Emerging technologies for the control of the Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN)

The evolution of the Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN) into a multi-node worldwide secure voice and data network has necessitated the requirement for centralized multilevel secure control and monitor capability. Centralized control would provide management of the BLACK Network routers, switches and multiplexers, as well as RED Switch control, status and database management. Centralized control would provide fault management, performance management, accounting management, configuration management and security management of the DRSN per the International Standards Organization (ISO) communications network management model. This would be achieved by utilizing non-developmental item (NDI) and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, including multiple network management platforms, trusted software, neural logic modeling of the DRSN, automatic network fault isolation, robust network rerouting, secure X.500 directory services, automated telephone directory/personnel locator, secure X.400 e-mail, and logistics support functions such as product life cycle management and configuration control. As the DRSN evolves to meet new operational requirements, and is integrated into the all-digital Defense Information System Network (DISN), centralized control would allow for a smoother transition to a fully digital network of packet, frame relay, narrowband ISDN, and B-ISDN Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching fabrics, multilevel secure multimedia instruments, and imbedded cryptographic functionality. This paper describes the technology available off-the-shelf today to ensure that the DRSN is the secure gateway that will lead the way to the future