Introduction to Network Simulator NS2

Introduction to Network Simulator NS2 is a primer providing materials for NS2 beginners, whether students, professors, or researchers for understanding the architecture of Network Simulator 2 (NS2) and for incorporating simulation modules into NS2. The authors discuss the simulation architecture and the key components of NS2 including simulation-related objects, network objects, packet-related objects, and helper objects. The NS2 modules included within are nodes, links, SimpleLink objects, packets, agents, and applications. Further, the book covers three helper modules: timers, random number generators, and error models. Also included are chapters on summary of debugging, variable and packet tracing, result compilation, and examples for extending NS2. Two appendices provide the details of scripting language Tcl, OTcl and AWK, as well object oriented programming used extensively in NS2.

Spurred by a dearth of information on NS2 during their graduate studies, the authors have written this primer on the open-source simulation software to help subsequent generations of students grapple with the program and its uses. NS2, an event-driven simulation program designed specifically for researching computer networks, was conceived in 1989 and has been enhanced ever since. It now includes modules for network functions such as routing, transport layer protocol and applications. Yet basic NS2 tutorials do not cover the skills researchers must master to build additional modules adapted to their research needs.

With most event-driven network simulation tasks now requiring extra configuration, this publication is a welcome learning aid for anyone who needs to go beyond the basics. It provides all the information required to install NS2, run simple examples, modify existing NS2 modules, and to create as well as incorporate new modules into the software. To help researchers grasp the fundamentals, the authors provide comprehensive explanations of several built-in NS2 modules. The book is a boon to those using this powerful investigative tool.