MANET Simulator – Comprehensive Study

MANET is one of the Ad Hoc Network types to support wireless mobile communication. This decentralized network lets the nodes move freely from one network to another network which ultimately changes the position often. Also, these nodes have self-forming and self-directing features to form the network on their own without central control. On this page, we discuss the significant characteristics of the MANET Simulator with performance evaluation parameters used for MANET projects!!!

The mobile nodes present in the MANET are connected through wireless communication technologies. Due to this mobility feature, it also changes the network topology with the existence of one or more transceivers. Overall, MANET can independently create the network and work through an internet connection for fast data transmission.   

How does a network simulator work?

Simulation lets the developers design and tests the network that is going to implement and deploy in the real world. This reduces the cost of implementation as well as easy to analyze the behavior of moving nodes, routing protocol, models, and networks in advance. Further, it is also used to understand the actual working condition of the network and its operations. Through once improve the efficiency of the network before direct real implementation. Some of the main network simulators are 

• NS2
• Opnet
• NS3
• Glomosim
• Netsim
• GNS3

Every individual simulator has unique functionalities to assess the network performance and algorithms /protocols used in the network. If we directly evaluate these processes in the real world, then it is very expensive to deploy. Simulation is the best way to overcome this drawback. Through this simulation, we can figure out the 

• Accuracy
• Scalability
• Efficiency
• Throughput
• Goodput
• Data Rate
• Traffic Delay Of The Network

By knowing the importance of the simulator, numerous powerful simulators have developed in recent years. Some simulators are designed specifically for a particular network domain like MANET. This helps the developers to build, configure and validate the MANET Simulator Routing Protocols based on the selected topic/ application requirements for accurate results.   

Now, we can see about categorizes of testbed architecture and emulation models that include different mobility models, node variability, central mechanism, and the wireless medium used for MANET emulation testbed.  

MANET Emulation Testbeds

• Testbed Architecture
  • Central Mechanism
    • Distributed / Non-Centralized
    • Centralized
  • Variability of Node
    • One-to-One Mapping
    • Monolithic and Hybrid emulation
• Emulation Modeling
  • Modeling of Wireless Medium 
    • Modeling MAC
    • Co-Channel Interface (CCI)
    • RF Wireless Communication
  • Modeling of Mobility Models
    • Physical Mobility
    • Logical Connection
    • Realistic Channel Emulation

MANET Simulation Parameters 

Some metrics are specifically used for MANET-related applications while performing simulation analysis. And they are: 

• Nodes Residual Energy
• Quality Of Neighbouring Nodes
• Communication Overhead
• Degree
• Node Trust
• Mobility Speed
• Direction

Incoming section, we will discuss other MANET Simulator input metrics. Next, we can see the few important models used for MANET project simulation. These models represent how the network entities are physically connected with each other and how the packets are transmitted through nodes and the state of the nodes (static or dynamic) in the environment.

MANET Simulation Models 

• Mobility Models 
• Signal Model 
• Traffic Model
• Beamforming Model
• Channel Model 

For illustrative purposes, we have chosen the “mobility model” as an example. Here, we listed out the different types of dependency in the mobility models. For your ease, it is classified as spatial dependency, geographic dependency, and temporal dependency. Further, we also included the random and hybrid models. 

MANET Mobility Models

• Spatial Dependence Model
  • Spatially Auto-Correlated Model
  • Reference Point Group 
• Hybrid Models
  • Disaster-Area Model
  • Freeway Mobility Model (FWMM)
• Temporal Dependence Model
  • Smooth-Random Mobility 
  • Gauss-Markov Theorem
• Geographic Dependence Model
  • Obstacle and Pathway Mobility Model
• Pure Random Models
  • Random Direction (RD)
  • Random Walk Theory 
  • Random Waypoint (RWP) 

We already know that MANET has separate simulation tools to support any specific complex operations related to manet. Here, our developers have itemized the commonly used MANET simulation tools with their key features and purposes.

