To simulate an IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) and POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) email protocols utilizing OMNeT++, which is helpful for comprehending how email communication functions over networks. These protocols are utilized by email clients to recovery emails from a server, with IMAP permitting more sophisticated operations such as conserving mail status on the server, even though POP3 is simpler, normally downloading emails to the client and optionally removing them from the server later.
While OMNeT++ does not offer built-in support for replicating email protocols like IMAP and POP3 directly, we can be mimicked the behaviour of these protocols by executing email-like traffic using existing TCP-based communication models within the framework INET. We can be replicated clients retrieving emails from a server and investigate how network conditions (like delays, packet loss, and bandwidth) influence email retrieval performance.
Below is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to simulate IMAP/POP3 email protocols using OMNeT++:
Steps to Simulate IMAP POP3 Email Protocol Projects in OMNeT++
- Install OMNeT++ and INET Framework
- Download OMNeT++:
- Download and install OMNeT++ from the OMNeT++ website.
- Install INET Framework:
- INET offers TCP/IP models, which can be used to replicate an email communication over networks.
- Clone the INET repository:
git clone https://github.com/inet-framework/inet.git
-
- Open OMNeT++ IDE and import the INET project through File > Import > Existing Projects into Workspace.
- Construct the project by right-clicking on INET in OMNeT++ and choosing Build Project.
- Define the Network Topology in NED
Describe a simple network topology in which clients are communicate with an email server. We can be utilized NED (Network Description) to describe the network, containing email clients (acting as email users) and an email server.
Example NED File for Email Network (EmailNetwork.ned):
package emailnetwork;
import inet.node.inet.StandardHost;
import inet.node.inet.Router;
import inet.linklayer.ethernet.EthernetInterface;
network EmailNetwork
{
submodules:
client1: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
client2: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,300”);
}
emailServer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=400,200”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=250,250”);
}
connections allowunconnected:
client1.ethg++ <–> EthernetInterface <–> router.ethg++;
client2.ethg++ <–> EthernetInterface <–> router.ethg++;
router.ethg++ <–> EthernetInterface <–> emailServer.ethg++;
}
Explanation:
- Email Clients: Two standard hosts signifying email clients that will recover emails from the email server.
- Email Server: A server that will react to email retrieval requests.
- Router: Forwards packets among the clients and the server.
- EthernetInterface: Wired network connections among the devices.
- Simulate Email Traffic Using TCP Sessions in omnetpp.ini
In IMAP and POP3, clients are communicate with the server over TCP. We can be mimicked an email retrieval by making TCP-based traffic among the email clients and the server, in which clients request data (emails) from the server, and the server responds with email data.
Example omnetpp.ini Configuration:
[General]
network = EmailNetwork
sim-time-limit = 200s
# Configure IP addresses for clients and server
*.client1.ipv4.address = “10.0.0.1”
*.client1.ipv4.netmask = “255.255.255.0”
*.client2.ipv4.address = “10.0.0.2”
*.client2.ipv4.netmask = “255.255.255.0”
*.emailServer.ipv4.address = “10.0.0.3”
*.emailServer.ipv4.netmask = “255.255.255.0”
# Configure Routing
*.router.ipv4.routingTable.typename = “Ipv4RoutingTable”
# TCP App for Email Traffic Simulation
# Client 1: Simulate Email Retrieval using IMAP-like behavior (multiple retrievals)
*.client1.numApps = 1
*.client1.app[0].typename = “TcpBasicClientApp”
*.client1.app[0].connectAddress = “10.0.0.3”
*.client1.app[0].connectPort = 143 # IMAP Port
*.client1.app[0].tOpen = 10s # Start retrieving at 10 seconds
*.client1.app[0].tSend = 15s # Send email retrieval request after connection
*.client1.app[0].sendBytes = 2000B # Small email retrieval request
