How to Develop File Transfer Protocol Projects Using NS3

To develop FTP (File Transfer Protocol) in NS3, it is a client-server protocol that can be utilized for high-speed data transfer among the devices through a network. FTP normally functions over TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), making sure that reliable data transmission.

Why Simulate FTP in NS3?

  • Examine the FTP throughput within wired and wireless networks.
  • Estimate the performance of FTP in congestion and network failures.
  • Utilize QoS-aware routing to enhance the FTP transmission.
  • For traffic optimization, execute the AI-based FTP scheduling.

Steps to Develop an FTP Project in NS3

  1. Install NS3 and Required Modules

At first, we should make sure that NS3 is installed:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install -y git build-essential python3 cmake

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

cd ns-3

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

./ns3 build

Additionally, we set up all necessary NS3 Modules:

  • Internet Module → IPv4/IPv6 routing used for FTP.
  • Point-to-Point Module → Replicate the wired FTP interaction.
  • WiFi Module → Wireless FTP simulation.
  • Applications Module → FTP client-server application.
  • Flow Monitor Module → It is used performance estimation.
  1. Create an FTP Network

We create an FTP network that contains:

  1. FTP Server (Storage/Cloud Server)
  2. FTP Clients (End-user devices)
  3. Routers for Packet Forwarding
  4. QoS-aware Traffic Management leveraged for FTP enhancement

📌 Example: Simulating an FTP Network with 3 Clients

#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;

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

NodeContainer routers, clients, server;

routers.Create(2);  // 2 Routers

clients.Create(3);  // 3 FTP Clients

server.Create(1);   // 1 FTP Server

PointToPointHelper p2p;

p2p.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“1Gbps”));

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

NetDeviceContainer devices1 = p2p.Install(server.Get(0), routers.Get(0)); // Server to Router1

NetDeviceContainer devices2 = p2p.Install(routers.Get(0), routers.Get(1)); // Router1 to Router2

NetDeviceContainer devices3 = p2p.Install(routers.Get(1), clients.Get(0)); // Router2 to Client1

NetDeviceContainer devices4 = p2p.Install(routers.Get(1), clients.Get(1)); // Router2 to Client2

NetDeviceContainer devices5 = p2p.Install(routers.Get(1), clients.Get(2)); // Router2 to Client3

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install(routers);

internet.Install(clients);

internet.Install(server);

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

address.Assign(devices1);

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

address.Assign(devices2);

address.SetBase(“10.1.3.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

address.Assign(devices3);

address.SetBase(“10.1.4.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

address.Assign(devices4);

address.SetBase(“10.1.5.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

address.Assign(devices5);

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

✅ We configure FTP Network:

  • 1 FTP Server was associated through the 2 routers to 3 FTP Clients.
  • 1 Gbps network speed along with 2 ms delay.
  1. Implementing FTP over TCP

FTP needs TCP, which is applied for reliable data transfer.

📌 Example: Adding FTP Server & Client in NS3

#include “ns3/ftp-server-helper.h”

#include “ns3/ftp-client-helper.h”

// FTP Server on port 21

uint16_t ftpPort = 21;

FtpServerHelper ftpServer(ftpPort);

ApplicationContainer serverApp = ftpServer.Install(server.Get(0));

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

// FTP Client Requesting File Download

FtpClientHelper ftpClient(Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.1”), ftpPort);

ftpClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(100));

ftpClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(0.01))); // High-speed file transfer

ftpClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(4096)); // 4 KB packet size

ApplicationContainer clientApp1 = ftpClient.Install(clients.Get(0));

clientApp1.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApp1.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

ApplicationContainer clientApp2 = ftpClient.Install(clients.Get(1));

clientApp2.Start(Seconds(2.5));

clientApp2.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

ApplicationContainer clientApp3 = ftpClient.Install(clients.Get(2));

clientApp3.Start(Seconds(3.0));

clientApp3.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

✅ This replicates:

  • From a server to 3 clients, FTP file downloads.
  • 4096-byte packets at 10ms intervals.
  • Diverse start times for clients, generating the traffic variations.
  1. Implementing QoS for FTP Traffic

We need to utilise the Traffic Control Helper enhancing the FTP traffic,.

📌 Example: Applying QoS for FTP

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

TrafficControlHelper tc;

tc.SetRootQueueDisc(“ns3::FqCoDelQueueDisc”); // Fair Queueing for FTP optimization

tc.Install(devices2);

tc.Install(devices3);

tc.Install(devices4);

tc.Install(devices5);

✅ It refines:

  • Fair bandwidth distribution between the FTP clients.
  • Minimized packet delay which is leveraged for time-sensitive FTP transfers.
  1. Performance Analysis (Throughput, Delay, Packet Loss)

Now, we estimate the performance of FTP with metrics like packet loss, delay, throughput using Flow Monitor.

📌 Example: Monitoring FTP Performance

#include “ns3/flow-monitor-helper.h”

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor;

FlowMonitorHelper flowHelper;

monitor = flowHelper.InstallAll();

Simulator::Run();

monitor->SerializeToXmlFile(“ftp-flow.xml”, true, true);

Simulator::Destroy();

✅ Outputs: We obtain ftp-flow.xml that utilised for Throughput, Packet Loss, Delay analysis.

🔍 Advanced FTP Research Topics

  1. AI-Based FTP Optimization → Forecast the congestion and modify FTP rates with the support of machine learning models.
  2. QoS-Aware FTP in Wireless Networks → To enhance the FTP in the wireless networks like Wi-Fi and 5G.
  3. Secure FTP (SFTP) in NS3 → Execute the interaction of FTP that was encoded.
  4. Energy-Efficient FTP Routing → In IoT and cloud networks, we can enhance the FTP traffic.
  5. Multi-Path FTP with SDN → Refine the FTP traffic routing by SDN controllers.

By following these sequential steps, you can develop the File Transfer Protocol and analyse the performance with parameters, which protocol is leveraged for high-speed data transfer in NS3 environment. Also, we provided advanced research topics related to this project for your further use. If you need any assistance with code implementation or extension, we will offer it.