I truly enjoyed Ryan Maley’s December 1997 article, “Case in Point: NT on the High Seas.” I guess most people don’t realize the size of an aircraft carrier; it’s a floating city.
I have one question: Table A notes that Bandwidth for IT-21 is asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) backbone with 100Mbps Ethernet to the desktop. Assuming that 100Mbps implies CAT 5 cable, wouldn’t the network be susceptible to electromagnetic interference (specifically, deliberate interference by the enemy)? I would have thought that fibre would be the specification in use.

--Charlie Willits, MCP



I think the IT-21 specifications are the minimum specifications. Remember, IT-21 is designed for use throughout the Navy, including some very old facilities and ships. Adding fibre to some of these sites might be cost prohibitive. The military is probably more worried about RFI/EMI interference on equipment. Interference might interrupt the use of wire, but it won’t physically damage it. The same is not true for equipment such as routers or computers.
I agree with you about fibre. I’m sure as new ships and facilities are built, some kind of fibre will be the standard.

--Ryan J. Maley

Charlie Willits, MCP 8/10/1999 1:46:34 PM