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Network Simulator

Overview

Network Simulator is a simulation tool for re-creating different variants of network traffic and infrastructure.

Availability

Cluster Module/Version
BOSE netsim/2.35
Also Via OnDemand
BGSC Not Available

Note: This application is available as both a traditional module as well as a desktop app within the Open OnDemand platform. To load the module you can simply use module load netsim to activate the most recently installed version of this software.

How To Access

Desktop Mode

  1. Log into Open OnDemand - https://ondemand.hpc.uwec.edu
  2. Click "Desktop" on the dashboard, or by first clicking "Interactive Apps" in the top bar.
  3. Fill out your required resources to the best of your abilities. Unsure what to use?
  4. Wait for the job to start, then click "Launch Desktop"
  5. Start the terminal by clicking on the black square icon in the top bar, or by going to Applications --> System Tools --> MATE Terminal"
  6. Type: module load netsim/latest
  7. Type: ns <filename>

Your Desktop session for Network Simulator will remain operational based on the number of hours you entered in the form. Once the time limit is hit, it will automatically quit.

Done using Network Simulator?

To free up resources for other users, we ask that you stop your Network Simulator instance when you are done using the cluster.

  1. In Open OnDemand, click on "My Interactive Sessions"
  2. Find your running Desktop and click "Cancel"

Class Resources (CS462, Spring 2024)

For detailed information on using NS2, refer to the documentation website.

Example tcl scripts can be referenced in ~/my_cs462/cs462_course_files/example_tcls. Most example scripts mentioned in the NS2 documentation has been moved to this directory.

Troubleshooting

  • Running files via NS2 inside group directories will lead to issues. Run files via your home directories. Use group directories purely as a means to share data between group members.

  • NS2 sessions can sometimes lock up via port conflicts. While measures are in place to mitigate this behavior, if you ever find NS2 binded with another user, follow these steps:

    1. Exit the terminal

    2. Close the Desktop session

    3. Create a new Desktop session with 16+ cores.

If the issue persists, please email BGSC.ADMINS@uwec.edu.

Real Example

Has your research group used Network Simulator in a project? Contact the HPC Team and we'd be glad to feature your work.

Citation

Please include the following citation in your papers to support continued development of Network Simulator.

John Heidemann, Nirupama Bulusu, Jeremy Elson, Chalermek Intanagonwiwat, Kun-chan Lan, Ya Xu, Wei Ye, Deborah Estrin, and Ramesh Govindan. Effects of Detail in Wireless Network Simulation. Submitted to SCS Communication Networks and Distributed Systems Modeling and Simulation Conference, September, 2000.

Deborah Estrin, Mark Handley, John Heidemann, Steven McCanne, Ya Xu, and Haobo Yu. Network Visualization with the VINT Network Animator Nam. Technical Report 99-703, University of Southern California, March, 1999.

Resources