Military technology insider By John Wemekamp
Future Combat Systems to field
Network Attached Storage
Armored vehicles, Unmanned Aerial command structure is so large geograph- NAS is now available in VPX-REDI
Vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, and com- ically, there are significant benefits in (VITA 48) format for armored vehicle
bat aircraft are generally self-sufficient in distributing the locations of file servers applications, such as the VPX6-511
terms of onboard, embedded mission and in this way. Within a vehicle, a file server by Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded
combat computer systems. In the future, offers much faster access through a local Computing (CWCEC) shown in Figure 1.
each will become a participant in the onboard Ethernet switch than a remote It is offered with a choice of media, using
digital battlefield with the introduction one. Additionally, one network storage the 2.5" format to suit different environ-
of network-ready capability applicable device per vehicle could be allocated ments, with a choice of either 64 GB
to upgraded and new systems such as the as the only physical location for all that solid-state memory or rotating media
Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS). vehicle’s mission-sensitive and classified using sealed or unsealed disk drives. It is
They will become part of a distributed, data. Such a device could be easily remov- a self-contained Linux-based file server
networked system, just as large com- able, leaving the vehicle in a declassified with a 1 Gbps Ethernet port. Within the
mercial enterprise and information state in the event of rapid evacuation or VPX profile, the VPX6-511 supports
technology systems are today. Many when it is left unattended. the addition of a PMC/XMC module
common network services will be avail- that could, for example, be used to add
able for these platforms, and they will Perhaps network file services could be an eight-port Ethernet switch or a high-
contribute to and share in many common provided by one of an armored vehicle’s performance encryption/decryption en-
databases. Network Attached Storage existing embedded computers; if this is gine supporting AES-128/256 for network
(NAS) devices, able to survive the rig- based on VME or a similar COTS tech- storage of highly classified data. In
ors of the battlefield environment, will nology, it will have at least one SBC at addition to the embeddable form of NAS
be required in many current and new the heart of its configuration. An SBC in VPX format, it can also be implemented
vehicles and command positions. supports mass memory attachment via as a stand-alone unit with its own enclo-
SCSI or SATA interfaces for local embed- sure for installation anywhere within an
Military platforms have been able to ded file system or mission data recorder existing vehicle.
operate cooperatively using secure point- functionality. With an Ethernet interface,
to-point data links for many years. which is again fitted to any contemporary
However, platforms at the lower echelons SBC, the embedded computing system
generally only get a restricted view of could be configured to offer network
the broader tactical situation fed back to file services as well. But there would
them from the command and control level be a trade-off to be made between the
with a series of engagement instructions. level of network traffic anticipated and
The networked battlefield devolves a its impact on the embedded system’s
potentially complete view of the tactical application code. In general, where many Figure 1
situation to all levels through shared data- remote users need to access common
bases and network services by using a files, NAS offers better performance and Just as the commercial world has adopted
more distributed computing approach. responsiveness. networked services and shared file servers
This changes how an individual plat- for collaborative working between many
form’s systems will be architected. In the As NAS will be located in an armored physically separated locations, battle-
future, military platforms will still have vehicle that experiences extremes of tem- field digitization efforts are headed in the
their own, real-time embedded computing perature plus high levels of shock and same direction. NAS will be a key ele-
capability for controlling the vehicle and vibration, it must be extremely rugged ment in next-generation systems such as
its sensors and weapons. However, they to survive the environment. Many suit- the global information grid and network-
will include much additional network able form factors exist for implementing ready systems including the Army’s FCS.
service-oriented capability, allowing them a NAS device, but the new VPX-REDI In ruggedized form, NAS will experience
to truly interact in real time with other (VITA 48) standard provides the optimum widespread deployment in all types of
battlefield participants as well. size for use in compact armored vehicles platforms from UAVs to armored vehicles
and has the added advantage of being or helicopters in new and upgrade pro-
The digital battlefield will have shared easily removable as a Line Replaceable grams as the Army rapidly modernizes its
databases that can be accessed by many Module (LRM). The VPX-REDI format capability.
different applications. File servers provide enables the NAS to be located in the same
this function and may take many forms racking systems as other VPX-REDI
from large, static server farms through modules, making it an ideal complement For more information,
midsized servers located in mobile com- to the embedded and network application e-mail John at
mand posts to individual storage devices systems to be fitted to next-generation john.wemekamp@curtisswright.com.
located within armored vehicles. As the vehicles.