How to Start Wireless Projects Using NS3

To start the wireless projects using NS3, we have to configure the wireless network situations to utilize WiFi, LTE, or other wireless interaction protocols. NS3 offers components particularly modeled for wireless networking that permitting to design numerous wireless technologies, mobility patterns, and interference situations. It is optimal for learning topics such as wireless communication protocols, network topology, signal interference, mobility, and performance analysis.

Following is significant steps to getting started with wireless projects in NS3.

Steps to Start Wireless Projects in NS3

  1. Install NS-3 and Required Modules

Make sure that NS3 is installed on the system including the essential wireless modules like WiFi and LTE modules.

  1. Download and Install NS3 (if not installed).

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 Installation: Execute a basic example verifying that NS3 is functioning.

./waf –run=wifi-simple-infra

  1. Understand NS-3 Wireless Components

In NS3, Wireless simulations contain numerous modules like:

  • Nodes: To denote the wireless devices such as clients, access points, mobile devices.
  • NetDevices: Network interfaces at nodes like WiFi or LTE adapters.
  • Channels: Wireless channels, which describe how nodes are associated.
  • Mobility Models: Describe the wireless node’s movement patterns.
  • Applications: Make traffic at the network like HTTP, VoIP, or video streaming.
  1. Create a Basic Wireless Network Topology

Initially, we make a basic WiFi topology, which contains one access point (AP) and numerous clients. It can support to know the WiFi basics of NS3 before we append complexity.

Example: Simple WiFi Network

In this instance, one node performs like an access point, whereas others executes as clients.

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/wifi-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

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

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

// Create nodes for WiFi AP and clients

NodeContainer wifiStaNodes;

wifiStaNodes.Create(3); // Three WiFi stations (clients)

NodeContainer wifiApNode;

wifiApNode.Create(1); // One access point (AP)

// Set up WiFi physical layer and channel

YansWifiChannelHelper channel = YansWifiChannelHelper::Default();

YansWifiPhyHelper phy = YansWifiPhyHelper::Default();

phy.SetChannel(channel.Create());

// Set up WiFi network using 802.11n

WifiHelper wifi;

wifi.SetStandard(WIFI_PHY_STANDARD_80211n_5GHZ);

WifiMacHelper mac;

Ssid ssid = Ssid(“ns3-wifi”);

// Configure station (client) devices

mac.SetType(“ns3::StaWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid), “ActiveProbing”, BooleanValue(false));

NetDeviceContainer staDevices = wifi.Install(phy, mac, wifiStaNodes);

// Configure access point (AP) device

mac.SetType(“ns3::ApWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid));

NetDeviceContainer apDevice = wifi.Install(phy, mac, wifiApNode);

// Set up the mobility model for nodes

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetPositionAllocator(“ns3::GridPositionAllocator”,

“MinX”, DoubleValue(0.0),

“MinY”, DoubleValue(0.0),

“DeltaX”, DoubleValue(5.0),

“DeltaY”, DoubleValue(10.0),

“GridWidth”, UintegerValue(3),

“LayoutType”, StringValue(“RowFirst”));

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

mobility.Install(wifiApNode);

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::RandomWalk2dMobilityModel”,

“Bounds”, RectangleValue(Rectangle(-50, 50, -25, 50)));

mobility.Install(wifiStaNodes);

// Install Internet stack

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(wifiApNode);

stack.Install(wifiStaNodes);

// Assign IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

address.Assign(staDevices);

address.Assign(apDevice);

// Set up UDP traffic application

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApp = echoServer.Install(wifiApNode.Get(0));

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.1”), 9);

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

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

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

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

clientApp.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

  1. Add Wireless Communication Features

Experiment with Different WiFi Standards

Focus on its performance to utilize diverse WiFi standards like 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11n,. It is done by way of configuring the WiFi standard within WifiHelper:

wifi.SetStandard(WIFI_PHY_STANDARD_80211n_2_4GHZ); // Change frequency or standard as needed

Mobility Models

Utilize diverse mobility models replicating the node movement. Instances contain ConstantVelocityMobilityModel, RandomWaypointMobilityModel, and GaussMarkovMobilityModel. Mobility models can be replicated situations like pedestrians, vehicles, or UAVs.

Example:

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

wifiStaNodes.Get(0)->GetObject<ConstantVelocityMobilityModel>()->SetVelocity(Vector(2.0, 1.0, 0.0)); // 2 m/s in X, 1 m/s in Y

  1. Set Up Advanced Wireless Network Features

Interference and Range

We can modify the WiFi transmission power, receive sensitivity, and channel features to design an interference and range restrictions.

Example:

phy.Set(“TxPowerStart”, DoubleValue(20.0)); // Transmission power in dBm

phy.Set(“TxPowerEnd”, DoubleValue(20.0));

phy.Set(“RxGain”, DoubleValue(-10.0)); // Reception sensitivity

Multi-Access Points and Handover

Make several access points (APs) concentrate on how clients distributed among them for larger topologies. In the LTE module, NS3 helps handover simulations, and custom logic can be used for WiFi.

  1. Collect and Analyze Performance Metrics

We can observe the network estimating crucial wireless performance parameters:

  • Throughput: Assess the data rate over the network.
  • Latency: For packets, compute the end-to-end delay.
  • Packet Loss: Monitor packet drops by reason of interference or range restrictions.
  • Signal Strength: Calculate the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values to know the coverage and connectivity.

Using FlowMonitor

For each communication flow, collect in-depth performance parameters utilizing FlowMonitor.

FlowMonitorHelper flowmon;

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

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

  1. Experiment with Different Network Configurations

Test with diverse sets up to discover distinct wireless situations:

  • Node Density: Maximize the volume of nodes to experiment scalability.
  • Data Rates: Modify the data rate replicating diverse traffic loads.
  • Interference: Insert additional APs or overlapping WiFi channels mimicking interference and to learn their influence over network performance.
  1. Visualize and Analyze Results
  • NetAnim: Examine the node movement, signal range, and packet exchanges utilizing NS3’s NetAnim tool.
  • Trace Files: Analyse the trace files that are made by FlowMonitor and other NS3 tracing mechanisms examining parameters such as throughput and latency.
  • Plotting Tools: From trace files, transfer data to plot the performance parameters to permit investigating how network modifications influence the performance.

We outlined the Wireless Projects that follows a structured approach to execute and analyse it using NS3 environment. We are able to offer additional comprehensive insights and extend it further if needed.