How to Start Network Automation Projects Using NS3

To start Network Automation projects in NS3, we will want to make simulations for automated network set up, management, and optimization to utilize scripting, dynamic protocols, or integration including the automation frameworks. Network automation concentrates on tasks such as configuring routing, monitoring performance, or adjusting network metrics according to the policies or dynamic conditions.

Following is a stepwise technique to start the Network Automation Projects using NS3:

Steps to Start Network Automation Projects in NS3

1. Understand Network Automation Concepts

• What is Network Automation?
  • Automating network tasks like:
    • Routing, addressing configuration.
    • To observe and performance management.
    • To dynamically enhance the network resources.
• Key Automation Areas:
  • Automated routing such as dynamic configuration.
  • QoS policy enforcement.
  • Real-time network monitoring and adjustments.

2. Set Up NS3

• Install NS3:
  • Go to nsnam.org to download and install NS3.
• Verify Installation:

./waf –run scratch/test-example

• Modules to Use:
  • internet: It supports for routing and IP stack.
  • csma, wifi: For wired or wireless interaction.
  • traffic-control: It is utilize to execute the QoS policies.
  • flow-monitor: For performance monitoring.

3. Define Your Automation Goals

• Examples of Network Automation Projects:
  • Automated Routing: According to the network conditions, dynamic modification of routing tables.
  • QoS Management: Automate bandwidth allocation or traffic prioritization.
  • Load Balancing: Redistribute the traffic actively through several paths.
  • Self-Healing Networks: Identify and retrieve from link or node failures.

4. Plan Your Simulation

• Topology:
  • We can utilize a simple or complex network topology such as star, mesh, hierarchical.
• Automation Components:
  • Modify network parameters to utilize scripts in the course of simulation.
  • Observe real-time performance and use corrective actions.

5. Write a Basic Automation Script

• Example: Automated Routing Update
  • Replicate a network and actively modify routing rely on latency.

#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;

void UpdateRouting(Ptr<Node> node) {

Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4 = node->GetObject<Ipv4>();

Ptr<Ipv4StaticRouting> staticRouting = Ipv4RoutingHelper::GetRouting<Ipv4StaticRouting>(ipv4);

// Example: Add a new route dynamically

staticRouting->AddHostRouteTo(Ipv4Address(“10.1.3.1”), Ipv4Address(“10.1.2.2”), 1);

NS_LOG_INFO(“Routing table updated at ” << Simulator::Now().GetSeconds());

}

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

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(3);

PointToPointHelper p2p;

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

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

NetDeviceContainer devices1 = p2p.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

NetDeviceContainer devices2 = p2p.Install(nodes.Get(1), nodes.Get(2));

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;

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

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces1 = ipv4.Assign(devices1);

ipv4.SetBase(“10.1.2.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces2 = ipv4.Assign(devices2);

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApp = echoServer.Install(nodes.Get(2));

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(interfaces2.GetAddress(1), 9);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(5));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(1.0)));

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

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

clientApp.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

// Schedule routing update at 5 seconds

Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(5.0), &UpdateRouting, nodes.Get(0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

6. Implement Advanced Automation Logic

• Dynamic Traffic Control:
  • Modify bandwidth or prioritize certain flows to utilize the TrafficControlHelper.
• Failure Detection:
  • Insert code, identifying the link or node failures and dynamically modify routing.
• Load Balancing:
  • Depends on real-time parameters such as throughput or delay, we execute the dynamic path selection.
• Performance Monitoring:
  • Monitor the packet statistics utilising FlowMonitor and adjust the network consequently.

7. Test and Debug

• Enable Logging:

export NS_LOG=Ipv4StaticRouting=level_all

./waf –run scratch/network-automation

• Use PCAP Tracing:
  • Utilize Wireshark to examine the packet flows.
• Debug Automation Logic:
  • During simulation, we validate the routing tables or statistics:

Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4 = nodes.Get(0)->GetObject<Ipv4>();

ipv4->GetRoutingProtocol()->Print(std::cout);

8. Evaluate Performance

• Metrics to Measure:
  • Latency: Estimate the duration for packets to pass through the network.
  • Throughput: We measure the amount of data that are effectively sent.
  • Routing Overhead: Compute the volume of control traffic made.
  • Packet Delivery Ratio: We need to assess ratio of packets that are well distributed.
• FlowMonitor Integration:

FlowMonitorHelper flowMonitor;

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

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

In the entire guide, we had clearly learned about the simulation process on how to initiate, simulate and estimate the Network Automation Projects using NS3 environment. We will give further information on this subject upon your requirements.

For your Network Automation Projects utilizing the NS3 tool, count on the skilled team at phdprojects.org to guide you through each step. Enjoy our tailored support, which guarantees the best results for your project and ensures it finishes on schedule.