How to Develop Mesh Protocols Projects Using NS3

To develop the mesh protocol projects using NS3 involves several key steps, contain the set-up wireless mesh network, execute the mesh routing protocol, replicate a network performance, and investigate the results. Below is a structured guide to developing mesh networking projects in NS3:

Steps to Develop Mesh Protocol Projects in NS3

  1. Install NS3

We enable the NS3 is installed on your system. We cannot install it nevertheless, use the following instructions:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install -y git build-essential python3 cmake

git clone

cd ns-3

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

./ns3 build

  1. Set up a Wireless Mesh Network in NS3

Mesh networks contain of several nodes which communicate the deprived of centralized structure. The NS3 mesh component for deliver the tools to replicate the mesh networks.

  • Use the ns3::MeshHelper class to setting the mesh networking.
  • Choose the mesh routing protocol such as OLSR, AODV, HWMP, etc.

Example: Creating a Simple Mesh Network

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/mesh-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

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

NodeContainer meshNodes;

meshNodes.Create(10); // Create 10 mesh nodes

MobilityHelper mobility;

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

mobility.Install(meshNodes);

// Configure the mesh network

MeshHelper mesh;

mesh.SetStackInstaller(“ns3::Dot11sStack”); // Use IEEE 802.11s standard

mesh.SetMacType(“ns3::MeshPointDevice”);

NetDeviceContainer meshDevices = mesh.Install(meshNodes);

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install(meshNodes);

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = address.Assign(meshDevices);

// Run simulation

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

Key Configurations:

  • Dot11sStack: Support the IEEE 802.11s-based on mesh networking.
  • Mobility Model: We used the constant position design (we can alter this for dynamic nodes).
  • IP Addressing: Allocate the IP addresses to mesh nodes.
  1. Choose a Mesh Routing Protocol

Mesh networks rely on routing protocols for communication. Certain for normally used in mesh routing protocols in NS3 include:

Protocol Description
OLSR (Optimized Link State Routing) Proactive routing protocol terms on link-state
AODV (Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing) Reactive routing protocol for dynamic networks
HWMP (Hybrid Wireless Mesh Protocol) It is a standard protocol in IEEE 802.11s
BATMAN (Better Approach to Mobile Ad hoc Networking) Enhance the large-scale mesh networks

Example: Adding OLSR Protocol

#include “ns3/olsr-helper.h”

OlsrHelper olsr;

Ipv4ListRoutingHelper list;

list.Add(olsr, 10);

internet.SetRoutingHelper(list);

  1. Implement Mesh Communication (Packet Transmission)

For validate the data transmission, we can generate a UDP or TCP application.

Example: UDP Packet Transmission

#include “ns3/udp-client-server-helper.h”

uint16_t port = 4000;

UdpServerHelper server(port);

ApplicationContainer serverApp = server.Install(meshNodes.Get(9)); // Destination node

serverApp.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(Seconds(9.0));

UdpClientHelper client(interfaces.GetAddress(9), port);

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

client.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(0.1)));

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

ApplicationContainer clientApp = client.Install(meshNodes.Get(0)); // Source node

clientApp.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApp.Stop(Seconds(9.0));

This code:

  • Go to UDP server on node 9.
  • Forward the UDP packets from node 0 to node 9.
  1. Simulate and Analyze Performance

Next execute the process for a replication, examine the main performance of parameter metrics such as Throughput, End-to-End Delay, Packet Loss, and Network Overhead.

Enable Flow Monitor for Performance Analysis:

#include “ns3/flow-monitor-module.h”

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor;

FlowMonitorHelper flowHelper;

monitor = flowHelper.InstallAll();

Simulator::Run();

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

Simulator::Destroy();

Next implement the process for a replication method, examine the mesh-flow.xml using tools like Wireshark.

  1. Extending the Project

We improve the new advanced mesh protocol project in NS3, consider:

  • Mobility Models: Increase the dynamic node activity for instance RandomWaypoint.
  • Interference Models: Replicate the signal interference in mesh.
  • QoS Enhancements: Apply the execution proves for QoS-aware routing in mesh networks.
  • Security Mechanisms: Increase for encode /authentication for secure mesh networking.
  • Energy-Efficient Mesh Networks: Enhance the power consumption in mesh nodes.

In this manual, we deliver the brief explanation to understand the approaches and techniques to simulate the mesh protocol in ns3 tool and we design to offer more information regarding the mesh protocol.