| This paper describes a prototype ad hoc configuration management tool applied to the planning, evaluation, and reconfiguration of network hierarchical structures. Specifically designed for future ad hoc military networks, the tool supports a) rapid deployment of large numbers of nodes with heterogeneous links, and b) rapid adaptation to changing environment or mission needs. The tool, called Multi-Objective Network Optimization and Analysis Tool (MONOPATI), has four main components: a network generator, a high level simulator, objective functions, and a multi-objective optimizer. The network generator can generate diverse topologies with different mobility models. The high level simulator can simulate distributed ad hoc routing and configuration maintenance protocols and present real-time graphical network and structure representations with performance statistics on networks with thousands of nodes. A unique feature of MONOPATI is the flexible mathematical representation of goals and constraints in objective functions. The multi-objective optimizer uses an enhanced version of Simulated Annealing (SA) for rapid network optimization and assessment based on the objectives and constraints. This paper highlights the application and effectiveness of MONOPATI in forming and evaluating structures that satisfy diverse hierarchy formation objectives in a dynamic ad hoc network.
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