“Understanding Communications Design
in the Military Environment”
William F. Lee, RCDD
Thomas L. Case, Ph.D.
Need for Top-Down Understanding and Network
Design Approach
 Network design in the military environment is driven by high-level
architectures and roadmaps to future capabilities.
 Examples include the Global Information Grid and C4ISR (Command,
Control, Computer, Communications, Surveillance, Reconnaissance)
Goals/Capabilities for C4ISR Systems
C4ISR
Targeting
Know the
Enemy
Day or
Night
Command and
Control Systems
Computers
Deny the
Spectrum
To the
Enemy
Protect the
Spectrum
For Own Use
Communication
Systems
Enable Net Centric
Operations
Intelligence
Systems
Command the
Operation
Surveillance
Systems
Protect the Force
Reconnaissance
Systems
3
Military Network Design Considerations
 The translation of the military’s high-level architectures and roadmaps into physical
networks require understanding of the applications and services the networks must
support both now and in the future. These include:
–
–
–
–
–
Warfighting applications
Defense intelligence applications
Netops
Business Applications
Enterprise Services
Military Application/Services Categories
Reality Check: Military Applications/Services Require
Increasing Bandwidth
Examples of Bandwidth Hungary Military
Applications/Services include:
Telemedicine
Telemaintainence
Distance Learning
Video Teleconferencing
Distributed Simulation
Real-Time Imagery
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STAMIS Applications
Email/Web
Electronic Publishing
Video on Demand
Remote Access
Paperless Contracting
6
Network Mission and Service Requirements
Determine Network Design Objectives
 The mission of the network describes the reason(s) it exists.
 This enables designers to identify and prioritize the video, voice, and data
applications/services that the network must support.
 Network designers and architects subsequently translate these into network
design objectives that can be used as improvement targets for network:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Performance
Availability
Security
Adaptability
Affordability
Manageability
Factors that Define Network
Design Requirements in Military Environments
Network Mission Objectives / Mission
Requirements
Network Service Requirements
Network Design Requirements
network design
objectives
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network design
objectives
network design
objectives
F-01a-8
I3A and I3MP
 The United States Army's installation level architecture is referred to as the
Installation, Information, Infrastructure Architecture (I3A).
– It is the post, camp, and station piece of the DISN.
 The I3A is a blueprint which is a criteria used for the modernization of all
posts, camps, and stations.
 I3MP is the program that implements I3A. It is part of the Infrastructure
Modernization (IMOD) initiative
 PEO EIS NSC is responsible for coordinating I3MP
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Installation Information Infrastructure Architecture
(I3A) - Objectives
 The underlying objective of the I3A is to meet current information transfer
requirements while creating an infrastructure flexible enough to meet the
exponentially increasing data communications requirements and new
technological advances
 In the long term, the I3MP will merge telephone and data communications
into a single integrated network within the I3A
 Design will satisfy the IS/IT requirements of the military within a facility
 IAW the TIA/EIA Telecommunications Standards (568-C.0, C.1, C.2, and
C.3
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What does I3A do?
Sustaining Base
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11
I3A Technical Criteria
 Addresses Voice, Data, CATV and OSP
 References 18 U.S. Government Publications
 References 24 NON U.S. Government Publications
Reference approximately 170 Other Publications
 References 104 OSP Publications
 References 5 German and European Publications
SIPRNET
References 45 U.S. Government Publications
References 5 NON U.S. Government Publications
Who Mandates these Requirements?
