Distributed multi-national network operation centres

Recent military operations have demonstrated the need to manage effectively IP-based networks within multi-national network operation centres (NOCs). These NOCs must have the ability to respond dynamically and consistently to exterior and interior conditions without the degree of manual intervention necessary today. A key enabling technology that facilitates realization of these capabilities is policy-based management. Australia, Canada, and the US have developed and demonstrated a symmetrical distributed multi-national NOC architecture that fully exploits this technology. The coalition network management system (CNMS) also possesses novel technology incorporated from each of the participating nations´ research programs. The national contributions provide revolutionary novel capabilities in the areas of military quality of service, bandwidth conservation on disadvantaged tactical links, and fine grain information flow control between national and coalition enclaves. At the end of 2003, the CNMS was showcased in a tri-nation demonstration that highlighted the novel capabilities of distributed multi-national network operations centres. The paper presents an overview of the system´s capabilities, the benefits obtained through the policy enabling the system, and some additional outcomes of the work.