A Disruption Tolerant Network (DTN) is a sparse network where connectivity is regulated by the proximity of mobile nodes. Connections are sporadic and the delivery rate is closely related to node movement. As network resources often are limited in such settings, it is useful to monitor the network in order to make more efficient communication decisions. This study investigates existing routing protocols and monitoring tools for DTN that best cope with the requirements of a tactical military network. A model is proposed to estimate source to destination delay in DTN. This model is evaluated in a Java-based software simulator called The ONE. In order to match the tactical military environment, two scenarios are constructed. The squad scenario simulates the formation movement pattern of several squads and the hierarchical communication scheme that is maintained in a military context. The other scenario simulates a convoy line movement of a military group during transportation. The results of this study show that the proposed mechanism can improve delivery rate and reduce network overhead in settings with strict buffer limitations. The estimation worked best in scenarios that contained some patterns of movement or communication. These patterns are resembled in the model's collected data and the model can provide the user with rough estimates of end-to-end delays in the network. Primary use of this model has been to reduce number of old messages in the network, but other applications like anomaly detection are also discussed in this work. / Ett avbrottstolerant nätverk (DTN) är ett glest nät där konnektiviteten avgörs av närheten bland de rörliga noderna i nätverket. Avbrotten i ett sådant nät förekommer ofta och sporadiskt. Eftersom nätverksresurserna oftast är begränsade i sådana sammanhang, så är det lämpligt att övervaka nätverket för att göra det möjligt att fatta mer effektiva kommunikationsbeslut. Det här arbetet undersöker olika routingalgoritmer och övervakningsvektyg för DTN med hänsyn till de krav som ställs av ett taktiskt nät. En modell för att uppskatta fördröjningen från källa till destination är framtagen i arbetet. Modellen är utvärderad med hjälp av en Javabaserad mjukvarusimulator som heter The ONE. För att bäst representera den miljö som uppstår i militära sammanhang är två scenarion framtagna. Det första är ett truppscenario där nodernar rör sig i fromationer och nättrafiken följer den hierarkiska modellen som används i militär kommunikation. Det andra scenariot är ett konvojscenario där enheter marcherar på led. Resultaten från denna studie visar att den föreslagna modellen kan öka andelen levererade meddelanden och minska nätverksbelastningen i en miljö där bufferstorleken hos noderna är begränsad. Uppskattningen visade sig fungera bäst i scenarion som innehöll någon form av mönster bland nodernas rörelse eller deras kommunikation. Dessa mönster återspeglas i modellens insamlade data och modellen kan förse användaren med en grov estimering av slutfördröjningen till alla destinationer i nätet. Modellen har i huvudsak använts till att minska antalet gamla meddelanden i nätet, men arbetet berör även andra användningsområden som anomalidetektion.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Wireless mesh networking has emerged as the successor of the traditional ad hoc networks. New technological advances, the standardization of protocols and interfaces and the maturity of key components have made it possible for current mesh research groups to set goals that are really close to the world's expectations. The objective of this research is to design and implement a simulation toolkit for wireless mesh clusters that can be used as an additional performance evaluation technique for the Tactical Network Topology program of Naval Postgraduate School. This toolkit is implemented in the OPNET simulation environment and it incorporates various nodes running different ad hoc routing protocols. Furthermore, the investigation of a suitable combination of protocols for the Tactical Network Topology is achieved by creating scenarios and running a number of simulations using the mesh toolkit. / Captain, Hellenic Air Force

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Wireless mesh mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) provide the military with the opportunity to spread information superiority to the tactical battlespace in support of network-centric warfare (NCW). These mesh networks provide the tactical networking framework for providing improved situational awareness through ubiquitous sharing of information including remote sensor and targeting data. The Naval Postgraduate School's Tactical Network Topology (TNT) project sponsored by US Special Operations Command seeks to adapt commercial off the shelf (COTS) information technology for use in military operational environments. These TNT experiments rely on a variety of airborne nodes including tethered balloon and UAVs such as the Tern to provide reachback from nodes on the ground to the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) as well as to simulate the information and traffic streams expected from UAVs conducting surveillance missions and fixed persistent sensor nodes. Airborne mesh nodes have unique requirements that can be implemented with COTS technology including single board computers and compact flash. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The objective of this research is to analyze the network performance and sensor functionality, efficacy and usability of IEEE 802.x wireless MESH networks within a DoD Tactical network environment. Multiple sensor configurations operating with wireless MESH network technologies will be researched and analyzed for performance in expeditionary environment situations. Specifically, this thesis will attempt establish the foundation for the development of wireless MESH "network health" models by examining the performance of sensors operating within a MESH network and define which network performance metrics equate to good quality of service. This research will experiment with different application, sensor, and network configurations of currently available COTS components, such as, voice, video and data hardware. This thesis will lay the groundwork for wireless network MESH predictability, which will enable the optimal use of sensors within a tactical network environment. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This thesis analyzes the potential impact of incorporating wireless technologies, specifically an 802.11 mesh layer architecture and 802.16 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, in order to effectively and more efficiently transmit data and create a symbiotic operational picture between Coast Guard Cutters, their boarding teams, Coast Guard Operation Centers, and various external agencies. Two distinct collaborative software programs, Groove Virtual Office and the Naval Postgraduate School's Situational Awareness Agent, are utilized over the Tactical Mesh and OFDM network configurations to improve the Common Operating Picture of involved units within a marine environment to evaluate their potential impact for the Coast Guard. This is being done to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Coast Guard units while they carry out their Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Missions. Through multiple field experiments, including Tactical Network Topology and nuclear component sensing with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we utilize commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment and software to evaluate their impact on these missions. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Coast Guard / Lieutenant, United States Coast Guard