Messaging and Directory Server software used around the world in the Government, Military, Aviation and Commercial sectors.
Creative Commons
Isode's whitepapers are licenced under a Creative
Commons Licence.
Military Messaging
Whitepapers with a special relevance to those building military messaging solutions, together with whitepapers of a more general relevance to military solutions.
| Performance Measurements of Applications using IP over HF Radio This paper sets out the results of measurements made when running applications and layer protocols to support applications over IP via HF Radio using STANAG 5066. The goal of this work was to get a quantitative measure of the performance impact of using applications running over IP over HF Radio in comparison with applications running directly over specialized HF Radio protocols. This paper concludes that the performance impact of using IP is massive, with small message latency increase from at typical value of 6-20 seconds using applications optimized for HF to a smallest measured value of 89 seconds when using IP. (3rd September 2009) |
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| Performance Measurements of Messaging Protocols over HF Radio This white paper sets out and analyses the results of a measurements of various messaging protocols over HF Radio. HF Radio has unusual performance and reliability characteristics, which has led to specific application protocols being developed. This paper finds that three of the four protocols analysed perform well. It concludes with a discussion of the best choice of messaging protocol for various types of deployment. (5th Aug 2009) |
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| STANAG 5066 Performance Measurements over HF Radio This white paper sets out the results of measurements done by Isode of STANAG 5066 over military HF Modems and emulated HF Radio. These test show that good line utilization can be achieved (83-94 %) for speeds ranging from 75 bits/second to 9600 bits/second. To achieve this, care must be taken with how the application uses STANAG 5066. (9th Jun 2009) |
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| Using Isode's Messaging and Directory Applications with a Data Diode Data Diodes are low level hardware devices, with very high assurance, that allow data to flow in one direction while preventing data from flowing in the opposite direction. This white paper shows how Isode applications can be used in conjunction with a Data Diode to give high assurance one way flow of data. (28th May 2009) |
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| Why do I need a SPIF and what Format should I choose? Anyone deploying or considering deploying a system that uses Security Labels needs to understand and consider the use of a SPIF (Security Policy Information File). Much information on SPIFs is complex and oriented towards security experts. This paper gives a short introduction to SPIFs, in order to give a high level understanding of the subject to non-experts. (15th Apr 2009) |
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| File Transfer by Email File Transfer by Email can be useful for moving data between systems when standard file or data transfer mechanisms are not available. In particular it is useful for supporting Directory Replication, as described in the Isode white paper Directory Replication by Email and over 'Air Gap'. This paper looks at requirements for File Transfer by Email, and describes the architecture of Isode’s solution. (27th Jan 09) |
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| Operating XMPP over Radio and Satellite Networks XMPP, the Internet Standard eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is being widely adopted for Instant Messaging (IM), Group Chat and Presence services in military networks. This paper starts by looking at the military tactical requirements for IM, Group Chat and Presence. It discusses briefly why XMPP is ideal for these services, and also as a building block for situational awareness systems and in support of voice and video communication. (7th Jan 09) |
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| Messaging Protocols for HF Radio Messaging is important for military and other deployments of HF Radio. Formal Military Messaging (STANAG 4406) over HF Radio is described in a previous Isode White Paper. This paper looks at how to optimize STANAG 4406 messaging for point to point HF networks and how to provide Internet Messaging over multi-node and point to point HF networks. (28th Aug 2008) |
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| Measuring
MMHS Performance over HF Radio and Satellite: STANAG 4406 Annex E Encoding
and Compression This white paper is the first of a set of papers reporting on measurements made of MMHS (Military Message Handling Systems) operating over HF Radio and Satellite. This paper looks at the encoding and compression of STANAG 4406 Annex E messages, which is common to both HF Radio and Satellite transmission. (10th Jun 2008) |
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| Measuring MMHS
Performance over Satellite This white paper is the second of a set of papers reporting on measurements made of MMHS (Military Message Handling Systems) operating over HF Radio and Satellite. This paper looks at operation over Satellite networks, and compares the performance of STANAG 4406 Annex E which is designed for constrained bandwidth networks with STANAG 4406 Annex A, which is intended for high speed networks. (10th Jun 2008) |
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| HF
Radio & Network Centric Warfare Modern military communications are a key component of Network Centric Warfare. HF Radios are used extensively for military communications, and, although very slow, provide effective long distance communication in a wide range of situations. This paper looks at how HF Radio fits with Network Centric Warfare, and looks at approaches for integrating HF Radios to maximize their effectiveness. (9th Apr 2008) |
