How to Start DDoS Attack Projects Using NS2

To start a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack project using NS2 (Network Simulator 2), we need to replicate a network in which several attacker nodes overflow a target node including excessive traffic, to interrupt their typical operation. Below is a stepwise method to configure and examine a DDoS attack using NS2:

Steps to Start DDoS Attack Projects in NS2

  1. Understand DDoS Attacks
  • What is a DDoS Attack?
    • A DDoS attack has numerous malicious nodes that are overflowing a target node including excessive traffic to devastate their resources and creating it inaccessible into legitimate users.
  • Types of DDoS Attacks:
    • Bandwidth Exhaustion: To devastate the bandwidth usage of network.
    • Resource Exhaustion: The recourse usage is overburdening the target node’s CPU or memory.
  • Project Goal:
    • Replicate a DDoS attack.
    • Examine their influence over the network performance on metrics like latency, packet loss.
    • Estimate the potential mitigation mechanisms.
  1. Set Up NS2
  • Install NS2:
    • We can download and install NS2.35 (or the new stable version) on the system properly.
  • Verify Installation:
    • Confirm the installation by executing simple Tcl simulation script:

ns example.tcl

  1. Plan the Simulation
  • Scenario:
    • Make a network topology including:
      • Legitimate clients to transmit the typical traffic to a server.
      • Several attacker nodes are overflowing the server.
  • Metrics to Evaluate:
    • Network throughput and latency.
    • Server response time.
    • Packet delivery rate for legitimate clients.
  1. Write a Simulation Script
  • Make a Tcl simulation script, which configures the network and replicates a DDoS attack.

Example DDoS Attack Simulation Script

# Initialize the simulator

set ns [new Simulator]

# Define trace and NAM output files

set tracefile [open ddos_attack.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

set namfile [open ddos_attack.nam w]

$ns namtrace-all $namfile

# Create nodes

set server [$ns node]  ;# Target server

set client1 [$ns node] ;# Legitimate client

set client2 [$ns node] ;# Legitimate client

set attacker1 [$ns node] ;# Attacker 1

set attacker2 [$ns node] ;# Attacker 2

set attacker3 [$ns node] ;# Attacker 3

# Create duplex links

$ns duplex-link $server $client1 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $server $client2 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $server $attacker1 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $server $attacker2 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $server $attacker3 10Mb 10ms DropTail

# Attach TCP agents for legitimate clients

set tcp1 [new Agent/TCP]

$ns attach-agent $client1 $tcp1

set sink1 [new Agent/TCPSink]

$ns attach-agent $server $sink1

$ns connect $tcp1 $sink1

set tcp2 [new Agent/TCP]

$ns attach-agent $client2 $tcp2

set sink2 [new Agent/TCPSink]

$ns attach-agent $server $sink2

$ns connect $tcp2 $sink2

# Attach UDP agents for attackers

set udp1 [new Agent/UDP]

$ns attach-agent $attacker1 $udp1

set null1 [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server $null1

$ns connect $udp1 $null1

set udp2 [new Agent/UDP]

$ns attach-agent $attacker2 $udp2

set null2 [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server $null2

$ns connect $udp2 $null2

set udp3 [new Agent/UDP]

$ns attach-agent $attacker3 $udp3

set null3 [new Agent/Null]

$ns attach-agent $server $null3

$ns connect $udp3 $null3

# Configure legitimate traffic

set ftp1 [new Application/FTP]

$ftp1 attach-agent $tcp1

$ns at 1.0 “$ftp1 start”

$ns at 5.0 “$ftp1 stop”

set ftp2 [new Application/FTP]

$ftp2 attach-agent $tcp2

$ns at 1.0 “$ftp2 start”

$ns at 5.0 “$ftp2 stop”

# Configure attacker traffic

set cbr1 [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr1 attach-agent $udp1

$cbr1 set packetSize_ 512

$cbr1 set interval_ 0.01

$ns at 2.0 “$cbr1 start”

$ns at 6.0 “$cbr1 stop”

set cbr2 [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr2 attach-agent $udp2

$cbr2 set packetSize_ 512

$cbr2 set interval_ 0.01

$ns at 2.0 “$cbr2 start”

$ns at 6.0 “$cbr2 stop”

set cbr3 [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr3 attach-agent $udp3

$cbr3 set packetSize_ 512

$cbr3 set interval_ 0.01

$ns at 2.0 “$cbr3 start”

$ns at 6.0 “$cbr3 stop”

# Finish the simulation

$ns at 7.0 “finish”

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile namfile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

close $namfile

exec nam ddos_attack.nam &

exit 0

}

# Run the simulation

$ns run

  1. Run the Simulation
  • We need to store the tcl script like ddos_attack.tcl.
  • Then run the simulation using NS2:

ns ddos_attack.tcl

  • Outputs:
    • Trace File (ddos_attack.tr): It has in-depth packet events to record it.
    • NAM File (ddos_attack.nam): We can envision the attack with the support of NAM (Network Animator).
  1. Analyze Results
  • Trace File Analysis:
    • Obtain performance parameters to leverage AWK, Python, or MATLAB tools:
      • Packet delivery ratio for legitimate clients.
      • Server throughput and latency.
      • Volume of packets from attackers.
  • Visualization:
    • Monitor the packet flooding and their influence over legitimate traffic with NAM for visualization.
  1. Experiment with Scenarios
  • Varying Attack Intensity:
    • Fine-tune interval and packet size for diverse attacker nodes.
  • Multiple Victims:
    • Mimic a DDoS attack on several victim nodes.
  • Network Topology:
    • Launch an intermediate routers or switches in the network topology and examine its load.
  1. Implement Mitigation Techniques
  • Integrate the security assess for moderating the attack using mitigation mechanisms:
    • Rate Limiting: Restrict the packet rate for every connection.
    • Traffic Filtering: From identified malicious nodes, we can obstruct packets.
    • Load Balancing: Deliver the traffic through numerous servers for load balancing.
  1. Document the Results
  • The document should contain:
    • Simulation configuration and topology.
    • Graphs to display the performance parameters such as throughput, latency.
    • Explanations about the effect of attack and mitigation efficiency.
  1. Advanced Project Ideas
  • Botnet Simulation:
    • We will replicate a coordinated DDoS attack with the support of a botnet.
  • Defensive Mechanisms:
    • Experiment intrusion detection systems (IDS) or firewalls leveraging mechanisms.
  • Wireless DDoS:
    • We need to examine the DDoS attacks’ effect within wireless networks.

Over the structure and thorough guide you can capable to know how to start, set up and analyze the DDoS Attack Projects in NS2 environment. We plan to offer more information regarding this topic in forthcoming manual.