NDF - Network Design Facility

NDF - Network Design Facility
FOREWORD
The purpose of the Link 16 network management is to
ensure that deployed forces can exploit the inherent
flexibility and capabilities of MIDS, gaining the maximum
operational benefit.
Successful operation of a Link 16 network requires that
the terminals of all participating JTIDS Units (JUs) are
provided with parameters which ensure a common
definition of network characteristics, including the
co-ordination of time slot usage and co-ordination
of crypto variable usage.
Network design is the process of specifying the
communication requirements in support of planned
tactical operations and translating those requirements into
the sets of terminal initialization data, which will be used
by network participants.
The process is completed when the network design is
distributed to all intended network participants. All these
operations can be accomplished by using one single tool:
the Network Design Facility (NDF).
This tool has been expressly created for operational users,
people who deal with operational requirements and do not
require extensive knowledge of Link-16. The user-friendly
GUI (Graphical User Interface), based on a Windows
system (it runs over a Windows XP PC), with
context-sensitive online help, and the completeness
of the tool itself (covering all the single steps to be
followed during network design) make the NDF
the most cost-effective tool to be used
in network design.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT PROCESS
The Network Management process includes Network
Design activity, as defined by ADatP-33, and is structured
as follows:
- Network Design;
- Pre-mission Planning;
- Network Initiation;
- Network Control;
- Cryptonet Management.
The NDF application covers the activities of Network
Design.
NETWORK DESIGN
The Network Design should be produced by a centralized
agency by means of a dedicated tool (such as the NDF).
The output of the Network Design process is a set of
Network Design files, contained in a Network Design
Library. The Network Design Library should be maintained
by the centralized agency and distributed to all Link-16
sites (typically C2 units).
When a mission has to be started, the Pre-mission
planning phase is executed by the commander in charge of
the operation. As part of Pre-mission Planning, the most
effective Network Design to satisfy the mission
operational requirements is selected from the Network
Design Library. The OPTASK Link message is then
prepared, containing information about the Network
Design to be used, the time of network implementation,
the units required to participate in the operation and the
crypto data to be loaded. Subsequently, the OPTASK Link
message is delivered to all Link-16 sites involved in the
operation.
The Network Design selected is loaded in the Link-16
platform using the appropriate platform IDPF
(Initialization Data Preparation Facility)
The IDPF will extract from the Network Design file the
data that is relevant to the units to be initialized at the air
base, in accordance with what is specified in the OPTASK
Link message. The IDPF will then produce the required
Initialization Data Set on a suitable media for the platform
to be initialized (cassette for the ADV , floppy disk for
EF2000, Code Loader for C-27J, etc.).
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
NDF is designed to perform the following activities, within
the Network Management environment as described
above:
- production and storage of Link 16 Network Designs;
- export of Network Design data in standard format files:
NETMAN D1 , NETMAN T1 (ver. 1 to 4) initialization
files, and JNL.
HELP SYSTEM
The NDF tool includes a context-sensitive
help system.
This features a contents list and pages describing
all windows and dialog boxes of the NDF.
The help system is context-sensitive,
providing help for the current state of the software.
NDF OUTLINE
The NDF application has the following main
characteristics:
1) Windows-based graphical Human Machine interface.
2) Built-in “Scenario Designer” Data Store containing
default Link 16 communication requirements for all
NATO Link 16 platforms.
3) Internal Network Design Data Store (INDD)
management system to maintain the Network Design
Library.
4) Built-in Link 16 characteristics Data Store (L16DB).
5) Capability to be updated to future Link 16 platforms.
6) Open software architecture to allow future upgrade to
new Link 16 functions.
7) Password-controlled access to the system functions
with three different user levels.
8) Capability to support both the production of new
Network Design and the modification of an existing
Network Design extracted from the Internal Network
Design Data Store. This capability can be exploited at
two interaction levels:
a. Operational Requirement: Graphical Interface to
define the operational scenario and the operational
network requirements. At this level, the operator
will not have to deal with time slot calculations
but with operational requirements only. The system
will have the capability to automatically produce
communication requirements starting from the
operational requirements;