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| Military Messaging over HF Radio and Satellite using STANAG 4406 Annex E Military Messages often need to be transferred over low bandwidth networks, in particular HF Radio and Satellite Networks. The two military specifications for this type of messaging environment are NATO's STANAG 4406 Annex E and ACP 142 developed by the CCEB (Combined Communications-Electronics Board – AU, CA, NZ, US, UK). This paper describes scenarios that require these special technologies, and then gives an overview of the technologies and how they address the technical problems. (14th Feb 2008) |
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The Architecture of Isode's STANAG 4406 Annex E Solution |
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| STANAG 5066: The Standard for Data Applications over HF Radio STANAG 5066 is a NATO specification for running data applications over HF Radio. STANAG 5066 operates over an HF modem, and provides an interface for data applications to use and share an HF modem. STANAG 5066 provides core services to enable applications to operate efficiently over HF radio, and specifies a protocol that enables a clean separation between applications and modem/radio level. This paper describes STANAG 5066, and shows why it is key to deploying applications over HF Radio. (14th Feb 2008) |
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| Why IP over HF Radio should be Avoided HF Radios are important for military communications. IP is widely used and is the basis for most network communication. This paper looks at use of IP over HF Radio and the efficiency of different types of application over IP and concludes that applications intended for regular use over HF Radio should not use IP and should instead be directly integrated with STANAG 5066. (14th Feb 2008) |
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| Military Messaging over HF Radio: A comparison of ACP 127 and STANAG 4406 Annex E ACP 127 is the older NATO standard for formal military messaging that is being replaced by STANAG 4406. Both standards are used over HF Radio, and for STANAG 4406, this is specified in Annex E. This paper looks at how both standards work, and shows the benefits of the newer technologies. (14th Feb 2008) |
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| Access Control
using Security Labels & Security Clearance Security Labels provide an important mechanism for controlling access to information in many high security environments, and are also useful in environments with lower security requirements. This paper provides a reasonably detailed description of how security labels and clearances work, while attempting to avoid the high level of technical complexity seen in many papers in this area. (31st Jan 2008) |
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| Testing STANAG 4406 Military Messaging over IP Differentiated Services IP Differentiated Services (DiffServ) is a standardized Internet approach for dealing with different classes of traffic. We have added support for differentiated services to M-Switch X.400, so that its priority handling (which supports standard X.400 three level priority, and the STANAG 4406 military messaging six level priority) can utilize differentiated services at the IP level. Isode and NATO staff put together a setup to test military messaging in conjunction with DiffServ, and ran tests on two days in August and November 2007. This paper describes the tests that were done and analyses the results. (20th Dec 2007) |
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| Military Messaging
Over Low Bandwidth Networks Military Messages often need to be transferred over low bandwidth networks such as HF radio and other "constrained communication channels". The two military specifications which have evolved to deal with such a messaging environment are ACP 142 and NATO's STANAG 4406 Annexe E. This paper describes scenarios that require these special technologies, gives an overview of the technologies describes Isode's approach to implementing them. (22nd Jun 2006) |
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| Why use a P7 Message Store? Getting
X.400 messages to and from end-users The goal of this paper is to give an understanding of what an X.400 Message Store, such as Isode's M-Store X.400 does, and where and how it should be used. In order to do this, the paper looks at general requirements for sending and receiving (X.400) messages, and looks at various approaches that can be taken. (19th Jun 2007) |
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| M-Store X.400 Benchmarks This paper provides performance benchmarks for Isode's M-Store X.400 product (R14) in a number of common usage scenarios including core P3 and P7 operations, throughput tests and handling of large messages. (31st May 2007) |
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| X.400 Bridgehead for Microsoft Exchange:
Technical Architecture and Back-end Features X.400 Bridgehead for Microsoft Exchange ("X.400 Bridgehead") is a new product from Boldon James, produced in collaboration with Isode. It's primary goal is to provide X.400 protocol connectivity for Microsoft Exchange 2007, this capability was provided as a part of Exchange 2003 and earlier versions, but is not included with Exchange 2007. This paper describes the architecture of X.400 Bridgehead, and summarizes it's key features. It is particularly oriented towards understanding the capabilities of X.400 Bridgehead in the context of older versions of Exchange and full X.400 Message Transfer Agents (MTAs). (11th May 2007) |
