Network simulation: Difference between revisions

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{{More citations needed|date=September 2023}}

In [[computer network]] research, '''network simulation''' is a technique whereby a software program replicates the behaviourbehavior of a real network. This is achieved by calculating the interactions between the different network entities such as routers, switches, nodes, access points, links, etc.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Wehrle |first1=Klaus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CvUvxpSe8NoC&dq=%22Network+simulation%22&pg=PA49 |title=Modeling and Tools for Network Simulation |last2=Günes |first2=Mesut |last3=Gross |first3=James |date=2010-09-22 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-3-642-12331-3 |language=en}}</ref> Most simulators use discrete event simulation in which the modellingmodeling of systems in which state variables change at discrete points in time. The behaviourbehavior of the network and the various applications and services it supports can then be observed in a test lab; various attributes of the environment can also be modified in a controlled manner to assess how the network/protocols would behave under different conditions.

==Network simulator==

A '''network simulator''' is a [[software]] program that can predict the performance of a computer network or a wireless communication network. Since communication networks have become tooltoo complex for traditional analytical methods to provide an accurate understanding of system behaviourbehavior, network simulators are used. In simulators, the computer network is modeled with devices, links, applications, etc., and the network performance is reported. Simulators come with support for the most popular technologies and networks in use today such as [[5G]], [[Internet of Things]] (IoT), [[Wireless LAN]]s, [[mobile ad hoc network]]s, [[wireless sensor network]]s, [[vehicular ad hoc network]]s, [[Cognitive Radio Networks|cognitive radio networks]], [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]

==Simulations==

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==Network emulation==

[[Network emulation]] allows users to introduce real devices and applications into a test network (simulated) that alters packet flow in such a way as to mimic the behaviourbehavior of a live network. Live traffic can pass through the simulator and be affected by objects within the simulation.

The typical methodology is that real packets from a live application are sent to the emulation server (where the virtual network is simulated). The real packet gets 'modulated' into a simulation packet. The simulation packet gets demodulated into a real packet after experiencing effects of loss, errors, delay, [[jitter]] etc., thereby transferring these network effects into the real packet. Thus it is as-if the real packet flowed through a real network but in reality it flowed through the simulated network.

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* [[GloMoSim]]

There are also some notable commercial network simulators such as Tetcos NetSim and Opnet.

==Uses of network simulators ==

Network simulators provide a cost-effective method for

* 5G, 5G-NTN6G, 6GNTN coverage, capacity, throughput and latency analysis

* Network R & D (More than 70% of all Network [[Academic paper|Research paper]] reference a network simulator)

* Defense applications such as [[UHF]]/[[VHF]]/L-Band Radio based [[MANET]] Radios, Dynamic TDMA MAC, PHY Waveforms etc.