A Government Reference Architecture Test Bed Using a Virtual Private Network

The Government Reference Architecture (GRA) is a reference architecture for modularized communications terminals. To date, the definitions in this reference architecture have centered upon the control plane and the data plane for software defined radios. This paper details the ongoing effort to mature the reference architecture components needed for basic operation and development of a methodology for rapidly validating the interfaces with remotely distributed technology partners and consortia members. Three GRA modules will be validated - the common Terminal Control Module, COTS Modem Adapter Module, and the Terrestrial Interface Module. Contractors will develop a set of command sequences and functions required for all the radios so that the single terminal controller can control all radios via the OMR GR VPN (Virtual Private Network). The goal of the OMR (Open Modular Radio) GRA VPN is to enable layer 2 connectivity among various geographical locations to support a distributed GRA virtual terminal test bed. Two simple but fundamental use cases are demonstrated and performance and lessons learned from the distributed test bed environment are described. Future, more complex use cases are planned by extending the Control Plane VLAN switching to Data Plane VLAN switching.