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'Gold Eagle' Sailors Maintain Complex Network Systems in Shipyard

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080428-22
Release Date: 4/28/2008 9:42:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Philip Schrickel, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from the "Gold Eagle" Combat Systems department have been working day and night this April in order to keep up with the fast paced data demands of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier during its scheduled Refueling Complex Overhaul.

Part of the challenge for the aircraft carrier's ADP [Automated Data Processing] team has been installing their new network aboard ship, which incorporates miles of new fiber optic cable; all while maintaining a separate network for use by the crew while Carl Vinson undergoes RCOH.

The temporary local area network (LAN) drops have been vital throughout Carl Vinson's RCOH period, but the need to transition over to the ship's new network will become essential as more crew members begin working on board the ship. With the official crew move aboard (CMA) just months away, the installation of LAN drops are a major part of the evolution of returning Sailors from off-site work locations to their work centers aboard ship.

"The LAN transition is a big part of the CMA process," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class (SW) Doug Gilmore, ADP leading petty officer. "We've been busy supporting the ship's RCOH network while ensuring we execute the proper installation on our permanent systems we will install and start using very soon."

Thus far during the aircraft carrier's overhaul period, the LAN Drop Cable team has laid more than 9,000 ft. of cable, amounting to more than 50 LAN drops, with nearly 6,000 ft. of cable expected to be installed in the next month alone.

With an extensive ship's network, Combat Systems Sailors also have to manage the complexities of installing up to date hardware in an electronic environment that's constantly changing.

"With technology constantly changing and updating, it can be difficult and time consuming," said Gilmore.
"But we have a good handle on it and are installing the latest in technology."

By the beginning of August, the LAN cable team plans to have the Internet Storage Name Service, (ISNS) online, which will enable Sailors to log onto their ship's account on any computer connected to the ship's LAN.

"When we finally get the ISNS online, it will be a major milestone in this RCOH period," said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Marcus Senior, an ADP technician. "Working on the LAN has been hard work, but we've been able to draw some great experiences from this whole evolution."

USS Carl Vinson is currently undergoing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle.

For more news from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn70/.