TITAN: Integrated network management in tactical mobile ad hoc networks

Network management represents one of the most challenging activities in tactical mobile ad hoc networks due to the need for rapid planning and configuration to support a given mission, in the face of large variability in wireless network performance and unpredictable conditions. Traditionally, independent tools, such as network planning and configuration, fault and performance management, and middleware have been designed to provide comprehensive network management capabilities. However, the lack of any integration between these tools often results in sub-optimal or conflicting network actions, conducting to inadequate network performance. More importantly, state of the art network management tools do not incorporate the mission intent into autonomous network management activities. This paper describes the TITAN (Tactical Information Technologies for Assured Networks) NM (Network Manager), an integrated network management tool that orchestrates and coordinates its actions such that network planning, configuration, fault response and performance adaptation take place seamlessly and coherently, on the basis of the mission intent. This ensures optimized network operations that achieve the intent of the mission. We present performance evaluation results for the TITAN NM in field experiments performed during C4ISR 2011 On-The-Move exercises at Fort Dix, NJ.