How to Begin Implementing a M2M Communication in ns3

To stimulate an execution of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication project using ns-3 it includes the replicate a communication among the devices deprived of human intervention, frequently as part of IoT (Internet of Things) systems. Below is a detailed guide for setting up and implementing an M2M communication project in ns-3.

Steps to Begin Implementing a M2M Communication projects using ns3

Step 1: Understand M2M Communication

  • M2M Characteristics:
    • Autonomous communication among their devices for sample sensors, actuators, controllers.
    • It contains the features for minimum payloads, high device density, and low energy usage.
  • M2M Use Cases:
    • The M2M use cases provide the Smart homes, industrial automation, healthcare monitoring, and environmental sensing.
  • Protocols for M2M:
    • The protocols are M2M in MQTT, CoAP, AMQP.
    • At the network layer: LTE, 5G, WiFi, ZigBee.

Step 2: Install ns-3 and Required Modules

  1. Download ns-3:
  2. Enable Modules:
    • Permit the required modules for M2M project, like as LTE, WiFi, ZigBee such as if applicable, and mobility:

./waf configure –enable-modules=lte,wifi,mobility,internet

./waf build

  1. Verify Installation:
    • Process for sample scripts for assure the modules are functioning:

./waf –run lte-simple

./waf –run wifi-simple-infra

Step 3: Define the Project Scope

  • Scenarios:
    • Communication among the cluster for devices and a central server.
    • Devices are communicating with the gateway for sample WiFi or LTE.
  • Metrics:
    • The projects give the performance based on the metrices latency, packet delivery ratio, energy efficiency, network throughput.

Step 4: Set Up the Simulation Environment

  1. Create Nodes:
    • Express the nodes for devices, gateways, and servers:

NodeContainer m2mDevices, gateways, servers;

m2mDevices.Create(50); // 50 IoT devices

gateways.Create(2);    // Two gateways

servers.Create(1);     // Central server

  1. Install Internet Stack:
    • Install the Internet protocol stack on all nodes:

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install(m2mDevices);

internet.Install(gateways);

internet.Install(servers);

  1. Set Up Mobility:
    • Setting the mobility for devices and gateways:

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::RandomWalk2dMobilityModel”,

“Bounds”, RectangleValue(Rectangle(-100, 100, -100, 100)));

mobility.Install(m2mDevices);

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

mobility.Install(gateways);

mobility.Install(servers);

Step 5: Configure Communication Protocols

  1. WiFi for Local Communication:
    • Configure the WiFi for devices communicating by a gateway:

YansWifiChannelHelper wifiChannel = YansWifiChannelHelper::Default();

YansWifiPhyHelper wifiPhy = YansWifiPhyHelper::Default();

wifiPhy.SetChannel(wifiChannel.Create());

WifiHelper wifi;

wifi.SetRemoteStationManager(“ns3::AarfWifiManager”);

WifiMacHelper wifiMac;

Ssid ssid = Ssid(“m2m-network”);

wifiMac.SetType(“ns3::StaWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid));

NetDeviceContainer deviceWifiDevices = wifi.Install(wifiPhy, wifiMac, m2mDevices);

wifiMac.SetType(“ns3::ApWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid));

NetDeviceContainer gatewayWifiDevices = wifi.Install(wifiPhy, wifiMac, gateways);

  1. LTE for Wide-Area Communication:
    • It configure the LTE for communication among gateways and a central server:

Ptr<LteHelper> lteHelper = CreateObject<LteHelper>();

Ptr<PointToPointEpcHelper> epcHelper = CreateObject<PointToPointEpcHelper>();

lteHelper->SetEpcHelper(epcHelper);

NetDeviceContainer gatewayLteDevices = lteHelper->InstallUeDevice(gateways);

NetDeviceContainer lteEnbDevices = lteHelper->InstallEnbDevice(servers);

lteHelper->Attach(gatewayLteDevices, lteEnbDevices.Get(0));

