JES and MetaVR VRSG Provide Diskless System for JTAC Virtual Trainers

This case study describes techniques used to make a complex multiple image generator (IG) PC-based simulator run as a diskless system with one central remote control of all subsystems of the trainer. This diskless system configuration, developed in collaboration with JES Hardware Solutions and MetaVR, is currently in use at the Air-Ground Operations School (AGOS) at Nellis AFB, JTAC at AFRL Mesa, and JTAC Virtual Trainers (JTAC-VT).

JTAC virtual trainer dome using MetaVR's visualization software and JES diskless system configuration. Images courtesy of Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Mesa Research Lab.

Background

An A-10 and JTAC-VT simulation platform can alone comprise a total of 28 VRSG IG channels, instructor operator stations (IOS), battlefield air operations (BAO), stealth, radio, handheld devices (binoculars, laser range finders, and so on), and a sound channel; this is at best 45 hard disks for system managers to secure, diagnose, and repair.

AFRL needed a stable and fast remote boot system to control all their JTAC VT-Dome subsystems. Upon a recommendation from JES, AFRL engineers began using Ardence Professional Desktop Pro for desktop management and software streaming which satisfied their disk management problems. MetaVR built an option in VRSG to enable all the IGs to boot from a single disk image, which was important for management and service. With these two significant changes, USAF obtained a stable boot platform.

The following diagram illustrates the JES remote boot solution -- all the remote control and start up of both Windows and LINUX OS computing systems.

Over the life of a simulation platform, the IG and other PC-based systems will be changed or serviced several times. Using disk image technology, IGs and other subsystem computers can be changed quickly and even be mismatched. Using a disk image enables easy compliance with Information Assurance (DIACAP) authority and simple decommission of obsolete hardware. After subsystems are finished booting, the overhead is less than noise on the line. Each engineer that has ever used this disk image concept, has ordered more copies and put it into production, as it is stable, fast and simple to operate.

Applications

F-22 engineers needed an alternative to physically resetting their threat domes and IOS on 32 IG channels for three different levels of security. With the use of the JES 8 GB SAN solution and the remote control software F-22 engineers were able to deliver three sets data, depending on security level, over 8 GB FIBRE to the simulation platform. They then operate the IG data over ISCSI and boot IGs, IOS, and so on, computer-disk images over proprietary ISCSI using the JES-configured software. This configuration provided a great time-saving solution which in turn enabled more simulator operating time. JES also used the same 8 GB SAN for debrief playback in three separate floors of the building.

The JTAC, JTAC-VT, and AGOS at Nellis sites all use disk image technology to set up and control over 100 MetaVR IGs and other simulator control sub-systems systems, such as the radio network, threat system, stealth, and a 400 GB virtual disk for terrain maps. These simulator sites boot disk images for both Windows and UNIX/LINUX hardware platforms.

As shown in the diagram above, a single disk or network-attached storage NAS system can control the entire simulation platform. The system is capable of managing hundreds of disk images.

Information and diagram on this page courtesy of James Sessions, President of JES Hardware Solutions.