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| Sending FLASH Messages Quickly: Techniques
for Low Latency Message Switching and Precedence Handling Military Messaging systems, and other messaging systems with time critical operational requirements such as Aviation (AMHS), require that high precedence messages are submitted, transferred and delivered very quickly. In this paper we look at how messages can be handled to achieve message switching times of a few hundred milli-seconds, for both low and high volumes of traffic. The importance of Permanent Associations as a way of avoiding delays in opening a connection is described and consideration is given to Precedence Handling, describing techniques that ensure high precedence traffic gets optimum (low) latency. (9th May 2007) |
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| Packaging
Military Messaging for HF Radio and other Low Bandwidth Links The general requirements and protocol architecture for military messaging over low bandwidth communications were described in the Isode White Paper Military Messaging Over Low Bandwidth Networks. This paper looks in more detail at how various server components are packaged together, looking at both software and hardware combinations, and showing how users and user agents fit into the system. The paper looks in detail at single user systems, from both hardware and software perspective. (15th Feb 2007) |
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| M-Switch
X.400 Benchmarks This paper gives performance benchmarks for Isode's M-Switch X.400, a high-performance X.400 Message Transfer Agent. M-Switch X.400 is deployed by Isode customers in a number of solutions areas and these benchmarks re-enforce our belief that M-Switch X.400 is substantially faster than any other X.400 MTA. (20th Nov 2007) |
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| Why X.400 is
good for high reliability messaging X.400 was specified in the 1980s, with the expectation that it would be the universal standard for email. While this did not happen, X.400 is still used for many applications, particularly where high reliability is required. This paper summarizes the key features of X.400 that make it good for applications needing high reliability, with particular focus on capabilities not available with Internet email. (11th May 2006) |
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| Providing
Reliable Message Transport using X.400 For many commercial and personal applications, Internet mail is sufficiently reliable to be trusted and treated as if it were 100% reliable. For some applications, such as aviation, military, and key government communications this is not good enough. This paper looks at what is needed to provide highly reliable message transport: reliably taking a message from its originator and delivering to the recipient(s). (8th Feb 2005) |
General
| SNMP and Isode Servers This white paper looks at the role of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) in managing systems using Isode messaging and directory servers. It explains why SNMP support is provided, the sub-agent architecture used by Isode products, and approaches to deploying SNMP monitoring. (29th May 2007) |
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| Offline Editing,
Testing and Version Management of Messaging Configurations Isode's messaging configuration is held in the directory, providing a number of benefits, including client/server GUI management of configuration and the ability to share configuration data between multiple servers. This paper explains how this core architecture, as well as providing a means of editing and manaing a live configuration, is extended to support offline configuration development and review, configuration testing and configuration version management. (1st Dec 2006) |
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| Operational
Monitoring and Control of Systems using Isode Servers Isode server products are deployed in a wide variety of situations, and usually there is a high service reliance placed on them. Isode’s approach to server design and management is that the products are building blocks, with maximum use of open standard protocols for interconnection. Management is almost entirely client/server. This combination of building block + client/server means that the approach to operational management needs to be considered as part of the overall system design. This paper explains the approach Isode has taken and the options provided, that can be used to build an operational system. (1st March 2006) |
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| Monitoring and Managing Messaging
Deployments with Very High Service Requirements: Isode Servers and
Sentra In order to provide a very high grade messaging service, it is critical to monitor the service and be able to take action where problems are detected. This white paper looks at various approaches to monitoring systems containing the Isode servers, and in particular looks at use of the Sentra product from Insider Technologies. (2nd Nov 2004) |
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| Isode Management Architecture:
Client/Server and Directory Isode's core business is messaging and directory servers. Isode products are designed for service oriented environments, such as ISPs, military, government and aviation. These are environments where there are stringent management requirements. This white paper sets out the approaches that Isode takes to address management requirements. (21st Sept 2004) |
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| MIXER: X.400 and Internet Mail
Conversion This article by Steve Kille, published in Messaging Magazine, describes MIXER (MIME Internet X.400 Enhanced Relay), the Internet Standard for conversion between X.400 Messaging and Internet mail. |