*.client1.app[0].replyLength = 50KB # Server responds with email data of 50KB
*.client1.app[0].tClose = 50s # Close after retrieval
# Client 2: Simulate Email Retrieval using POP3-like behavior (single retrieval)
*.client2.numApps = 1
*.client2.app[0].typename = “TcpBasicClientApp”
*.client2.app[0].connectAddress = “10.0.0.3”
*.client2.app[0].connectPort = 110 # POP3 Port
*.client2.app[0].tOpen = 20s # Start retrieving at 20 seconds
*.client2.app[0].tSend = 25s # Send email retrieval request after connection
*.client2.app[0].sendBytes = 2000B # Email retrieval request
*.client2.app[0].replyLength = 80KB # Server responds with email data of 80KB
*.client2.app[0].tClose = 70s # Close connection after retrieval
# Server: Respond to Email Requests (IMAP/POP3)
*.emailServer.numApps = 1
*.emailServer.app[0].typename = “TcpSinkApp”
*.emailServer.app[0].localPort = 143 # IMAP Port
*.emailServer.app[1].typename = “TcpSinkApp”
*.emailServer.app[1].localPort = 110 # POP3 Port
# TCP configuration for connections
*.**.tcp.mss = 1460B # Maximum Segment Size
*.**.tcp.connEstabTimeout = 10s
*.**.tcp.receiveQueueClass = “inet.transportlayer.tcp.TcpVirtualDataReceiveQueue”
Explanation:
- IP Configuration: Configures IP addresses for the clients and server.
- IMAP-like Simulation: Client 1 associates to the server on port 143 (IMAP), transmits a small request, and recovers several emails of 50KB.
- POP3-like Simulation: Client 2 connects to the server on port 110 (POP3), transmits a retrieval request, and recovers a unique email of 80KB.
- TCP Configuration: Sets up TCP session settings like the maximum segment size (MSS) and connection timeouts.
- Run the Simulation
- Build the Project:
- Right-click on the project within OMNeT++ and choose Build Project to compile the simulation.
- Run the Simulation:
- Right-click on omnetpp.ini and select Run As > OMNeT++ Simulation.
- Utilize the Qtenv graphical interface to observe the TCP sessions and then monitor how the clients recover emails from the server.
- Analyze the Results
When the simulation is complete, we can examine the email retrieval performance utilizing OMNeT++’s built-in analysis tools:
- File Retrieval Time:
- Compute the time taken by each client to finish email retrieval from the server.
- Network Throughput:
- Investigate how much data was sent among the clients and the server in the course of the simulation period.
- TCP Retransmissions:
- Verify for TCP packet retransmissions that can happen under network congestion or packet loss.
- Latency:
- Measure the time it takes for requests to attain the server and for the server to respond with email data.
Tools:
- Vector and Scalar Output Files: Generated in the course of the simulation for performance parameters.
- Graphical Analysis: Utilize OMNeT++’s plotting tools to envision outcomes such as throughput, delay, and retransmissions.
- Extend the Simulation
- Additional Clients:
- Insert additional clients to replicate a more realistic email system with several users retrieving emails simultaneously.
- Network Impairments:
- Replicate distinct network conditions (e.g., packet loss, varying bandwidth, or latency) to investigate how email protocols execute under distinct network conditions.
- Wireless Networks:
- Mimic a wireless email system by substituting Ethernet connections with WiFi to observe the influence of wireless networks on email retrieval performance.
- IMAP Folder Synchronization:
- We can expand the IMAP simulation to simulate email folder synchronization among the clients and the server.
- Compare IMAP and POP3:
- Compare the performance of IMAP and POP3 under numerous conditions such as large vs. small email data, high vs. low network bandwidth.
Here, we had indicated the basic to advanced concepts with instances are instruct you on how to simulate and how to extend the IMAP POP3 Email Protocol projects utilizing analysis tool OMNeT++. Furthermore, we will also be shared required details about this topic later. To facilitate the simulation of IMAP and POP3 Email Protocol Projects utilizing the OMNeT++ tool, phdprime.com positions itself as a reliable partner, committed to providing tailored services that align with your specific requirements.
