How to Start File Transfer Protocol Projects Using NS3

To start a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) project in NS3 that requires replicating or executing the FTP application across a network. Although NS3 doesn’t support a built-in FTP application directly then it can be designed to utilise their existing capabilities like for TCP-based bulk data transfer use BulkSendApplication.

Below is a sequential method to get started:

Steps to Start File Transfer Protocol Projects in NS3

  1. Understand FTP and Its Simulation Requirements
  • What is FTP?
    • A protocol for transmitting files across a network that normally to utilize TCP.
    • It functions within a client-server model.
  • Key Aspects to Simulate:
    • To launch the connections such as TCP handshake.
    • We transfer information to file chunks or streams.
    • To measure the performance parameters such as throughput, delay.
  1. Set Up NS3
  • Install NS3:
    • Go to nsnam.org to download and install NS3.
  • Verify Installation:

./waf –run scratch/test-example

  • Required Modules:
    • internet: It supports for IP and TCP functionality.
    • applications: For application-layer replication these applications are used.
    • point-to-point or wifi: These modules are helpful for network topology.
  1. Plan the FTP Simulation
  • Topology:
    • A simple client-server configuration or a multi-client situation.
    • For instance, Node A (client) ↔ Node B (server) to utilise a point-to-point link.
  • Simulation Goals:
    • We need to estimate the performance of FTP such as throughput, latency, and packet loss.
    • Then, we can replicate the file sizes and transfer times.
  1. Write a Basic FTP Simulation
  • Design FTP-like behavior to utilize the BulkSendApplication.
  • Example: Simple FTP Simulation

#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 nodes

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(2); // Node 0 (Client) ↔ Node 1 (Server)

// Create point-to-point links

PointToPointHelper p2p;

p2p.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“10Mbps”));

p2p.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“5ms”));

NetDeviceContainer devices = p2p.Install(nodes);

// Install Internet stack

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

// Assign IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;

ipv4.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = ipv4.Assign(devices);

// Set up FTP server (modeled using BulkSendApplication)

uint16_t port = 21; // FTP Control Port

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

BulkSendHelper ftpServer(“ns3::TcpSocketFactory”, serverAddress);

ftpServer.SetAttribute(“MaxBytes”, UintegerValue(0)); // Unlimited data

ApplicationContainer serverApp = ftpServer.Install(nodes.Get(0)); // Client

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

// Set up FTP client (Sink)

PacketSinkHelper ftpClient(“ns3::TcpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address::GetAny(), port));

ApplicationContainer clientApp = ftpClient.Install(nodes.Get(1)); // Server

clientApp.Start(Seconds(0.5));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

// Enable PCAP tracing

p2p.EnablePcapAll(“ftp-simulation”);

// Run the simulation

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

  1. Extend the Simulation
  • Simulate File Transfers:
    • We want to indicate a maximum number of bytes (MaxBytes) for the BulkSendApplication signifying file size.

ftpServer.SetAttribute(“MaxBytes”, UintegerValue(1024 * 1024)); // 1 MB file

  • Add Multiple Clients:
    • We make more nodes and associate them to the server.
  • Simulate Network Delays or Failures:
    • Establish delays, drops, or bandwidth constraints to utilize NetDevice attributes.
  1. Test and Debug
  • Enable Logging:

export NS_LOG=BulkSendApplication=level_all

./waf –run scratch/ftp-simulation

  • Inspect Packet Flows:
    • Examine traffic in Wireshark to utilise PCAP tracing.

p2p.EnablePcapAll(“ftp”);

  • Verify Data Transmission:
    • Record the number of data that are send at the sink (server):

Ptr<PacketSink> sink = DynamicCast<PacketSink>(clientApp.Get(0));

std::cout << “Total Bytes Received: ” << sink->GetTotalRx() << std::endl;

  1. Evaluate FTP Performance
  • Metrics to Measure:
    • Throughput: Total bytes obtained that are splitted using transfer time.
    • Latency: Estimate how it takes time to accomplish the file transfer.
    • Packet Loss: Assess the volume of retransmissions or dropped packets.
  • Use FlowMonitor:

FlowMonitorHelper flowMonitor;

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

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

  1. Advanced Features
  • Dynamic Topologies:
    • For dynamic client-server communication, we can launch mobility models.
  • QoS Integration:
    • Give precedence to FTP traffic to utilise TrafficControlHelper.
  • TCP Variants:
    • Test with TCP variants such as TCP Tahoe, Reno, or Cubic.

Config::SetDefault(“ns3::TcpL4Protocol::SocketType”, StringValue(“ns3::TcpReno”));

  • Security Features:
    • We need to replicate the secure FTP (SFTP) including more overhead or encryption.

This manual demonstrates how to start and execute the File Transfer Protocol projects using NS3 simulation tool through the offered approach. We will also describe how the file transfer protocol is carried out in alternative simulation tools.

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