Mission Critical Network Design Implementation: The Past, the Present Recommendations for the Future of IC Data Networks in the Fleet

摘要

The challenge to maintain individual system requirements in a world of increasing systems integration is greater than ever. While levying the most stringent requirements of an individual system on an integrated set of systems seems like a straightforward approach, it is not always feasible for a variety of reasons. Instead, what typically results is some sort of 'averaged set' of integrated requirements that place the most critical systems at risk. US Navy initiatives to reduce the quantity of shipboard Navy networks over the last ten years provide an excellent and interesting case study. The focus of this paper is to examine the impact of these initiatives on Interior Communications (IC) Data Networks and offer a design strategy for the future to ensure individual mission critical network and system requirements are preserved. The concepts of network integration, federation, and separation are discussed from a holistic shipboard systems perspective. The current state of IC Data Networks on most ship classes is then explained to help demonstrate the need for a standard mission critical network design and implementation process. A roadmap that depicts the evolution of IC Data Networks by ship class is provided along with a recommended end state for each.