Secure Communications Link Optimization from AOS

AOS SkyPipe™ Eos
Link Enhancement for Secure Satellite (LESS)

	SkyPipe™ General Information •  SkyPipe™ Product Sheet

The problems with sending Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) traffic over long-delay and high-bit error links - such as satellite links - are the result of a congestion control scheme that was designed for terrestrial networks. TCP requires that the destination host provide regular acknowledgements to the source to indicate that an error-free packet has successfully arrived. If the source does not receive an acknowledgement within a certain period of time of sending a packet, TCP will assume network congestion, and will decrease data throughput.

In 2003, AOS introduced SkyPipe™, a proprietary software application optimized for TCP traffic over secure satellite links, developed in conjunction with the AOS Outpost Communicator™ (OC) 256 system.

AOS is pleased to introduce the SkyPipe™ Eos Link Enhancement for Secure Satellite (LESS) - a pocket-sized, USB-powered SkyPipe hardware client.

SkyPipe Eos is a particularly timely solution for users of the new Inmarsat BGAN high-speed data service – and ideally suited for those who employ Government encryption devices to secure their mobile networks.

On-board VPN capability means that hardware encryption device users are afforded an optional additional layer of security by “double wrapping” of traffic.  The SkyPipe Eos client can be terminated to any Cisco® PIX firewall or security IOS.  Multiple options for user authentication are included.  To further ensure flexibility and interoperability with other network or communications equipment, most SkyPipe features can be enabled or disabled via a simple set-up menu.

The SkyPipe Performance Enhancing Proxy (PEP) supports multiple standard application protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SOCKS, and Protocol-independent Port Forwarding.  A simple, “plug and play” device that requires no proxy settings to operate, SkyPipe Eos is transparent to users and to standard applications. 

SkyPipe also utilizes HTTP prefetching, further enhancing transfer of HTTP-based data, - dramatically increasing web traffic performance and drastically reducing download times for web pages.  On-the-fly compression saves the user bandwidth and money.  And as TCP throughput over satellite networks correlates directly to delay (RTT), SkyPipe is especially effective in enhancing throughput over “double hop”, mobile-to-mobile links.

Public SkyPipe servers will be available from various satellite service providers.  Various private server options are available, and can be installed at user facilities.

SkyPipe has been tested extensively with the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN), and shows marked improvement in throughput over both secure and non-secure links – as much as 450% in some upload test configurations. 

It is important to note that standard BGAN service is routed through the public Internet, and subject to delay beyond the users control.  Many AOS satellite customers utilize SkyPipe in conjunction with a dedicated/private Internet backhaul to their home office facility, thereby maximizing bandwidth efficiency and the benefits of the SkyPipe platform. 

For more information about the SkyPipe LESS Hardware Client, or SkyPipe Link Enhancement Software, contact AOS.