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Pentagon
DOD (Department of Defense)
DISA ( Defense Information Systems Agency)
NSA (National Security Agency)
ISEC (Information Systems Engineering Command)
CTTA (Certified TEMPEST Technical Authority)
NES (Network Enterprise Center) DOIM
USACOE ( United States Army Corp of Engineers)
I3A and I3MP Guidelines Provide Logical and Physical
Requirements Guidance for Network Designers
An Example of an Army I3A Implementation
Components
OPTICAL FIBER
CABLE “DATA
PIPELINE”
BDE HQ
• C4I
• E-MAIL
• ASSET VIS
• VTC
1
GATE 2
POST HQ
2
1
DISN DATA
HIGHWAY
1. HIGH CAPACITY OPTICAL FIBER CABLE
CONNECTED TO DISN
2. FIBER PIPELINE & SWITCHES TO HIGH PRIORITY
BUILDINGS
3. FIBER PIPELINE TO OTHER BLDGS
BN HQ
•SIDPERS
•C4I
•E-MAIL
2
•GCCS / DMS
•VTC / COLL PLAN
•SPLIT BASE OPS
DISCOM/ DOL/ DRM
• ELEC COMMERCE
• PAPERLESS
CONTRACTING
• TOTL ASSET VIS
2
MAINTENANCE
• GCSS-A
• ULLS
• TOTL ASSET VIS
2
1
2
3
DOD SCHOOLS
2
• GCSS-A / ULLS
• TOTL ASSET VIS
• FIXED TACTICAL
INTERNET
1
3
• DIST LEARN
• WWW
HOSPITAL
• TELE-MED
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MOTOR POOL
CLASSROOM XXI
• DIST LEARN
• TELE CONF
• SIMULATION
2
3
RANGE
15
Room Level Physical Network Design
Military Network Design in a Nutshell
Military Network Design in a Nutshell
And we need to know:
 The bandwidth requirements of the applications and services that must be
supported by the network, both now and in the future
 The network performance, availability, security, adaptability, affordability, and
manageability targets that must be hit.
 The networking devices, communication protocols, and cabling needed to
support/satisfy each of the above
 How to weave all the above together into network designs that comply with I3A
and I3MP guidelines
Military Network Design in a Nutshell
 Power and HVAC requirements for EUBs, ADNs, and MCNs are driven by military
communication requirements
– These are also being influenced by network infrastructure trends such as
virtualization and burgeoning data storage requirements.
 OSP and inside cabling options must consider current and future communication
requirements.
 Because all military facilities are communications, IS/IT intensive, there is a growing
need for contract professionals with broad technical knowledge of
communication technologies and how these can be deployed to comply I3A
and I3MP guidelines.
– Involving such individuals in RFP processes is increasingly important and is
being mandated
I3A Topology Criteria
The telephone and data networks must be connected in hierarchical meshed
star topologies for optimum configuration with switched technologies.
Complying with I3A and I3MPTechnical Criteria:
Who can Help?
Two acronyms You Need To Know
RITP
 (Registered Information Transport Professional)
 Knowledge Based (Manufacture Products)
RCDD
 (Registered Communications Distribution Designer)
 Knowledge Based
 Provides Contract Drawings and Specifications
 Designer of Record
What makes RITPs and RCCDs Special?
 They Know that Technologies Always Changes
 Industry Knows that Communications Design Is a Specialized Field
 They have Broad Technical Knowledge of IS/IT and Communication
Technologies
 They are Recognized World Wide as Subject Matter Experts
 Their Knowledge is never Stale: Credential Requirements 15 CEU Per
year
What is required of the RCDD
 Attend Design Meetings
Design “T” Drawings
Write Specifications (Division 27 & 28)
Stamp and Sign Drawings and Specifications
ISEC (Review Drawings and Specifications)
CTTA (Must be Consulted for the Design of SIPRNET,
and Review Drawings and Specifications)
 Review and Stamp Submittals
 Field Visits and Inspections
Approve test plan and analyze test reports
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RCDD Design Roles
Design of Information Transport System
 Infrastructure Cabling (copper/fiber)
 OSP
 VTC
 Teleconferencing
 Video Teleconferencing
 TelePresence
 Paging/Intercommunications
 ESS
 Access Control
 IDS (Intrusion Detection System)
 Security Cameras
 Wireless
RCCD Design Roles
Special User Systems
 In House Systems
 SIPRNET
 SIPRNET Space Only
 CTTA Designs PDS
 JWICS
RCDD Design
Roles
 Stay abreast of I3A and I3MP updates
 Monitor bandwidth requirements for applications and services
 Design I3A Compliant Communications Rooms
Location and Size
 Power requirements
 Conditioned Air Requirements
 Pathways
 Bonding
FUTURE
The Age of Technology
The Future of Military Network Design:
Increasing Network-Centric Operations
GNEC (Global Network Enterprise Construct)
 Data Centers
 NOC (Network Operations Center)
 NSC (Network Service Centers)
NETCOM (Network Enterprise Technology Command)
Everyone Touches the Network
 Desktop
 Telephone
 Smartphone
Summary
 I3A purpose
– A criteria for RCDD’s
 RCDD Skills Set
– Education, experience, and credentials
– Daily changing IS/IT requirements
 RFP’s
– Need to be written by RITP’s and RCDD’s
Questions
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Statesboro, GA 30458
912-225-3001
www.tcomdesigninc.com