Establishing TSAT-DISN Peering via the TGBE

The effort described here is a result of the joint venture between MILSATCOM Systems Wing (MCSW) and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to demonstrate end to end integration between Transformational Satellite (TSAT) and Defense Information Systems Network(DISN). This paper represents analysis preliminary to the development and execution of technical assessments related to TSAT/DISN peering. The TSAT Global Information Grid (GIG) Border Element (TGBE) is the main gateway between the TSAT and DISN for both circuit and packet traffic. The TSAT network provides satellite communications as part of a global, integrated communications network that enables communications for mobile terrestrial or airborne warfighters. The DISN provides voice, video, transport and IP services with a high-capacity terrestrial network consisting ofrouters and optical switches. The paper will first describe relevant aspects of the TSAT and DISN Architectures in Sections II and III respectively. Then in Section IV, we will describe the TGBE and its role in interconnecting the TSAT Network and the DISN Transport and IP Networks. The paper focuses on establishing a peering relationship between the TGBE and corresponding DISN elements. Key aspects of this peering point will be discussed covering areas such as circuit services, SONET synchronization, routing, QoS, traffic engineering, service level agreements, information assurance, network timing and application layer adaptation.