To simulate IPv6 protocols using NS2 has includes allowing an IPv6 support and setting up the nodes with the proper IPv6 addressing and routing. NS2 doesn’t directly support IPv6 out-of-the-box; however we can incorporate IPv6 capabilities via NS2-MIRACLE or other patches that prolong NS2’s functionalities to manage IPv6.
Below is a step-by-step guide to help you simulate IPv6 protocols using NS2.
Steps to Simulate IPv6 Protocol Projects Using NS2:
- Set up NS2 with IPv6 Support
Before we can simulate IPv6, make sure that we either:
- Patch NS2 for IPv6: Utilize the NS2 IPv6 patch (available through various NS2 extensions) to allow IPv6 routing, addressing, and protocols.
- Use NS2-MIRACLE: This extension of NS2 has contains to support for IPv6 and additional networking protocols.
- Install NS2 with IPv6 Support
To permits IPv6 in NS2, we can follow these steps:
- Download the IPv6 patch or NS2-MIRACLE.
- Install the patch or NS2-MIRACLE following the documentation delivered with the package.
- Rebuild NS2 with IPv6 support.
- Understanding IPv6 in NS2
IPv6 has larger address space (128 bits) related to IPv4 (32 bits) and supports numerous new features, like:
- Stateless autoconfiguration
- Neighbor discovery
- Extension headers
- Multicast routing
Your simulation will includes to assigning IPv6 addresses to nodes, configures the routing (such as OSPFv3, RIPng), and creating IPv6-based traffic.
- TCL Script Structure for IPv6 Simulation
Here is an instance of TCL script to replicate an IPv6-based network using simple TCP/IP communication among nodes.
Example TCL Script for IPv6 Simulation
# Create a new simulator object
set ns [new Simulator]
# Enable IPv6 routing
set ip6_ [new IPv6]
# Open files for tracing and NAM visualization
set tracefile [open ipv6.tr w]
$ns trace-all $tracefile
set namfile [open ipv6.nam w]
$ns namtrace-all $namfile
# Create network topology (define nodes)
set n0 [$ns node]
set n1 [$ns node]
set n2 [$ns node]
set n3 [$ns node]
# Define link bandwidth and delay
$ns duplex-link $n0 $n1 2Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $n1 $n2 2Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $n2 $n3 2Mb 10ms DropTail
# Assign IPv6 addresses to nodes
$n0 set ip6_ “2001:0db8:0:1::1/64”
$n1 set ip6_ “2001:0db8:0:1::2/64”
$n2 set ip6_ “2001:0db8:0:1::3/64”
$n3 set ip6_ “2001:0db8:0:1::4/64”
# Configure routing between nodes
$n0 add-ipv6-route “2001:0db8:0:1::/64” $n1
$n1 add-ipv6-route “2001:0db8:0:1::/64” $n2
$n2 add-ipv6-route “2001:0db8:0:1::/64” $n3
# Create a TCP agent and attach it to n0
set tcp0 [new Agent/TCP]
$tcp0 set addr_ “2001:0db8:0:1::1”
$ns attach-agent $n0 $tcp0
# Create a TCP Sink agent and attach it to n3
set sink0 [new Agent/TCPSink]
$sink0 set addr_ “2001:0db8:0:1::4”
$ns attach-agent $n3 $sink0
# Connect TCP and Sink agents
$ns connect $tcp0 $sink0
# Create a UDP agent and attach it to n0
set udp0 [new Agent/UDP]
$udp0 set addr_ “2001:0db8:0:1::1”
$ns attach-agent $n0 $udp0
# Create a Null agent to act as the sink for UDP traffic and attach it to n3
set null0 [new Agent/Null]
$null0 set addr_ “2001:0db8:0:1::4”
$ns attach-agent $n3 $null0
# Connect UDP and Null agents
$ns connect $udp0 $null0
# Create traffic generator for UDP traffic (CBR)
set cbr [new Application/Traffic/CBR]
$cbr set packetSize_ 500
$cbr set rate_ 1Mb
$cbr attach-agent $udp0
$ns at 1.0 “$cbr start”
# Start the simulation
$ns at 0.5 “$tcp0 start”
$ns at 2.0 “$cbr start”
# End simulation after 10 seconds
$ns at 10.0 “finish”
# Define finish procedure
proc finish {} {
global ns tracefile namfile
$ns flush-trace
close $tracefile
close $namfile
exec nam ipv6.nam &
exit 0
}
# Run the simulation
$ns run
- Explanation of the Script
- Simulator Setup: The simulator object is generated, and trace files are opened for logging.
