CommPower has been a key team member of, and product supplier to the Defense Message System (DMS) program since 1995. As subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, CommPower was initially responsible for the delivery of the Multi Function Interpreter (MFI) and the Mail List Agent (MLA) as two of the specialty products in the DMS infrastructure.
Subsequent DMS related product implementations have included the DMS Transition Host (DTH) in support of AUTODIN closure, the CommPower XML Interface (CP-XI) and XML Portal (CP-XP) products to enable interoperability between DMS and text/web-based message handling systems, and the NATO PCT Gateway to allow secure messaging between DMS and the STANAG 4406 V.3 compliant NATO allies and partners, i.e. NATO-NC3A, NATO Host nations, Australia, and New Zealand.
The products have been delivered on HP-UX platforms, NT 4.0 platforms, and now also on W2K platforms. One of the major evolutionary enhancements of the products was the transition to true multi-level secure messaging based on the ACP120/CSP security technology and associated processing and handling of security labels and caveats.
CommPower's experience gained from building and delivering DMS specialty products is now being directed towards developing tomorrow's, more commercial secure messaging products for much broader use in both military, public, and private sectors of society. TREX 2003 is such a product.
The current DMS products are presented in the following document, together with the equivalent export versions without the U.S. DMS security technology, sold to NATO Allies:
U.S. e-Mail Detailed Product Overview 
Certification/Approval Status of CommPower’s Software Products
Release ID Type of Certific./Approval Status Sponsor MFI-NT 3.0 MLA-NT 3.0 CP-XP (W2K) 3.0
Federal Services and Agencies, Migration to DMS
CommPower’s Multi-Function Interpreter (MFI), also known as the Multi-Function Gateway (MFG), is ideally suited to support a federal agency in the gradual transition from record-type messaging towards DMS compliant, secure X.400 messaging.
The MFI (or MFG) includes a complete JANAP128/ACP127 store-and-forward message switching capability allowing hundreds of Mode I/Mode II terminal users to be connected and interoperate, while at the same time facilitating interoperability with the DMS infrastructure via format and protocol conversions. In other words, as users migrate to DMS, the MFI will perform transparent message translation processing to ensure that the legacy users can continue to communicate with each other and newly transitioned DMS users in a "business as usual" manner.
The system control position (SCP) of the MFI is also capable of functioning as a message service position (MSP) for erred products being entered and thereby supports the message switching function. In fact, the MFI can support multiple SCP/MSP positions as necessary to aid the connected user terminals.
The key characteristics of the MFI as they relate to store-and-forward message switching are:
- Online setup and control of each discrete I/O port.
- Online updates to the routing database containing PLA, RIs, AIGs, and CADs.
- Sophisticated traffic controls such as I/O load balancing, alternate routing, and message intercept.
- Up to 41 days of online storage for message and audit data from which full message retrieval and report generation can be performed.
- Online message creation, correction, dispatching, and template creation capabilities.
- 5 levels of configurable audible alarms.
- Full message validation for Unclassified through Top Secret messages.
The MFI software product supports single-ended platform installations as well as fully dualized architectures for uninterrupted operations. CommPower sells the MFI product to system integrators and end-users alike, plus we undertake delivery of fully integrated and tested systems, including installation, training, and support, if required.
Customer base for Secure Messaging and Gateway Systems
(including operational and demonstration systems)
U.S. GovernmentDefense Agencies as part of the DMS program. 210 MFIs sold; 750 MLAs sold. Other installations include:
- Ministry of Interior, Spain, delivered by Siemens Nixdorf.
- Canadian DND, MMHS-POC delivered by Motorola.
- Canadian DND, delivered by Computing Devices Canada and EDS-UK.
- Defense Agency, Austria, delivered by Siemens Nixdorf.
- Malaysian Army, delivered by CRI A/S, Denmark.
- German Army Intelligence, delivered by Siemens Nixdorf.
- NC3A Technical Center, The Hague, Holland.
- Danish CCIS, delivered by EDS, U.K.
- U.K. Navy, British Aerospace.
- U.K. RAF/Army, delivered by BT Syntegra
- NATO Rapid Reaction Force, delivered by EDS, U.K.
- NATO Pilot, delivered by Lockheed Martin via NSA.
- Message Switching/Gateway system for overseas customer installation, delivered by Marconi Communications.
- Australian Defense Demonstrator, delivered by Lockheed Martin via British Aerospace, Australia.
- General Staff, MOD Turkey, delivered by Havelsan in Ankara.
- Italian Navy via Marconi Communications.
Copyright © 2003 Communications & Power Engineering, Inc. All Rights Reserved
CommPower, 1040 Flynn Road, Camarillo, CA 93012-8705 USA
Voice: +1 805 389 7414, ext. 101 or 109, Fax: +1 805 389 7419
e-mail: info@commpower.com
Contact Kathy.Nuckles@commpower.com for more DMS information.