HNMP: remote control and management protocol for HF radio networks

Steady increases in the sophistication of automated high-frequency radio (HF) equipment have led to a resurgence in the popularity of the HF medium for challenging communication applications. This is resulting in complex HF networks, with equipment often placed at remote sites. This, along with programs to consolidate high-power HF assets among the military services, indicates the need for a standardized protocol for remotely controlling HF stations and for remotely diagnosing problems in HF networks. Unlike the higher-speed LAN and WAN technologies most commonly associated with the idea of a global information infrastructure, HF radio suffers from low bandwidth and rapidly fluctuating connectivity. The hostility of the medium presents clear challenges to the development of a mechanism for reliably monitoring and controlling distant stations. A protocol is described that addresses these challenges, while maintaining compatibility with the standard Internet network management protocol SNMP. This HF network management protocol (HNMP) was standardized in MIL-STD-187-721C. Following a description of the needs, the HF medium, and the protocol, an analysis is presented of the efficiency and performance of the protocol