Network management approach for the TSAT network

The transformational satellite communications system (TSAT) is the DoDpsilas next generation geosynchronous satellite communications constellation. The TSAT system features packet and circuit interfaces that support a wide variety of military missions by providing communication services to fixed ground, mobile ground, marine, and airborne terminals. These terminals access a variety of link rates and communications services and allow the TSAT system to interoperate with many different peer networks. The TSAT system features several types of coverage, steerable beams, and adaptive waveforms that can be configured dynamically in real-time. The TSAT system responds to user requests for services ranging from long-term fixed service, to on-demand short-term communications, to critical services under emergency conditions. The TSAT system must also provide network security services at physical, link, and network layers. Finally, the TSAT system must provide highly available services and be able to operate autonomously. In order to achieve these goals of providing a wide range of services in an automated and responsive manner, TSAT employs a sophisticated TSAT mission operations system (TMOS). TMOS provides highly capable, agile and adaptive network planning and management services. This paper discusses the TMOS approach for planning and network management. The first goal of the paper is to explain the approach for reliable configuration of the satellite and terminal network elements. The second goal is to explain the approach for fault and performance management in the TSAT network.