To simulate an interior routing protocols using NS3, which contains working with routing protocols are created for use within a unique network domain, like RIP (Routing Information Protocol), OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), or EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol). NS3 does not have direct built-in support for all these protocols such as EIGRP, however we can be replicated some interior protocols using existing NS3 modules or expand them to support the particular protocol. Here, we will guide you through the below simulation method on how to approach and replicate the interior protocols in NS3:
Steps to Simulate Interior Protocol Projects in NS3
- Install NS3
Initially, we make sure NS3 is installed on the system. We can download it from the NS3 official website.
- Use IPv4 Global Routing or Static Routing
NS3 contains support for Global Routing, Static routing, and some routing protocols such as OLSR. We can configure an Interior Gateway Protocols (IGPs) such as RIP or OSPF by permitting global or static routing mechanisms. For more furthered routing protocols (like OSPF), we may require to combine an external libraries or extend NS3.
- Simulate Interior Routing Using RIP
Even though NS3 doesn’t have RIP protocol directly executed, we can manually configure the static routing or use global routing to replicate RIP-like behaviour.
- Include Necessary Headers
We will want the following headers to function with IP routing, mobility, and network communication in NS3:
#include “ns3/core-module.h”
#include “ns3/network-module.h”
#include “ns3/internet-module.h”
#include “ns3/point-to-point-module.h”
#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”
#include “ns3/applications-module.h”
#include “ns3/ipv4-static-routing-helper.h”
#include “ns3/ipv4-global-routing-helper.h”
- Create and Install Nodes
Make a set of nodes to mimic the network, in which each node denotes a router or a host in the network.
NodeContainer routers;
routers.Create(3); // Create 3 routers (nodes)
NodeContainer hosts;
hosts.Create(2); // Create 2 hosts
NodeContainer allNodes;
allNodes.Add(routers);
allNodes.Add(hosts);
- Configure Point-to-Point Links
For this instance, we can make point-to-point links among the routers and hosts.
PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;
pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));
pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));
NetDeviceContainer devices1, devices2, devices3;
devices1 = pointToPoint.Install(routers.Get(0), routers.Get(1)); // Link between Router 0 and Router 1
devices2 = pointToPoint.Install(routers.Get(1), routers.Get(2)); // Link between Router 1 and Router 2
devices3 = pointToPoint.Install(routers.Get(1), hosts.Get(0)); // Link between Router 1 and Host 0
- Install Internet Stack and Routing Protocols
We can install the Internet protocol stack on all nodes. To replicate an interior routing protocols such as RIP or OSPF, we can be used static routing or global routing.
- Global Routing Helper (for OSPF-like behavior):
InternetStackHelper internet;
internet.Install(allNodes);
// Set up global routing (like OSPF or basic RIP behavior)
Ipv4GlobalRoutingHelper::PopulateRoutingTables();
- Static Routing (for manual routing configuration like RIP):
InternetStackHelper internet;
internet.Install(allNodes);
Ipv4StaticRoutingHelper staticRoutingHelper;
Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> staticRouting0 = staticRoutingHelper.GetStaticRouting(routers.Get(0)->GetObject<Ipv4>());
Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> staticRouting1 = staticRoutingHelper.GetStaticRouting(routers.Get(1)->GetObject<Ipv4>());
Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> staticRouting2 = staticRoutingHelper.GetStaticRouting(routers.Get(2)->GetObject<Ipv4>());
// Configure static routes
staticRouting0->AddNetworkRouteTo(Ipv4Address(“10.1.2.0”), Ipv4Mask(“255.255.255.0”), Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.2”), 1);
staticRouting1->AddHostRouteTo(Ipv4Address(“10.1.3.1”), Ipv4Address(“10.1.2.2”), 1);
staticRouting2->AddHostRouteTo(Ipv4Address(“10.1.4.1”), Ipv4Address(“10.1.2.1”), 1);
- Assign IP Addresses
Each interface on the routers and hosts requires an IP address.
Ipv4AddressHelper address;
address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces1 = address.Assign(devices1);
address.SetBase(“10.1.2.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces2 = address.Assign(devices2);
address.SetBase(“10.1.3.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces3 = address.Assign(devices3);
- Set Up Applications
Configure the traffic generation among the nodes. We can use UDP Echo or TCP for analysing the network.
