Introduction of Simulation and OPNET

Outline Ways to study a system

Advantages of simulation

OPNET modeler

Main features of OPNET simulator

OPNET workflow

OPNET’s hierarchal modeling

Editors

Project and scenarios

The project and scenario workflow

Organizing models- Object palette

Choose statistics

Simulation

What’s next

References

Ways to Study a system

Advantages of Simulation

Money, money, money

Designing, building, testing,

Redesigning, rebuilding, retesting,…

The level of detail that you can get from a simulation

The only restrictions are your imagination, your programming skills, and your CPU.

OPNET Modeler

OPNET stands for Optimum Network Performance.

OPNET is a computer software to simulate communication networks.

OPNET Modeler, in particular, is a research oriented package, and it is one of the leading simulators used in the industry.

OPNET Modeler (cont..)

OPNET provides graphical editors to you to edit your own devices, configure your own networks, design your own protocols, define your own packet formats, etc.

Main features of OPNET simulator

The graphical modeling approach(Graphical user interface).

The generation of statistical data is customizable.

A variety of comprehensive analysis tools.

OPNET Workflow

Create network models

Choose statistics

Run simulation

View and analyze results

OPNET’s Hierarchical Modeling Three-Tiered Hierarchical Modeling

◦ Network◦ Node◦ Process

Editors Network Editor

Specify network topology and configure nodes and links. Choose results, run simulations and view results

Editors (cont..) Node Editor

Create models of nodes by specifying internal structure and capabilities Create your own devices

Editors (cont..) Process Editor

◦ Develop models of decision-making processes representing protocols, algorithms, resource management, operating systems, etc.

Editors (cont..)

Link Model Editor

Path Editor

Packet Format Editor

PDF Editor

etc

Project and Scenarios

Project-and-Scenario approach to modeling network

Project: Collection of related network scenarios.

Scenario: is a single instance of the network. It represents a unique configuration of the network.

The Project/Scenarios Workflow Create project

Create Baseline scenario

Import or create topology (using Object palette-next slide)

Import or create traffic (by creating applications and profiles)

Choose results

Run simulation, view results

Duplicate scenario

Make changes

Re-run simulation

Compare results

((Iterate the last three steps until you have good results))

Organizing models- Object palettes

An object palette is a graphical dialog box that displays a group of nodes and link models.

Object palettes can be customized to contain only the nodes and links that we need.

Choose Statistics

Right click quick menu◦ Edit attributes Choose individual statistics Check the statistics that you need.

Simulation Select Duration, Seed, other Attributes

Run the Simulation

View Graphs produced

Analyze