Simulators are the most important software tools to conduct the simulation process. There are various kinds of simulators available and we can select them according to the necessity of the project. The following is a list of many network simulators which are effective for several research objectives and broadly implemented for its abilities in their targeted fields:

  1. NS-3 (Network Simulator 3)
  • Capabilities: For educational investigation, NS3 is considered among the highly-utilized license-free network simulators. Especially for a vast amount of network kinds like WiMAX, LTE and Wi-Fi, it provides thorough simulation strengths. NS-3 is specifically known for its capacity to simulate IP as well as non-IP-oriented networks, and its practical designing of network protocols.
  • Advantages: Learning motives, wired and wireless network investigation and then full protocol analysis.
  1. OMNeT++
  • Capabilities: OMNeT++ is popular for its adaptable and powerful graphical simulation platform. It is a modular and element-oriented C++ simulation library and model. A variety of network simulations are assisted by this using models such as SimuLTE for LTE networks and INET for internet-centric simulations.
  • Advantages: For a preferable simulation platform with huge visualization abilities, developers and researchers are considering this.
  1. GNS3 (Graphical Network Simulator-3)
  • Capabilities: By creating GNS3 perfect for network experts and those scheduling for certification exams, it is used for the integration of physical and virtual devices to develop complex networks. It offers a practical platform for troubleshooting and configuration and serves switch and router simulation with the help of actual IOS images.
  • Advantages: Real-time network model testing, certification exam planning and practical network experience.
  1. MATLAB Simulink
  • Capabilities: For cross-domain simulation and framework-oriented plan, MATLAB provides a block diagram platform. Especially for simulations which need collaboration with other mechanisms such as interaction models, control systems, and signal processing, its Simulink package is extremely effective.
  • Advantages: Through this, several multifaceted projects integrate networking with other areas like system biology and electrical engineering.
  1. Mininet
  • Capabilities: In developing a practical virtual network executing on an actual kernel, application program and switch on one system, Mininet has the specific ability. On network prototyping and Software Defined Networking (SDN), it is certainly beneficial for exploration.
  • Advantages: When low material consumption and simple utility are significant particularly, SDN projects and learning motives are useful.
  1. OPNET Modeler (now part of Riverbed SteelCentral)
  • Capabilities: OPNET is popular for its extensive analysis tools and enlarged libraries. For making it applicable for industrial as well as investigation usage, it provides a robust creation platform containing a complete framework of network devices and protocols.
  • Advantages: Along with efficiency analysis and enhancement, it serves business experts and investigators who require full simulations of difficult networks.
  1. Wireshark
  • Capabilities: Wireshark permits users to catch and browse the traffic flowing on a computer network communicatively. It is an important network protocol analyzer tool but not a simulator. For investigation which needs insights of network protocols and traffic observation, it is more beneficial.
  • Advantages: Learning motives, network troubleshooting and protocol analysis.

What are the features of network simulator?

       The network simulators provide modules and libraries for simulating network criteria and unique protocols. These tools support many kinds of networks like wired, wireless and mobile networks. We give you a few main characteristics and abilities which are found in network simulators generally:

  1. Protocol and Technology Simulation

At various layers of the OSI frameworks like Ethernet, Wi-Fi, IPv6, FTP, HTTP and TCP/IP, they give huge assistance for simulating a variety of networking protocols and techniques. For thorough enhancement and analysis of network applications and protocols, this feature is very beneficial.

  1. Wide Range of Network Types

Wired, wireless, ad hoc networks like VANETs and MANETs, sensor networks and cellular like 5G and LTE are the wide range of network topologies and types that are assisted by the network simulators. On different criteria, this aspect serves the users to research various network platforms.

  1. Realistic Traffic Generation and Modeling

To design the action of real-time network interaction, simulators can produce practical network traffic. Both the capacity to handle systems and design network congestion and the simulation of multiple traffic kinds such as context, web browsing, video and voice traffic are involved in this feature.

  1. Customizable Network Topologies

Based on the exploration requirements which range from basic configurations including some nodes to difficult and huge networks with thousands of nodes, users can model and modify network topologies.

  1. Performance Analysis and Metrics

Using different metrics like energy consumption, packet loss, jitter, throughput and delay, network simulators offer tools for observing network efficiency. It supports evaluating the trustworthiness and performance of network configurations and protocols.

  1. Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Create networks, configure simulations and visualize simulation findings using animations and graphs simply by a graphical user interface (GUI) which is associated with several network simulators.

  1. Scripting and Automation

To execute simulation results in a program format, process simulation batches with different parameters and automate simulation settings, the contribution of scripting languages like Tcl and Python permits users.

  1. Extensibility and Customization

By creating traditional frameworks, protocols and modules, simulators enable users to expand their performance mostly. For exploring novel or niche fields which are not enclosed by the default abilities of the simulators in networking, this extensibility is very important.