- Node Creation: Four nodes (n0, n1, n2, and n3) are generated in the network topology.
- IPv6 Address Assignment: IPv6 addresses are allocated to each node (e.g., 2001:0db8:0:1::1/64), following the IPv6 addressing format.
- Routing Configuration: Routes are configures among nodes to forward IPv6 traffic.
- TCP/UDP Agents: TCP and UDP agents are setting up for nodes. TCP packets are transmitting from n0 to n3, and UDP packets are also created by using a Constant Bit Rate (CBR) traffic generator.
- Simulation Timing: The traffic initiates at 0.5 and 1.0 seconds, and the simulation executes for 10 seconds.
- Finish Procedure: This procedure closes trace files and systematically introduces NAM for visualization.
- Running the Simulation
Save the TCL script (e.g., ipv6_simulation.tcl) and execute it using the following command:
ns ipv6_simulation.tcl
- Analysing the Results
- NAM Visualization: Utilize NAM to envision packet flows via the IPv6 network. we can execute the following command to envision the network in NAM:
nam ipv6.nam
- Trace Files: The .tr file logs all events in the simulation like packet transmissions, losses, and latency. We need to evaluate this file using AWK or Python scripts to calculate parameters like throughput, packet loss, and end-to-end delay.
- Advanced IPv6 Simulation
Once we have the simple IPv6 simulation working, we can prolong it with more advanced characteristics:
- Mobility Models: Establish node mobility by setting up a mobility model, like Random Waypoint, to replicate a mobile IPv6 network.
Example:
$ns at 1.0 “$node(0) setdest 100 100 10”
- Multicast Routing in IPv6: Replicate multicast traffic over IPv6 using protocols such as PIM (Protocol-Independent Multicast) or MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery).
- Dynamic Routing Protocols for IPv6: Apply routing protocols such as OSPFv3, RIPng, or AODVv6 to enthusiastically route IPv6 packets in an ad hoc or static network.
- Performance Evaluation
We can evaluate numerous parameters in IPv6 networks, such as:
- Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR): The percentage of packets successfully delivered to the destination.
- Throughput: The rate of successfully route data over the network.
- End-to-End Delay: The time taken for a packet to travel from the source to the destination.
- Optional: Patching NS2 for IPv6 Protocols
If NS2 doesn’t support certain IPv6 protocols that need to replicate, deliberate to implement patches or extensions that incorporate IPv6 routing functionality. For example:
- NS2-MIRACLE enhances support for IPv6 and numerous advanced networking characteristics.
- Custom patches obtainable from the community that incorporate support for OSPFv3, RIPng, or other IPv6-based protocols.
In this setup simulation, we clearly understood the concepts regarding the IPV6 protocol project that were simulated, visualized using the tool of ns2 that has includes to configure the network topology and evaluate the performance for IPv6 protocol. Additional specific details regarding this project will be provided in another manual, if needed.
The management of IPv6 Protocols Projects is exclusively handled by phdprime.com. Our dedicated team is focused on utilizing the NS2 tool for implementation and is eager to share innovative project ideas and topics within this field. We invite you to send us your complete information via email, and we will offer you the most effective guidance. Our specialists are committed to ensuring that the simulation and project execution meet the highest quality standards.
