Network Simulator Tools

„ ns2 network simulator - http://www.isi.edu/nsnam/ns/

Ns is a discrete event simulator targeted at networking
research. Ns provides substantial support for simulation of
TCP, routing, and multicast protocols over wired and
Network Simulator wireless (local and satellite) networks.
„ Scalable Networks - http://www.scalable-networks.com
Network simulator designed from the outset for maximum
speed and scalability, with real-time simulation as an
achievable goal.
„ x-sim - http://www.cs.arizona.edu/xkernel/
The x-kernel protocol framework can be used as a
complete simulation environment for TCP/IP networks.

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EE5302 Network Design and Management 1

Network Simulator Tools Network Simulator Tools

„ SSFNet - http://www.ssfnet.org/ „ OMNeT++ - http://www.hit.bme.hu/phd/vargaa/omnetpp.htm
SSF (Scalable Simulation Framework) is a public-domain OMNeT++ is an open-source, component-based simulation
standard for discrete-event simulation of large, complex package built on C++ foundations. It offers a C++
systems in Java and C++. Several SSF implementations simulation class library and GUI support (graphical network
and a large number of open-source protocol models and editing, animation).
other components exist. „ JavaSim - http://www.javasim.org/
„ BRITE - http://www.cs.bu.edu/brite/ JavaSim is a component-based, compositional simulation
Tool for generation of realistic internet topologies, with environment.
export to several network simulators (currently ns2, „ Shumock Enterprises - http://www.shumock.com
JavaSim, and SSFNet). real-time simulation on the Windows NT platform
„ Parsec - http://may.cs.ucla.edu/projects/parsec/ „ REAL - http://www.cs.cornell.edu/skeshav/real/overview.html
a C-based simulation language for sequential and parallel a modular network simulator featuring a java GUI
execution of discrete-event simulation models
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 Network Simulator Tools Network Simulator Tools
„ Akaroa - „ NIST ATM/HFC Network Simulator -
http://www.cosc.canterbury.ac.nz/research/RG/net_sim/sim http://www.hsnt.nist.gov/misc/hsnt/prd_atm-sim.html
ulation_group/akaroa/ „ cnet - http://www.cs.uwa.edu.au/pls/cnet/
Akaroa is a package for supporting the Multiple A network simulator with a GUI and targeted at
Replications In Parallel (MRIP) simulation technique to undergraduate teaching. Enables experimentation with
harness the computing power of a network of inexpensive various data-link layer, network layer, routing and transport
workstations. Integration exists with the Ptolemy Classic, layer networking protocols.
ns2 and OMNeT++ simulators.
„ OPNET Modeler - http://www.mil3.com/products/modeler/
OPNET Modeler is a commercial tool for modeling and
simulation of communications networks, devices, and
protocols. It features graphical editors and animation.

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“ns-2”, the Network Simulator Goals

„ Simple model „ Support networking research and education
„ a discrete event simulator „ protocol design, traffic studies, etc.
„ Focused on modeling network protocols „ protocol comparison
„ wired, wireless, satellite „ Provide a collaborative environment
„ TCP, UDP, multicast, unicast „ freely distributed, open source
„ web, telnet, ftp „ Share code, protocols, models, etc.
„ ad hoc routing, sensor networks „ allow easy comparison of similar protocols
„ infrastructure: stats, tracing, error models, etc. „ increase confidence in results
„ More people look at models in more situations
„ Experts develop models
„ Multiple levels of detail in one simulator

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 History ns Components
„ Began as REAL in 1989 „ ns: the simulator itself
„ ns by Floyd and McCanne at LBL „ nam: the Network Animator
„ ns-2 by McCanne and the VINT project (LBL, PARC, UCB, „ visualize ns (or other) output
USC/ISI) „ GUI input simple ns scenarios
„ Currently maintained at USC/ISI, with input from Floyd et „ pre-processing:
al. „ traffic and topology generators
„ post-processing:
„ simple trace analysis, often in Awk, Perl, or Tcl

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ns Models Discrete Event Simulation

„ Traffic models and applications „ DES model world as events
„ web, FTP, telnet, constant-bit rate, Real Audio „ simulator has list of events
„ Transport protocols „ process: take next one, run it, until done
„ unicast: TCP (Reno, Vegas, etc.), UDP „ each event happens in an instant of virtual (simulated) time, but
takes an arbitrary amount of real time
„ multicast: SRM
„ Routing and queueing „ ns uses simple model
„ single thread of control
„ wired routing, ad hoc routing and directed diffusion
„ => no locking or race conditions to worry about (very easy)
„ queueing protocols: RED, drop-tail, etc.
„ Physical media
„ wired (point-to-point, LANs), wireless (multiple propagation models),
satellite

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 Discrete Event Examples Installation and Documentation
„ http://www.isi.edu/nsnam/ns/
„ download ns-allinone
„ includes Tcl, OTcl, TclCL, ns, nam, etc.
„ mailing list: ns-users@isi.edu
„ documentation (see url above)
„ Marc Gries tutorial
„ ns manual

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Creating Event Scheduler Creating Network

„ Create scheduler „ Nodes
„ set ns [new Simulator] „ set n0 [$ns node]
„ Schedule event „ set n1 [$ns node]
„ $ns at <time> <event> „ Links & Queuing
„ <event>: any legitimate ns/tcl commands „ $ns duplex-link $n0 $n1 <bandwidth> <delay> <queue_type>
„ Start scheduler „ <queue_type>: DropTail, RED, CBQ, FQ, SFQ, DRR
„ $ns run

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 Computing Routes Traffic
„ Unicast „ simple two layers: transport and application
„ $ns rtproto <type> „ transports:
„ <type>: Static, Session, DV, cost, multi-path „ TCP, UDP, etc.
„ Multicast „ applications: (agents)
„ $ns multicast „ ftp, telnet, etc.
„ right after [new Simulator]

„ $ns mrtproto <type>

„ <type>: CtrMcast, DM, ST, BST

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Creating Connection: UDP Creating Connection: TCP

„ source and sink „ source and sink
„ set usrc [new Agent/UDP] „ set tsrc [new Agent/TCP]
„ set udst [new Agent/NULL] „ set tdst [new Agent/TCPSink]
„ connect them to nodes, then each other „ connect to nodes and each other
„ $ns attach-agent $n0 $usrc „ $ns attach-agent $n0 $tsrc
„ $ns attach-agent $n1 $udst „ $ns attach-agent $n1 $tdst
„ $ns connect $usrc $udst „ $ns connect $tsrc $tdst

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 Creating Traffic: On Top of TCP Creating Traffic: On Top of UDP
„ FTP „ CBR
„ set ftp [new Application/FTP] „ set src [new Application/Traffic/CBR]
„ $ftp attach-agent $tsrc „ Exponential or Pareto on-off
„ $ns at <time> "$ftp start" „ set src [new Application/Traffic/Exponential]
„ Telnet set „ set src [new Application/Traffic/Pareto]
„ telnet [new Application/Telnet]
„ $telnet attach-agent $tsrc

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Creating Traffic: Trace Driven End-to-End Argument: File Transfer

„ Trace driven „ Even if network guaranteed reliable delivery
„ set tfile [new Tracefile] „ Need to provide end-to-end checks
„ $tfile filename <file> „ e.g., network card may malfunction
„ set src [new Application/Traffic/Trace] „ If network is highly unreliable
„ $src attach-tracefile $tfile „ Adding some level of reliability helps performance, not correctness
„ <file>: „ Don’t try to achieve perfect reliability!
„ Binary format
„ inter-packet time (msec) and packet size (byte)

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