A TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)/IP (Internet Protocol) Gateway Interconnecting AX.25 Packet Radio Networks to the Defense Data Network
Abstract
The packet radio, in recent years has been gaining popularity as a transmission medium for digital traffic. It provides its user with the capability of accessing computer resources while in a mobile configuration or in a remote location where access to cable based computer networks are either unreliable or non existent. As with any communications network, communications protocols must be in place to manage the transmission of data. Currently, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) are used in the cable-based network, Department of Defense network (DDN). With the capability that the packet radio provides, this effort's objective was to implement the TCP/IP protocols within a packet radio network and build a gateway through the Air Force Institute of Technology Network (AFIT-NET) to the DDN. Research for the project revealed that the software package, The KA9Q Internet Software Package, had already implemented TCP/IP and associated protocols such as Telnet and FTP for the packet radio. Unfortunately, when using the Telnet protocol within this package to communicate with a mainframe computer, passwords are transmitted in the clear. Any station monitoring the frequency can acquire a user's password to a particular mainframe. In order to protect the integrity of a user's computer resources, a method of a passwordless login is necessary. This effort undertook implementing the Data Encryption Standard (DES) within the KA9Q software, such that, encrypted strings are used to validate users. Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA202733
Entities
People
- Tito N. Lebano
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology