How to Implement Network Flow Rule Placement in ns3

To implement network flow rule placement in ns3, we need to simulate a software-defined networking (SDN) environment in which that to manage traffic the flow rules are placed in switches. For processing this network with the OpenFlowSwitch module supported by ns3 using OpenFlow protocol. The following steps will guide on how to implement network flow rule placement in ns3.

Step-by-step guide to implement network flow rule placement in ns3:

Step 1: Setup ns3 Environment

Ensure ns3 is installed on the system.

Step 2: Include Necessary Modules

Include the necessary ns3 modules in the script:

#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/openflow-module.h”

Step 3: Create the Simulation Script

1. Setup Nodes and Network:

using namespace ns3;

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

{

// Enable logging

LogComponentEnable (“UdpEchoClientApplication”, LOG_LEVEL_INFO);

LogComponentEnable (“UdpEchoServerApplication”, LOG_LEVEL_INFO);

// Create nodes

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create (4);

NodeContainer switches;

switches.Create (1);

NodeContainer allNodes = NodeContainer (nodes, switches);

// Install Internet stack

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install (nodes);

// Create point-to-point links

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute (“DataRate”, StringValue (“100Mbps”));

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

NetDeviceContainer devices;

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

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

devices = pointToPoint.Install (nodes.Get (2), switches.Get (0));

devices = pointToPoint.Install (nodes.Get (3), switches.Get (0));

// Install OpenFlow Switch on the switch node

OpenFlowSwitchHelper ofSwitchHelper;

Ptr<Node> switchNode = switches.Get (0);

Ptr<ns3::ofi::OpenFlowSwitchNetDevice>ofSwitchDev = CreateObject<ns3::ofi::OpenFlowSwitchNetDevice> ();

switchNode->AddDevice (ofSwitchDev);

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < switchNode->GetNDevices (); ++i)

{

Ptr<NetDevice> netDevice = switchNode->GetDevice (i);

if (DynamicCast<PointToPointNetDevice> (netDevice))

{

ofSwitchDev->AddSwitchPort (netDevice);

}

}

// Configure the controller

Ptr<Node> controllerNode = CreateObject<Node> ();

Ptr<ns3::ofi::LearningController> controller = CreateObject<ns3::ofi::LearningController> ();

ofSwitchHelper.InstallController (controllerNode, controller);

ofSwitchHelper.InstallSwitch (switchNode, ofSwitchDev);

// Set up IP addresses

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

for (uint32_t i = 0; i < nodes.GetN (); ++i)

{

Ptr<NetDevice> device = nodes.Get (i)->GetDevice (0);

Ptr<Channel> channel = device->GetChannel ();

Ptr<NetDevice> switchDevice = channel->GetDevice (1);

if (switchDevice == device)

{

switchDevice = channel->GetDevice (0);

}

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces;

interfaces = address.Assign (NetDeviceContainer (device, switchDevice));

address.NewNetwork ();

}

// Set up applications

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer (9);

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

serverApps.Start (Seconds (1.0));

serverApps.Stop (Seconds (10.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient (Ipv4Address (“10.1.1.4”), 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;

}

Implement Flow Rule Placement: Modify the controller to implement custom flow rule placement logic. Here’s how to extend the LearningController to add custom rules:

Create a custom controller class, e.g., custom-controller.h:

#ifndef CUSTOM_CONTROLLER_H

#define CUSTOM_CONTROLLER_H

#include “ns3/openflow-module.h”

namespace ns3 {

class CustomController : public ofi::LearningController

{

public:

static TypeId GetTypeId (void);

CustomController ();

virtual void ReceiveFromSwitch (Ptr<ofi::Switch> swtch, ofpbuf *buffer);

};

} // namespace ns3

#endif // CUSTOM_CONTROLLER_H

Implement the custom controller in custom-controller.cc:

#include “custom-controller.h”

#include “ns3/log.h”

namespace ns3 {

NS_LOG_COMPONENT_DEFINE (“CustomController”);

NS_OBJECT_ENSURE_REGISTERED (CustomController);

TypeId

CustomController::GetTypeId (void)

{

static TypeId tid = TypeId (“ns3::CustomController”)

.SetParent<ofi::LearningController> ()

.AddConstructor<CustomController> ();

return tid;

}

CustomController::CustomController ()

{

}

void

CustomController::ReceiveFromSwitch (Ptr<ofi::Switch> swtch, ofpbuf *buffer)

{

// Call parent method to retain learning behavior

LearningController::ReceiveFromSwitch (swtch, buffer);

// Add custom flow rules

// Extract packet details and install custom flow rules as needed

}

} // namespace ns3

Use the Custom Controller in the Simulation Script: Modify the simulation script to use the custom controller:

// Replace the controller instantiation in the simulation script

Ptr<Node> controllerNode = CreateObject<Node> ();

Ptr<CustomController> controller = CreateObject<CustomController> ();

ofSwitchHelper.InstallController (controllerNode, controller);

ofSwitchHelper.InstallSwitch (switchNode, ofSwitchDev);

Explanation:

• Node Creation: Create nodes representing hosts and a switch.
• OpenFlow Switch: Set up an OpenFlow switch with multiple ports connected to the hosts.
• Controller Configuration: Install a custom controller that handles flow rule placement.
• IP Configuration: Assign IP addresses to the nodes.
• Applications: Use UDP Echo server and client applications to simulate data transmission.
• Flow Rule Placement: Implement custom logic in the custom controller to place flow rules based on packet details.

Step 4: Compile and Run Your Simulation

Compile and run the simulation script:

./waf configure

./waf build

./waf –run <script-name>

Over all, we had learnt about the implementation process of Network Flow rule placement in ns3, by using the software-defined networking (SDN) environment. By implementing flow rule placement and creating a custom controller class we can achieve this simulation.

To achieve optimal performance analysis and implement Network Flow Rule Placement, you can seek assistance from our experts. The developers at ns3simulation.com will provide you with project execution steps tailored to your needs, ensuring successful results.