Navy goes high-tech

Communications News, March, 1990

NAVY GOES HIGH-TECH

Today's United States Navy has hung up its trusty sextants in favor of satellites and computers.

The Navy is responsible for over 85% of day-to-day use of satellite data.

Much is collected and analyzed by naval forces worldwide. This support:

* helps ships pinpoint locations at sea,

* enables the Navy to do ship-to-ship communications across vast expanses,

* gives up-to-the-minute weather monitoring,

* and offers avanced surveillance measures.

Based in Dahlgren, Va., the Naval Space Command tracks all satellites in orbit and plays an active role in development of space systems.

With such vast management responsibility, good communications and administration are critical.

To meet the challenge, the Naval Space Command instituted its new Space Information Management System.

No run-of-the-mill computer network, SIMS was created especially for the Command, which needed:

* the power of a large computer,

* ease of use,

* data-communications capabilities,

* and security features.

"The problem was that no single vendor could meet all our specifications," says Richard Etter, supervisory computer specialist at Naval Space Command. "Our particular requirements dictated a smorgasbord of products."

Unify The Mishmash

Integrated Microcomputer Systems (IMS) Inc. won the SIMS contract in 1986 by offering to integrate equipment from a variety of vendors into one comprehensive system tailored for the Command.

SIMS is an integrated suite of office-automation and information-management tools built around a UNIX-based Harris HCX super minicomputer. It now supports about 100 end-user peripheral devices, including:

* graphics workstations,

* optical character readers,

* personal computers,

* plotters,

* video-display terminals,

* film recorders,

* and printers.

Harris computers support similar installations at three sub-commands.

Since communications is such an important part of SIMS, plans call for linking all SIMS sites to the Defense Data Network (DDN). That will allow efficient interaction and sharing of information among the Command, sub-commands, and detachments worldwide.

"Since the SIMS sites operate at system High Secret, the Department of Defense mandated a computer operating system graded at the C-2 level with B-1 labeling features," explains Etter.

Besides offering a good price/performance ratio, the computers' secure operating system can be configured for levels ranging from C-2 through full B-1.

SIMS includes Tempest (a government standard for minimal emanations of electronic signals from electrical equipment) features to avoid compromising security interests.

No Electro-Interference

Fiber-optic cable is used for the local-area network.

Fiber makes sure no electrical emissions can be picked up and tapped.

Ordinary coaxial cabling can act as a giant antenna, Etter says, making it easier for covert listening devices to home in on spurious signals radiating from devices on a computer network.

Another advantage of optical-fiber cable is that it is not susceptible to the radiations and electromagnetic interference that high-voltage transmission lines, diesel generators, and other electrically noisy machines can cause with conventional copper.

This is important. Command headquarters is on the same base as a Navy laboratory that uses high-powered electronic test equipment.

Fiber optics are also immune from lightning-induced voltages that damage other communications lines.

Although a large part of the SIMS network meets Tempest guidelines, SIMS is actually a hybrid of Tempest and non-Tempest components.

Because non-Tempest equipment is less expensive, it was used in non-critical areas.

Security was just one problem to solve in building the SIMS environment.

With so many different types of equipment at such widespread sites, integrating the pieces into one turnkey user-friendly system was another objective.

User Transparency

SIMS is a unique array of products selected to handle the Naval Space Command's unique needs. The host computer had to accommodate up to 128 users and have a secure operating system.

Network nodes had to be able to link with DDN.

Certain devices would be network participants and/or would connect directly to the host computer.

Besides these constraints, the Command wanted to take advantage of existing equipment contracts the Navy had with specific vendors.

"We have a real hodge-podge," Etter says.

"We wrote functional specs and said, 'Here's the functionality we want.' We didn't care how it was achieved; we wanted a high level of transparency for our users."

Since many SIMS users are computer novices, SIMS created simplified menus so most functions are available with just a keystroke or two.

This also custs down on the amount of training needed, which can be significant considering personnel transfers.

"The network itself is also more user-friendly," Etter adds. "Capabilities associated with PC networks--such as sharing printers and locating devices remotely--are not normally found with a plainvanilla government TCP/IP network, where a separate computer must drive each remotely located device."