How to Implement Lightweight Network Architecture in ns3

To implement the lightweight network architecture in ns3, with slight overhead we have to create a network topology which is simple but effective. When the computational and network resources are limited, we can use the architecture that emphases on simplicity, efficiency, and low resource usage in this situations. Here’s a complete step-by-step guide to help you implement a lightweight network architecture in ns3.

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Step 1: Set Up ns3 Environment

1. Install ns3: Make certain that ns3 is installed. Follow the installation guide suitable for your operating system.
2. Familiarize Yourself with ns3: Acquaint with ns3’s basic concepts and its simulation structure using the provided ns3 tutorial..

Step 2: Define the Lightweight Network Topology

1. Create a Simple Network: Use ns3 to define a network topology which includes creating nodes, setting up channels, and configuring IP addresses. We’ll use a point-to-point topology for simplicity

#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[]) {

// Create nodes

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(3); // Example: 3 nodes (1 server, 1 client, 1 router)

// Create point-to-point links

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

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

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

// Install devices and channels

NetDeviceContainer devices;

devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(2)); // Client to Router

devices.Add(pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(2), nodes.Get(1))); // Router to Server

// Install Internet stack

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

// Assign IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = address.Assign(devices);

// Create a simple application to generate traffic

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(nodes.Get(1));

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(interfaces.GetAddress(1), 9);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(10));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(1.0)));

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

ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(nodes.Get(0));

clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

// Enable routing

Ipv4GlobalRoutingHelper::PopulateRoutingTables();

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

Step 3: Implement Packet Capture

1. Create Packet Capture Application: Analyze the lightweight network, we have to generate an application that grasps the packets.

class PacketCaptureApp : public Application {

public:

PacketCaptureApp() {}

virtual ~PacketCaptureApp() {}

private:

virtual void StartApplication() {

Ptr<Node> node = GetNode();

Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4 = node->GetObject<Ipv4>();

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < ipv4->GetNInterfaces(); ++i) {

ipv4->GetNetDevice(i)->TraceConnectWithoutContext(“PhyRxEnd”, MakeCallback(&PacketCaptureApp::PacketCaptureCallback, this));

}

}

virtual void StopApplication() {

// Teardown code

}

void PacketCaptureCallback(Ptr<const Packet> packet) {

std::cout << “Captured Packet: ” << *packet << std::endl;

// Minimal processing for lightweight analysis

}

};

Attach Packet Capture Application to Nodes: Attach the packet capture application to the nodes where you want to collect network traffic.

Ptr<PacketCaptureApp> captureApp = CreateObject<PacketCaptureApp>();

Ptr<Node> routerNode = nodes.Get(2); // Example: Router node

routerNode->AddApplication(captureApp);

captureApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));

captureApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));

Step 4: Implement Lightweight Logging

1. Create Lightweight Log Analysis Application: Analyze the lightweight network by implementing an application that logs in the network.

class LogAnalysisApp : public Application {

public:

LogAnalysisApp() {}

virtual ~LogAnalysisApp() {}

private:

virtual void StartApplication() {

Ptr<Node> node = GetNode();

Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4 = node->GetObject<Ipv4>();

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < ipv4->GetNInterfaces(); ++i) {

ipv4->GetNetDevice(i)->TraceConnectWithoutContext(“PhyRxEnd”, MakeCallback(&LogAnalysisApp::LogPacket, this));

}

}

virtual void StopApplication() {

// Teardown code

}

void LogPacket(Ptr<const Packet> packet) {

std::ofstream logFile;

logFile.open(“lightweight_network_log.txt”, std::ios_base::app);

logFile << “Logged Packet: ” << *packet << std::endl;

logFile.close();

}

};

Attach Log Analysis Application to Nodes: Next, we have to attach the log analysis application to the nodes where you want to log network activities.

Ptr<LogAnalysisApp> logApp = CreateObject<LogAnalysisApp>();

Ptr<Node> routerNode = nodes.Get(2); // Example: Router node

routerNode->AddApplication(logApp);

logApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));

logApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));

Step 5: Simulate and Analyze Results

1. Run the Simulation: Finally, it’s time to run the simulation to observe the behavior of the lightweight network architecture

captureApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));

captureApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));

logApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));

logApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

Collect Metrics: Access the performance of lightweight network which includes the count of captured packets and logged activities by aggregating relevant metrics.

Visualize Results: Visualize the simulation results and analyze the efficiency of lightweight network architecture using Gnuplot or Python’s Matplotlib tools.

Through this script, we successfully brought you the complete implementation guide of Lightweight architecture in ns3 including its installation process. 1. If you require any assistance with implementation in this sector for your projects, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, regarding the network architecture, we will also walk you through it.