Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS): Affordable - - PDF document

Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS):

Affordable Net-Enabling of Joint Service Combat and Weapon Systems

Alan Thomas Senior Scientist Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

The Bottom Line Up Front Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS) is a configurable software technology that automatically exposes legacy system data and services to the Global Information Grid (GIG) and

• btains GIG data and services in near real-time

! Prototyped and demonstrated ! Planned beta version release: FY10

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

DoD Vision: Net-Centric Operations

" National Defense Strategy:

–“We will conduct network-centric operations...”

" National Military Strategy:

–“…a collaborative information environment that

facilitates information sharing, effective synergistic planning, and execution of simultaneous, overlapping operations...”

" ASD(NII) / DoD CIO:

–Access to information –Support of collaboration –Sharing of information

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Realizing the DoD Net-Centric Vision

" Requires compliance with net-centric

(enterprise) technical standards

# Data formats # Software services # Software Architecture

" Large number of legacy systems in DoD

–Not designed for net-centric standards –Significant cost, schedule and risk to comply –Legacy software constitutes a major area of risk

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Some Key Net-Centric Standards

" Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) " eXtensible Markup Language (XML) " eXtensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) " Web Services Description Language (WSDL) " Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) " Transmission Control Protocol / Internet

Protocol (TCP/IP)

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Legacy System Challenges

" Legacy Software Architectures " Legacy Data Access " Legacy Data Formats " Legacy Point-to-Point Interfaces " Software Architecture Constraints:

–Mission Criticality –Real-time Processing –Safety –Security

Combat and Weapon Systems across the joint services have the most significant constraints

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Net-Centric Adapter Concept

Global Information Grid

Legacy System Software Components

X Y

• Legacy Software

Interfaces

• Legacy Data and

Services

• Enterprise Data
• Enterprise Services

NCALS Software

Common NCALS Software

Configure System 1 System 2 System N

. . .

Domain A Domain B Domain Z

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

NCALS Technical Challenges

" Transparency

–Minimize legacy software changes –Minimize legacy performance impacts

" Performance and Scalability

–Provide adequate data throughput and latency –Providing a scalable software architecture

" Configurability

–Configure a common software component for many

different legacy system applications

" Dynamic Data Association

–Provide the capability to dynamically “mix-n-match” data

to/from multiple legacy interfaces

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

NCALS Prototype Design

" Implemented in Java " Supports eXtensible Markup Language (XML) " Supports XML or customized data transforms:

– eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT) – Custom transforms (class-based)

" Supports variety of software interface types:

– Web Services – Socket-based Application Program Interfaces (APIs) – Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) – Java Messaging Service (JMS) – Files (triggered on changes) – Custom interfaces (class-based)

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

NCALS Prototype Demonstration

(Navy Strike Warfare Domain) Required only a router configuration change to the legacy system! Required only a router configuration change to the legacy system!

Strike Coordinator Firing Unit Legacy Strike Warfare System

CORBA Interfaces Enterprise Data Formats Legacy Data Formats

Simulated Joint C2 System GIG Simulator NCALS Prototype

Enterprise Data Formats

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Example Demonstration Sequence

(Navy Strike Warfare Domain)

Strike Coordinator Firing Unit (DDG-72)

Legacy Strike Warfare Simulation

Legacy Data Formats Web Services XML Data Legacy Software Interfaces

Simulated Joint C2 System Web Server NCALS GIG Simulator

Publish Firing Unit Status Subscribe to Strike Tasking Subscribe to Firing Unit Status Firing Unit Status Publish Strike Tasking Strike Tasking

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Dynamic Data Association

Legacy System Component 1 and Data X

X Y

Enterprise Data

Dynamically access and repackage legacy data from multiple software interfaces Dynamically access and repackage legacy data from multiple software interfaces

NCALS Software

Z X Y Z

Legacy System Component 3 and Data Z Legacy System Component 2 and Data Y

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Near-Term Plans for NCALS Prototype

" Fiscal Year (FY) 2009:

– Enhance configuration tool – Implement Dynamic Data Association capability – Mature core prototype capabilities – Measure prototype performance

" Fiscal Year (FY) 2010:

– Release prototype Software Development Kit

(SDK)

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Summary

" NCALS . . .

–Is a net-centric software technology for legacy

systems

–Meets a critical need to move legacy systems into

a net-centric operating environment

–Can be applied widely –Has been prototyped and demonstrated –Is being matured –Will be ready for prototype applications in FY10

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Questions ?

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

For More Information Contact: Systems Engineering Branch Strike Systems Division Strategic and Strike Systems Department Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren (540)653-7678

Backup Slides

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Integration with Legacy Systems

" Assumptions:

–Physical connectivity to GIG –Compatible legacy software interfaces –Data and service engineering completed

" Describe legacy software interfaces " Describe data and service transforms required " Add NCALS software to legacy network

–Add hardware if required

" Configure NCALS to provide transformations

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

NCALS Coupled with Secure Guard

Web Application Server NCALS Legacy System Secure Guard Classification Level A Classification Level B Global Information Grid

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Net-Centric Adapter for Legacy Systems (NCALS)

Additional NCALS Applications

" Legacy software integration

–Use to integrate legacy and new software

components

" Near real-time data format translation

–Use to translate between data formats

" Service discovery (extension)

–Use to discover services on the GIG (or the

network)

–Leverage Semantic Web technologies