  1. Traffic Routing:
    • Setting the IP addressing and routing for the network:

Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;

ipv4.SetBase(“10.0.0.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

ipv4.Assign(deviceWifiDevices);

ipv4.Assign(gatewayWifiDevices);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer gatewayLteIf = epcHelper->AssignUeIpv4Address(gatewayLteDevices);

Step 6: Add Applications

  1. M2M Data Generator:
    • Build an application for devices the forwarding a periodic data:

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(servers.Get(0));

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApps.Stop(Seconds(20.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(Ipv4Address(“10.0.0.1”), 9);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(100));

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

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

ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(m2mDevices);

clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApps.Stop(Seconds(20.0));

  1. Centralized Processing:
    • Use the server application for executes the data.

Step 7: Configure Performance Monitoring

  1. Flow Monitor:
    • Gather the network performance metrics for flow tracking:

FlowMonitorHelper flowMonitor;

Ptr<FlowMonitor> monitor = flowMonitor.InstallAll();

  1. Enable Tracing:
    • Log packet are transmissions and responses for the debugging:

AsciiTraceHelper ascii;

wifiPhy.EnableAsciiAll(ascii.CreateFileStream(“m2m-trace.tr”));

Step 8: Run the Simulation

  • Schedule and process for the replication:

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(20.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

Example: Basic M2M Communication Script

Here’s a minimal script for M2M communication:

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/mobility-module.h”

#include “ns3/wifi-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

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

NodeContainer m2mDevices, gateways, servers;

m2mDevices.Create(10);

gateways.Create(1);

servers.Create(1);

InternetStackHelper internet;

internet.Install(m2mDevices);

internet.Install(gateways);

internet.Install(servers);

MobilityHelper mobility;

mobility.SetMobilityModel(“ns3::RandomWalk2dMobilityModel”,

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

mobility.Install(m2mDevices);

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

mobility.Install(gateways);

mobility.Install(servers);

YansWifiChannelHelper wifiChannel = YansWifiChannelHelper::Default();

YansWifiPhyHelper wifiPhy = YansWifiPhyHelper::Default();

wifiPhy.SetChannel(wifiChannel.Create());

WifiHelper wifi;

wifi.SetRemoteStationManager(“ns3::AarfWifiManager”);

WifiMacHelper wifiMac;

Ssid ssid = Ssid(“m2m-network”);

wifiMac.SetType(“ns3::StaWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid));

NetDeviceContainer deviceWifiDevices = wifi.Install(wifiPhy, wifiMac, m2mDevices);

wifiMac.SetType(“ns3::ApWifiMac”, “Ssid”, SsidValue(ssid));

NetDeviceContainer gatewayWifiDevices = wifi.Install(wifiPhy, wifiMac, gateways);

Ipv4AddressHelper ipv4;

ipv4.SetBase(“10.0.0.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

ipv4.Assign(deviceWifiDevices);

ipv4.Assign(gatewayWifiDevices);

UdpEchoServerHelper echoServer(9);

ApplicationContainer serverApps = echoServer.Install(servers.Get(0));

serverApps.Start(Seconds(1.0));

serverApps.Stop(Seconds(20.0));

UdpEchoClientHelper echoClient(Ipv4Address(“10.0.0.1”), 9);

echoClient.SetAttribute(“MaxPackets”, UintegerValue(100));

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

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

ApplicationContainer clientApps = echoClient.Install(m2mDevices);

clientApps.Start(Seconds(2.0));

clientApps.Stop(Seconds(20.0));

Simulator::Stop(Seconds(20.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

Next Steps

  • Increase the MQTT or CoAP protocol for application-layer communication.
  • It replicates the environment by large-scale networks for M2M.
  • Integrate the custom mobility models and energy usage of metrics.
  • Study the performance using the tools such as Gnuplot or NetAnim.

We expounded the simulation process in step-by-step procedures that enable to implement and asses the performance and M2M communication using the tool of ns3.Any queries related to this project will be clarified in a different manual.