Tactical Wireless Communications and Networks: Design Concepts and Challenges

Chapter 11

Network Management Challenges in Tactical Networks

In Chapter 10, we saw the important role that network management (NM) and network operations (NetOps) play in bringing cellular capabilities to tactical networks. In this chapter, we will cover network management challenges in tactical networks, especially those challenges faced when creating joint NM for joint missions. Although many of the joint mission challenges can be political, there are significant technical hurdles. This chapter presents some challenges faced by the NM architecture from the tactical edge and across the GIG. At the GIG, the IP-based networks and radios must work seamlessly together on joint missions, in the presence of encryption tunnels. We will address some scenarios where unconventional NM techniques must be considered in order to meet the objectives of the joint mission. These techniques should be considered when different networks, must interface together. This chapter is divided into four main sections. The first reviews policy based network management (PBNM) and the use of gaming theory concepts in NM. The second presents some of the urgent challenges facing NM interoperability across the GIG, while the third covers an architectural approach that relies on gateway nodes (GNs) and abstraction techniques. The fourth section presents a conflict resolution case, showing how different tactical network managers need to interface to each other with techniques that are not considered in commercial ...