Desktop alert system now online in Navy Region Japan
By MC3 Dominique Pineiro, CNFJ Public Affairs

Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) systems command remotely installed new software on all OneNet Nonclassified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) computers throughout Navy Region Japan Feb. 19.

The new software, called Computer Desktop Notification System (CDNS), causes color-coded pop-up windows to appear at the bottom right corner of the NIPRNet computer screen.

“CDNS is a mass notification system that can be used to send pop-up notifications to every unclassified OneNet workstation in the Far East,” said Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ) Communication Networks (N6) Senior Field Engineer Jonathan Harmer. “The system is also capable of sending e-mail notifications to any e-mail address. It is designed to give installations another means of distributing important information.”

Blue or green pop-up windows are information or test messages, yellow or red will be used to warn users of potential harmfully situations.

“Types of notifications may vary depending on what sort of notices commanding officers would like sent out,” said Harmer. “But aside from system tests, critical weather conditions such as Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR) or heat index flag colors are possible notifications that people could see in the future.”

CDNS announcements transmit under the authority of installation commanders or CNFJ, and pop-up windows are considered official notifications.

Created by a company called AtHoc and installed by SPAWAR, CDNS supports the computer network portion of a wide-area alert and notifications systems.

OneNet customers can “right – click” on the purple sphere client icon, located in the windows taskbar at the lower – right portion of the screen, to learn more about CDNS services and settings.