STANAG 5066 Server
Icon-5066 is a modem-independent server designed for STANAG 5066. It ensures efficient application operation over HF Modems/Radios and allows various applications to run at the same time. It can connect to one or two HF modems, either directly or through a Crypto box, and offers a unified interface to an HF network, which various applications can utilise.
Architecture
Icon-5066 works through several processes on either Windows or Linux. The Icon-5066 Distributed Data Service (DDSD) manages the server’s functions and offers monitoring management. Management is accessible through a web browser using OAuth authentication. DDSD oversees all nodes within the core service.
The Icon-5066 Core service includes one or more independent nodes managed by DDSD, each implementing STANAG 5066 protocols and connecting to modems. This enables the smooth operation of multiple STANAG 5066 services on a single server. Each node can configure one or more drivers for several functionalities, scripted in the Lua language. This scripting offers several advantages:
- Isode provides a selection of drivers to meet diverse configuration needs.
- Ease of custom driver development by Isode customers and partners for specific requirements.
The primary drivers in Icon-5066 include:
- Modem Driver: The driver that customers will likely provide to support various modem types.
- Rate Change Driver: Manages the selection of transmission parameters during speed changes.
- Transmission Control: Dictates modes of operation such as: Half-Duplex, Full-Duplex, Broadcast, CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access), WTRP (Wireless Token Ring Protocol), ALE 1:1 (Uses Automatic Link Establishment for single peer access)
- ALE Configuration: Two drivers facilitate ALE configuration.
Key Characteristics
Full Duplex & Broadcast
The predominant type of HF communication is Half-Duplex, in which the transmission direction alternates. This method is frequently employed for reliable (ARQ) communication between two nodes where both transmit and receive. Icon-5066 also supports two other STANAG 5066 compliant communication modes:
- Broadcast: This involves a node that continuously sends non-ARQ traffic without receiving any data. It is typically used from a fixed frequency at a transmit-only location.
- Full-duplex allows transmission and reception on two different frequencies at the same time, significantly improving performance. However, it is possible only when sufficient frequency separation is maintained between the transmit and receive sites. Icon-5066 can operate in two full-duplex modes: using a single modem in full-duplex mode or utilising two independently configured modems—one for transmitting and the other for receiving.
Split Site
Icon-5066 can manage two modems in half-duplex mode, which is vital for operations where Tx modems and radios are situated at one location while Rx modems and radios are at another.
Data Rate Selection
Data rate selection involves choosing transmission parameters, mainly speed and interleaver settings, prior to transmission. This choice is important for boosting the performance and Quality of Service (QoS) for the data. Icon-5066 offers various drivers for rate selection, together with customer-defined rate change drivers.
Multi-Node Networks: CSMA
Icon-5066 supports multi-node HF networks operating over a single HF channel in compliance with STANAG 5066 Annex K, enabling CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) with jitter. The fundamental CSMA specification in Annex K suits networks featuring numerous nodes sharing a single HF frequency.