How to Start on Switching Protocols Projects Using NS2

To create a Switching Protocols Project in NS2 has includes the replicate of protocol which handle the data transmitting at the data link layer or higher, like VLANs, STP (Spanning Tree Protocol), MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), or Switching Techniques (Circuit, Packet, or Hybrid Switching). Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Steps to Start on Switching Protocols Projects Using NS2

  1. Understand Switching Protocols

Switching protocols focus on efficient data forwarding within a network.

Common Switching Protocols/Techniques:

  1. STP (Spanning Tree Protocol):
    • Prevents loops in Layer 2 switched networks.
  2. VLAN (Virtual LAN):
    • Enables logical segmentation of networks.
  3. MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching):
    • Uses labels for fast packet forwarding.
  4. Circuit Switching:
    • Establishes a dedicated path for communication (e.g., telephony).
  5. Packet Switching:
    • Splits data into packets for dynamic routing (e.g., Internet).
  6. Hybrid Switching:
    • Combines features of circuit and packet switching.
  1. Define Your Project Goals

Choose your focus:

  1. Protocol Simulation:
    • Simulate STP, VLANs, or MPLS in NS2.
  2. Performance Analysis:
    • Compare switching techniques like circuit, packet, and hybrid switching.
  3. Protocol Enhancements:
    • Improve efficiency or security in switching protocols.
  4. Real-World Scenarios:
    • Model enterprise networks, datacentres, or IoT environments.
  1. Set Up NS2
  1. Install NS2:
    • Use the tool such as NS2.35 for compatibility by replication of network protocol.
  2. Verify Installation:
    • Process a basic replication of assures the NS2 tool is efficient.
  1. Simulate Switching Protocols

Example 1: STP Simulation

  1. Set Up a Switched Network:

set ns [new Simulator]

# Trace and animation files

set tracefile [open stp.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

set namfile [open stp.nam w]

$ns namtrace-all $namfile

# Create nodes (representing switches)

set s1 [$ns node]

set s2 [$ns node]

set s3 [$ns node]

# Create links

$ns duplex-link $s1 $s2 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $s2 $s3 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $s3 $s1 10Mb 10ms DropTail

  1. Implement STP Logic:
    • Replicate the STP for prevent the loops:
      • Designate the root bridge.
      • Block redundant connections according to bridge ID.
  2. Run the Simulation:

$ns at 50.0 “finish”

proc finish {} {

global ns tracefile namfile

$ns flush-trace

close $tracefile

close $namfile

exec nam stp.nam &

exit 0

}

$ns run

Example 2: MPLS Simulation

  1. Set Up an MPLS Network:
    • Use the nodes are routers as describe the MPLS labels.

set n0 [$ns node]

set n1 [$ns node]

set n2 [$ns node]

$ns duplex-link $n0 $n1 10Mb 10ms DropTail

$ns duplex-link $n1 $n2 10Mb 10ms DropTail

  1. Simulate Label Swapping:
    • Implement label-switching logic in the routing layer:
      • Allocate the labels for packets at ingress.
      • Exchange the labels at every hop.
  2. Run and Visualize the Simulation:
    • Use the tool like NAM for envisions the MPLS behavior.

Example 3: VLAN Simulation

  1. Create VLANs:
    • Partition nodes in VLANs through allocating the identifiers:

set vlan1 {n0 n1}

set vlan2 {n2 n3}

  1. Simulate VLAN Communication:
    • It Limit the communication for nodes in the similar VLAN.
  1. Analyze Results

Study the trace file for sample stp.tr, mpls.tr, or vlan.tr to estimate the performance.

Metrics to Evaluate:

  1. Throughput:
    • Estimate the total data successfully are forward.
  2. Latency:
    • Amount of delay launch through the switching operations.
  3. Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR):
    • Measures the ratios of successfully packets are delivered.
  4. Loop Prevention (for STP):
    • Validate which no loops follow in the network.

Example Analysis Commands:

  1. Throughput:

awk ‘{if ($1 == “r” && $4 == “AGT”) count++} END {print “Throughput:”, count}’ stp.tr

  1. PDR:

awk ‘{if ($1 == “r” && $4 == “AGT”) recd++; if ($1 == “s” && $4 == “AGT”) sent++} END {print “PDR:”, recd/sent*100 “%”}’ stp.tr

  1. Visualize Results
  1. Use NAM (Network Animator):
    • It vision for the switching behavior, packet flow, and protocol-specific movements:

nam stp.nam

  1. Plot Metrics:
    • Use the tool like Python, MATLAB, or Excel for envisions the throughput, latency, and PDR.
  1. Extend or Modify Protocols
  1. Secure Switching Protocols:
    • Enhance the cryptographic authentication for MPLS labels or VLAN tags.
  2. QoS-Aware Switching:
    • Traffic prioritize are according to their class or needs for the delay.
  3. Energy-Efficient Switching:
    • Improve the switching of efficient for select the based on node energy levels.
  1. Advanced Features
  1. VLAN Trunking:
    • Replicate the VLANs by trunk connection for carry several VLAN traffic.
  2. STP Enhancements:
    • Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is replicating the faster convergence.
  3. MPLS Traffic Engineering:
    • It enhances the congestion for label-switched paths (LSPs) for load balancing.
  1. Compare Switching Protocols

Replicate the several protocols below some conditions:

  1. STP vs. RSTP:
    • Link the loop prevention and convergence time.
  2. Packet Switching vs. Circuit Switching:
    • Associate the latency, throughput, and efficiency.
  3. MPLS vs. Traditional Routing:
    • Calculate the performance for improvements from MPLS.
  1. Document Your Project

Include:

  1. It starts with objectives and problem definition.
  2. Then network protocol process for setting and simulation setup.
  3. After simulation parameter gives the results and analysis.
  4. In end of contribution are references for improvement.

Example Project Ideas

  1. Performance Analysis of STP and RSTP:
    • Associate the STP and RSTP for avoid the loop and recovery times.
  2. Energy-Efficient VLAN Switching: (rewrite)
    • Reduce energy consumption in VLAN-based networks.
  3. Traffic Engineering with MPLS:
    • Enhance the path selection according to network environments.
  4. Hybrid Switching Techniques:
    • Associate the circuit and packet switching for detailed settings.
  5. QoS-Aware VLAN Design:
    • Replicate the VLANs by congestion prioritization.

In the end of the module, we had clearly shown how to implement the switching protocol selection in the ns2 tool that effectively chooses the best protocol nodes in the communication scenario. Any queries related to this project will be clarified in a different manual.