Network simulation Using

OPNET

In the network research area, it is very costly

to deploy a complete test bed containing
multiple networked computers, routers and
data links to validate and verify a certain
network protocol or a specific network
algorithm.
The
network
simulators
in
these
circumstances save a lot of money and time
in accomplishing this task.
Network simulators are also particularly
useful in allowing the network designers to
test new networking protocols or to change
the existing protocols in a controlled and
reproducible manner.

 Computer assisted simulation can model

hypothetical and real-life objects or activities
on a computer so that it can be studied to see
how the system function.
Different variables can be used to predict the
behavior of the system. Computer simulation can be
used to assist the modeling and analysis in many
natural systems.
since network technologies is keeping developing
very fast and so many different organizations
participate in the whole process and they have
different technologies or products running on
different software on the Internet. That is why the
network simulations always require open platforms
which should be scalable enough to include different
efforts and different packages in the simulations of
the whole network.

 Generally a network simulator will comprise

of a wide range of networking technologies
and protocols and help users to build
complex networks from basic building blocks
like clusters of nodes and links. With their
help, one can design different network
topologies using various types of nodes such
as end-hosts, hubs, network bridges,
routers, etc.

Network simulation and

simulator

Generally speaking, network simulators try to model

the real world networks.
The principal idea is that if a system can be modeled,
then features of the model can be changed and the
corresponding results can be analyzed.
As the process of model modification is relatively
cheap than the complete real implementation, a
wide variety of scenarios can be analyzed at low cost
(relative to making changes to a real network).
However, network simulators are not perfect. They
can not perfectly model all the details of the
networks. However, if well modeled, they will be
close enough so as to give the researcher a
meaningful insight into the network under test, and
how changes will affect its operation.

Simulation and emulation

In the research area of computer and communications

networks, simulation is a useful technique since the
behavior of a network can be modeled by calculating
the interaction between the different network
components (they can be end-host or network entities
such as routers, physical links or packets) using
mathematical formulas.
They can also be modeled by actually or virtually
capturing and playing back experimental observations
from a real production networks. After we get the
observation data from simulation experiments, the
behavior of the network and protocols supported can
then be observed and analyzed in a series of offline
test experiments.
All kinds of environmental attributes can also be
modified in a controlled manner to assess how the
network can behave under different parameters

Simulation and emulation

Another characteristic of network simulation that worth

noticing is that the simulation program can be used
together with different applications and services in order to
observe end-to-end or other point-to-point performance in
the networks.
Network emulation, however, means that network under
planning is simulated in order to assess its performance or
to predict the impact of possible changes, or optimizations.
The major difference lying between them is that a network
emulator means that end-systems such as computers can
be attached to the emulator and will act exactly as they
are attached to a real network.
The major point is that the network emulator's job is to
emulate the network which connects end-hosts, but not the
end-hosts themselves.

Type of network
simulators
Different types of network simulators can be categorized
and explained based on some criteria such as if they are
commercial or free, or if they are simple ones or complex
ones.
Commercial and open source simulators. Some of the
network simulators are commercial which means that they
would not provide the source code of its software or the
affiliated packages to the general users for free. All the
user s have to pay to get the license to use their software
or pay to order specific packages for their own specific
usage requirements. One typical example is the OPNET
[OPNET].
Commercial simulator has its advantage and disadvantage.
The advantage is that it generally has complete and up-todate documentations and they can be consistently
maintained by some specialized staff in that company.
However, the open source network simulator is
disadvantageous in this aspect, and generally there are not

Type of network
simulators
the open source network simulator has the advantage that
everything is very open and everyone or organization can
contribute to it

OPNET

OPNET ' s software environment is called (Modeler), which

is specialized for network research and development. It can
be flexibly used to study communication networks,
devices, protocols, and applications.
Because of the fact of being a commercial software
provider, OPNET offers relatively much powerful visual or
graphical support for the users.
The graphical editor interface can be used to build network
topology and
entities from the application layer to the physical layer.
Object-oriented programming technique is used to create
the mapping from the graphical design to the
implementation of the real systems.
An example of the graphical GUI of OPNET can be seen in
figure 1. We can see all the topology configuration and
simulation results can be presented very intuitively and
visually. The parameters can also be adjusted and the
experiments can be repeated easily through easy

OPNET

OPNET

OPNET is based on a mechanism called discrete event

system which means that the system behavior can
simulate by modeling the events in the system in the order
of the scenarios the user has set up.
Hierarchical structure is used to organize the networks. As
other
network
simulators,
OPNET
also
provides
programming tools for users to define the packet format of
the protocol. The programming tools are also required to
accomplish the tasks of defining the state transition
machine, defining network model and the process module.
As of all, OPNET is a popular simulator used in industry for
network research and development. The GUI interface and
the programming tools are also useful to help the user to
build the system they want.