  1. Scalability

Network simulators have the essential aspect like the capacity to simulate minor to huge networks in an effective manner. From home networks to the range of the internet, this scalability permits engineers and researchers to investigate the activity of networks at various measures.

  1. Energy and Mobility Models

Simulators can design the mobility of nodes and the energy consumption of network devices inside a network particularly for wireless and mobile networks by supporting the researching mobile network dynamics and the pattern of energy-effective protocols.

  1. Interoperability and Hybrid Simulations

To design hybrid platforms, a few simulators can interoperate with actual network tools or other simulators. By enabling both the real and virtual networks to communicate, this aspect permits highly practical simulations and testing.

Best Network Simulator Ideas For Research

Best Network Simulator for Research

Below are some of the top network simulators for research purposes. Feel free to choose one or share your own network simulator ideas with us. Our subject matter experts will provide you with the best simulation guidance until the end.

  1. Model predictive control of a fermenter using dynamic flux balance analysis coupled with convolutional neural networks
  2. Distributed decentralized receding horizon control for very large-scale networks with application to satellite mega-constellations
  3. Physics-informed neural network frameworks for crack simulation based on minimized peridynamic potential energy
  4. Reprocessing and shape recovery of polybenzoxazine-polydimethylsiloxane networks enabled with incorporation of dynamic diselenide bonds
  5. Topological and functional vulnerability analysis and mitigation for single-source heating networks based on tree models
  6. A shallow physics-informed neural network for solving partial differential equations on static and evolving surfaces
  7. AI-powered intrusion detection in large-scale traffic networks based on flow sensing strategy and parallel deep analysis
  8. Consensus manipulation in social network group decision making with value-based opinion evolution
  9. Specialized late cingulo-opercular network activation elucidates the mechanisms underlying decisions about ambiguity
  10. Athlete body fat rate monitoring and motion image simulation based on SDN data center network and sensors
  11. Transformer fault classification for diagnosis based on DGA and deep belief network
  12. Understanding socioecological interaction networks in Marine Protected Areas to inform management
  13. Mitochondrial network adaptations of microglia reveal sex-specific stress response after injury and UCP2 knockout
  14. Co-jump dynamicity in the cryptocurrency market: A network modelling perspective
  15. The evolution of global cross-border R&D investment: A network analysis integrating geographical thinking
  16. Aberrant neural network activation during reliving of autobiographical memories in adolescent depression
  17. Emerging LC-MS/MS-based molecular networking strategy facilitates foodomics to assess the function, safety, and quality of foods: recent trends and future perspectives
  18. Pairing explainable deep learning classification with clustering to uncover effects of schizophrenia upon whole brain functional network connectivity dynamics
  19. Critical multi-link disruption identification for public transport networks: A multi-objective optimization framework
  20. Resilience assessment framework toward interdependent bus–rail transit network: Structure, critical components, and coupling mechanism
  21. Distributed estimation based on weighted data aggregation over delayed sensor networks
  22. A piezoelectric sensor network with shared signal transmission wires for structural health monitoring of aircraft smart skin
  23. Secure multitarget tracking over decentralized sensor networks with malicious cyber attacks
  24. Highly flexible all-inorganic nanofiber networks with stress-accommodating microstructure for light-activated wearable chemiresistive sensor
  25. A Secure Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks based Protocol for Smart Data Gathering with Cloud
  26. Bus network assisted drone scheduling for sustainable charging of wireless rechargeable sensor network
  27. Method of recognizing sleep postures based on air pressure sensor and convolutional neural network: For an air spring mattress
  28. HDDS: Hierarchical Data Dissemination Strategy for energy optimization in dynamic wireless sensor network under harsh environments
  29. Social class particle swarm optimization for variable-length Wireless Sensor Network Deployment
  30. Energy Aware Q-learning AODV (EAQ-AODV) routing for cognitive radio sensor networks
  31. Method of recognizing sleep postures based on air pressure sensor and convolutional neural network: For an air spring mattress
  32. Model-free Sensor Placement for Water Distribution Networks using Genetic Algorithms and Clustering*
  33. HDDS: Hierarchical Data Dissemination Strategy for energy optimization in dynamic wireless sensor network under harsh environments
  34. A decomposition-based multi-objective optimization approach for balancing the energy consumption of wireless sensor networks
  35. Energy efficient medium access control protocol for data collection in wireless sensor network: A Q-learning approach
  36. Highly flexible all-inorganic nanofiber networks with stress-accommodating microstructure for light-activated wearable chemiresistive sensor
  37. Battery lifespan enhancement strategies for edge computing-enabled wireless Bluetooth mesh sensor network for structural health monitoring
  38. Trust management-based and energy efficient hierarchical routing protocol in wireless sensor networks
  39. PrEEMAC: Priority based energy efficient MAC protocol for Wireless Body Sensor Networks
  40. A trusted effective approach for forecasting the failure of data link and intrusion in wireless sensor networks

Important Research Topics