What is NS3 in SDN? NS3 is typically a simulation tool that functions based on a simulated SDN network. It operates to handle the switches of OpenFlow to generate a program by using the source of SDN controller over the OS Ubuntu. To be precise, NS3 is just a simulator function on the ground of Software Defining Networks and is considered being the appropriate simulator of NS3 SDN.
“This article greatly concentrates on the simulator NS3 and the elements used for its parameters on the surface of SDN along with its scopes, and through this article, we attempt to express our knowledge in the relevant field.”
What is SDN?
SDN stands for Software Defined Networking, which is a type of network that we are generally aware of that the network is used to transmit the data between the devices/systems. Here, the SDN approach also refers to the same. But it differs in a specific activity that separates the control plane and the data plane in any tools of the network that falls under the SDN category.
It is also a networking concept that enables the data centers and the network operators to cope with the tools for networking using the external server by running the software. Along with the definitions of the NS3 and SDN, let’s see the advantages from the experiences we got through NS3.
Uses of NS3
- NS3 saves our effort through its simulation settings, releasing resources and network setups while it simulating the large size network.
- Also we found that NS3 consumes less time to get SDN simulation outcomes and it produced appreciating scalability and performance in simulation.
Overall, we found that NS3 is good in obtaining the results and it produces rich performance in simulating the SDN networks. The uses of NS3 also include its various types of classes. Here we provide you with the significant classes in NS3 for SDN as listed below.
Classes in NS3 SDN
- CSMA devices
With the help of the prevailed CSMA devices, we can connect the nodes of NS3 to send and receive the network traffic. This process lengthens the limitations of the controller application to execute any preferred control logic to organize the network. In this device, the communication is recognized by both the controller and the switch on the devices and channels of NS3 protocol load.
- OpenFlowInterface
This type of class can command a request for the available data on the inquiry of the controller as the OpenFlowInterface is used to stores the port metadata.
Thus the function of the CSMA device is to extend the controller limitation and the primary duty of the OpenFlowInterface is to distribute the metadata to the controller. Here are the steps of communication between the controller and the switch devices of the NS3given below,
Steps of Communication
- The controller and switch simulated using NS3 as considered NS3 nodes
- The controller sends the data through the net device to the application
- The switch sends the data with the help of CSMA devices.
- Both the switch device and the controller use the Softswitch library as a channel for communication
The above steps represent the possible communication process between the controller and the switch. As NS3 is a simulator, protocols are very important for a simulator. Here we provide you with the protocols used in NS3 SDN environments.
Protocols in NS3 with SDN
SICA (Semi-dynamic Interference aware Channel Assignment) protocol
Generally, an excellent interference concerns the biased routing and overlapping channel assignment in SDN with the help of this SICA protocol. It is a game theory-based protocol, where it is conscious of the limitations of distributed channel assignment. Thus it prevents the connectivity of the network from depending on a central node or common channel.
Stream Reservation Protocol
The major duty of this protocol is to back up the sources to use it in time sensed traffic. This protocol transmits its message by using a bridge-by-bridge method. An easy outline of SRP on SDN is networking in vehicle-bridged.
The roles of protocols are very vital in any networking environment. The above-mentioned protocols of NS3 play a vital role in the SDN environments. As protocols, the algorithms are also important for a simulating process, which features to detect an anomaly or suspicious activity in a network. Thus we provide you with the appropriate algorithms used in NS3.
Algorithms in NS3 with SDN
DBSCAN Algorithm
Through this algorithm, we can create a detection technique based on ML to detect anomalies in SDN environments, which is called as MTADS algorithm. It implants the MTADS on the floodlight controller at the very instant of detecting the anomaly behaviors with the help of the DBSCAN algorithm.
This DBSCAN algorithm is generally used to create ML based detection technique to take instant actions. Until the algorithm topics, we let you in acquiring knowledge on the necessary components of the NS3 simulator, particularly in the SDN environment. So let’s take a look at the implementations of NS3.
