Network-Centric Computing: A New Paradigm for the Military
Abstract
This paper discusses technology known as ultra-thin clients (UTCs) and how to make information delivery more reliable and less expensive through the use of "display appliances" using a network-centric computing (NCC) architecture. The NCC approach is targeted to making information delivery simple and inexpensive. It is not a Windows-only or a UNIX-only approach, nor is it a Web browser approach that proposes to replace the inventory of existing legacy commercial off-the-shelf and government off-the-shelf applications with Web applications. The delivery of a wide variety of applications to the user is accomplished by using the network to allow servers to run applications for multiple users. Runtime environment requirements are thus confined to the servers and not propagated to all clients. Clients need only be able to accept redirected screen displays for the applications. The main points are: Servers are categorized as either generic network servers or specific application hosting servers; Both categories of servers rely on the concept of being scalable and taking advantage of technology to service many users; Clients are thin or ultra thin, relying on no application-specific code; and Clients are not dependent on any specific operating system or hardware design. The NCC architecture has been implemented onboard USS Coronado's (AGF 11) Sea Based Battle Lab (SBBL) and has demonstrated the ease and flexibility with which it can be integrated into the existing Information Technology for the 21st Century (IT-21) Integrated Shipboard Network System (ISNS) local area network (LAN).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA434186
Entities
People
- Lawrence J. Brachfeld
Organizations
- Naval Information Warfare Systems Command