Performance analysis of SNMP in airborne tactical networks

SNMP, SNMPv2 and SNMPv3 are the standard protocols for network management in traditional wired networks. New RFCs have updated SNMP, but it remains focused on high-availability, high-bandwidth networks. In the dynamic MANET of tactical edge networks, fast-moving aircraft and terrain obscuration combine to create conditions where traditional SNMP is less effective. In this paper, we propose innovative ways to improve SNMP agent/manager interactions, specifically addressing the limitations of a bandwidth constrained tactical edge network. We will analyze the performance improvements using a variety of aggregation techniques of multicast, reliable multicast and aggregation techniques to enhance the SNMP agent/manager interactions thus conserving bandwidth but still monitor and provide network situational awareness to the war fighter. Performance analysis will be conducted through a combination of simulation and emulation environments, and the results will be discussed.