GBS IP multicast tunneling

Internet protocol (IP) multicast over the DoD's Global Broadcast Service (GBS) provides a one-way communications path to the warfighter as part of an interactive communications system. GBS provides the capability to deliver information products of varying size, timeliness requirements, and security levels. The products share satellite resources based on CINC/JTF commanders priorities, operational locations, availability of the satellite resources, and platform capabilities of the deployed users. Currently, IP multicast (IPMC) is not supported by the Defense Information Infrastructure (DII). This document defines a real-time IP solution for tunneling multicast data across the Defense Information Services Network (DISN), through GBS components, and to the end-user LANs. This paper describes a cost-effective, operationally sound, incremental approach for rapid prototyping and integration of these technologies. It outlines each of the implementation approaches researched to date, the designs selected for systematic testing, and an overview of the plan for testing selected designs. The initial architecture is based on commercial-off-the-shelf IP routers, ATM switches, multicast software, and VPN techniques.