The New York Times of April 21, 2014 ran an article “US
Promotes Network to Foil Digital Spying” (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/us/us-promotes-network-to-foil-digital-spying.html?_r=0,)
The article describes a Mesh network in Sayada, Tunisa. A mesh
network is composed of routers that have line of sight to each other. The
aggregate of all the routers produces a local area network (LAN) that is not
connected to the Internet. The wireless routers are set up on balconies,
ledges, etc. so that they have line of sight to each other. Conceptually they
could be set up at certain times and perhaps even inside windows (I don’t know
for sure since I’ve never operated one of these networks.) for better
concealment and OPSEC.
The software used to link the wireless routers is free and
open source (see http://commotionwireless.net/about/).
For the sake of argument, lets assume that it would be
possible to conceal the routers from detection other than a dedicated house-to-house,
ledge to ledge, roof-to-roof search.
MISO at this point in the 21st Century clearly
recognizes the importance of digital media as a means to influence behavior.
This means that messaging techniques for digital media should already be a part
of the MISO arsenal.
I’d like to step outside the normal MISO realm and raise a
couple of questions. First: Should MISO should be involved in the establishment
of mesh networks. This would include the hardware, software and set-up of those
networks.
If so, doctrinally should these kinds of operations be
handled by SF, Cyber Command and/or the General Purpose Force?
My personal position is that this could and should be a MISO
mission. The nature of the set-up would likely be well within the capabilities
of a MISO team and would likely require only one or two people versed in the
fine points.
A more interesting question, one I won’t answer today is
“How do mesh networks figure into MISO and what kinds of environments are they
best suited for?
Photo Source: http://www.strixsystems.com/images/case-studies/city-wide/waztempecloud.jpg
I know that some open source Operating Systems use networks, such as the OLPC Laptops they are using to educate children in Africa. Mesh networks supposedly work well where these have been implemented for communication between children and teachers, but I owned one and was too far away from the next OLPC to get connected. It's interesting how they can be used for military purposes.
ReplyDeleteI know that some open source Operating Systems use networks, such as the OLPC Laptops they are using to educate children in Africa. Mesh networks supposedly work well where these have been implemented for communication between children and teachers, but I owned one and was too far away from the next OLPC to get connected. It's interesting how they can be used for military purposes.
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