13.2. Configuring DIS

13.2.1. Network configuration
13.2.2. Configuring the launch of an external simulator
13.2.3. Giving Debrief an identity
13.2.4. Filtering DIS traffic

Access the DIS preferences page either from the Window / Preferences / Maritime Analysis DIS preferences page, or by clicking on the Server prefs link on the DIS Listener View.

13.2.1. Network configuration

Debrief uses DIS to talk to simulators running on the current machine, or on another machine on the network. This network communications requires some configuration - to tell Debrief what to listen to. Two specific values are used:

IP Address

The 4-block Network address for the multicast group being used for DIS messaging

Port

The number of the port on that address which is being used for DIS messaging

13.2.2. Configuring the launch of an external simulator

Some DIS simulators run as complex combinations of services & applications. Other simulators are contained in simple standalone executables. It is possible to launch such an executable directly from Debrief

Path to executable

The application (or script) used to trigger a simulation run

13.2.3. Giving Debrief an identity

In an environment where a networked simulation has multiple participants, it can become necessary to specify identify particular participants (so their messages could be, for example, ignored). Two particular values are used for this configuration

Site

This value is unique to the site (location) where Debrief is being run from. The value isn't derived from a formal table, but is by local agreement

Application

This value is unique to the Debrief application.

13.2.4. Filtering DIS traffic

It is possible for multiple DIS simulations to simultaneously run on a single network. Common-sense would suggest that these multiple simulations should use unique network address and port, but this isn't mandatory. If multiple simulations are being run on the same network address and port, it is possible to control which simulations Debrief listens to:

Site

Provision of this optional parameter restricts Debrief to handling messages from the specified site

Application

Provision of this optional parameter restricts Debrief to handling messages from the specified application

Exercise

Provision of this optional parameter restricts Debrief to handling messages from the specified DIS exercise