MANET Simulation Tools 

• OPNET
  • Mobility Model – Random Waypoint (RWP) 
  • Simulation Duration – NA
  • Compared To – AODV
  • Number of Nodes – NA
  • Simulation Coverage Area(m2) – NA
  • Speed of Node – ranges from 4 to 55 km/h
• NS-2
  • Mobility Model – NA
  • Simulation Duration – 250 seconds
  • Compared To – DSR 
  • Number of Nodes – NA
  • Simulation Coverage Area (m2) – between 500 and 1500 (m2)
  • Speed of Node – NA
• Qualnet 5.0
  • Mobility Model – Random Waypoint (RWP) 
  • Simulation Duration – NA
  • Compared To – ZRP, AODV, OLSR 
  • Number of Nodes – From 100 to 3000
  • Simulation Coverage Area (m2) –1800 x 1800 m
  • Speed of Node – ranges from 1 to 15 m/s
• Simulator for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks (SWAN)
  • It is appropriate for simulating any sort of MANET real-world applications and systems despite challenges
  • It is also used to create a sophisticated virtual framework for simulation
• NS3
  • It is the extension of NS2 Simulator in the combination of both simulator and emulator with the ability of real-time scheduling 
  • Also, it has the facility to analyze real-time mobility like ASMs
• JSIM: 
  • Although it is intended for wired networks, it uses IEEE802.11 MAC through its expanded wireless support
  • This feature tends to develop many MANET applications in this tool
  • At the present time, Java McNab and Howell [MH] is considered as a widely used framework for MANETs developments
  • It helps to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of Java for discrete-event experiments
• Interactive NS-2 protocol and environment confirmation tool (iNSpect)
  • It is used for NS2 trace file visualization which is used to develop different real-time scenarios
  • Further, it is also used to verify the different protocols and models for inspecting the simulation results
• Akaroa-2 suite
  • It is used to monitor the steady-state mobility of the nodes
  • Also, it is aimed to avoid the correlation between the simulation multi-replications 

In general, MANET Simulator has different mobility models and characteristics. So, it is essential to observe these features before handpicking the simulator for your project. Most probably, the MANET applications/systems are based on the discrete-event driven simulation. It is the one kind of modeling technique that can split the system into a group of logical processes. Also, it is effective for real-time scheduling and decentralized system. Further, it supports several simulators such as OMNet++, GTNets, GloMoSim, etc. Below, we have enumerated the MANET simulator metrics to examine the behavior of the MANET system.

MANET Simulator Input Parameters 

• Mobility Models
  • Group 
  • Grid/Road 
  • Random Direction 
  • Random Waypoint 
  • Steady-State Random Waypoint 
• Range of Transmission 
  • Number of Nodes 
  • Mobility (Used Model)
• Coverage Area 
  • Packet Transmission Rate
  • Average Pause Time (Node)
• Simulation Time
  • Average Speed (Node)
  • Number of Iterations (In Simulation)
• Average Pause Time Variation 
  • Traffic Type (For Instance: Constant Bit Rate, Etc.)
• Average Speed Variation 

Further, we have also given a few significant emulation tools. Compare to simulation, emulation support any size of a large network. It can also embed software with other hardware for better results. Our developers have sufficient knowledge in working with both simulators and emulators. So, we know all smart moves to make applications unique from others.

MANET Emulation Tools 

• MASSIVE
  • It issuited for real-time MANET project development with the help of distributed control testbed 
  • In order to control the topology, it uses the drag and drops technique
  • Further, it can emulate any kind of complex node movements scenarios based on the mobility patterns
• DAWN 
  • Tested size – 10 physical machines (for real-time testbed)
  • It is used to process the several quality of service and resource control techniques
  • Also, it relies on the LR4000 implanted router (Nokia router)
• MobiEmu 
  • This distributed testbed is not user-friendly to handle so it is quite tough to use
  • Also, it has no physical links so, it uses virtual slave and master nodes in a physical machine
  • When there is a change in the network, the central server indicates the master node, the master node gives instructions to the slave nodes. Accordingly, the slave node set the local IP addresses
• ORBIT 
  • It permanently places 400 radio nodes in one meter where everyone is linked with a virtual node in the network
  • Also, the radio nodes include the features of Bluetooth and 802.11x interfaces 
  • Then, it can be executed in 3 different levels as physical, MAC, and network.
• EMWIN
  • It is the hybrid testbed with distributed control support 
  • Also, it is based on the EMPOWER
  • It incorporates 48 virtual and 8 physical nodes where the virtual node get input from the connectivity matrix
• MNE 
  • It also has distributed control and is well-suited for real-time 
  • Tested size – 10 physical machines with the medium – 802.11
  • The limitation of MNE is that it needs individual device for every emulation
• Engel
  • Support distributed control testbed
  • Tested size – 5 to 10 virtual node / physical machine
  • It is used for virtualization and optimization purposes in hybrid emulation
  • Also, it relies on L4 Microkernel
• NEMAN 
  • This testbed is controlled by the centralized authority which has one physical machine as tested size
  • Here, it can execute nearly 100+ nodes in one machine and develop protocols
  • Then, the network topology manager controls the virtual network interfaces to switch the packets between nodes.  

We hope that you have a clear view of MANET simulator and emulators along with their supporting models and performance metrics. Further, if you want more details about MANET simulation or developments then have contact with us. Our experts will guide you at your needy time through the best service.

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