How to Start Optical Network Projects Using NS3

To start an optimal network projects using NS3 that can be replicated the high-speed fiber-optic links, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), and other features of optical communication within core or metro networks. Even though NS3 doesn’t directly support the optical network components, replicate crucial optical communication’s features like high-bandwidth links, low latency, and customize the error models, to utilize point-to-point links including high data rates and low delays. Also, we can incorporate NS3 including external tools or modules, which offer optical network aspects. For more project support on your area you can believe in our experts drop us a message we will guide you with best results. Following guide will help you to configure a simple optical network simulation in NS3.

Steps to Start Optical Network Projects in NS3

  1. Install NS3
  1. Download and Install NS3 if we don’t installed earlier:

git clone https://gitlab.com/nsnam/ns-3-dev.git ns-3

cd ns-3

./waf configure –enable-examples –enable-tests

./waf build

  1. Confirm Installation by executing a basic instance like a point-to-point example:

./waf –run=point-to-point

  1. Understand Optical Network Components

For an optical network, we normally operate with:

  • Optical Nodes: Nodes denoting the routers or switches able to manage the high-speed optical signals.
  • Optical Links: High-capacity fiber-optic links including low latency, potentially for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM).
  • Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM): Several channels or wavelengths across the similar fiber.
  • Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers (OADM) and Wavelength Routing: It utilized for traffic management within WDM systems.
  1. Set Up High-Speed Optical Links in NS3

NS3’s PointToPointHelper can be denoted the fiber-optic links including high data rates and low latency. For replicating optical network interaction among the nodes, it makes the basis.

Example: High-Speed Optical Link with Point-to-Point

Below is an instance configures two nodes are associated by a high-speed fiber-optic link to utilize PointToPointHelper.

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/point-to-point-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

// Create two nodes representing optical network switches or routers

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(2);

// Set up a high-speed point-to-point link to simulate an optical link

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“100Gbps”)); // High data rate for optical link

pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“1ms”));       // Low latency to simulate fiber

NetDeviceContainer devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes);

// Install the Internet stack on both nodes

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

// Assign IP addresses to the nodes

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = address.Assign(devices);

// Set up an application: A UDP echo server on node 1 and client on node 0

uint16_t port = 9;

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(port);

ApplicationContainer serverApp = echoServer.Install(nodes.Get(1));

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(interfaces.GetAddress(1), port);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(100));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(0.1)));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));

ApplicationContainer clientApp = echoClient.Install(nodes.Get(0));

clientApp.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

  1. Configure Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) Channels

To replicate the WDM, configure numerous point-to-point links at diverse logical channels signifying diverse wavelengths. Every single link should perform like a separate wavelength channel, while they are all to move across the similar physical path.

  1. Define Multiple Channels: Set up several links among two nodes, each links to denote a diverse wavelength including separate data flows.
  2. Set Different Data Rates (optional): We can configure diverse data rates for each link signifying different bandwidth for diverse wavelengths.

Example:

PointToPointHelper wavelength1;

wavelength1.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“10Gbps”));

wavelength1.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“1ms”));

PointToPointHelper wavelength2;

wavelength2.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“20Gbps”));

wavelength2.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“1ms”));

// Install two logical links (wavelengths) between the nodes

NetDeviceContainer devices1 = wavelength1.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

NetDeviceContainer devices2 = wavelength2.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

  1. Set Up Optical Network Topology

Make a topology including numerous nodes and interconnect them with high-speed links for an optical network. It can denote a core network backbone or a metro network along with optical switches.

Example topology:

  1. To create numerous nodes.
  2. We can link each pair of nodes including high-speed point-to-point links that signifying an optical network backbone.

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(4); // Four nodes in the optical network

// Connect nodes in a ring topology

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“40Gbps”));

pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“1ms”));

NetDeviceContainer d0d1 = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

NetDeviceContainer d1d2 = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(1), nodes.Get(2));

NetDeviceContainer d2d3 = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(2), nodes.Get(3));

NetDeviceContainer d3d0 = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(3), nodes.Get(0));

  1. Implement Applications to Simulate Optical Traffic

Replicate the data flows over optical network utilizing applications such as OnOffApplication or BulkSendApplication. High-throughput applications support to estimate how the network manages the large numbers of information.

Example with OnOffApplication:

OnOffHelper onOff(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(interfaces.GetAddress(1), port));

onOff.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Gbps”)); // High data rate traffic

onOff.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1500));

ApplicationContainer onOffApp = onOff.Install(nodes.Get(0));

onOffApp.Start(Seconds(2.0));

onOffApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

  1. Collect and Analyze Performance Metrics

Collect performance parameters to estimate the crucial metrics in optical networks:

  • Throughput: Assess data rate over each link.
  • Latency: Make sure low delay that normal of optical links.
  • Packet Loss: Make certain high reliability since optical networks are commonly reliable including low error rates.

Collect performance data utilizing FlowMonitor:

FlowMonitorHelper flowmon;

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor = flowmon.InstallAll();

monitor->SerializeToXmlFile(“optical-flowmon.xml”, true, true);

  1. Visualize and Analyze Results
  • NetAnim: Visualize the data flows utilizing NetAnim, it may not completely seize the optical network details.
  • Trace Files: For packet transmission, delay, and throughput, we can examine the trace files.
  • Graphing Tools: Transfer gathered parameters to graph the performance features over time.
  1. Experiment with Advanced Optical Network Scenarios

When we have the basics then discover more advanced optical network situations:

  • Ring or Mesh Topology: For redundancy, make optical networks including ring or mesh topology.
  • Dynamic Wavelength Assignment: Execute the custom applications actively assigning wavelengths depends on the network load.
  • Optical Burst Switching (OBS) or Optical Packet Switching (OPS): We can replicate diverse switching paradigms, learning its impacts on performance.

In this setup, we had illustrated about how the Optical Network projects configured and analyzed using NS3 tool through simple techniques also we offered complete explanation to understand the concepts of optical network. More information regarding this process will also be shared.