How to Start SD WAN Protocol Projects Using NS3

To start a Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) protocol project in NS3 that contains to replicate the protocols and mechanisms for dynamic path selection, traffic prioritization, and centralized control through wide-area networks. SD-WAN based on splitting the control and data planes that is matched for custom development in NS3.

Following is a stepwise method to start the SD WAN Protocol Projects in NS3:

Steps to Start SD WAN Protocol Projects in NS3

  1. Understand SD-WAN Concepts
  • Key SD-WAN Components:
    • Control Plane: For handling network policies and routes, we utilize centralized controller.
    • Data Plane: Routers and devices that is responsible for forwarding traffic.
    • Management Plane: Interface for network set up and observing.
  • SD-WAN Features:
    • Dynamic path selection.
    • QoS-based traffic prioritization.
    • Load balancing and failover.
    • Security via encryption and policies.
  1. Set Up NS3
  • Install NS3:
    • Go to nsnam.org to download and install NS3.
    • We adhere to the installation instruction.
  • Verify installation:

./waf –run scratch/test-example

  • Relevant NS3 modules:
    • internet: It supports for routing and IP stack.
    • traffic-control: For traffic shaping and prioritization.
    • point-to-point or csma: These module used for WAN and LAN connectivity.
  1. Plan Your SD-WAN Protocol Project
  • Define the Objective:
    • We can describe the performance optimization for metrics like bandwidth utilization, latency.
    • Policy-based routing or QoS execution.
    • Comparison of traditional WAN and SD-WAN performance.
  • Topology:
    • Multi-branch network associated to a central hub or data center.
    • Combination of WAN links such as MPLS, broadband, LTE with various properties.
  • Control Mechanism:
    • Centralized SD-WAN controller, dynamically handling the traffic flows.
  • Metrics:
    • To measure the performance indicators such as throughput, packet delivery ratio, latency, jitter, and failover response time.
  1. Write the Simulation Code
  • Replicate a basic WAN topology and add SD-WAN aspects to utilising NS3.
  • Example Script: Basic SD-WAN Setup

#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”

#include “ns3/traffic-control-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

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

// Create nodes

NodeContainer branchNodes, centralHub;

branchNodes.Create(3);  // Branch offices

centralHub.Create(1);   // Central hub or data center

// Set up point-to-point links

PointToPointHelper p2p;

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

p2p.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“20ms”));

NetDeviceContainer branchToHubDevices[3];

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

branchToHubDevices[i] = p2p.Install(branchNodes.Get(i), centralHub.Get(0));

}

// Install Internet stack

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(branchNodes);

stack.Install(centralHub);

// Assign IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;

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

std::ostringstream subnet;

subnet << “10.1.” << i + 1 << “.0”;

ipv4.SetBase(subnet.str().c_str(), “255.255.255.0”);

ipv4.Assign(branchToHubDevices[i]);

}

// Configure traffic control (e.g., prioritization)

TrafficControlHelper tch;

tch.SetRootQueueDisc(“ns3::FqCoDelQueueDisc”);

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

tch.Install(branchToHubDevices[i]);

}

// Set up traffic (e.g., UDP flows)

uint16_t port = 9;

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(port);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(centralHub.Get(0));

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.1”), port);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(10));

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

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

ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(branchNodes.Get(0));

clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

// Enable tracing

p2p.EnablePcapAll(“sdwan”);

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

  1. Add SD-WAN-Specific Features
  • Centralized Controller:
    • We execute a controller application, according to the policies like traffic prioritization, link performance actively adapting the routing.
  • Dynamic Path Selection:
    • We need to observe the link parameters like delay, packet loss and dynamically change paths.
  • QoS and Traffic Shaping:
    • For executing the priority queues or rate limiting to utilize the TrafficControlHelper module.
  1. Test and Debug
  • Enable Logging:

export NS_LOG=PointToPointNetDevice=level_all

./waf –run scratch/sdwan-example

  • Monitor Traffic:
    • For packet analysis within Wireshark to utilize PCAP files.
    • Use FlowMonitor to accumulate parameters such as throughput and latency.
  1. Performance Evaluation
  • Metrics to Measure:
    • We estimate the performance metrics like latency, throughput, jitter, packet delivery ratio, and failover response time.
  • Tools for Analysis:
    • Examine the end-to-end performance metrics to utilize FlowMonitor.
    • We need to execute the custom tracing callbacks for dynamic path modifications.
  1. Advanced Features
  • Link Failures and Recovery:
    • To replicate the link failures and then estimate ability of SD-WAN to reroute traffic.
  • Security:
    • For SD-WAN traffic, we can insert encryption and secure policies.
  • Scalability Testing:
    • Maximize the volume of branches and links, measuring the performance under scale.
  • Multi-link WAN:
    • Mimic several link types such as MPLS, LTE including diverse bandwidth and delay.
  1. Documentation and Visualization
  • Document Protocol Implementation:
    • Define the objectives, network configuration, and outcomes clearly.
  • Visualize Results:
    • Envision the topology utilising NetAnim.
    • We need to graph the performance parameters to use Matplotlib or Gnuplot.

In this manual, we expounded clearly about how to install the NS3 environment, how to simulate and measure the performance for SD WAN Protocol Projects utilising NS3 simulation tool. Likewise, we will deliver more innovative approach on this project.

We are pleased to present you with exceptional project ideas focused on protocols and mechanisms for dynamic path selection, traffic prioritization, and centralized control within wide-area networks, accompanied by comprehensive explanations. If you are interested in initiating SD WAN Protocol Projects utilizing the NS3 tool, our team at phdprojects.org is committed to providing you with a timely response and delivering top-notch guidance. Please feel free to reach out to us to ensure your project is completed on schedule.