TROPOS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

The Tropos network architecture is a fully distributed, controller-free, network architecture. As it does not rely on a centralized controller for its operation, it eliminates single-points-of-failure, performance bottlenecks and unnecessary network traffic. The Tropos network architecture’s distributed intelligence dynamically selects the optimal end-to-end paths through network, evaluating multiple RF links, channels and bands. It also performs functions such as advanced RF resource management, VLAN enablement, and security and QoS policy enforcement. The Tropos network architecture is self-organizing, enabling easy deployment of new networks and easy expansion of existing ones.

Designed to deliver superior capacity, resiliency, security and scalability, the Tropos network architecture is decentralized and highly flexible. Distributed intelligence enables each Tropos mesh router to make coordinated routing and airtime management decisions in real time, maximizing bandwidth and system performance.

The Tropos network architecture is based on open-standard radios and IP communications. A common physical infrastructure can be leveraged to support multiple applications. The foundation of the Tropos network architecture is field-proven technology that includes Tropos’ outdoor optimized routers; the patented Tropos Mesh OS built from the ground-up for large scale, mission critical outdoor network deployments; and a carrier-class centralized management and control system. The Tropos network architecture is highly resilient, scalable, high performance, and secure. It economically and seamlessly extends networks and systems from the office out into the field improving operational efficiency and enabling new services.

Features and benefits of the Tropos network architecture include:

High Performance: Tropos networks can provide more than 10 Mbps throughput at each mesh router and less than 1 ms latency per mesh hop, supporting multiple current and future applications.

Advanced RF resource management: Tropos networks implement a number of advanced RF resource management algorithms that improve the performance and reliability of communications using unlicensed spectrum.

Scalable: Tropos networks have been proven to scale to large coverage areas, large number of users transferring massive volumes of data, large numbers of M2M end-points and large numbers of routers. However, Tropos networks can also economically cover small areas, such as parks, with few users and limited data traffic.

Highly Available: To support mission-critical applications, the distributed Tropos network architecture is a controller-free architecture that provides high resiliency using multiple redundant communications pathways, RF channels and RF bands to ensure high availability. Tropos networks can satisfy different economic, application and reliability needs with networks designed to deliver from >99.99% availability to >99.999% availability.

Field Proven: Tropos mesh routers have been installed in the field since 2002. They are used by more than 850 customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Tropos networks are proven to deliver greater than 99.999% availability.

Secure: Tropos networks support a multi-layer, multi-application, defense-in-depth security. Each Tropos mesh router incorporates an integrated firewall and IPsec VPN plus authentication and encryption capabilities. The Tropos networks architecture meets the requirements of FIPS 140-2 and NERC-CIP 002-009 requirements for critical cyber asset protection. Security policies are enforced at the edge of the wireless network, preventing unauthorized traffic from consuming network capacity and unauthorized users from probing resources closer to the network core for security vulnerabilities.

Multi-Use Network: Tropos networks support multiple applications and user groups. The same physical infrastructure can be leveraged for applications and user communities with different performance, security and QoS requirements.

Mobility: Tropos networks provide seamless, session-persistent roaming for users at highway speeds for as long as they stay within the mesh coverage area. Clients can move between nodes, gateways and IP subnets with their application sessions, including VPN sessions, persistently and transparently preserved as they move within the mesh network.

Centralized Management: Tropos networks are centrally managed using Tropos Control, a comprehensive and scalable network management system. Tropos Control provides an XML-based northbound interface and SNMP trap forwarding for use by higher level network management applications. Note that Tropos Control is an out-of-line system – network operation does not rely on on-going communications with Tropos Control.

Superior Radios: The radios used in Troops routers are designed and built in-house so that they are tailored to the unique needs of large, outdoor networks. They provide superior receive sensitivity and are equipped with precision ceramic filters that eliminate near-band signals from other radio systems. Tropos radios are tuned for maximum rate at long distances, not just short-range performance.

Tough Hardware: Tropos mesh routers are ruggedized, weatherized and electrically hardened. Their rugged packaging can survive continual and extreme vibration and shock. They are weatherized to withstand extreme heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, ice and humidity, including hurricanes. Their electrical hardening includes telecom-grade surge and lightning protection, and they comply with IEEE 1613 environmental requirements for networking equipment in electric power substations.

In summary, Tropos networks are uniquely capable of delivering the coverage, capacity, performance, reliability, security and scalability required in a wireless IP communications infrastructure.