User guide

Chapter 1 - General 1-5
Product Description
Product Description
Introduction
The Vipersat Management System (VMS) is a network management system
that uses information it receives from the network’s VMS controlled modems.
The VMS controlled modem’s internal microprocessor based input/output (I/O)
controller measures, captures, and transmits these detected, real-time network
operating parameters to VMS via PLDM (Path Loss Data Message) packets.
VMS receives, stores, and processes this data from the network’s VMS
controlled modems and uses the data to update and display current network
status information. The network data is then displayed by VMS in an easy-to-
interpret, real-time graphic presentation. The result is a comprehensive, intuitive
operator’s network Management and Control tool for quick, responsive network
control.
VMS is customized at setup for each satellite network it controls recognizing
the unique bandwidth resources and limitations available for each network.
VMS has trigger points set defining the upper and lower limits for usage, type
of service, and other network parameters defining bandwidth resource alloca-
tions for each traffic type. These triggers, or set-points, are easily modified at
any time by a qualified operator whenever network resource allocations need to
be reconfigured.
As VMS receives a switching request from a network VMS controlled modem,
it uses sophisticated algorithms to evaluate the request against available
network resources and network policies before sending a switch command back
to the requesting VMS controlled modem to make a switch to a given frequency
and bit rate. If the switch request is denied, because of lack of available network
resources for example, the VMS controlled modem will not make the switch
until the necessary network resources become available.
The satellite network’s VMS controlled modems detect, monitor and, when
commanded by VMS, physically make network changes. The VMS collects,
analyzes, and displays data, and commands the VMS controlled modems to
make network changes. Refer to each VMS controlled modem’s User’s Guide
for more details on each device’s role in the satellite network.
Note: The Vipersat External Switching Protocol (VESP) is available to equip-
ment manufactures, making it possible for them to smoothly integrate
their products into a VMS controlled satellite network. Contact a Vipersat
representative for details.
A sample display, shown in figure 1-1, shows VMS ViperView display giving
the operator a complete view of a network’s configuration, the health of all
network components, and current bandwidth usage. The VMS display is flexi-
NOTE