How to Start Wireless LANs Projects Using NS2

To start Wireless LAN (WLAN) projects using NS2 includes replicating the Wi-Fi networks’ behavior and performance. NS2 environment offers components to replicate wireless networks with the support of IEEE 802.11 protocol, which creating it a good platform to examine the performance of WLAN in diverse scenarios.

Below is a stepwise method to get started a Wireless LAN project using NS2:

Steps to Start WLAN Projects in NS2

1. Understand WLAN Concepts

• Key Features of WLAN:
  • Wireless communication among the nodes.
  • According to the IEEE 802.11 standards (Wi-Fi).
  • It has access points (APs) and mobile stations (STAs).
• Applications:
  • Public Wi-Fi hotspots.
  • IoT devices communicating through Wi-Fi.
  • Campus networks.
• Metrics to Measure:
  • Estimate the performance parameters such as throughput, packet delivery ratio, latency, and signal strength.

2. Prepare the Environment

• Install NS2:
  • We can set up NS2 on a Linux-based system:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ns2 nam

• Verify Installation:
  • Execute sample scripts to make sure that NS2 is installed correctly.
• Familiarize with NS2 Basics:
  • Focus on TCL scripting with fundamentals of NS2 to describing the simulations.
  • Discover the C++ modules to prolong the functionality.

3. Define Project Objectives

• Examples of WLAN Projects:
  • Examine the WLANs performance in diverse traffic loads.
  • Focus on the impact of mobility on network performance.
  • Measure power-efficient mechanisms for WLAN devices.
• Decide Performance Metrics:
  • Energy utilization.
  • Packet delivery ratio (PDR).
  • Throughput.
  • Average delay.

4. Design the WLAN Topology

• Nodes:
  • It signifies the access points and mobile devices within nodes.
• Links:
  • Make use of wireless links depends on the IEEE 802.11.
• Mobility:
  • Mimic movement of mobile devices to leverage the NS2 mobility patterns.

5. Write the TCL Script

• Basic WLAN Simulation:

# Create a simulator

set ns [new Simulator]

# Create trace and animation files

set tracefile [open trace.tr w]

set namfile [open output.nam w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

$ns namtrace-all $namfile

# Define a wireless channel

set chan [new Channel/WirelessChannel]

# Configure nodes for WLAN

$ns node-config -adhocRouting DSR \

-llType LL \

-macType Mac/802_11 \

-ifqType Queue/DropTail/PriQueue \

-ifqLen 50 \

-antType Antenna/OmniAntenna \

-propType Propagation/TwoRayGround \

-phyType Phy/WirelessPhy \

-channel $chan

# Create nodes

set num_nodes 5

for {set i 0} {$i < $num_nodes} {incr i} {

set node($i) [$ns node]

$node($i) set X_ [expr $i * 20]

$node($i) set Y_ [expr $i * 30]

$node($i) set Z_ 0

}

# Define traffic sources

set udp [new Agent/UDP]

set null [new Agent/Null]

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

$ns attach-agent $node(4) $null

$ns connect $udp $null

set cbr [new Application/Traffic/CBR]

$cbr attach-agent $udp

$cbr set packetSize_ 512

$cbr set rate_ 100Kb

# Schedule traffic

$ns at 1.0 “$cbr start”

$ns at 10.0 “finish”

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile namfile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

close $namfile

exit 0

}

# Run simulation

$ns run

6. Include Mobility

• Replicate the devices that are transferring in the WLAN coverage area with the support of NS2 mobility patterns.
• Example: Random Waypoint Mobility:

for {set i 0} {$i < $num_nodes} {incr i} {

$node($i) setdest [expr $i * 50] [expr $i * 50] 10

}

7. Simulate WLAN Protocols

• MAC Protocols:
  • Make utilise of IEEE 802.11 for default MAC layer protocol.
• Routing Protocols:
  • For multi-hop scenarios, we can use the routing protocols such as AODV, DSR, or custom protocols.

8. Analyze Simulation Results

• Trace File Analysis:
  • Examine the trace file (trace.tr) for observing performance parameters with NS2.
  • We will need to envision the performance outcomes to utilise AWK or Python tools for automation.
• Metrics to Extract:
  • Throughput:

awk ‘{if($1==”r” && $4==”AGT”) sum+=$7} END {print “Throughput:”, sum/10}’

• • Packet Delivery Ratio:

awk ‘{if($1==”s” && $4==”AGT”) sent++; if($1==”r” && $4==”AGT”) recv++} END {print “PDR:”, recv/sent}’

• Graph Results:
  • We will want to apply the graphing tools such as Gnuplot, MATLAB, or Matplotlib which is one of the python libraries.

9. Enhance the WLAN System

• Energy Efficiency:
  • Replicate the energy-saving mechanisms for WLAN devices.
• Load Balancing:
  • It offers distribute the traffic models between several access points.
• Interference Management:
  • We can replicate interference from extending beyond the WLANs and then concentrate on mitigation mechanisms.

10. Research Topics in WLANs

• Performance under Mobility:
  • Examine how mobility impacts the WLAN metrics like throughput and delay.
• Energy-Efficient Communication:
  • Refine the protocols, which help to enhance the power utilization for battery-powered devices.
• QoS in WLANs:
  • Focus on how to enhance the Quality of Service (QoS) within WLANs for real-world applications such as video streaming.
• Security in WLANs:
  • Replicate the attacks such as DoS, eavesdropping and then estimate the countermeasures using WLANs.

11. Example Use Cases

• Campus Networks:
  • Mimic a university campus networks including numerous access points and mobile devices.
• IoT Devices:
  • Replicate the IoT devices that interacting through Wi-Fi for smart home automation.
• Public Wi-Fi Hotspots:
  • Learn the WLANs performance within compact environments such as airports or cafes that offers public hotspots.

Utilize the above demonstration to get to know more about the Wireless LANs project’s simulation and analysis in ns2 environment and also we had provided advanced project topics and sample applications. It has captured the necessary details including the evaluation and visualization the outcomes.