How to Develop IPv6 Protocols Projects Using NS3

To develop an IPv6 in NS3, it is the next-generation internet protocol which offers a larger address space, enhanced security, and better support for mobility. NS3 provides direct support for IPv6 and also enables diverse IPv6-based networking scenarios’ simulation.

IPv6 Features in NS3

✅ IPv6 Addressing

✅ IPv6 Routing (Static, OSPF, AODV6, DSR6, RIPng)

✅ IPv6 Mobility (MIPv6, NEMO, PMIPv6)

✅ Dual Stack (IPv4/IPv6)

Steps to Develop IPv6 Protocols Projects in NS3

Setting Up NS3 for IPv6

(a) Install NS3

Before proceeding, we should install NS3 on the computer.

sudo apt update

sudo apt install git g++ python3 python3-pip cmake

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

cd ns-3-dev

./ns3 configure –enable-examples –enable-tests

./ns3 build

Implementing IPv6 in NS3

(A) Basic IPv6 Network Simulation

Here’s instance that illustrates simple IPv6 interaction among two nodes.

📝 Example: Simple IPv6 Network

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/point-to-point-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

int main() {

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(2);

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

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

pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));

NetDeviceContainer devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes);

InternetSackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

Ipv6AddressHelper ipv6;

ipv6.SetBase(“2001:db8::”, 64);

Ipv6InterfaceContainer interfaces = ipv6.Assign(devices);

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

📌 Run the simulation

Now, we execute the simulation script using

./waf –run “scratch/ipv6_basic”

(B) IPv6 Routing with RIPng

RIPng (RIP for IPv6) is a distance-vector routing protocol.

📝 Example: Implementing RIPng in IPv6

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/ripng-helper.h”

using namespace ns3;

int main() {

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(3);

PointToPointHelper p2p;

p2p.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));

p2p.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));

NetDeviceContainer devices12, devices23;

devices12 = p2p.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

devices23 = p2p.Install(nodes.Get(1), nodes.Get(2));

InternetStackHelper stack;

RipNgHelper ripng;

Ipv6ListRoutingHelper list;

list.Add(ripng, 10);

stack.SetRoutingHelper(list);

stack.Install(nodes);

Ipv6AddressHelper ipv6;

ipv6.SetBase(“2001:db8:1::”, 64);

ipv6.Assign(devices12);

ipv6.SetBase(“2001:db8:2::”, 64);

ipv6.Assign(devices23);

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

📌 Run the simulation

./waf –run “scratch/ripng_example”

(C) Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6) Simulation

While sustaining their IPv6 address, MIPv6 allows a mobile node for travelling among the networks.

📝 Example: Implementing MIPv6 in NS3

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

int main() {

NodeContainer mobileNode, homeAgent, accessRouters;

mobileNode.Create(1);

homeAgent.Create(1);

accessRouters.Create(2);

MobilityHelper mobility;

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

mobility.Install(mobileNode);

mobility.Install(homeAgent);

mobility.Install(accessRouters);

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(mobileNode);

stack.Install(homeAgent);

stack.Install(accessRouters);

Ipv6AddressHelper ipv6;

ipv6.SetBase(“2001:db8:1::”, 64);

ipv6.Assign(NetDeviceContainer());

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

📌 Run the simulation

./waf –run “scratch/mipv6_example”

Performance Analysis of IPv6 Protocols

We make use of FlowMonitor for examining the performance of IPv6 network performance:

Ptr<FlowMonitor> flowMonitor;

FlowMonitorHelper flowHelper;

flowMonitor = flowHelper.InstallAll();

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

flowMonitor->SerializeToXmlFile(“ipv6_results.xml”, true, true);

📌 Run performance analysis

Execute the following command to analyze the performance

python3 analyze_results.py

Example IPv6 Project Ideas in NS3

✅ 1. IPv6 vs. IPv4 Performance Comparison

• Equate the performance of IPv6 with IPv4 using metrics like latency, throughput, and packet loss.

✅ 2. Secure IPv6 Routing in IoT Networks

• We can leverage IPsec to execute the IPv6-based security.

✅ 3. Optimized Routing in IPv6 Wireless Networks

• Execute the custom IPv6 routing mechanisms in wireless networks.

✅ 4. Performance of Mobile IPv6 in 5G Networks

• Focus on how MIPv6 executes in high mobility scenarios.

✅ 5. IPv6-Based Smart Grid Communication

• We will need to utilize IPv6 addressing for smart meter networks.

Finally, IPv6 Protocols project has been effectively implemented and analyzed with NS3 environment through an effective procedure using sample snippets and example project ideas, with further details to be provided as required.