has also inherently impacted effective communications between the various satellite networks, therefore reducing ability of the networks to quickly adapt to the warfighterspsila mission needs. The advantage of using an out of band network for remote OAM&P of disparate military IP SATCOM networks is the ability to have a unified, network- agnostic remote monitoring and management capability in support. This capability will provide end-to-end situational awareness, positive network control, metrics gathering and net-centric operations to a centralized remote facility, such as a Theater Network Operations Center (TNC) The means for providing transport of management traffic in support of a unified remote management capability is possible using the DISN Data Communication Network DCN that is already in place. Providing a unified remote management system benefits the warfighter by providing a single access interface for remotely monitoring and positively controlling the various networks from the TNC's, Global Network Operations Center (GNC) and Joint Task Force - Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO). Additionally, leveraging an out of band management transport network, such as the DCN, benefits missions planners by providing availability status and situational awareness of the satellite network's components, aiding in the planning and execution stages of the warfighter's beyond line of site missions, system performance metrics, trending statistics, and network availability at any location in the world with DCN access.