WiFi Simulator [Comprehensive Study]

What is WiFi exactly? One of the modern technologies in Wi-Fi i.e. wireless communication. This networking technology enables computing devices to connect with the internet using routers. Are you searching for information related to WiFi simulator? Then you find this page more useful to fulfill your requirements!!!  Some of the widely used computing devices are mobile devices, electronic equipment, and systems.

For instance: wearable’s, printers, PCs, etc. 

What is a WiFi simulator?

To enhance the innovations of Wi-Fi technology, several simulators have been introduced. In that, WiFi simulator has a key player role in developing different Wi-Fi enabled applications. This simulator allows you to configure the framework in multiple aspects to visualize data, link hosts, learn theories, solve problems, etc.  

Wifi topology – Model Setup

Create a Wi-Fi network structure in 100×100 meters coverage. Moreover, the network components include 1 switch, 1 server, 1 access point, 2 workstations, and 1 profile continuation. So, employ all these necessary entities with connection links to form the whole Wi-Fi topology. For instance: here, we have given the sample set of Wi-Fi topology with model names in the followings,

Nodes Overview

• Switch – Nay Network Accelar1050
• Application – Application Configuration 
• Node_0, node_1 – Wlan_station_adv
• Server – Ethernet_server 
• Profile – Profile Configuration 
• Access Point –Wlan_ethernet_slip4_adv

Once all, these entities are deployed perfectly in their places, and then the connection is created between entities. For more clarity, here at first establish the link from a server to switch, and then connect the switch with an access point in 100BaseT. After that, place the two workstations nearer to the access point. In this way, the wi-fi topology is created. In specific, our developers are also capable to assist you to create a well-organized topology depending on your Wi-Fi project requirements. Since we may add more entities and include other entities if required. 

For illustration purposes, here we have taken “WIFI – OPNET and NS-3 Implementation” as samples. Now, let’s see how the Wi-Fi-based projects are developed in these two different simulation tools. As well, what are the essentials used for working with Wi-Fi networks like attributes, modules, setup, etc?

WIFI – OPNET Implementation 

Generally, OPNET is a simulator that expanded as an Optimized Network Engineering Tool. It executes on Linux-oriented environs only. For instance: Ubuntu.

• Primarily, it enables you to collect input, process input, execute simulation, test performance, and produce outputs
• Mainly, it furnishes huge supporting tools and libraries for simulation, making decisions, specification, performance measurement, and assessment 
• Particularly, it supports computing applications/models, communication networks, expert systems, etc. 

For instance: assume that using model family-like wireless_lan for designing Wi-Fi networking and communication model. Then, perform the function of the model at the network layer. Generally, a subclass is formed to address the wireless network of the office. In that subclass, include several workstations, one / two access points as a router to transfer signals between nodes at various network scenarios for communication. 

• At first, connect the AP with switch and server to offer application services to the workstations
• Then, define profiles as well as applications through employing nodes for respective
• At last, create a bond between profiles and workstations for applications accessibility

Now, we can see the significant attributes that need to modify in every node. Here, we have given the network deployed components with their appropriate settings. Similarly, our developers give you the best-fitting guidance in your handpicked Wi-Fi model with suitable attribute changes using WiFi Simulator. Let’s have look over them in the below list.  

Important Attributes Changed for each Node

• Workstation
  • Node Model Name –  wlan_station_adv
    • Transmit Power Rate – 0.004W
    • Mode of Operation – IEEE 802.11g
    • Data Transfer Rate – ~50+ Mbps
    • AP Operations – Inactivated
    • Enabled Application – differs based on scenarios
    • BSS Identifier –  Same level number with respect to AP
• Switch
  • Node Model Name – ethernet_server
    • Application – all enabled services
  • Node Model Name – Bay Networks Accelar1050
    • Server – enabled services
• Access Point
  • Node Model Name – wlan_ethernet_slip4_adv
    • Transmit Power Rate – 0.004W
    • Mode of Operation – IEEE 802.11g
    • Data Transfer Rate – ~50+ Mbps
    • AP Operations – Activated
    • WLAN Network Dimensions – 100m x 100m
    • BSS Identifier – Same level number with respect to workstations
• Profile
  • Node Model Name – Profile Config
    • Configuration of Profile– select applications based on various scenarios
• Application
  • Node Model Name – Application Config
    • Configuration of Application – Default (8 applications with low and high load for each)
      • For instance – File Transfer, Web browsing and Email

Profile setup in WIFI

Next, we can see in what way the profile setup is made in the WiFi Simulator. Here, we have to set the access point operations to activate the access point and inactivate the workstation. Further, set the BSS identifier to 1 for matching with workstation and access points.