OPNET Main features

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

OPNET inherently has three main functions: modeling,

simulating, and analysis. For modeling, it provides intuitive
graphical environment to create all kinds of models of
protocols.
For analysis, the simulation results and data can be
analyzed and displayed very easily. User friendly graphs,
charts, statistics, and even animation can be generated b y
OPNET for users ' convenience.
Fast discrete event simulation engine
Lot of component library with source code
Object-oriented modeling
Hierarchical modeling environment
32-bit and 64-bit graphical user interface
Discrete Event, Hybrid, and Analytical simulation
32-bit and 64-bit parallel simulation kernel
Integrated, GUI-based debugging and analysis
Open interface for integrating external component libraries

The 7 Layers of the OSI Model

TheOpenSystemInterconnection (OSI) model definesa

networking framework to implement protocols in seven
layers. Control is passed from one layer to the next,
starting at the application layer in one station, and
proceeding to the bottom layer, over the channel to the
next station and back up the hierarchy.
The OSI model takes the task of internetworking and
divides that up into what is referred to as avertical
stackthat consists of the following layers.
1. Physical (Layer 1)
This layer conveys the bit stream - electrical impulse, light or
radio signalthrough thenetworkat the electrical and
mechanical level. It provides thehardwaremeans of sending
and receiving data on a carrier, including defining cables,
cards and physical aspects.Fast Ethernet,RS232, andATM
areprotocolswith physical layer components.
Layer 1 Physical examples include Ethernet, FDDI

The 7 Layers of the OSI Model

2. Data Link (Layer 2)
At this layer, data packets areencodedand decoded into bits.
It
furnishestransmission protocolknowledge
and
management and handles errors in the physical layer, flow
control and frame synchronization. The data link layer is
divided into two sub layers: The Media Access Control (MAC)
layer and theLogical Link Control(LLC) layer. The MAC sub
layer controls how a computer on the network gains access to
the data and permission to transmit it. The LLC layer controls
framesynchronization, flow control and error checking.
Layer 2 Data Link examples include PPP, FDDI, ATM, IEEE
802.5/ 802.2, IEEE 802.3/802.2

The 7 Layers of the OSI Model

3. Network (Layer 3)
This
layer
providesswitchingandroutingtechnologies,
creating logical paths, known asvirtual circuits, for
transmitting data fromnodeto node. Routing and forwarding
are functions of this layer, as well asaddressing,
internetworking,
error
handling,congestioncontrol
and
packet sequencing.
4.Transport (Layer 4)
This layer provides transparent transfer of data between end
systems, orhosts, and is responsible for end-to-end error
recovery andflow control. It ensures complete data transfer.
5. Session (Layer 5)
This layer establishes, manages and terminates connections
betweenapplications. The session layer sets up, coordinates,
and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogues
between the applications at each end. It deals with session
and connection coordination.

The 7 Layers of the OSI Model

6. Presentation (Layer 6)
This layer provides independence from differences in data
representation
(e.g.,encryption)
by
translating
from
application to network format, and vice versa. The
presentation layer works to transform data into the form that
the application layer can accept. This layer formats and
encrypts data to be sent across anetwork, providing freedom
from compatibility problems. It is sometimes called the syntax
layer.
Layer 6 Presentation examples include encryption, ASCII, GIF,
PICT, JPEG, MPEG, MIDI.
7. Application (Layer 7)
This layer supportsapplicationand end-user processes.
Communication partners are identified, quality of service is
identified, user authentication and privacy are considered,
and any constraints on datasyntaxare identified. Everything
at this layer is application-specific. This layer provides
application services forfile transfers,e-mail, and other
networksoftwareservices.TelnetandFTPare applications