How to Implement Network Digital Twins in ns3

To implement network digital twins in ns3, we need to follow several steps. First, we need to create a virtual replica of a physical network to simulate, analyze, and optimize its performance. For testing network configurations, predicting network behavior, and improving network management without affecting the actual network we can use a digital twin. Below given steps will guide on implementing the network digital twins in ns3.

Step-by-step guide to implementing a network digital twin in ns3:

1. Install ns-3: Ensure that the latest version of ns3 installed.
2. Model the Physical Network: Create a detailed model the physical network in ns3, including nodes, links, protocols, and applications.
3. Set Up Real-Time Data Integration: Integrate real-time data from the physical network into the ns3 simulation to ensure the digital twin accurately reflects the current state of the network.
4. Implement Monitoring and Analysis: Use ns3’s tracing and logging features to monitor and analyze network performance in the digital twin.
5. Optimize and Test Configurations: Use the digital twin to test different network configurations and optimization algorithms without affecting the physical network.

Detailed Implementation

1. Install ns-3: Follow the installation instructions
2. Model the Physical Network: Create an ns3 script that accurately models your physical network. This includes setting up nodes, links, IP addresses, and applications.

#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[]) {

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(4);

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));

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

NetDeviceContainer devices;

devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

devices.Add(pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(1), nodes.Get(2)));

devices.Add(pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(2), nodes.Get(3)));

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

address.Assign(devices);

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(nodes.Get(3));

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(address.GetAddress(3), 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));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

Set Up Real-Time Data Integration: Integrate real-time data from the physical network. This can be achieved using a custom application or a script to fetch data from the physical network and update the ns-3 simulation parameters accordingly.

# real_time_data_integration.py

import time

import ns3

def update_simulation_with_real_time_data():

while True:

# Fetch real-time data from the physical network

# For example, use SNMP, NetFlow, or custom APIs

link_utilization = fetch_real_time_link_utilization()

node_status = fetch_real_time_node_status()

# Update ns-3 simulation parameters

# Update link utilization

for link in ns3.LinkContainer:

link.SetDataRate(ns3.DataRateValue(ns3.DataRate(link_utilization[link.GetId()])))

# Update node status

for node in ns3.NodeContainer:

if node_status[node.GetId()] == “down”:

node.SetDown()

else:

node.SetUp()

time.sleep(1)  # Adjust the sleep interval as needed

def fetch_real_time_link_utilization():

# Implement data fetching logic

return {}

def fetch_real_time_node_status():

# Implement data fetching logic

return {}

if __name__ == “__main__”:

update_simulation_with_real_time_data()

Implement Monitoring and Analysis: Use ns-3’s tracing and logging features to collect data for monitoring and analysis.

void PacketSinkRxCallback(Ptr<const Packet> packet, const Address &address) {

static uint32_t totalRxPackets = 0;

totalRxPackets++;

NS_LOG_UNCOND(“Total Received Packets: ” << totalRxPackets);

}

void TxCallback(Ptr<const Packet> packet) {

NS_LOG_UNCOND(“Packet Transmitted: ” << packet->GetUid());

}

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

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(4);

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));

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

NetDeviceContainer devices;

devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

devices.Add(pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(1), nodes.Get(2)));

devices.Add(pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(2), nodes.Get(3)));

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

address.Assign(devices);

Ptr<PacketSink> sink = CreateObject<PacketSink>();

nodes.Get(3)->AddApplication(sink);

sink->TraceConnectWithoutContext(“Rx”, MakeCallback(&PacketSinkRxCallback));

Ptr<Socket>ns3UdpSocket=Socket::CreateSocket(nodes.Get(0), UdpSocketFactory::GetTypeId());

ns3UdpSocket->TraceConnectWithoutContext(“Tx”, MakeCallback(&TxCallback));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

Optimize and Test Configurations: Use the digital twin to test different network configurations and optimization algorithms without affecting the physical network. For example, we can simulate different routing protocols or bandwidth allocation strategies and analyze their impact on network performance.

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

CommandLine cmd;

cmd.Parse(argc, argv);

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(4);

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));

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

NetDeviceContainer devices;

devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(0), nodes.Get(1));

devices.Add(pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(1), nodes.Get(2)));

devices.Add(pointToPoint.Install(nodes.Get(2), nodes.Get(3)));

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

address.Assign(devices);

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(nodes.Get(3));

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(address.GetAddress(3), 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));

// Test different routing protocols

Ipv4GlobalRoutingHelper::PopulateRoutingTables();

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

Finally, we all get to know the implementation process of Network Digital twins in ns3 environment by simulating, analyzing and optimizing the performance of the network for configuring and predicting behaviour here we have used digital twins.

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