. Communication Requirements: a Connectivity
Matrix Interface allows manual editing of the
connectivity matrix. At this level, the operator will
be enabled to have direct access to the
connectivity matrix and deal with technical Link 16
parameter definition.
9) Automatic Time Slot Block Allocation.
10) Network Design Validation.
11) File Management capability to manage internal
network design data store (INDD management).
12) File Management capability to manage external
network design files in the NATO standard formats.
a. NATO standard format file export;
b. NATO standard format file import;
c. NATO standard format file preview.
13) File Management capability to manage platform
initialization.
14) Printout production.
NDF ADVANCED FEATURES
The latest version (NDF3) contains the following advanced
features.
1) Import of a network design from the NETMAN format
for the purpose of further modifying the network
design, allowing for its presentation in the
connectivity matrix format, and for its deployment
over a geographical scenario.
2) Capability of defining, for every participant, the
reference Generic Platform in accordance with
NETMAN formats.
3) Support of output “JNL Flat” and “JNL Directory”
formats.
4) Conversion between different NETMAN formats (D1,
T1 rev1, T1 rev2, T1 rev3, T1 rev4) and from NETMAN
to JNL formats.
5) Multi-net management.
6) Options management.
7) Interactive Time Slot Maps.
8) Automatic export of the network design
documentation, such as Time Slot Maps, Connectivity
Matrix, Option Connectivity Matrix, Time Line, TSDF
Table, NPG Definition and Crypto Map, in Excel
format.
9) Production of a complete Network Design Catalogue in
MS Word format.
10) Control and display of network resources utilization in
terms of equivalent TSDF or pulse density,
distinguishing by participating unit and by NPG type.
11) Management of a standard 3D cartography (with
Digital Terrain Elevation Database data), with
detailing, positioning and zooming capabilities.
12) Computing and displaying the Line Of Sight (LOSvisibility)
of a user-selected platform/position with
respect to any other platform/position in the scenario,
taking into account the terrain profile.
13) Computing and displaying the Visible Horizon from a
user-selected platform/position.
14) Support of VMAP/DTED maps and many other map
formats.
15) Fully customizable platform icons.
NETWORK DESIGN EXCHANGE
National Platforms could be required to participate in
Link 16 networks in conjunction with platforms from other
nations. These networks could have been designed by the
NDF of another nation. In this case, the resulting Network
Design should be distributed to the NDFs of the other
participating nations.
A recipient nation's NDF should then generate the
Network Design on a suitable media for its own platforms.
To enable national platforms to participate in Link 16
networks designed by other nations, the NDF accepts such
designs via electronic data files.
The NDF extracts data from the Network Design and
generates Network Dependent Parameter files for other
platforms. The Network Dependent Parameter files will be
also recorded on suitable output media. The interface
for the receipt of Network Designs from NDFs of other
nations is the NATO standard as defined by NETMAN
Interface Control Definition for the Exchange
of MIDS/JTIDS Network Design Data.
NDF INTERF ACES
The NDF is capable of supporting graphical HMI for the
purpose of operator data input and output.
The HMI is based on a window system and supports online
help. The HMI supports data input both at operational
requirement level and at communication requirement level
in order to allow both operating and technical staff to
have easy access to Link 16 network design. The NDF is
capable of interfacing the NATO standard and JTIDS
Network Library (JNL). The NDF is capable of producing
the following types of printout: Connectivity Matrix
Printout; Options Connectivity Matrix Printout Scenario
Printout; Network Design Data Printout; Time Line
printout; Time Slot Maps printout and many others.

PASSWORD AND OPERATING MODES
The NDF is capable of operating in three operating modes:
Network Planner, Network Designer, and Network Master.
Each operating mode gives access to a different technical
level of network design permissions. Access to each of
the operating modes is enabled by a dedicated password.
Means are provided to the operator to modify each of the
passwords. In the Network Planner operating mode it is
only possible to have Network Design pre-view and data
export/printout. This function will help the operator in the
pre-mission planning phase to select the Network Design
that best fits the mission needs. In Network Designer
operating mode all system functions are enabled with
some exceptions (e.g. Connectivity Matrix editor
capability). In Network Master operating mode all system
functions, Connectivity Matrix Editor included, are
enabled.
Minimal Hardware Requirements:
• PC Pentium 4, 3GHz
• RAM 4GB
• DVD-RW recorder
• 500 GB HDD
• 19" LCD monitor (4:3)
• Graphics board with at least 1 GB memory.
Software Requirements:
• The Operating System is Windows XP
• MS Word and MS Excel are needed
for the exporting functions.
For more information please email infomarketing@selex-es.com
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