Best Network Simulator For Research

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.