Architecture Selection for Deployable Local Area Networks

Abstract

The United States Air Force's Headquarters Tactical Air Command (TAC) Communications-Computers staff provides guidance to TAC functional users on the procurement and use of Local Area Networks (LANs) in a deployed environment. Deployable systems may be defined as those systems designed to be transported away from their normal base for semi-fixed or mobile tactical missions. Major deployed LAN concerns include issues related to transmission media, protocols, topology, and transportability/survivability. The objectives of this thesis are to: (1) review the basics of LAN technology, (2) identify unique requirements of deployed LANs, (3) make recommendations for the proper selection of deployable LAN architectures. This thesis presents many of the complex and interrelated technical factors of LANs such as media, topology, and protocols. Selecting the proper LAN architecture cannot be done by using a simple algorithm. Many factors must be evaluated, as a whole, by an expert in the technology. There is no single answer to all military deployed LAN requirements; however, some general recommendations can be made. The most important recommendation made is to rely on a LAN expert design through fielding of a deployable LAN. (rrh)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA225776

Entities

People

  • Bradley K. Ashley
  • David P. Hunninghake

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Application Software
  • Communication Channels
  • Communication Systems
  • Computer Communications
  • Computer Network Security
  • Computer Networks
  • Data Links
  • Data Transmission
  • Digital Communications
  • Local Area Networks
  • Multiple Access
  • Network Architecture
  • Network Science
  • Network Topology
  • Video Teleconferencing
  • Voice Communications

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Systems Analysis and Design