How to Start Routing Information Protocol Using OMNeT++

To start Routing Information Protocol (RIP) using OMNeT++ tool which is a distance-vector routing protocol that typically utilised within small to medium-sized networks. It functions with periodically swapping routing tables for computing the optimal paths to destinations depends on the hop count.

Below is a comprehensive approach to make and replicate the RIP-based project using OMNeT++:

Steps to Start Routing Information Protocol (RIP) Project in OMNeT++

1. Understand RIP

Key Features

• Hop Count Metric:
  • Maximum hop count is 15; a count of 16 specifies an unreachable destination.
• Periodic Updates:
  • Nodes propagate its routing tables for each 30 seconds.
• Simple and Lightweight:
  • It is appropriate for small-scale networks including static topology.

How RIP Works

1. Every single node sustains a routing table including:
   • Hop count.
   • Destination.
   • Next hop.
2. Periodically nodes swap its tables.
3. Nodes modernize its routing tables depends on the updates to utilise the Bellman-Ford Algorithm: D(v)=min⁡u∈N(v){c(u,v)+D(u)}D(v) = \min_{u \in N(v)} \{ c(u, v) + D(u) \}D(v)=u∈N(v)min​{c(u,v)+D(u)} Where:
   • D(v)D(v)D(v): Distance to destination vvv.
   • c(u,v)c(u, v)c(u,v): Cost of link among uuu and vvv.
   • N(v)N(v)N(v): Neighbors of vvv.

2. Set Up the Environment

Install OMNeT++

1. We need to download OMNeT++ on the system.
2. Adhere to the installation guidance and then confirm the configuration by executing example projects.

Install INET Framework

1. We need to download the INET framework which supports OMNeT++ version.
2. Construct the INET framework:

make makefiles

make

3. Plan Your Simulation

Define Objectives

• We execute the RIP within a small network topology.
• Simulate routing table updates and packet forwarding.
• We need to measure the performance parameters such as:
  • Routing overhead.
  • Packet delivery ratio.
  • Convergence time.

Define the Topology

• Make use of a small topology with 4–6 nodes.
• Allocate the link costs signifying hop counts.

4. Create a New OMNeT++ Project

1. Go to OMNeT++ IDE.
2. Select File > New > OMNeT++ Project.
3. Name it to the project as RIPRouting and choose Finish.

5. Implement RIP Logic

Custom RIP Module

Make a .cc file for RIP logic like RIPRouting.cc.

Example: RIP Logic Implementation

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include <map>

#include <vector>

using namespace omnetpp;

class RIPRouting : public cSimpleModule {

private:

struct RoutingEntry {

int destination;

int nextHop;

int hopCount;

};

std::map<int, RoutingEntry> routingTable; // Routing table

std::vector<int> neighbors;              // List of neighbors

int nodeId;

protected:

virtual void initialize() override {

nodeId = getId();

// Initialize routing table with self

routingTable[nodeId] = {nodeId, nodeId, 0};

// Start periodic updates

scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“updateInterval”).doubleValue(), new cMessage(“RIPUpdate”));

}

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override {

if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “RIPUpdate”) == 0) {

sendRoutingTable();

scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“updateInterval”).doubleValue(), msg); // Reschedule

} else {

handleRoutingUpdate(check_and_cast<cMessage *>(msg));

}

}

void sendRoutingTable() {

for (int neighbor : neighbors) {

auto update = new cMessage(“RoutingTable”);

// Add routing table information as parameters

for (const auto& [dest, entry] : routingTable) {

update->addPar(“dest”) = entry.destination;

update->addPar(“hopCount”) = entry.hopCount + 1; // Increment hop count

}

send(update, “out”, neighbor);

}

}

void handleRoutingUpdate(cMessage *msg) {

bool updated = false;

for (cPropertyIterator it(msg->getParList()); !it.end(); it.next()) {

int dest = msg->par(it.getName()).intValue();

int hopCount = msg->par(it.getValue()).intValue();

if (routingTable.find(dest) == routingTable.end() || routingTable[dest].hopCount > hopCount) {

routingTable[dest] = {dest, msg->getArrivalGate()->getIndex(), hopCount};

updated = true;

}

}

if (updated) {

EV << “Routing table updated.\n”;

}

delete msg;

}

};

Define_Module(RIPRouting);

6. Define Network Topology

Create a .ned File

Make a simple topology using .ned files for the RIP simulation.

Example:

network RIPNetwork {

submodules:

node[4]: StandardHost {

parameters:

@display(“i=device/router”);

routingProtocol = “RIPRouting”;

}

connections allowunconnected:

node[0].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 1Gbps; cost = 1; } <–> node[1].pppg++;

node[1].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 1Gbps; cost = 1; } <–> node[2].pppg++;

node[2].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 1Gbps; cost = 1; } <–> node[3].pppg++;

node[3].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 1Gbps; cost = 1; } <–> node[0].pppg++;

}

7. Configure Simulation Parameters

Edit omnetpp.ini

Set the simulation metrics using .ini files.

Example:

[Config RIPSimulation]

network = RIPNetwork

**.node[*].updateInterval = 30s

**.node[*].numApps = 1

**.node[*].app[0].typename = “UdpApp”

**.node[*].app[0].destAddresses = “node[3]”

**.node[*].app[0].messageLength = 512B

simulation.timeLimit = 100s

8. Run the Simulation

1. Make use of Tkenv or Cmdenv to introduce the simulation.
2. Monitor:
   • Periodic routing updates among the nodes.
   • Path selection depends on the hop count.

9. Analyze Results

Metrics to Evaluate

• Convergence Time:
  • We can estimate the duration for every node to become stable its routing tables.
• Routing Overhead:
  • Measure the volume of control messages that are swapped in the course of the simulation.
• Delivery Ratio:
  • Evaluate the rate of packets, which are effectively distributed.

Visualization

• Make use of OMNeT++ visualization tools to observe:
  • Packet forwarding decisions.
  • Routing table updates.

10. Extend and Optimize

Dynamic Scenarios

• Mimic link or node failures and then monitor the response of protocol.
• Experiment with diverse traffic loads and models.

Enhancements

• Execute the divide horizon or activated updates for minimizing loops and latency.
• Integrate support for weighted hop counts according to the link costs.

Comparison

• We can replicate and equate the RIP including other protocols such as OSPF or EIGRP.

This procedure will walk you through the whole simulation process of Routing Information Protocol Projects and their sample snippets using OMNeT++ tool. We will also offer the extra information on this topic or their advanced feature attachments, if you needed for the future enhancements.

To start Routing Information Protocol (RIP) using OMNeT++ tool we at phdprojects.org are huge expertise team who are working for more than  a decade send us all your project query for best guidance.