// Install UDP Echo Server on Host 0
UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9); // Port 9
ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(hosts.Get(0));
serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));
serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
// Install UDP Echo Client on Host 1
UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(interfaces3.GetAddress(0), 9); // IP of server
echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(10));
echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(1.0)));
echoClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));
ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(hosts.Get(1));
clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));
clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
- Enable Tracing and Logging
We can permit packet capture (pcap) and tracing for analysis:
pointToPoint.EnablePcapAll(“interior_protocols_simulation”);
- Run the Simulation
Configure the simulation time and run the simulation.
Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10.0));
Simulator::Run();
Simulator::Destroy();
- Example Full Script
Below is an example script which replicates simple routing using static routing (similar to RIP) in NS3:
#include “ns3/core-module.h”
#include “ns3/network-module.h”
#include “ns3/internet-module.h”
#include “ns3/point-to-point-module.h”
#include “ns3/applications-module.h”
#include “ns3/ipv4-static-routing-helper.h”
#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”
using namespace ns3;
int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
// Create nodes for routers and hosts
NodeContainer routers, hosts;
routers.Create(3); // 3 routers
hosts.Create(2); // 2 hosts
NodeContainer allNodes = NodeContainer(routers, hosts);
// Set up point-to-point links
PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;
pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));
pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));
// Install devices on links
NetDeviceContainer devices1, devices2, devices3;
devices1 = pointToPoint.Install(routers.Get(0), routers.Get(1));
devices2 = pointToPoint.Install(routers.Get(1), routers.Get(2));
devices3 = pointToPoint.Install(routers.Get(1), hosts.Get(0));
// Install internet stack
InternetStackHelper internet;
internet.Install(allNodes);
// Assign IP addresses
Ipv4AddressHelper address;
address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces1 = address.Assign(devices1);
address.SetBase(“10.1.2.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces2 = address.Assign(devices2);
address.SetBase(“10.1.3.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces3 = address.Assign(devices3);
// Static Routing configuration
Ipv4StaticRoutingHelper staticRoutingHelper;
Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> staticRouting0 = staticRoutingHelper.GetStaticRouting(routers.Get(0)->GetObject<Ipv4>());
Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> staticRouting1 = staticRoutingHelper.GetStaticRouting(routers.Get(1)->GetObject<Ipv4>());
Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> staticRouting2 = staticRoutingHelper.GetStaticRouting(routers.Get(2)->GetObject<Ipv4>());
staticRouting0->AddNetworkRouteTo(Ipv4Address(“10.1.2.0”), Ipv4Mask(“255.255.255.0”), Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.2”), 1);
staticRouting1->AddHostRouteTo(Ipv4Address(“10.1.3.1”), Ipv4Address(“10.1.2.2”), 1);
staticRouting2->AddHostRouteTo(Ipv4Address(“10.1.4.1”), Ipv4Address(“10.1.2.1”), 1);
// Set up traffic (UDP Echo)
UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9); // Port 9
ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(hosts.Get(0));
serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));
serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(interfaces3.GetAddress(0), 9);
echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(10));
echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(1.0)));
echoClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));
ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(hosts.Get(1));
clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));
clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
// Enable pcap tracing
pointToPoint.EnablePcapAll(“interior_protocols_simulation”);
// Run simulation
Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10.0));
Simulator::Run();
Simulator::Destroy();
return 0;
}
- Analyze Results
We can be used the output pcap files for packet-level analysis, and by running the simulation, we can monitor the network behaviour like packet delivery and delays.
- Simulating OSPF (Advanced)
If we require to mimic an OSPF, then we will want to combine an external libraries or we use a prebuilt OSPF execution (or configure dynamic/static routing to simulate OSPF-like behaviors). OSPF is not contained within NS3 out of the box, however we can prolong NS3 to support more furthered routing protocols by writing custom modules or using external tools.
The ns3 simulation environment allowed us to deliver and replicate the Interior protocol projects with successful results using the simulation process. If you want more insights on this projects, we will definitely provide.
Approach phdprime.com we provide you with best ideas and topics for your research journey , our developers also help you to simulate an interior routing protocols using NS3 tool, get your project performance done by us.
