Underwater Clouds: Utilizing Private Cloud Architecture Aboard U.S. Submarines

Abstract

The Consolidated Afloat Network and Enterprise Systems (CANES) program was tasked with replacing computer networks afloat, to both improve productivity and functionality of the fleet's Information Technology infrastructure. The program, in its first iteration, fails to include half the ships currently in service and is limited to a small number of specific platforms. Upgrading the existing software on the current platforms may pose a useful resolution to this issue. The computer networks on board submarines provide a good opportunity to explore how cloud computing could benefit older platforms. This thesis presents a proof of concept for the use of a Private Cloud architecture on board U.S. submarines and how improving computer networks may be possible by leveraging the currently installed hardware without requiring a complete system reconfiguration. We use the "Ubuntu Server Private Cloud" as a basic example to illustrate and explore potential benefits and limitations of the Platform as a Service (PAAS) model. The revised system is examined in terms of its application aboard a submarine and explores how it compares to previous network architectures, such as the Client/Server model. The Ubuntu model was chosen for its usability and robust features and because it is open source and free.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA562917

Entities

People

  • Christopher D. Brooks

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Attack Submarines
  • Cloud Computing
  • Computer Network Security
  • Computer Networks
  • Computers
  • Computing System Architectures
  • Data Storage Systems
  • Information Systems
  • Local Area Networks
  • Navy
  • Network Architecture
  • Network Protocols
  • Operating Systems
  • Personal Computers
  • Submarines
  • Word Processors

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.