How to Begin Implement a Wireless LANs in NS3

To start executing a Wireless LAN (WLAN) using ns3 that encompasses to configure a simulation, which designs wireless nodes are interacting through a Wi-Fi network. NS3 environment offers wide range of support for WLANs via their Wi-Fi module that has diverse standards such as IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac.

Following is a step-by-step procedure to get started:

Steps to Begin Implement a Wireless LANs in NS3

1. Understand Wireless LANs

• Key Components:
  • Access Point (AP): Central node to handle the wireless network.
  • Stations (STAs): Devices like laptops, phones, which associate to the AP.
  • Channel: Medium for interaction such as 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
• Simulation Goals:
  • Examine the performance parameters such as throughput, delay, and packet loss.
  • Experiment diverse standards, sets up, and traffic models.

2. Set Up ns3 Environment

1. Install ns3:

git clone https://gitlab.com/nsnam/ns-3-dev.git

cd ns-3-dev

./build.py

1. Confirm the installation:

./ns3 run hello-simulator

3. Plan the WLAN Topology

• Components:
  • Mobility models for dynamic scenarios.
  • Wireless Stations (STAs).
  • Access Point (AP).
• Traffic:
  • Uplink (STA to AP).
  • Downlink (AP to STA).
  • Peer-to-peer (among STAs).

4. Write the Simulation Script
5. Include Necessary Headers

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/wifi-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

1. Define Nodes

ns3::NodeContainer wifiApNode, wifiStaNodes;

wifiApNode.Create(1);     // 1 Access Point

wifiStaNodes.Create(10);  // 10 Stations

1. Set Up Wi-Fi

// Wi-Fi configuration

ns3::WifiHelper wifi;

wifi.SetStandard(ns3::WIFI_PHY_STANDARD_80211n);

// Physical layer settings

ns3::WifiPhyHelper phy = ns3::WifiPhyHelper::Default();

phy.SetChannel(ns3::YansWifiChannelHelper::Default().Create());

// MAC layer settings

ns3::WifiMacHelper mac;

// Configure AP

mac.SetType(“ns3::ApWifiMac”, “Ssid”, ns3::SsidValue(ns3::Ssid(“ns3-wifi”)));

ns3::NetDeviceContainer apDevice = wifi.Install(phy, mac, wifiApNode);

// Configure STAs

mac.SetType(“ns3::StaWifiMac”, “Ssid”, ns3::SsidValue(ns3::Ssid(“ns3-wifi”)));

ns3::NetDeviceContainer staDevices = wifi.Install(phy, mac, wifiStaNodes);

1. Install Internet Stack

ns3::InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install(wifiApNode);

internet.Install(wifiStaNodes);

ns3::Ipv4AddressHelper address;

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

ns3::Ipv4InterfaceContainer apInterface = address.Assign(apDevice);

ns3::Ipv4InterfaceContainer staInterfaces = address.Assign(staDevices);

1. Set Up Mobility

ns3::MobilityHelper mobility;

// AP: Static

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

mobility.Install(wifiApNode);

// STAs: Random mobility

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::RandomWalk2dMobilityModel”,

“Bounds”, ns3::RectangleValue(ns3::Rectangle(-50, 50, -50, 50)));

mobility.Install(wifiStaNodes);

1. Install Applications

Downlink Traffic (AP to STA)

ns3::UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ns3::ApplicationContainer serverApp = echoServer.Install(wifiApNode.Get(0));

serverApp.Start(ns3::Seconds(1.0));

serverApp.Stop(ns3::Seconds(10.0));

ns3::UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(apInterface.GetAddress(0), 9);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, ns3::UintegerValue(10));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“Interval”, ns3::TimeValue(ns3::Seconds(1.0)));

echoClient.SetAttribute(“PacketSize”, ns3::UintegerValue(512));

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

ns3::ApplicationContainer clientApp = echoClient.Install(wifiStaNodes.Get(i));

clientApp.Start(ns3::Seconds(2.0));

clientApp.Stop(ns3::Seconds(10.0));

}

5. Run the Simulation

ns3::Simulator::Run();

ns3::Simulator::Destroy();

6. Analyze and Visualize Results

Metrics:

• Throughput: Estimate the rate of data that are effectively sent.
• Latency: Assess duration to attain its end for packets.
• Packet Loss: Compute the packet which are dropped reliability.

Tracing and Visualization:

• Allow .pcap and .tr tracing:

ns3::AsciiTraceHelper ascii;

phy.EnableAsciiAll(ascii.CreateFileStream(“wlan.tr”));

phy.EnablePcapAll(“wlan”);

• Apply NetAnim tools for envision:

./waf –run “wlan-simulation –vis”

7. Iterate and Enhance

• Advanced Configurations:
  • Replicate various Wi-Fi standards such as 802.11ac, 802.11ax.
  • Experiment with diverse channel sizes and MIMO sets up.
• Dynamic Scenarios:
  • Integrate mobility patterns such as vehicular movement.
  • Replicate interference from other networks in dynamic situations.
• Applications:
  • It has video streaming, file transfer, or VoIP traffic models.
  • Analyse the Quality of Service (QoS) strategies.
• Performance Optimization:
  • Test with performance of various routing protocols.
  • Examine the effect of network density.

The Wireless LANs project’s implementation process that completed in steps using NS3 environment, was executed successfully. We are prepared to extend it with further specifications if required.