The Use of Split-Connection in Satellite Networks

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss the use of the split-connection mechanism in networks involving satellite links. Many researches adopt this procedure in order to isolate the satellite channel from the wired portion of the network, which make possible to maintain TCP protocol in the end-users, while in the satellite link another protocol may be implemented, more suited for the wireless link characteristics, such as long propagation delay and high bit error rate. Though simulation using the software OPNET Modeler 10.0A, we have analyzed the impact of packet losses in the satellite channel, with different values of bit error rate, in the establishment of the end-to-end connection when split-connection procedure is adopted. In this study, we have assumed the Satellite Transport Protocol (STP) proposed by European Space Agency as the transport protocol for the satellite link and the CCSDS AOS recommendation as the Data Link protocol. Simulation results demonstrate that high bit error rate in satellite systems in conjunction with the long propagation delay may prevent the establishment of the end-to-end connection due to TCP implementations of several operational systems (Windows)