Applications in NS3 with SDN
Cloud Computing Applications based on SDN
SDN is a typical network of the structure that separates the data plane from the control plane for effective network control and management. It is instigated on the software, and simultaneously the utility computing is turn up the visualizations of the cloud computing. Thus, the users can get the facility on their needs and they can pay once to calculate the resource.
Switches / Routers based for Applications
In this type of application, the NS3 SDN enables the function of effective packet forwarding of any type. It transmits the packets with the unique efficiency of high throughput and low latency between the routers.

Applications of SDN/NFV networks managing simple deployment and operations
This kind of application simplifies the packet forwarding operations and deployment by using the NFV in SDN environments, where the NFV is a virtualized server that reduces the complexity of SDN. So the process will be easy to deal with in the controller by the network functions and additionally it simplifies the execution of network function.
Software-Defined Spanning Tree Application
This spanning tree application in topology eases the function of SDN by indicating the technique of flooding loops prevention and it generates the packet forwarding process in the centralized SDN. After this process, the controller inculcates the switches, and based on the spanning-tree topology, the controller conducts their port configuration.
The above concepts are the applications by using NS3 SDN. The applications we are displaying are limited than the approaches we have. And some of them are real-time applications. Let’s see the simulating process of the NS3 SDN. So here we provide you with the Steps of the collaborative offloading process performed by the edge computing serves based on SDN.
SDN Simulation using NS3
- Step 1: Producing a network of the single base station, controller, 50 user nodes, and four servers.
- Step 2: Through the controller, the user nodes demand the packets from the server nodes
- Step 3: The network performs the process of task sharing by using TPSA (Task Partition and Sharing Algorithm)
- Step 4: The simulator then decides the process of task offloading with the help of AI on the decision technique of Markov decision
- Step 5: The simulator implements the data transmission and we can obtain the results.
Through the above steps, we can plan the graph results by comparing the execution time with data size, the sum of tasks, edge capacity, number of edges, and Q value table vs. duplication. These are the clear steps performed by the NS3 simulation. Let’s take a look at the appropriate versions of the NS3 simulation tool and its features.
NS3 TOOLS VERSIONS
- Enabled with Wi-Fi 802.11axPHY layer models to access HE MU (High-Efficiency Multi Users) comprising HE RU (High-Efficiency Resource Units) sustained by PCAP
- Enabled with CsvReader class node positions
- Assisted for the vehicular environments by adding the channel condition model to broadcast the damages
- Enabled with congestion control model of TCP CUBIC and the way TCP manages the ECN is associated with the performance of Linux.
- NS-3.26
- Regulated module of Wi-Fi concerns the IEEE 802.11e with TXOP parameters and the Wi-Fi channel number configuration done by API.
- WifiNetDevice::SelectQueue techniques are enabled to permit the traffic control layer, associating the device based on the QoS.
- Integrated with Byte Queue Limits, FQ-CoDel, and PIE to control traffic.
- Enabled with congestion controlling modules like Bic, YeAH, Veno, Illinois and congestion control algorithms like H-TCP
- Introducing an innovative spectrum using a module called SpectrumWifiPhy
The above-given features are the characteristics of the latest versioned tool of the NS3 simulator. Other than that, we are having more trending versions of the simulating tools. Now we reached the core concept of the article, i.e. the recent research topics suggested by our developers. The following topics are based on the research issues in the field of NS3 SDN
Research Topics in NS3 SDN
- Circulated Virtual Networks implanted for SDN with the help of Multi-agent systems
- 5G VANET supporting Software-Defined Cooperative Data Sharing in Edge Computing
- 5G Communication architecture based SDN evaluation and modeling
- Topology-control based on Mobile SDN sensor network based on adaption method
- Developing QoS in Mobile Software-Defined Wireless Sensor Networks by controlling latency.
The research topics discussed above are the example of our suggestions in the NS3 SDN domain. As a matter of fact, we provide you with a lot of guidance and support in your project work and we’ll introduce you to the other areas of networking like Wireless Sensor Networks, IoT and Ad hoc networks, and so on. Hence we are notifying you to grab this opportunity to join us to get a wonderful experience. Technology is an ocean, and we’ll help you to get your treasure there!!

