To implement a refined forensics architecture in ns3 has needs to encompass to setup a complete framework to observe measure and preserve network information for forensics purpose. This setup will capture all the procedures to generate the detailed forensics architecture that includes packet capture, logging, anomaly detection, and intrusion detection.
Step-by-Step Implementation:
Step 1: Set Up ns3 Environment
- Install ns3: Install the ns3 in the computer.
- Familiarize yourself with ns3: Read through the ns3 tutorial to know the simple concepts and structure of ns3 simulations.
Step 2: Define the Network Topology
- Create a Simple Network: Describe a simple network topology using the ns3 tool that contains to generate the nodes, setting up channels, and configuring IP addresses.
#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[]) {
NodeContainer nodes;
nodes.Create(4); // Example: 4 nodes (1 server, 2 clients, 1 potential attacker)
PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;
pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));
pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));
NetDeviceContainer devices;
devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes);
InternetStackHelper stack;
stack.Install(nodes);
Ipv4AddressHelper address;
address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);
Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = address.Assign(devices);
UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);
ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(nodes.Get(0));
serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));
serverApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(interfaces.GetAddress(0), 9);
echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(10));
echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, TimeValue(Seconds(1.0)));
echoClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, UintegerValue(1024));
ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(nodes.Get(1));
clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));
clientApps.Stop(Seconds(10.0));
Simulator::Run();
Simulator::Destroy();
return 0;
}
Step 3: Implement Packet Capture for Forensics
- Create Packet Capture Application: Develop an application that captures packets for forensic analysis.
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;
// Store or process the captured packet for forensic analysis
}
};
Attach Packet Capture Application to Nodes: Assign the packet to seizure the application to the nodes where you want to collect network traffic.
Ptr<PacketCaptureApp> captureApp = CreateObject<PacketCaptureApp>();
Ptr<Node> serverNode = nodes.Get(0); // Example: Server node
serverNode->AddApplication(captureApp);
captureApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));
captureApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
Step 4: Implement Log Analysis for Forensics
- Create Log Analysis Application: To build an application that logs network activities for forensic analysis.
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(“network_log.txt”, std::ios_base::app);
logFile << “Logged Packet: ” << *packet << std::endl;
logFile.close();
}
};
Attach Log Analysis Application to Nodes: Attach the log analysis application to the nodes where you want to log network activities.
Ptr<LogAnalysisApp> logApp = CreateObject<LogAnalysisApp>();
Ptr<Node> clientNode = nodes.Get(1); // Example: Client node
clientNode->AddApplication(logApp);
logApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));
logApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
Step 5: Implement Anomaly Detection for Forensics
- Create Anomaly Detection Application: To optimize an application that detects anomalies in network traffic.
class AnomalyDetectionApp : public Application {
public:
AnomalyDetectionApp() {}
virtual ~AnomalyDetectionApp() {}
void SetDetectionCriteria(std::function<bool(Ptr<const Packet>, Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4)> criteria) {
m_criteria = criteria;
}
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(&AnomalyDetectionApp::DetectAnomaly, this));
}
}
virtual void StopApplication() {
// Teardown code
}
void DetectAnomaly(Ptr<const Packet> packet) {
if (m_criteria(packet, GetNode()->GetObject<Ipv4>())) {
std::cout << “Anomaly Detected: ” << *packet << std::endl;
// Take appropriate action (e.g., log the anomaly, alert the administrator)
}
}
std::function<bool(Ptr<const Packet>, Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4)> m_criteria;
};
Integrate Anomaly Detection Logic: Describe the logic for identifying anomalies and attach the application to the nodes to monitor for anomalies.
Ptr<AnomalyDetectionApp> anomalyApp = CreateObject<AnomalyDetectionApp>();
anomalyApp->SetDetectionCriteria([](Ptr<const Packet> packet, Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4) {
// Example anomaly detection logic
Ipv4Header ipv4Header;
packet->PeekHeader(ipv4Header);
Ipv4Address srcAddress = ipv4Header.GetSource();
return srcAddress == Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.3”); // Detect packets from a specific IP address
});
Ptr<Node> serverNode = nodes.Get(0); // Example: Server node
serverNode->AddApplication(anomalyApp);
anomalyApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));
anomalyApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
Step 6: Implement Intrusion Detection for Forensics
- Create Intrusion Detection Application: To build an application that detects intrusions based on network traffic analysis.
class IntrusionDetectionApp : public Application {
public:
IntrusionDetectionApp() {}
virtual ~IntrusionDetectionApp() {}
void SetDetectionCriteria(std::function<bool(Ptr<const Packet>, Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4)> criteria) {
m_criteria = criteria;
}
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(&IntrusionDetectionApp::DetectIntrusion, this));
}
}
virtual void StopApplication() {
// Teardown code
}
void DetectIntrusion(Ptr<const Packet> packet) {
if (m_criteria(packet, GetNode()->GetObject<Ipv4>())) {
std::cout << “Intrusion Detected: ” << *packet << std::endl;
// Take appropriate action (e.g., log the intrusion, alert the administrator)
}
}
std::function<bool(Ptr<const Packet>, Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4)> m_criteria;
};
Integrate Intrusion Detection Logic: Describe the logic for identifying intrusions and assign the application to the nodes where you want to monitor for intrusions.
Ptr<IntrusionDetectionApp> idApp = CreateObject<IntrusionDetectionApp>();
idApp->SetDetectionCriteria([](Ptr<const Packet> packet, Ptr<Ipv4> ipv4) {
// Example intrusion detection logic
Ipv4Header ipv4Header;
packet->PeekHeader(ipv4Header);
Ipv4Address srcAddress = ipv4Header.GetSource();
return srcAddress == Ipv4Address(“10.1.1.3”); // Detect packets from a specific IP address
});
Ptr<Node> serverNode = nodes.Get(0); // Example: Server node
serverNode->AddApplication(idApp);
idApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));
idApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
Step 7: Simulate and Analyse Results
- Run the Simulation: Run the simulation to observe the behaviour of the forensic mechanisms.
captureApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));
captureApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
logApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));
logApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
anomalyApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));
anomalyApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
idApp->SetStartTime(Seconds(2.0));
idApp->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));
Simulator::Run();
Simulator::Destroy();
Collect Metrics: Gather the performance metrics to assess the performance of the forensic mechanisms, like the number of captured packets, logged activities, detected anomalies, and detected intrusions.
Visualize Results: Use tools such as Gnuplot or Python’s Matplotlib to visualize the simulation results and analyse the effectiveness of your forensic mechanisms.
At the end, we clearly understood how to implement refined forensics architecture in the ns3 implementation tool that creates the network topology then capture the forensics and finally it analysis the results. If you want any other information regarding this we will provide it. Reach out to us to learn more about how your project is doing; we’ll provide you with a detailed report. If you need help with implementing the network Refine Forensics Architecture in the ns3 program, just get in touch. We have plenty of project ideas in this area, so share your details with us for more support!