FogNet: Real-time Emulation of Wide Area Networks

The Problem:
Network Centric Warfare (NCW) will necessitate changes to Tactics, Techniques, Procedures (TTP) and Training. However, providing realistic environments in which to explore TTP is generally expensive, in terms of equipment and effort. As a result, experimentation tends to be performed in small scale environments, providing a very limited functional demonstration of capability at best.

The Solution:
FogNet is an innovative software platform that mimics the behaviour of communication networks (e.g. military tactical networks).  FogNet users cannot tell whether they are connected to the real network or to a virtual one emulated by FogNet.  Hence, it is a safer, more cost-effective, controllable and repeatable test-environment in comparison to actual hardware tests. 

By providing realistic, real-time network emulation, FogNet supports the analysis and training of personnel who require superior decision-making and rapid response skills in situations where

• urgent action is needed and
• only incomplete information is available.  

A major technical advantage of the FogNet approach of using network emulation, rather than simulation, is that direct experimentation between existing Australian Defence Force systems and proposed systems for integration into the ADF is also enabled.

In other words, network configuration and performance aspects of Systems of Systems analysis is enabled. This includes studies involving IPv4 to IPv6 migration and performance issues.

This is a significant leap over other approaches, such as simulation using expensive and complex software packages  which rely on the integrity of  simulation models rather than the systems themselves, and full scale network construction.