How to Start Mobile Communication Projects Using NS3

To start mobile communication projects using NS3, we will replicate the cellular networks like LTE, 5G, or WiFi-based mobile networks. NS3 offers dedicated components that contain LTE and WiFi, to support several features of mobile communication like mobility, channel modeling, handovers, and traffic generation. Send us a message you will get tailored guidance, on configuration and simulation for your projects.

We will guide you through the below steps to configure and execute the mobile communication projects in NS3.

Steps to Start Mobile Communication Projects in NS3

  1. Set Up NS-3 Environment with LTE Module
  1. Install NS-3: Download and configure it, if NS3 is not installed. The LTE module is normally contains along with NS3, thus we want to make sure that it is set up.

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install git

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

cd ns-3

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

./waf build

  1. Verify the LTE Module: Confirm that the LTE module is obtainable by means of executing an LTE example.

./waf –run=lte-epc-simple

  1. Understand Components of Mobile Communication in NS3

In NS3, LTE module offers:

  • User Equipment (UE): Denotes the mobile devices.
  • Evolved Node B (eNodeB): It signifies base stations.
  • Evolved Packet Core (EPC): Core network component, which handles data connections, handovers, and routing to the internet.
  1. Set Up a Basic LTE Network

Initially, we can configure a basic LTE network including some UEs and an eNodeB associated to an EPC. This instance will be replicated the UEs linked to a single eNodeB.

Example: Basic LTE Network

  1. Define the Nodes: For UEs, eNodeB, and EPC, we make nodes.
  2. Configure LTE Devices and Install Network Stack: Configure the LTE devices at nodes utilizing the LteHelper and EpcHelper.
  3. Assign Mobility Models: Allocate mobility to UEs replicating the movement in the coverage area.
  4. Set Up Applications: Install applications at UEs making the traffic such as HTTP or UDP traffic.

Below is an example script to make a basic LTE network:

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/lte-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

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

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

// Create LTE helper and EPC helper

Ptr<LteHelper> lteHelper = CreateObject<LteHelper>();

Ptr<PointToPointEpcHelper> epcHelper = CreateObject<PointToPointEpcHelper>();

lteHelper->SetEpcHelper(epcHelper);

// Create nodes for eNodeB and UEs

NodeContainer enbNodes;

enbNodes.Create(1); // One eNodeB

NodeContainer ueNodes;

ueNodes.Create(3); // Three UEs

// Install LTE Devices to eNodeB and UEs

NetDeviceContainer enbLteDevs = lteHelper->InstallEnbDevice(enbNodes);

NetDeviceContainer ueLteDevs = lteHelper->InstallUeDevice(ueNodes);

// Install Internet stack on UEs

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install(ueNodes);

// Assign IP addresses to UEs

Ipv4InterfaceContainer ueIpIface = epcHelper->AssignUeIpv4Address(NetDeviceContainer(ueLteDevs));

// Set the default gateway for UEs

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < ueNodes.GetN(); ++i) {

Ptr<Node> ueNode = ueNodes.Get(i);

Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> ueStaticRouting = Ipv4RoutingHelper::GetRouting<Ipv4StaticRouting>(ueNode->GetObject<Ipv4>()->GetRoutingProtocol());

ueStaticRouting->SetDefaultRoute(epcHelper->GetUeDefaultGatewayAddress(), 1);

}

// Attach UEs to eNodeB

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < ueNodes.GetN(); ++i) {

lteHelper->Attach(ueLteDevs.Get(i), enbLteDevs.Get(0));

}

// Install and configure a UDP application on each UE to generate traffic

uint16_t dlPort = 1234;

ApplicationContainer clientApps, serverApps;

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < ueNodes.GetN(); ++i) {

UdpServerHelper dlPacketSinkHelper(dlPort);

serverApps.Add(dlPacketSinkHelper.Install(ueNodes.Get(i)));

UdpClientHelper dlClient(ueIpIface.GetAddress(i), dlPort);

dlClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(MilliSeconds(100)));

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

clientApps.Add(dlClient.Install(enbNodes.Get(0)));

}

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));

// Set up mobility for eNodeB and UEs

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantPositionMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install(enbNodes);

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::RandomWalk2dMobilityModel”,

“Bounds”, RectangleValue(Rectangle(-100, 100, -50, 50)));

mobility.Install(ueNodes);

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

  1. Add More Realistic Mobile Communication Features

When we have a simple configuration then we can append more realistic mobile network aspects:

Handover

Set up handover settings replicating the UEs to travel among several eNodeBs:

  • In the LTE module, allow handovers by configuring the LteHelper::EnableTraces() technique.
  • Configure several eNodeBs and traveling UEs among coverage areas to utilize NS3’s mobility models.

QoS and Traffic Classes

LTE module of NS3 supports the Quality of Service (QoS) settings:

  • Set up diverse traffic classes like video streaming (high bandwidth, low latency) or background data (lower priority) for applications.
  • Describe QoS characteristics utilizing QosBearer for each application.
  1. Monitor and Collect Performance Metrics

Accumulate performance parameters to examine the mobile network’s performance:

  • Throughput: Estimate the data rates on UEs and eNodeBs.
  • Latency: Compute the delay among packet transmissions and receptions.
  • Packet Loss: Monitor packets, which are lost by reason of mobility, interference, or network congestion.

For analysis, utilize NS3 tracing helpers:

lteHelper->EnableTraces();  // Enable all default LTE traces

Also, we can use FlowMonitor for in-depth packet flow data:

FlowMonitorHelper flowmonHelper;

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

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

  1. Experiment with Different Network Configurations

Testing with diverse metrics that will support to know the influence over network performance:

  • Increase UEs and eNodeBs: Experiment with additional UEs and eNodeBs to concentrate on how scalability impacts the performance.
  • Adjust Data Rates and Channel Models: Modify data rates and channel conditions replicating diverse environments like urban, rural.
  • Mobility Patterns: Attempt diverse mobility models like RandomWaypointMobilityModel, GaussMarkovMobilityModel, and so on, to mimic diverse movement behaviors.
  1. Visualize and Analyze Results

Monitor files examining the outcomes utilizing the visualization tools of NS3:

  • NetAnim: Envision UE movements and communications with eNodeBs in real-time.
  • Trace Files: Analyse the trace files made by LTE and FlowMonitor examining parameters such as throughput, latency, and packet loss.
  • Custom Plots: For a more detailed analysis, we plot throughput, latency, and other metrics utilizing data from trace files.

Here, we can clearly understood the approach and be able to set up and execute the Mobile Communication projects by referring the given structured procedure and the examples coding. We will also expand this project according to the requirements.