ud3tn/doc/index.md

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Hello and thank you for your interest in µD3TN!

This page serves as a starting point for the documentation, guiding you through the essential information needed to work effectively with µD3TN.

About µD3TN

µD3TN (pronounced "Micro-Dee-Tee-En") is a free, lean, and space-tested DTN protocol implementation, for which we offer enterprise-support. It runs on POSIX and Linux operating systems and can be easily adapted to a variety of challenged networks. The source code is available under BSD license.

??? question "What is Delay- and Disruption-tolerant Networking (DTN)?"

[Delay- and Disruption-Tolerant Networking (DTN)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delay-tolerant_networking) is a network architecture designed to enable reliable communication in environments with **intermittent or unreliable connectivity**, such as deep space, maritime, or remote areas. The [DTN architecture](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4838) uses **store-and-forward techniques**, where data is stored at intermediate nodes and forwarded when a connection becomes available, ensuring eventual delivery even over **long delays or frequent disruptions**. This approach contrasts with traditional networks (like the Internet), which assume continuous connectivity, making DTN ideal for **challenging and delay-prone communication scenarios**.

What does µD3TN provide?

A general introduction of µD3TN is available on its project website and in our video series on YouTube.

µD3TN currently implements:

• Bundle Protocol version 6 (RFC 5050),
• Bundle Protocol version 7 (RFC 9171),
• Several Bundle Protocol convergence layers, such as:
  • MTCP (draft version 0),
  • TCPCLv3 (RFC 7242),
  • CCSDS Space Packet Protocol (SPP),
  • BIBE (draft version 3, see [this](./Bundle-in-Bundle Encapsulation_(BIBE).md) documentation),
• A persistent storage backend based on SQLite (see here).

!!! tip "µD3TN is your go-to solution for ensuring reliable data communication in any kind of network - even in challenging, delay-prone environments where traditional networks fall short!"

How to use this documentation?

• If you're new to µD3TN, start with the Quick Start Guide. It won't cover every detail, but it gives a great overview of what µD3TN can do and how to set it up.

• The Usage section provides more detailed instructions and explores additional use cases to help you get the most out of µD3TN.

• Development covers advanced topics and resources for developers, including guides on data formats, performance profiling, and contributing to µD3TN.

• Lastly, References includes API documentation and research papers that provide in-depth technical details and theoretical background.

Additional Resources and External Information:

• The directory structure and command-line usage are explained in the README for easy reference.
• Furthermore, you can review the Changelog here to help decide which µD3TN version best suits your needs.

If you have any questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via contact@d3tn.com.

Enjoy exploring and innovating with µD3TN!