To simulate intra-domain routing protocols using OPNET (Riverbed Modeler) that comprises of setting up a network in a single autonomous system (AS) in which protocols such as RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP handle routing. Intra-domain protocols, also called as Interior Gateway Protocols (IGPs), are responsible for routing in a single administrative domain or AS, which not over several ASs. We follow the below steps to simulating intra-domain protocols in OPNET:
Steps to Simulate Intra Domain Routing Protocol Projects in OPNET
- Define Project Objectives and Scope
- Identify objectives for the simulation: General aims contain estimating the protocol performance such as convergence time, routing efficiency, scalability, response to failures, or comparing diverse IGPs like RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP.
- Set performance metrics: Key performance parameters involve convergence time, packet delivery ratio, routing overhead, end-to-end delay, and network utilization.
- Design the Network Topology
- Set up a network layout: Make a network along with routers, switches, servers, and end devices in a single AS utilizing OPNET’s graphical interface. Model the topology containing numerous subnets are associated by routers to mimic realistic intra-domain routing.
- Define IP subnets: Allocate an IP addresses to distinct portion of the network, which making many subnets that the IGP will route among.
- Enable and Configure Intra-Domain Protocols on Routers
- Select and configure an IGP:
- Select one or more intra-domain protocols such as RIP, OSPF, or EIGRP that based on the objectives.
RIP Configuration (Distance-Vector Protocol)
- Enable RIP:
- If we require classless routing with subnetting then utilize RIP version 2; else, RIP version 1 can use for simpler topologies.
- Set RIP Parameters:
- Update Interval: Set the update interval for RIP (default is 30 seconds).
- Hop Count Limit: RIP includes a maximum hop count of 15, outside which routes are deliberated inaccessible.
- Timers: Set up invalidation, hold-down, and garbage collection timers to manage the route aging.
OSPF Configuration (Link-State Protocol)
- Enable OSPF on Routers:
- Allocate each router to a certain OSPF area, with area 0 working as the backbone if utilizing many areas for scalability.
- Configure Link Costs:
- Configure link costs to impact OSPF’s path selection and found shortest-path routing depends on the cost metrics.
- Hello and Dead Intervals:
- For failure detection and neighbor discovery, set up Hello intervals (default is 10 seconds) and Dead intervals (default is 40 seconds).
EIGRP Configuration (Advanced Distance-Vector Protocol)
- Set EIGRP AS Number:
- Allocate an Autonomous System (AS) number for EIGRP in the single AS. Every EIGRP router within the network needs to utilize the similar AS number.
- Adjust K-Values:
- Set up K-values to set EIGRP’s composite parameter rely on factors such as bandwidth, delay, reliability, and load.
- Enable Route Summarization:
- Set up automatic or manual route summarization at network boundaries minimizing routing table size and then enhancing protocol efficiency.
- Simulate Application Traffic
- Generate application-specific traffic: Make data flows, like HTTP, FTP, VoIP, or email, over several subnets and nodes using OPNET’s traffic generators.
- Define communication pairs: Configure source-destination pairs in and over subnets to experiment the IGP’s ability to handle intra-domain routing over the network.
- Monitor Routing Table Updates and Protocol Behavior
- Track routing updates:
- Observe the periodic routing updates as routers exchange its routing tables along with neighbors for RIP.
- For OSPF, monitor the Link State Advertisements (LSAs)’s exchange and the OSPF database that indicating how routers sustain topology information.
- For EIGRP, observe the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) process for route computation and Hello packets for neighbor discovery.
- Observe routing table stability:
- Verify the routing table entries for each router to check responsiveness and stability, particularly once network topology modifications.
- Simulate Network Events and Observe Protocol Response
- Link Failures:
- Replicate the link failures by detaching certain links. Calculate the time taken for each protocol to recompute and stabilize routes in response to these failures.
- For EIGRP, observe the DUAL’s recalculation process and for OSPF, observe the generation of new LSAs in response to a link failure.
- Router Failures:
- Inactivate temporarily certain routers to replicate the router failures then monitor the ability of protocol to reroute traffic and retrieve.
- Network Load Changes:
- Maximize the traffic load on specific links to observe how each protocol adjusts to congestion and sustains route stability under changing conditions.
- Collect and Analyze Performance Metrics
- Packet Delivery Ratio: Calculate the percentage of packets effectively delivered to its destination, which showing the routing protocol’s reliability.
- End-to-End Delay: Compute the duration for packets to attain its destination that indicating routing efficiency and responsiveness.
- Routing Overhead: Estimate the bandwidth consumed by control messages such as RIP updates, OSPF LSAs, EIGRP Hello packets are relative to data traffic, which displaying protocol efficiency.
- Convergence Time: Assess the time taken for the network to stabilize routing tables after a topology modification.
- Path Efficiency: Estimate if paths are chosen by each protocol is optimal such as hop count or cost that is particularly related for protocols like OSPF and EIGRP.
- Optimize Protocol Parameters and Experiment with Configurations (Optional)
- Adjust Protocol-Specific Timers:
- For OSPF, test with Hello and Dead intervals or area sets up to stability the convergence speed and control message overhead.
- Change the K-values and Hello intervals to learn its impact on path selection and protocol performance for EIGRP.
- Increase Node Density:
- Insert additional routers or nodes to experiment protocol scalability, monitoring the influences on convergence time, routing table size, and routing overhead.
- Experiment with Link Costs (for OSPF and EIGRP):
- Modify link costs to replicate the preferred traffic paths then monitor how changes influence the route selection and network utilization.
- Generate Reports and Document Findings
- Create Visualizations: Make graphs and tables are indicating parameters such as convergence time, packet delivery ratio, routing overhead, and delay with the help of OPNET’s analysis tools.
- Summarize Observations: Record the performance of each protocol under diverse conditions, observing its strengths and limitations in intra-domain routing within a single AS.
Above step-by-step guide on how to replicate and investigate the Intra Domain projects using OPNET environment is provided and further elaboration will be available in the upcoming manual.
Our proficiency encompasses RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP for routing management within intra-domain protocols. We invite you to connect with phdprime.com, where our committed team is ready to support you in attaining the best results. Furthermore, we provide a range of project topics customized to align with your particular interests. Our specialization lies in Intra-Domain Protocol Projects utilizing the OPNET tool; kindly share your project details with us, and we will guarantee you receive the highest quality guidance.
