An Introduction to Network Modeling and Simulation for the Practicing Engineer

Jack L. Burbank leads the Wireless Networking section within the Communications and Network Technologies group of The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). Mr. Burbank is an expert in the areas of wireless networking and modeling and simulation, focusing on the application and evaluation of wireless networking technologies to the military context. His team of network engineers at JHU/APL participates within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the IEEE 802 standards organization. Mr. Burbank is a professor of networking and telecommunications in The Johns Hopkins University Part-Time Engineering Program, and is a member of the IEEE and ASEE. William T. Kasch received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology in 2000 and an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University in 2003. His interests include various aspects of wireless networking, including MANET, IEEE 802 technology, and cellular. He participates actively in both the IEEE 802 standards organization and the Internet Engineering Task Force. Jon R. Ward works in the wireless networking section of the communications and networking technology (VCT) group atT he Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) in Laurel, MD. He has worked projects focusing on network design and interference testing of standards-based wireless technologies such as IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.4, and IEEE 802.16.

Preface vii Acknowledgments ix

About the Authors xi

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Modeling and Simulation 6

1.2 Comparison of “Homebrew” Models and Simulation Tools 8

1.3 Common Pitfalls of Modeling and Simulation and Rules of Thumb 9

1.4 An Overview of Common M&S Tools 16

1.5 An Overview of the Rest of This Book 18

2. Modeling and Simulation for RF Propagation 20

2.1 The Fading Channel 22

2.2 The ITU M.1225 Multipath Fading Profi le for Mobile WiMAX 38

2.3 Practical Fading Model Implementations—WiMAX Example 42

2.4 RF Propagation Simulators 45

2.5 Propagation and Fading Simulations—Lessons Learned 48

3. Physical Layer Modeling and Simulation 51

3.1 Incorporating Interference into a Model 52

3.2 The Importance of a Preamble 59

3.3 Practical Wireless PHY Model Implementations 62

3.4 Wireless Network Simulation Lessons Learned and Common Pitfalls—PHY Layer 69

4. Medium Access Control Modeling and Simulation 72

4.1 Modeling and Simulation of Wired MACs 73

4.2 Wireless Network MAC Simulation 78

4.3 Practical MAC Model Implementations 90

4.4 Network Simulation Lessons Learned and Common Pitfalls—MAC Layer 92

5. Modeling and Simulation for Higher Layer Protocols 97

5.1 Network Layer 97

5.2 Transport and Application Layers 102

5.3 Example of Higher Layer Modeling: Transport Layer Performance Analysis 105

5.4 Example of Higher Layer Modeling: Detailed Network

Layer Modeling 109 6. Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulations 114

6.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of HITL Approaches 118

6.2 Network M&S HITL Approaches 120

6.3 HITL Examples 126

6.4 Common Pitfalls for HITL Approaches 139

6.5 Network-Layer HITL-Ready Network Simulation Platforms 139

6.6 HITL Conclusion 142

7. Complete Network Modeling and Simulation 143

7.1 Complete Network M&S Platforms 145

7.2 IEEE HLA (1516) 145

7.3 Complete Network Simulation Examples 172

8. Other Vital Aspects of Successful Network Modeling and Simulation 180

8.1 Verifi cation and Validation 180

8.2 Data Visualization and Interpretation 185

9. Network Modeling and Simulation: Summary 186

References 188

Index 196