How to Start Distributed Routing Projects Using OMNeT++

To start a Distributed Routing project using OMNeT++ that needs to execute or modify the routing protocols in which routing decisions are created collaboratively using own nodes instead of being centrally calculated. We will guide you through these steps to get started:

Steps to Start Distributed Routing Projects in OMNeT++

1. Understand Distributed Routing

Key Features

• Every single node sustains and modernizes their routing table according to the local knowledge and periodic data that swap with neighbors.
• It is appropriate for decentralized systems such as Distance Vector Routing (DVR) or Link-State Routing (LSR).

Applications

• Peer-to-peer networks.
• Wireless sensor networks (WSNs).
• Ad-hoc networks (MANETs).

Algorithms

• Bellman-Ford Algorithm: It is frequently utilised within Distance Vector Routing protocols.
• Dijkstra’s Algorithm: It supports for Link-State Routing including distributed computation of the global topology.

2. Set Up the Environment

Install OMNeT++

• We should download and install the new version of OMNeT++ on the system.
• Make sure that installation with example simulations is properly installed.

Install INET Framework

• We have to install the INET framework with OMNeT++ version.
• Construct it:

make makefiles

make

INET framework offers basics models with routing for network simulation.

3. Plan the Simulation

Define Objectives

• We need to execute the distributed routing protocol like:
  • Link-State Routing.
  • Distance Vector Routing.
• Estimate the performance parameters such as:
  • Packet delivery ratio.
  • Routing overhead.
  • Convergence time.

Define the Network Topology

• Choose the number of nodes and its connectivity.
• Define the link costs like delay, bandwidth.

4. Create a New OMNeT++ Project

1. Go to OMNeT++ IDE.
2. Select File > New > OMNeT++ Project.
3. Name it to the project such as DistributedRouting and then select Finish.

5. Implement the Distributed Routing Protocol

Create a Custom Routing Module

1. Make a new .cc file for the routing logic like DistributedRouting.cc.
2. We have to execute the routing logic.

Example: Distance Vector Routing Logic

class DistributedRouting : public cSimpleModule {

private:

std::map<int, double> distanceVector; // Distance to nodes

std::map<int, int> nextHop;          // Next hop for each destination

std::set<int> neighbors;             // Neighboring nodes

protected:

virtual void initialize() override {

int nodeId = getId();

distanceVector[nodeId] = 0; // Distance to self is 0

for (int neighbor : neighbors) {

distanceVector[neighbor] = INFINITY; // Initially unknown

}

}

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override {

auto packet = check_and_cast<DistanceVectorPacket *>(msg);

updateRoutingTable(packet->getVector());

delete packet;

}

void updateRoutingTable(const std::map<int, double>& neighborVector) {

bool updated = false;

for (const auto& [dest, cost] : neighborVector) {

double newCost = cost + linkCost(dest);

if (newCost < distanceVector[dest]) {

distanceVector[dest] = newCost;

nextHop[dest] = getSenderId();

updated = true;

}

}

if (updated) broadcastDistanceVector();

}

void broadcastDistanceVector() {

for (int neighbor : neighbors) {

auto packet = new DistanceVectorPacket();

packet->setVector(distanceVector);

send(packet, “out”, neighbor);

}

}

};

Extend INET’s Routing Modules

• Extend the INET’s routing source files and subclass related modules like inet::RoutingTable.
• In the routing table updates, we should execute the distributed decision-making.

6. Define the Network Topology

Create a .ned File

We make the network topology and node connections:

network DistributedNetwork {

submodules:

node[10]: StandardHost {

parameters:

@display(“i=device/router”);

routingProtocol = “DistributedRouting”;

}

connections:

node[0].pppg++ <–> { delay = 10ms; datarate = 1Gbps; } <–> node[1].pppg++;

node[1].pppg++ <–> { delay = 15ms; datarate = 1Gbps; } <–> node[2].pppg++;

node[2].pppg++ <–> { delay = 5ms; datarate = 1Gbps; } <–> node[3].pppg++;

}

7. Configure the Simulation

Edit omnetpp.ini

Configure the simulation metrics using .ini file:

[Config DistributedRoutingSimulation]

network = DistributedNetwork

**.node[*].numNeighbors = 2

**.node[*].linkCost = uniform(1, 10) # Random link costs

**.app[0].destAddresses = “node[9]”

simulation.timeLimit = 100s

8. Run the Simulation

1. Make use of Tkenv (OMNeT++ GUI) or Cmdenv, executing the simulation.
2. Monitor:
   • Packet forwarding among the nodes.
   • Distance vector updates.

9. Analyze Results

Metrics to Evaluate

• Convergence Time:
  • We want to estimate the duration to become stable its routing tables for all nodes.
• Routing Overhead:
  • Measure the volume of control messages that are swapped in the course of the simulation.
• Packet Delivery Ratio:
  • We have to calculate the percentage of packet which is effectively distributed.

Visualization

• Make use of OMNeT++’s built-in visualization tools, monitoring packet flow.
• Transfer logs to utilise MATLAB or Python for analysis.

10. Extend and Optimize

Enhance Routing Features

• Launch the optimizations such as:
  • Split Horizon: Avoid routing loops.
  • Triggered Updates: Reduce the periodic transmissions.

Simulate Dynamic Scenarios

• We need to integrate link/node failures to experiment the recovery mechanisms.
• Replicate mobility to analyse the performance within dynamic topologies.

Compare Protocols

• We can equate the Distributed Routing including centralized methods like OSPF.

By leveraging OMNeT++ simulation tool, we can execute an in-depth simulation process for replicating and estimating the Distributed Routing Projects. Additional clarification will be provided in a various manual if necessary.

If you have any questions, just send us a message! We’ll help you come up with awesome ideas and topics for your Distributed Routing project, along with detailed steps. At phdprojects.org, we offer top-notch research services and will be your go-to partner for your research adventure.