Emulation Technology Breakthrough Makes Realistic Communications Effects Possible for Network Development and Personnel Training

- New Software Virtual Networks Enhance Signal Officer Training, War Gaming, and Military Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures Development -

Los Angeles, CA (November 14, 2008) --- Network-centric systems are widely believed to be the new generation of military operations platform for the United States and other Western nations. Wireless transmission of on-the-move voice, data and video is the foundation of network-centric operations, and many of the enabling systems that military personnel will be relying on shortly are still in development and unvetted in real world situations.  A breakthrough emulation technology that speeds both the development and deployment of net-centric systems, and supports realistic training of warfighters and commanders in using them effectively, is now helping some US military agencies work through these challenges using “software virtual networks” that are indistinguishable from actual wireless networks.

Much like the flight simulators used to train pilots, “Software virtual networks” provide a robust platform to conduct network testing and operations training with unprecedented levels of realism.  SVN’s can be built that enable the evaluation of new technologies rapidly and at much lower cost than previously possible. 

Scalable Network Technologies (SNT), a Los Angeles-based provider of software for mobile wireless networks, will launch this new technology under the brand name EXataTM on November 17th at MILCOM 08.  MILCOM is an annual gathering of the world’s elite military and government communications subject matter experts for advancing the latest ideas in technology.

From Testing to Training
The military does not yet know if the future on-the-move communication networks that have so much promise will perform as needed to support network-centric operations. That’s the question that EXata technology is designed to answer. EXata SVN’s are ready-made platforms that can be used for conducting highly realistic testing and training.  The technology advancement that enables EXata to deliver this realism is referred to as true or real-time emulation - an exact digital replication of a physical wireless network.  Any hardware, software, or human user connected to an EXata SVN is not able to discern a difference between real networks and components and their virtual (emulated) replacements.  They interact exactly as if they were in the deployed network – including the effects of terrain, weather conditions and buildings, as well as dynamic mobile elements.

New Testing Paradigm Displaces Complex, Costly Testbeds
Network testing is incredibly complex and costly because scientifically rigorous studies require repeated trials.  Being able to start and stop trials - as well as pause and modify parameters on the fly - is necessary to efficiently conduct such experiments.  EXata SVN’s displace the traditional model of physical testbed evaluation by leveraging the flexibility and low cost of simulation to produce the highly accurate, highly detailed results of a testbed.

Furthermore, the EXata SVN can stay in service throughout the lifecycle of the system to provide increasing levels of detail and realism as the project demands.  Future best-of-breed network testing and evaluation solutions will incorporate hybrid systems of simulated, physical (real), and emulated components into a single evaluation platform for scalable and realistic network experimentation.

Proficiency Training, War Gaming Updating, and TTPs
EXata SVN’s can improve warfighter and commander training in a number ways – development of proficiency in using on-the-move communication systems, bringing realistic communication scenarios to war gaming, and assisting military planners to modify tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for network-centric operations.
EXata brings to the realm of training the ability to exercise personnel in using on-the-move communications to maximum advantage in critical situations.  The SVN enables signal officers and warfighters to experience system failures - such as loss of communication assets or the system not performing as expected - and work out solutions in real time.  Exposing military personnel to frustrations and threats in the safety of a virtual context enables development of skills to deal with breakdowns and mitigate the impact on their mission success.

Another area EXata can improve training is in war gaming.   War gaming systems typically assume perfect communications, meaning that a message sent by entity A to entity B is assumed to be received instantaneously and with 100% reliability.  Anyone who uses a cell phone understands that fallacy.  EXata SVN’s inject realistic communication infrastructure and environmental effects into constructive, live or virtual war gaming systems to better prepare commanders and warfighters for reliance on network-centric systems.

A third training application that stands to benefit from EXata SVN’s is military planning for network-centric operations.  By exposing commanders and fighting units to a realistic representation of mobile communications infrastructures, in the context of activities they will engage, effective and appropriate modifications to TTPs can be implemented to increase warfighter effectiveness.  The same virtual network can then be employed to train warfighters and commanders on the modified TTPs.

What Makes Real-Time Emulation Possible?

EXata breaks new ground in speed and fidelity compared to the current class of simulation and emulation systems.  The underlying computer code, known as the kernel, is built with patent-pending computationally efficient code that dramatically increases speed and accuracy on any computing platform.  EXata is the only emulation system that can use advanced parallel processing to digitally represent every layer in the wireless communications protocol “stack.”  EXata also produces superior predictability of actual performance. As a result, many more potential solutions can be tested and evaluated, allowing engineers to solve more problems with fewer technical compromises.

More information, including video tutorials on EXata can be viewed at www.EXata.com.

Media Interviews
Executive and technical staff interviews can be arranged by contacting Camille Cox (camille@onrampcomm.com, 805.497.6400).  Graphics are also available by request.

About Scalable Network Technologies
Scalable Network Technologies (SNT) is the leader in parallel processing technology for network performance emulation. The company develops and supports high-fidelity emulation software tools used for predicting the performance of computing and communication networks and network devices.  SNT has created a new category of evaluation tools for today’s sophisticated networks that meets the demand for real-time, real-network performance testing.

Founded in 1999 and based in Los Angeles, CA, Scalable Network Technologies is a privately owned corporation. QualNet is a registered trademark of Scalable Network Technologies, Inc.  More information on the company is available at www.scalable-networks.com.