Cloud radio access network (Cloud RAN or C-RAN) implementation in ns-3 contains to simulate a network where the baseband units (BBU) are unified in a cloud data center and are linked to remote radio heads (RRHs) through high speeds, low latency fronthaul links. For anytype of implementation in Cloud Ran in NS-3 you can contact us. Here is a procedure to set up a basic C-RAN simulation in ns-3:
Step-by-Step Guide to Implement Cloud RAN in ns-3
- Set Up Your Development Environment
- Install ns-3:
- Follow the official ns-3 installation guide.
- Install mmWave Module:
- Clone and install the mmWave module from its repository, as it provides necessary features for 5G simulations which are often used in C-RAN.
# Clone mmWave module
git clone https://github.com/nyuwireless-unipd/ns3-mmwave.git
cd ns3-mmwave
./waf configure –enable-examples –enable-tests
./waf build
- Create a Basic Cloud RAN Simulation Script
Here is a sample script to setup a basic C-RAN environments using ns-3 and the mmWave module:
#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”
#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”
#include “ns3/mmwave-helper.h”
#include “ns3/config-store-module.h”
#include “ns3/antenna-module.h”
#include “ns3/propagation-module.h”
#include “ns3/eps-bearer.h”
using namespace ns3;
using namespace mmwave;
int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
// Set default parameters
Config::SetDefault(“ns3::MmWaveHelper::RlcAmEnabled”, BooleanValue(true));
Config::SetDefault(“ns3::MmWaveHelper::HarqEnabled”, BooleanValue(true));
Config::SetDefault(“ns3::MmWaveHelper::FixedTti”, BooleanValue(false));
// Parse command-line arguments
CommandLine cmd;
cmd.Parse(argc, argv);
// Create nodes for the BBU pool and RRHs
NodeContainer bbuNodes;
bbuNodes.Create(1);
NodeContainer rrhNodes;
rrhNodes.Create(2);
NodeContainer ueNodes;
ueNodes.Create(3);
// Set up point-to-point fronthaul links between BBU pool and RRHs
PointToPointHelper p2p;
p2p.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“10Gbps”));
p2p.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“1ms”));
NetDeviceContainer fronthaulDevices;
fronthaulDevices = p2p.Install(bbuNodes.Get(0), rrhNodes.Get(0));
fronthaulDevices.Add(p2p.Install(bbuNodes.Get(0), rrhNodes.Get(1)));
// Install the mmWave protocol stack on the RRH nodes
Ptr<MmWaveHelper> mmWaveHelper = CreateObject<MmWaveHelper>();
mmWaveHelper->SetHarqEnabled(true);
mmWaveHelper->SetLteEpcHelper(CreateObject<EpcHelper>());
mmWaveHelper->Initialize();
NetDeviceContainer enbDevs = mmWaveHelper->InstallEnbDevice(rrhNodes);
NetDeviceContainer ueDevs = mmWaveHelper->InstallUeDevice(ueNodes);
// Set up mobility models
MobilityHelper mobility;
mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantPositionMobilityModel”);
mobility.Install(bbuNodes);
mobility.Install(rrhNodes);
mobility.Install(ueNodes);
// Install the Internet stack on the UE nodes
InternetStackHelper internet;
internet.Install(ueNodes);
// Assign IP addresses
Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;
ipv4.SetBase(“7.0.0.0”, “255.0.0.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer ueIpIface;
ueIpIface = ipv4.Assign(ueDevs);
// Attach the UEs to the eNodeB
mmWaveHelper->AttachToClosestEnb(ueDevs, enbDevs);
// Install applications
uint16_t dlPort = 1234;
uint16_t ulPort = 2000;
// Downlink application
OnOffHelper dlClient(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(ueIpIface.GetAddress(0), dlPort));
dlClient.SetAttribute(“OnTime”, StringValue(“ns3::ConstantRandomVariable[Constant=1]”));
dlClient.SetAttribute(“OffTime”, StringValue(“ns3::ConstantRandomVariable[Constant=0]”));
dlClient.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, DataRateValue(DataRate(“100Mb/s”)));
dlClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));
ApplicationContainer clientApps = dlClient.Install(rrhNodes.Get(0));
clientApps.Start(Seconds(0.1));
clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
// Uplink application
OnOffHelper ulClient(“ns3::UdpSocketFactory”, InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address(“7.0.0.1”), ulPort));
ulClient.SetAttribute(“OnTime”, StringValue(“ns3::ConstantRandomVariable[Constant=1]”));
ulClient.SetAttribute(“OffTime”, StringValue(“ns3::ConstantRandomVariable[Constant=0]”));
ulClient.SetAttribute(“DataRate”, DataRateValue(DataRate(“50Mb/s”)));
ulClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));
clientApps = ulClient.Install(ueNodes.Get(0));
clientApps.Start(Seconds(0.1));
clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
// Run the simulation
Simulator::Stop(Seconds(10.0));
Simulator::Run();
Simulator::Destroy();
return 0;
}
Explanation of the Script
Below is the process explanation for the script:
- Include Necessary Headers:
- Include the required headers for ns-3, mmWave, and the necessary modules.
- Set Default Configuration:
- Set default parameters for the mmWave simulation such as enabling RLC AM and HARQ.
- Create and Configure Nodes:
- Create nodes for the BBU pool, RRHs, and UEs using NodeContainer.
- Configure point-to-point fronthaul links between the BBU pool and RRHs.
- Install Protocol Stack:
- Install the mmWave protocol stack on the RRH nodes using MmWaveHelper.
- Set Up Mobility:
- Use MobilityHelper to assign mobility models to the nodes.
- Install Internet Stack:
- Install the Internet stack on the UE nodes using InternetStackHelper.
- Assign IP Addresses:
- Assign IP addresses to the UE devices using Ipv4AddressHelper.
- Attach UEs to eNodeB:
- Attach the UE nodes to the closest RRH using MmWaveHelper.
- Install Applications:
- Install downlink and uplink applications using OnOffHelper.
- Run the Simulation:
- Set the simulation stop time, run the simulation, and clean up using Simulator::Stop, Simulator::Run, and Simulator::Destroy.
Further Enhancements
Here we provide the future improvements in cloud RAN environment in ns-3:
- Advanced Mobility Models:
- Implement more realistic mobility models to simulate user movement.
- Quality of Service (QoS):
- Implement QoS classes and policies for different types of traffic.
- Network Slicing:
- Implement network slicing to provide dedicated virtual networks for different applications.
- Handover Scenarios:
- Simulate handover scenarios where UEs move between different cells.
- Interference Modeling:
- Model interference between different cells and evaluate mitigation techniques.
- Performance Metrics:
- Collect and analyze performance metrics such as throughput, latency, and packet loss.
C-RAN environment in ns-3 are explained briefly , we offer and support all kinds of cloud RAN environment coding assistance..