SkySwitch NMCS system
SkySwitch Network Management and Control System (NMCS)
SkySwitch NMCS plays a key role in SatPath's newly introduced HTN (High Trhoughtput Network) architecture. The HTN is a new feature introduced in NMCS Release 2017 that provides unlimited growth of outbound (Foward Link) capacity to thousands of remote users. With the advance of IOT, video streaming, social networking, on-line shopping, and 3/4G wireless backhaul applications, the demand for more bandwidth to access Internet continues to rise. Traditional VSAT with a single broadband outbound carrier with fixed capacity cannot accomodate the traffic growth nor can it be flexible to deal with traffic fluctation at different time of day. SkySwitch NMCS HTN architecture provides flexibility to grow and trim its capacity to suit traffic, cost, usage, and time allowing bandwidth to be shared more efficiently.
The NMCS provides reliable, always-on network control and monitoring for the SatPath SkySwitch® network. With its distributed structural design, the NMCS spreads the network control and processing function across the entire network for improved performance in terms of higher reliability and faster connecting time. Each NMCS system can be configured with local redundancy or geographic redundancy. Powerful NMCS allows the operator to easily and conveniently manage and operate SatPath SkySwitch®network. The system offers network connectivity management over satellite including traffic switching and routing using DAMA connections. SkySwitch network supports mixed topologies in a network. Network structures can be programmed by administrators based on different types of connections, user organization, geographical location, applications, usage and many more other criteria. For each network design, SkySwitch network administrators can configure multiple subnets, each operates in a single frequency band over multiple transponders. Connection groups facilitate dynamic and static routing of network traffic. Static routes complement the dynamic routing capability to meet each individual user’s routing requirements.
SkySwitch® NMCS provides monitor and control functions intended to provide equipment status and control for SkySwitch satellite VSAT terminal as well as common ground communication equipment at remote locations.
The NMCS system is based on client/server technology to meet large VSAT network operation requirements. Users log in to the NMCS servers at client computers with designated functions and access authorization level according to the operator’s management policy. It is not uncommon in a large SkySwitch network, multiple operation and technical support technicians access the system simultaneously.
The real time processor of NMCS handles transponder bandwidth management and controls frequency/bandwidth assignment, permitting only authorized users to access transponder space. Frequency and bandwidth are assigned on demand by NMCS based on real-time traffic and QoS policy. NMCS can handle up to 1,000 simultaneous DAMA mesh and star connections, depending on availability of bandwidth and channel resources.
SatPath SkySwitch® network is designed for the purpose to provide Total Telecom Services over a single VSAT platform. The requirement for a VSAT platform to provide total telecom services enables the operator to be an independent telecom carrier without resorting to other means of telecom infrastructure network. This also means that SkySwitch is a network system that must support mixtures of topologies in multiple layers in a single network. It must work with traffic channels from thin to heavy routes. Due to its SCPC nature, SkySwitch network provides not only the best channel efficiency, but also the most flexible VSAT platform in providing connectivity of all kinds. To meet the objective, SkySwitch network has four levels of hierarchy that the NMCS system is designed to support. The NMCS system provides convenient interface tools including sub-networking, bandwidth management, and traffic QoS priotization for Network Managers and Operators to configure and design a network according to the requirements of customers’ organization, functionality, and applications.