How to Start Fastest Protocol Projects Using NS2

To start a FAST TCP protocol is also known as “fastest protocol” in NS2 that needs to know the certain protocol and configuring the simulation environment for estimating their performance. Here’s a detailed approach to get started:

Steps to Start Fastest Protocol Projects in NS2

1. Understand FAST TCP or Target Protocol

• FAST TCP:
  • It is intended for high-speed networks.
  • Exhausts the proactive congestion control utilising queuing delay like a congestion signal.
• Define goals:
  • Focus on the performance parameters of FAST TCP such as throughput, fairness, latency.
  • Equate it with other TCP variants like TCP Reno, TCP Vegas.

2. Set Up NS2

• Install NS2:
  • We can download and install NS2.35 (or the new stable version) on the system.
• Verify Installation:
  • Execute a simple simulation for verifying the installation:

ns example.tcl

3. Add FAST TCP to NS2

• FAST TCP isn’t directly support for standard NS2 distributions. We can patch NS2 with FAST TCP.
• Download FAST TCP Patch:
  • Seek the execution of FAST TCP for NS2 in reliable repositories or research documentations.
• Apply the Patch:

cd ns-2.35

patch -p1 < fast_tcp_patch.diff

• Recompile NS2:

make clean

make

4. Locate FAST TCP in NS2

• Confirm the supplement of FAST TCP:
  • Try to find FAST TCP-related files like fasttcp.cc and fasttcp.h, within ns-2.35 directory.
  • In the simulator, verify their availability by confirming the list of TCP variants.

5. Write a Simulation Script for FAST TCP

• Make a Tcl script for setting up a network topology with FAST TCP like congestion control protocol.

Example FAST TCP Tcl Script

# Initialize the simulator

set ns [new Simulator]

# Define trace file and NAM output

set tracefile [open fast_tcp.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

set namfile [open fast_tcp.nam w]

$ns namtrace-all $namfile

# Create nodes

set n0 [$ns node]

set n1 [$ns node]

# Create a link between nodes

$ns duplex-link $n0 $n1 10Mb 10ms DropTail

# Configure TCP Agent as FAST TCP

set tcp [new Agent/TCP/FAST]

$tcp set window_ 50

$ns attach-agent $n0 $tcp

# Configure TCP Sink

set sink [new Agent/TCPSink]

$ns attach-agent $n1 $sink

$ns connect $tcp $sink

# Generate traffic

set ftp [new Application/FTP]

$ftp attach-agent $tcp

$ns at 0.1 “$ftp start”

$ns at 4.0 “$ftp stop”

# Finish simulation

$ns at 5.0 “finish”

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile namfile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

close $namfile

exec nam fast_tcp.nam &

exit 0

}

# Run the simulation

$ns run

6. Run the Simulation

• We will need to run the simulation tcl script:

ns fast_tcp_example.tcl

• Outputs:
  • .tr file: It has comprehensive simulation trace information.
  • .nam file: It helps to envision the network using NAM (Network Animator).

7. Analyze Results

• Trace File Analysis:
  • Analyse the .tr file, obtaining the crucial performance parameters like:
    • Throughput.
    • End-to-end delay.
    • Packet loss.
    • Fairness among flows.
• Visualization:
  • Monitor how packets are sent through the network to leverage the .nam file.

8. Compare Protocols

• We can replicate and equate the performance of FAST TCP with other TCP variants like Reno, Vegas, NewReno.
• Example Tcl Script for TCP Variant Comparison:

set tcp_reno [new Agent/TCP/Reno]

set tcp_fast [new Agent/TCP/FAST]

9. Extend the Project

• Modify FAST TCP Parameters:
  • Test with FAST TCP metrics like window sizes, delay thresholds, and queuing behavior.
• Advanced Scenarios:
  • Experiment the FAST TCP scenarios within high-speed networks or networks including high latency.
  • Integrate FAST TCP to utilize QoS approaches.
• Hybrid Protocols:
  • Add hybrid FAST TCP protocols with other protocols such as traffic shaping or AQM (Active Queue Management).

10. Documentation

• This project should have detailed report including:
  • Protocol execution specifics.
  • Simulation metrics.
  • Performance outcomes using graphs of throughput, delay, and so on.
• Envision the performance results applying Gnuplot, MATLAB, or Python tools.

We have shared a detailed simulation procedure with NS2-specific content for replicating and examining the Fastest Protocol Projects using NS2 simulator. If you’d like additional insights, please feel free to ask.