How to Start Application Layer Projects Using NS3

To start Application Layer using NS3 that permits to replicate the real-world network applications and protocols. It contains constructing or analysing the applications such as HTTP, FTP, video streaming, or custom network services. NS3 environment offers diverse helper classes and it permits for custom application development. Here’s a simple approach on how to start and simulate the Application Layer Projects using NS3:

Steps to Start Application Layer Projects in NS3

  1. Understand Application Layer Projects
  • Key Areas to Explore:
    • To replicate existing applications like HTTP, FTP, VoIP.
    • Make custom applications such as IoT protocols, P2P systems.
    • Examine the application-level parameters including throughput, delay, and reliability.
  • Applications:
    • It is used for HTTP/FTP performance estimation.
    • Video streaming with adaptive bitrate.
    • Custom application protocol replication.
  1. Set Up NS3
  1. Install NS3:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install g++ python3 git cmake

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

cd ns-3-dev

./waf configure

./waf build

  1. Verify Installation:

./waf –run scratch/my-first

  1. Plan Your Application Layer Project
  1. Select an Application:
    • We can utilize existing ones such as HTTP, FTP, or make custom ones.
  2. Define Metrics:
    • Describe the performance indicators like throughput, delay, application response time, and so on.
  3. Set Objectives:
    • Focus on performance in various network conditions or experiment a custom protocol.
  1. Example: HTTP Application Simulation

Following is an instances that replicates an HTTP-like client-server communication utilising TCP.

Code:

#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() {

LogComponentEnable(“HttpExample”, LOG_LEVEL_INFO);

// Create nodes

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(2); // Client and server

// Configure point-to-point link

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“10Mbps”));

pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“5ms”))

NetDeviceContainer devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes);

// Install Internet stack

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

// Assign IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = address.Assign(devices);

// Create server application

uint16_t port = 80;

Address serverAddress(InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address::GetAny(), port));

PacketSinkHelper server(“ns3::TcpSocketFactory”, serverAddress);

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

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

// Create client application

Address clientAddress(InetSocketAddress(interfaces.GetAddress(1), port));

OnOffHelper client(“ns3::TcpSocketFactory”, clientAddress);

client.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));

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

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

clientApp.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

  1. Key Features of the Code
  1. Client-Server Model:
    • A server focuses for incoming connections whereas the client transmits the demands.
  2. Application Simulation:
    • It simulates HTTP-like behavior to utilize TCP sockets.
  3. Metrics:
    • Examine the indicators like throughput and delay to utilize logs or .pcap traces.
  1. Custom Application Development

NS3 environment permits for making custom applications by means of prolonging the Application class.

Example Custom Application:

class CustomApp : public Application {

public:

CustomApp() {}

virtual ~CustomApp() {}

void Setup(Address address, uint16_t port) {

m_peerAddress = address;

m_peerPort = port;

}

protected:

virtual void StartApplication() override {

Ptr<Socket> socket = Socket::CreateSocket(GetNode(), TcpSocketFactory::GetTypeId());

socket->Connect(InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.2”), 8080));

Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet>(1024); // 1 KB packet

socket->Send(packet);

NS_LOG_UNCOND(“CustomApp: Sent packet to ” << m_peerAddress);

}

virtual void StopApplication() override {

NS_LOG_UNCOND(“CustomApp: Application stopped.”);

}

private:

Address m_peerAddress;

uint16_t m_peerPort;

};

  1. Advanced Application Features

Simulate Video Streaming

For video streaming, to estimate the jitter using UDP:

OnOffHelper videoStream(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(serverIp, port));

videoStream.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“3Mbps”));

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

Adaptive Bitrate Simulation

Adjust bitrate according to the network conditions:

void AdjustBitrate() {

if (currentThroughput < threshold) {

currentBitrate = std::max(minBitrate, currentBitrate / 2);

}

}

IoT Application

Use UDP to replicate the IoT protocols such as MQTT or CoAP.

  1. Testing and Debugging
  1. Enable Logging:

NS_LOG=”HttpExample” ./waf –run application-layer

  1. Monitor Packets: Allow .pcap tracing for in-depth analysis:

pointToPoint.EnablePcapAll(“http-example”);

  1. Analyze Metrics: Examine the parameters such as throughput, delay, and packet loss using FlowMonitor:

FlowMonitorHelper flowMonitor;

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

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

From this manual, we had shown how to set up, simulate and analyse the Application Layer Projects through NS3 platform using offered method along with example coding. Moreover, we are ready to deliver further details on this topic.

For those seeking additional updates on Application Layer Projects Using NS3, we invite you to connect with us for further assistance. By collaborating with phdprojects.org, you can streamline your comprehensive research and writing endeavors, as we handle these challenging tasks for you. We focus on performance parameters tailored to your specific needs, working on applications such as HTTP, FTP, video streaming, and custom network services.