Mobility and Cloud: Operating in Intermittent, Austere Network Conditions

Abstract : Cloud computing is emerging as the mainstream platform for a range of on-demand applications, services, and infrastructure. Before the benefits of cloud computing are realized, several technology challenges must be addressed. Operating in intermittent and austere network conditions is one of such challenges, which navy ships face when communicating with land-based cloud computing environments. Given limited bandwidth and intermittent connectivity of satellite connections, mechanisms are needed to support data requirements of navy ships. Data caching and pre-fetching can be useful in such conditions. Caches act as temporary local storage and can satisfy data requests readily, if requested data is available. They promote faster response time and reduce bandwidth utilization. Cloudlets have the capability to bring the cloud closer to the users when they are deployed, as they extend the reachability of cloud-based servers to the users. In this research, we study the application of these two mitigating strategies in detail and evaluate their performance through modeling and simulation. Results from our simulations have suggested a positive impact. Caches and cloudlets as part of the shipboard architecture produce better performance in data communications. Most importantly, the strategies promote operations continuity for a naval force under disconnected, intermittent, and limited network environments.