Joint Mobile Network Operations: Routing Design and Quality of Service Configuration

Current inter-Service military networking is inefficient and lacks the desired level of Joint interoperability. Generally, the different Service branches build stove-piped networks that do not allow sharing of resources with the other branches. This approach is taken because the individual networks do not see the benefits of interconnectivity as worth the effort required to build secure, stable, and operationally effective network solutions. The Joint Mobile Network Operations (JMNO) project seeks standard solutions to the networking challenges of tactical military units. Through the publication of these standards, the intent is to reduce the complexity of finding networking solutions. This, in turn, reduces the perceived cost of inter-Service networking, making it more attractive to military units. This thesis provides some specific solutions that can be included in the JMNO standards. It examines network routing and provides recommendations for protocol selection and configuration. It also recommends implementing certain Quality of Service (QoS) controls to make more efficient use of available bandwidth, to provide preferred handling of critical time-sensitive traffic, and to provide individual networks a means of protecting their links from misuse by mobile units.