Red/Black

Red/Black is a Web-based server that can provide control and monitoring of different devices and servers. This is intended to complement, not replace, the primary device management tools. Red/Black servers can operate in a pair, to monitor and control devices across a secure boundary. A detailed description of Red/Black is provided in the [Red/Black overview] whitepaper.

Red/Black is designed to support HF Radio systems and to display and manage communication chains. This is described in the whitepaper [HF Circuits: Automation & Evolution with STANAG 5066].

Usage Overview

A Red side operator view of Red/Black can be seen in the above screenshot:

• Devices are arranged in “communication chains”, so that the operator can clearly see how devices are connected.
• The Red/Black boundary is clearly shown, along with crypto and guard devices that sit on the boundary.
• Black side devices are clearly shown to the right of the boundary. A black side operator can use Red/Black to monitor and manage these devices on black side (without any red side visibility).
• Red side servers (all Isode products in this screen shot) are monitored and controlled to the left of the boundary.
• The Red/Black top screen shows key status parameters for each device to enable primarily monitoring to be handled from the top screen.
• Alerts are shown in the bottom right hand corner and devices with pending alerts that have not been read by operator are shown clearly.
• Devices can be selected to give access to more detailed parameters and control of selected parameters.
• Red/Black enables configuration of device connectivity by operators (for switchable configuration) and by administrators (to reflect physical configuration)

The above diagram shows the Red/Black architecture. Key points to note:

• There are two Red/Black servers, one on each side of the secure boundary.
• Isode’s M-Guard product is used to control flow of status and control messages across the boundary
• Devices can be present on both sides of the boundary. Black side devices can be managed red side or black side.
• Device types are specified with an XML “abstract specification” so that no product changes are needed to support new devices.
• Devices need drivers.

Red/Black provides support for the following devices:

• Modems (as supported by Icon-5066)
  • Collins: RT-2200A; HSM 2500; Q9600
  • RapidM: RM6; RM8; RM10
  • Thales: TRX 1774
• Generic SNMP Devices supported by standard MIBs:
  • System MIB (enables basic monitoring of most SNMP capable devices)
  • Host MIB (to monitor a host)
  • UPS MIB (to monitor an uninterruptable power supply)
• Specific SNMP Devices:
  • Leonardo HF 2000 Radio
  • IES Antenna Switch
  • eLogic/Leonardo Radio Gateway
  • IES Antenna Rotator
• Isode products with special drivers
  • M-Switch
  • M-Vault
  • Icon-5066
• TCP devices – a TCP driver can provide basic up/down status monitoring for a number of devices, including the following Isode products:
  • Harrier
  • M-Box
  • M-Link
  • Icon-PEP
  • Cobalt

For other devices, three options are available:

1. Red/Black has an open design that allows for third party device drivers to be implemented by partners or customers. Isode supplies an open source C++ reference driver on Github to facilitate development of such drivers.
2. Isode can quote for device driver development for a specific device with a clearly specified management interface.
3. For SNMP managed devices with suitable MIBs, customers or Isode can develop abstract device specifications.