NDF - Network Design Facility

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;