Realistic modeling of tactical networks with multi-level security in VAN testbeds

Testing of applications for tactical MANETs poses a special technical challenge due to the difficulty of conducting experiments in an ad hoc network environment at a scale larger than a few nodes. One approach is to conduct experiments in Virtual Ad hoc Network (VAN) testbeds1 that can imitate a tactical MANET to a high level of fidelity. For applications, this is achieved by executing unmodified software in their native operating systems on the machines over an emulated platform that uses identical logical layout of the real physical platform; for the network, it is achieved by using an emulated/simulated network that behaves like a real MANET in some/all layers of the protocol stack. In this paper, we analyze the challenges and tradeoffs of realistic modeling of tactical networks with multilevel security (MLS), and present a case study of modeling BCTM-like manned ground vehicle (MGV) platforms in the VAN Testbed. Lessons learned during application development and testing performed on the model are also discussed.