Introduction about Wireless Sensor Network simulator: Current day, wireless sensors are used in whether detection, fire alarms, theft detection, and so on. So, knowledge about this kind of wireless sensor is mandatory. Now it is time to gain knowledge about wireless technology and its wireless simulators. Let’s start,
“In this article is created for increase your idea about wireless sensor network simulator and tools in wireless sensor network like NS-2, NS-3 and Cooja also”
WSN is the developing technology for recent times of researches and is denoted as a collection of nodes. The Simulation of wireless sensor networks represents monitoring environmental or physical conditions with the use of autonomous devices which have a connection with multiple sensors. Here, the node is denoted as different types of actuator, sensors, processing units, power source, memories, and RF transceivers.
Define Wireless Sensor Network simulator
For developing a protocol of wireless sensor networks, Simulators are used. Due to the simulator, the cost of simulation is decreased even we consider more than a thousand nodes it gives a low cost and it completes the simulation process with a small amount of execution time. In WSN simulations specialized simulator will be used.
This is a brief explanation of wireless sensor network simulation. Then we will discuss the remaining of this article is based on tools of the wireless sensor network simulators. Here, we are going through the simulators like NS-2, NS-3 and COOJA let will see each and every tool separately.
NS-3 Simulators
The main goal of Wireless sensor network simulator is to create a new environment for research based on network and also to build an open environment it is useful to everyone can access the NS-3 platforms and this platform always encourage software validation, community hardware, and peer reviews also.
- This platform only supports NS-3 scripts and does not support the NS-2 script.
- This NS-3 script is based on the OTcl and the program is written by both C++ and python. But NS-2 is written by C++ only.
- This NS-3 is always extensible with new library codes and also for the implementation of the new protocol and bug fixes.
- NS-3 open-source software and has a license under GNU GPLv2 and is also available for use of development and use of research.
- IT is specially made for discrete event simulators. It provides support for the research field and also educational use.
Use of NS-3 simulator
- NS-3 has a detailed manual about a framework for constructing a wireless sensor network.
- The files are saved with the extension .xml file.
- For the development of simulations python and C++ languages are used.
Steps for NS-3 Simulation
- Create a file for simulation in python or C++
- When, /waf is used the file will be automatically compiled and add the file to the correct directory.
- Run<filename (no extension)> this is the command for compilation.
- The terminal window shows the output of the simulation process.
- If we want to add some animation in that simulation NetAnim animator is used to add the animation object.
- After compilation NetAnim directory is changed to the .xml file.
- . /NetAnim& it is a command used to open the animated file and also used to locate the file in the directory.
Discussion about NS3
Mostly NS-3 is used for the purpose of online documentation this is the important feature of NS3 packages. This NS-3 manual is created with well-defined simulation. Approximately there are six types of simulation processes are explained in detail in that manual.
- NS-3 tutorial and manuals are more valuable because it gives the process with step by step explanation.
- Here some frequent protocols are used for implementing the NS-3 protocols. There are, LTE for 4G, WIFI, OLSR, WIMAX, DSDV, DSR and AODV.
These kinds of protocols are possible to change some modification and starting point for creating own protocol. So, this content is useful to you to gain some basic idea about NS3 simulators. We will see about the next simulator that is the Cooja simulator it is a type of network simulator and it’s a small part of the Contiki operating system. Let us see the entire detail about Cooja and Contiki OS.
Cooja Simulator
The main purpose of the Contiki operating system is used to install real-world wireless sensor network nodes. It’s open-source software because it is user-friendly anybody can access and share the requirements of the Contiki operating system this is the important advantage of Contiki OS, the other advantage is its portability.
Contiki/Cooja helps the user for creating a design and test of a wireless sensor network application and/or protocols. Where Contiki is the support that is a correct hardware platform to run or load than software. This Contiki/Cooja structure was written by both c and C++ programming languages and it also supports different kind of communications which gets a low power stack. For low-power communication, it’s possible to create memory-sensitive applications.
Use of Cooja Simulator
- Cooja simulator follows the structure of both c and C++ programming languages.
- This kind of simulator also has a GUI that is a Graphical User Interface.
Steps for simulation process in Contiki/Cooja
- To open VMware player -> InstantContiki -> Login process.
- Just open the terminal window.
- Modify the directory to the Cooja.
- Using command for running to start the simulator.
- Click -> File -> click new.
- To click create a simulation.
- To create the wanted mote type. Here we use WSN nodes.
- Open the C source file and choose the application of mote.
- Then to compile the mote.
- If need adds motes to the process of simulation.
- Now the simulation process gets the start.
Discussion about Cooja Simulator
Cooja is said to be a simulation tool for Wireless Sensor networks. But this is not only for WSN simulations it performs other simulations also. For the process of porting code and compilation, Contiki operating system supports multiple hardware platforms.
- It also provides a support for high range of motes and switches, power control models, and switches for hardware.
- Ports are directly giving support to the Cooja then it facilitates the testing, implementation, and design of communication protocol.
So, this is the basics of the Cooja simulator with performing under the Contiki Operating system. Finally, we will discuss NS2 and its uses, procedure steps, and also the discussion part. NS2 is abbreviated from Network Simulator 2. This model is mainly designed to allow the Wireless Network Simulator. Let we see more details about NS2.
NS-2 Simulator
This simulator gives maximum support for discrete events in the network and it’s also support for simulating multicast, routing, and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) for both wired and wireless networks it is also said to be local and satellite networks.
Uses of NS-2
- This simulator mainly follows the structure is written by C++ programming language and also Object-Oriented extension of TCL (OTcl).
- NS-2 is easy to use and some difficult for a first-time user.
- The minimum level of the user-friendly manual.
Steps for NS2 Simulation
- First, create a simulation file using a text editor.
- Assign variables, test parameters with the name of the file.
- To save the simulation file using the extension with.Tcl
- Ns <filename.tcl> this is the command for compiling the simulation file.
- Finally, to get the result nam <filename> this command is used.
Discussion about NS-2
- NS2 is not a viable WSN simulator.
- After the Compilation of the file using Nam command, it arises a problem that is incompatible with Linux OS to Ubuntu 14.04.
- Ubuntu 15.04 is used to get the result in the text editor and final terminal.
This is a brief introduction to the network simulator. So far, we will discuss the basics of a wireless sensor network simulator and its tools like NS2, NS3, and Cooja/Contiki. We hope this article is very useful for clarifying your doubts about the topic Wireless Network Simulator. For further clarification kindly contact us.