Four service performance categories for routed data services have been defined:
(1) REAL-TIME CRITICAL
(2) MISSION CRITICAL
(3) PREMIUM
(4) STANDARD
Real-time Critical and Mission Critical data services are presently routed over FTS2000/NSAP-like dedicated circuits, while Premium and Standard data services are routed typically over shared Asynchronous Transmission Mode (ATM) and/or Packet Over SONET (POS) backbone circuits. Networks comprised of different service performance categories can be installed at a customer location to provide increased reliability.
1. Real-time Critical Service
This service provides a real-time critical level of data networking connectivity
with emphasis on meeting real-time telemetry transport using the Internet Protocol
suite. Real-time Critical IP (RCIP) service is primarily differentiated from
Mission Critical IP (MCIP) service in that it is engineered with a high level
of redundancy to achieve the added level of availability. This service employs
the same security and connectivity features and limitations as the Mission Critical
service. back to top
2. Mission Critical Service
This service provides a mission critical level of data networking connectivity
using the IP suite with controlled access and security measures. MCIP service
is differentiated from Standard IP (SIP) service in that it is engineered as
a closed system to support space flight mission critical telemetry and data
flows. All systems and facilities connected to the MCIP service shall meet the
specified IT security level. Access to and from the general Internet and other
NASA IP services is extremely limited and provided on a strictly managed "by
exception" basis.
MCIP service is most appropriate for critical space flight mission support data and telemetry flows that require (1) an extremely high level of availability for mission success and (2) no general Internet access.
3. Premium Service
This service provides a premium level of data networking connectivity using
the IP suite. Premium IP (PIP) service is differentiated from SIP service in
that it provides a higher performance level, higher priority for problem resolution,
and is not directly connected to the general Internet. PIP connectivity to the
general Internet is through a controlled gateway and is implemented on an exception
basis only.
PIP service is most appropriate for internal Agency networking requirements where the Agency's operations should be isolated from the general Internet.
4. Standard Service
This service provides for basic data networking connectivity using the IP suite.
SIP service is the commodity Internet service that provides the Agency’s
link to the Internet in general. It provides basic universal Internet connectivity
with minimal performance guarantees or restrictions on acceptable use.
SIP service is open to the public to enable access to publicly available NASA
information sources such as World Wide Web services.