How to Start Wireless Communication Projects Using NS2

To start a Wireless Communication project using NS2 (Network Simulator 2) needs to replicate the wireless networks including nodes which are interacting through a shared medium. NS2 environment offers extensive support for wireless communication, including features like mobility, ad-hoc routing, and various wireless protocols. Below is a detailed method to start and simulate the Wireless Communication Projects using NS2:

Steps to Start Wireless Communication Projects in NS2

  1. Set Up NS2
  1. Install NS2:
    • We should download and set up NS2 on the system.
    • We can install it based on the OS like Linux system, macOS, or Windows (using Cygwin).
  2. Verify Installation:
    • Verify installation by executing:

ns

    • Make sure that it introduces the NS2 prompt.
  2. Wireless Add-Ons:
    • While NS2 supports wireless simulation directly, more extensions or patches such as NIST Mobility or MANET protocols can be improved the functionality.
  1. Define the Scope of the Wireless Communication Project

Concentrate on the Wireless Communication Project’s goals like:

  • Ad-Hoc Networks: Nodes interact devoid of fixed infrastructure.
  • Sensor Networks: Replicate power-efficient interaction within wireless sensors.
  • Cellular Networks: Model communication including base stations or access points.
  • Mobility: It contains dynamic node movement.
  1. Create a Wireless Network Topology

Make a wireless topology using Tcl script. Here’s an example:

Example: Basic Wireless Network Topology

# Create a simulator instance

set ns [new Simulator]

# Trace and NAM files

set tracefile [open wireless.tr w]

set namfile [open wireless.nam w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

$ns namtrace-all-wireless $namfile 100 100

# Configure wireless nodes

set val(chan) Channel/WirelessChannel   ;# Channel type

set val(prop) Propagation/TwoRayGround ;# Propagation model

set val(netif) Phy/WirelessPhy         ;# Physical layer

set val(mac) Mac/802_11                ;# MAC layer

set val(ifq) Queue/DropTail/PriQueue   ;# Interface queue

set val(ll) LL                         ;# Link layer

set val(ant) Antenna/OmniAntenna       ;# Antenna model

set val(ifqlen) 50                     ;# Interface queue length

set val(nn) 3                          ;# Number of nodes

set val(rp) AODV                       ;# Routing protocol

set val(x) 500                         ;# Topology X dimension

set val(y) 500                         ;# Topology Y dimension

# Set up the nodes

$ns node-config -adhocRouting $val(rp) \

-llType $val(ll) \

-macType $val(mac) \

-ifqType $val(ifq) \

-ifqLen $val(ifqlen) \

-antType $val(ant) \

-propType $val(prop) \

-phyType $val(netif) \

-channelType $val(chan) \

-topoInstance [new Topography] \

-agentTrace ON \

-routerTrace ON \

-macTrace ON

# Create nodes

for {set i 0} {$i < $val(nn)} {incr i} {

set node_($i) [$ns node]

$node_($i) set X_ [expr rand() * $val(x)]

$node_($i) set Y_ [expr rand() * $val(y)]

$node_($i) set Z_ 0

}

# Define a traffic generator

set udp [new Agent/UDP]

set null [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $node_(0) $udp

$ns attach-agent $node_(2) $null

$ns connect $udp $null

set cbr [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr set packetSize_ 512

$cbr set interval_ 0.1

$cbr attach-agent $udp

# Mobility setup

$ns at 0.0 “$node_(1) setdest 100 200 10”

$ns at 1.0 “$node_(2) setdest 300 400 20”

# Simulation end

$ns at 10.0 “finish”

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile namfile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

close $namfile

exec nam wireless.nam &

exit 0

}

# Run simulation

$ns run

  1. Run the Simulation
  1. We need to store the script as wireless.tcl.
  2. Execute it to utilise below command line:

ns wireless.tcl

  1. Utilise NAM for envisioning the simulation:

nam wireless.nam

  1. Analyze the Trace File

The trace file (wireless.tr) has packet-level details such as sends, receives, and drops. Make use of tools like AWK or Python for in-depth analysis.

Example AWK Script for Packet Delivery Ratio:

awk ‘{

if ($1 == “r”) received++;

if ($1 == “s”) sent++;

} END {

print “Packet Delivery Ratio:”, received/sent*100, “%”

}’ wireless.tr

  1. Add Advanced Features

Improve the simulation including more advanced aspects:

6.1 Routing Protocols

For multi-hop wireless networks, utilise the protocols such as AODV, DSR, or DSDV.

$ns node-config -adhocRouting AODV

6.2 Traffic Patterns

  • TCP Traffic:

set tcp [new Agent/TCP]

set sink [new Agent/TCPSink]

$ns attach-agent $node_(0) $tcp

$ns attach-agent $node_(2) $sink

$ns connect $tcp $sink

  • UDP Traffic: Make use of example above.

6.3 Mobility

Describe movement models for replicating real-world scenarios.

$ns at 1.0 “$node_(1) setdest 150 150 15”

6.4 Energy Models

Mimic battery-powered nodes including power restrictions.

6.5 Interference

Design interference and packet collisions for real-world situations.

  1. Extend the Project
  • QoS Analysis:
    • Measure the QoS metrics like delay, jitter, and throughput for particular traffic types.
  • Security:
    • Replicate the encryption or authentication approaches for secure interaction.
  • Cross-Layer Design:
    • Focus on communication among the cross-layer model like PHY, MAC, and routing layers.
  • Heterogeneous Wireless Networks:
    • Integrate various wireless technologies such as WiFi and Zigbee.
  1. Performance Metrics

Asses the performance of network to utilise parameters like:

  • Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR): Compute the rate of packets which are effectively distributed.
  • Throughput: Estimate total data that are sent over a period.
  • End-to-End Delay: Compute the duration to move from source to destination node for a packet.
  • Energy Consumption: Nodes are consumed the power in the course of interaction.

Example AWK Script for Throughput:

awk ‘{

if ($1 == “r”) sum += $6

} END {

print “Throughput:”, sum / 1000, “kbps”

}’ wireless.tr

  1. Document the Project

It offers comprehensive details like:

  • Network topology diagram.
  • Configuration details such as protocols, metrics.
  • Simulation results with graphs or tables.
  • Conclusions according to the parameters like throughput, delay, and PDR.

Example Use Cases

  1. Ad-Hoc Networks:
    • Mimic dynamic wireless networks including mobile nodes.
  2. Wireless Sensor Networks:
    • Focus on energy-efficient interaction between the sensors.
  3. Vehicular Networks:
    • Design the networks like Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication.
  4. IoT Networks:
    • Replicate lightweight interaction for smart devices in IoT.

With these steps, you can replicate the Wireless Communication Projects using NS2 environment, allowing you to estimate its performance. More innovative approach will be offered as necessary.