Steps to implement network encryption in ns3

To Implement network encryption in ns-3, which means the data should be encrypted in an application before sending it to the network and decrypt it upon reception. Here’s steps will guide to implement Network Encryption using ns-3.

Step-by-Step Implementation for Network Encryption

Install ns-3

Ensure ns-3 is installed on your system. we can download and install it from the official ns-3 website.

Define the Network Topology

Define the network topology including:

Sender node
Receiver node

Create Network Nodes

Create network nodes using NodeContainer.

NodeContainer senderNode, receiverNode;

senderNode.Create(1);

receiverNode.Create(1);

4. Set Up Network Devices

Install network devices on the nodes using appropriate network interfaces, such as WiFi for wireless communication.

WifiHelper wifi;

wifi.SetStandard(WIFI_PHY_STANDARD_80211n_5GHZ);

WifiMacHelper mac;

mac.SetType(“ns3::AdhocWifiMac”);

YansWifiPhyHelper phy = YansWifiPhyHelper::Default();

YansWifiChannelHelper channel = YansWifiChannelHelper::Default();

phy.SetChannel(channel.Create());

NetDeviceContainer senderDevice = wifi.Install(phy, mac, senderNode);

NetDeviceContainer receiverDevice = wifi.Install(phy, mac, receiverNode);

5. Configure Mobility Model

Set up the mobility model for the nodes.

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::ConstantPositionMobilityModel”);

mobility.Install(senderNode);

mobility.Install(receiverNode);

6. Implement Encryption Application

Create an application that performs encryption and decryption. Below is an example of a simple cryptographic application.

Cryptographic Application (Example)

class CryptoApplication : public Application {

public:

void StartApplication() override {

sendSocket = Socket::CreateSocket(GetNode(), UdpSocketFactory::GetTypeId());

sendSocket->Connect(InetSocketAddress(destAddress, destPort));

recvSocket = Socket::CreateSocket(GetNode(), UdpSocketFactory::GetTypeId());

recvSocket->Bind(InetSocketAddress(Ipv4Address::GetAny(), localPort));

recvSocket->SetRecvCallback(MakeCallback(&CryptoApplication::ReceivePacket, this));

// Schedule the first packet send

SendPacket();

}

void SetRemote(Address address, uint16_t port) {

destAddress = address;

destPort = port;

}

void SetLocalPort(uint16_t port) {

localPort = port;

}

void SendPacket() {

std::string message = “Hello, this is an encrypted message”;

std::string encryptedMessage = EncryptMessage(message);

Ptr<Packet> packet = Create<Packet>((uint8_t*) encryptedMessage.c_str(), encryptedMessage.size());

sendSocket->Send(packet);

// Schedule the next packet send

Simulator::Schedule(Seconds(1.0), &CryptoApplication::SendPacket, this);

}

void ReceivePacket(Ptr<Socket> socket) {

Ptr<Packet> packet;

Address from;

while ((packet = socket->RecvFrom(from))) {

std::string encryptedMessage = std::string((char*) packet->PeekData(), packet->GetSize());

std::string message = DecryptMessage(encryptedMessage);

std::cout << “Received message: ” << message << std::endl;

}

std::string EncryptMessage(const std::string& message) {

// Simple XOR encryption for demonstration

std::string encrypted = message;

char key = ‘K’; // Encryption key

for (size_t i = 0; i < message.size(); ++i) {

encrypted[i] ^= key;

}

return encrypted;

}

std::string DecryptMessage(const std::string& encryptedMessage) {

// Simple XOR decryption for demonstration

return EncryptMessage(encryptedMessage); // XOR with the same key

}

private:

Ptr<Socket> sendSocket;

Ptr<Socket> recvSocket;

Address destAddress;

uint16_t destPort;

uint16_t localPort;

};

7. Set Up Applications

Install the applications on the nodes.

ApplicationContainer senderApp, receiverApp;

// Sender application

Ptr<CryptoApplication> senderCryptoApp = CreateObject<CryptoApplication>();

senderCryptoApp->SetRemote(receiverNode.Get(0)->GetObject<Ipv4>()->GetAddress(1, 0).GetLocal(), 9);

senderCryptoApp->SetLocalPort(10);

senderNode.Get(0)->AddApplication(senderCryptoApp);

senderCryptoApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));

senderCryptoApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(20.0));

senderApp.Add(senderCryptoApp);

// Receiver application

Ptr<CryptoApplication> receiverCryptoApp = CreateObject<CryptoApplication>();

receiverCryptoApp->SetLocalPort(9);

receiverNode.Get(0)->AddApplication(receiverCryptoApp);

receiverCryptoApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));

receiverCryptoApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(20.0));

receiverApp.Add(receiverCryptoApp);

8. Set Up Routing Protocols

Configure routing protocols for the network.

AodvHelper aodv;

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.SetRoutingHelper(aodv);

internet.Install(senderNode);

internet.Install(receiverNode);

9. Assign IP Addresses

Assign IP addresses to the network devices.

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

Ipv4InterfaceContainer senderInterfaces = address.Assign(senderDevice);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer receiverInterfaces = address.Assign(receiverDevice);

10. Run the Simulation

Configure the simulation runtime and execute it.

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(20.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

Example of a Simple Cryptographic Network Script

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/wifi-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

#include “ns3/aodv-module.h”

using namespace ns3;