WIFI Traffic Setup  

We can now see in what way the network traffic is configured in our developed model. For this purpose, first set the time to constant and time offset to constant in seconds. This setting is performed in the profile configuration. Further, this setting may vary from project to project depending on the application needs.

Workstation setup in WIFI

Furthermore, we have also given guidance for workstation setup in the WiFi model. Here, it is required to set up various applications in Application Configuration. This was performed to execute a comparative study of simulation outcomes at different scenarios. 

Overall, we support you in all sorts of applications that utilize Wi-Fi technology. We assure you that we create suitable attribute changes, traffic setup, profile setup, and workstation setup in your proposed Wi-Fi model using the appropriate Wi-Fi simulator. For instance, here we have included different kinds of applications.

Application Types

• FTP – Greater Load
• HTTP – Dense Browsing
• Video Conferencing –Video with higher resolution 

So far, we have fully debated on WiFi-OPNET implementation with its significant settings and information. Now, we can see about the NS3 – OPNET implementation with their required modules and models information in the upcoming section. At first, now we can see the role of NS-3 in Wi-Fi networks. 

NS-3 Implementation of Wi-Fi 

• Generally, simulation of a network helps you to analyze the real behavior of the network before direct deployment. As well, it assesses the performance of wireless communication networks 
• There are different commercial and non-commercial simulators are available in various characteristics, modeling technologies, and abstraction levels   
• In specific, network simulator-3 (Ns-3) is an open-source and discrete-event based tool for simulating network communication
• Include models for Wi-Fi MAC layers 
• Validate Wi-Fi MAC protocol

Next, we can see what are the modules incorporated in NS-3 specifically for Wi-Fi networks. Here, the Wi-Fi module of NS3 enables you to apply the IEEE 802.11 protocol with specifications at the MAC level. Further, here we have also included the other key functionalities of Wi-Fi modules for your reference.

Wi-Fi Modules

• Offer a various collection of NetDevice objects to add devices with individual interface cards for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, etc.
• Offer packet-level abstraction at PHY-level and based on 802.11 standards
• Offer WifiNetDevice object for developing 802.11-based WIFI models for both ad-hoc and infrastructure networks

For achieving the best results in different scenarios, utilize the SpectrumWifiPhy framework to construct various scenarios that involve two or more Wi-Fi technologies and co-channel interference in one channel. Here, we have included some sub-layers of models using IEEE 802.11 protocols.

Simulation Models for WiFi Simulator

• MacTxMiddle and MacRxMiddle
  • Control frame fragmentation using MacTxMiddle module
  • Append the sequence numbers to frames prior to transmission
  • Rearrange the pieces of packets using MacRxMiddle module
  • Eliminate replicated frames by verifying sequence numbers in every frame fragmentation
• PHY layer models
  • Use WifiPhy class for PHY layer
  • Works similar to Yet Another Network Simulator (YANS)
  • Used for designing energy utilization and packet reception in network
• Lower MAC models
  • Used for designing models with medium access and Acks transmission capabilities
    • For instance – CTS / RTS, DCF and EDCA
  • Enable lower Mac-level for Mac-middle and Mac-low sublayers
• Rate Control Procedure
  • Offer algorithms for rate control which function at MAC-layer
• DcfManager
  • Include DCN function from DcaTxop module
  • Provide channel access through handling PHY carrier sense from WifiPhy module
• Upper MAC models
  • Used for non-time-critical plans in WiFi
  • Consist of various algorithms, Mac-level beacon technology, machine conditions for the purpose of rate control
  • Higher MAC comprises time-critical hardware and software developments
  • Include following main models to build ad-hoc networks with AP and non-AP emulation
    • AdhocWifiMac
    • ApWifiMac
    • StaWifiMac
  • Above models are inherited from parent class known as RegularWifiMac
  • Further, ns3::RegularWifiMac class permits various attributes for setting followings, 
    • HeSupport – 802.11ax
    • HtSupport and QoS support – 802.11n
    • VhtSupport – 802.11ac
• EdcaTxop or DcaTxop
  • Manage frames queuing prior to acknowledge from DcaTxop module
  • Queue the frames in WifiMacQueue for retransmission and fragmentation
  • Monitor QoS station through EdcaTxop module

We hope that about specified overview of the WiFi simulator is more helpful for your implementation. Further, if you need to more about WiFi simulator and WiFi projects, research areas and technologies then communicate with us. Overall, we are here to provide you with comprehensive guidance on your project development by recommending suitable tools, datasets, techniques, and algorithms for your handpicked project topic. So, if you are interested then create a bond with us. 

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