Wireless Network Simulation Report: DSDV and AODV Protocols Analysis

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of wireless network simulation using the NS-2 tool, focusing on the performance comparison of DSDV and AODV routing protocols. The study involves designing and simulating a wireless network with 20 nodes over a 300-second timeframe, with data recorded at various intervals. The report details the simulation process, including the initial network setup, packet transfer, and energy consumption, with screenshots illustrating the behavior of each protocol at different time points. The DSDV protocol demonstrates uniform data packet sending and receiving, leading to consistent data packet dropping and high energy consumption. In contrast, the AODV protocol exhibits a faster initial data transfer rate but experiences significant packet dropping and lower energy consumption. The analysis includes an examination of trace files to assess data send, receive, drop, and energy consumption patterns. The report concludes that DSDV is suitable for accurate results with minimal data dropping, while AODV is better for transferring large amounts of data quickly. The report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each protocol, providing valuable insights into their suitability for different network applications.

Wireless Sensor Network
Student Name
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Introduction
Wireless computer networking is the most recent technology which was introduced in order to take
away the old wired networking. This is because wired networking was not able to transfer data over a
long distance in a cost effective manner. That is why many organizations replaced there wired
technology of networking to wireless especially to organizations and companies which had different
branches in different locations [1]. The simulation of the wireless network can be done by the use of the
network simulation tools which are software tools that design and simulate network. In this paper, the
NS-2 tool is used for the network design and simulations. The NS-2 which is also called the NetSim-2 or
the network simulator version 2 is best suited for wireless design on both the MacOS, linux and windows
platforms [2].
Network Design
In windows operating systems, the design of the network is well achieved by the use of the NSG2.1 tool,
Cygwin command line and the NAM tool. The NAM tool is used for the animation of the network tracing
the transfer of packets from one point to another. Network design by the use of the NSG tool offered a
wide range of the protocols which are to be used for routing. This includes the AODV, DSDV, DSR and
TORA. Therefore, for the design of the network in this paper, the AODV and the DSDV routing protocols
are used [3]. After the design is made, and all configurations are made in terms of the time which can
take for the simulation to be done, the agent and the parameters, it is then saved to a file called the tcl
file. The nam and the tr files are generated by the use of the Cygwin command line tool. After that, then
the NAM tool is used for the simulation of the packets and the wireless networks.
The below figure shows the initial stage of wireless network design in the NS-2 software where the nodes
are arranged, and connected with each other before simulation is done.

Just after the design of the network, then the tcl file is saved and the nam file is generated from the tcl
file by the use of Cygwin command line tool. Then nam tool will then be able to open the nam file and
the design is shown as below [4].
There is packet transfer from one node to another which is the beginning of the simulation process as
shown below.

As shown below, it is also seen that the receiver is in a position to receive data from more than one node
depending with the routing protocol and the agent used.

Simulation
When data packets are being transferred from one point to another, energy is consumed. The
consumption of energy takes place since the design is created with the energy model. The initial energy
was 60 joules. The rate and the method at which energy is consumed is deeply in dependence of the
routing protocol which has been chosen during the design of the wireless network. In the design, there
are 20 nodes which are so be simulated in 300 seconds of time before stopping. The records are taken at
50 seconds, 150 seconds and 250 seconds of time [5].
Simulation for DSDV routing protocol
This is the display at 50 seconds by a DSDV protocol
At the 50 seconds of time, the below is the screenshots which shows the simulation.
At indicated and seen above, there is evidence of packets transfer from one point to another point.
There is movement of nodes too from one point to the other. As seen on the node 20 which is moving
from its position to the position of null4 agent. This is because the waypoint for node 20 was directed at
null 4. At this point energy is also consumed since data packets are being transferred from one point to
another [6].

The screenshot captured below shows the behavior of the simulation at after 150seconds of simulation
by the use of the DSDV routing protocol.
From the evidence obtained in the above captured screenshot at 150 seconds of time. It is evident that
the rate at which packets are being transferred from one node to another have decreased as compared
to the packets which were being transferred at 50seconds of time. There is no movement of nodes at
this time.

At 250 seconds of time, the below is the screenshot which shows the simulation trait
There is further decrease in the rate of data packets transfer at this time. Most of the nodes have energy
depletion warnings which are seen by there colors changing to yellow from green. This shows that the
energy level has reduced from 60 joules to below 30 joules. Though none of the nodes has its energy
level completely depleted.

Simulation of AODV routing protocol
For the AODV routing protocol, the below is the screenshot which shows how the simulation is at 50
seconds of simulation.
From the screenshot above, there is evidence of massive data packets transfer which was seen during
the first 5 seconds of wireless network simulation. The rate of data packets transfer decreases then stops
after 5 seconds. Nodes movements begins to be seen after 5 seconds of time with node 20 moving
towards node null 4 and there is also movement of node 16 and node 11 towards node 3. This is brought
about by the waypoints in the nodes which were being pointed at the nodes where they are moving to
[7].

The screenshot captured below shows 150 seconds simulation of the AODV touring protocol.
There is a unique observation which is during this time. There is no data transfer at this point. This simply
means that no energy is consumed at this point since the rate at which energy is consumed depends on
the rate at which data packets are sent from one point to another.

At 250 seconds of simulating AODV routing protocol, the below is the screenshot.
Also, here there is no trace of data packets transfer. This is because in AODV routing protocol, data was
transferred in the first 5 seconds. there is not energy level change at this stage as all the nodes are still
green in color. This simply means that energy is still above 30 joules.

Analysis of Trace file
DSDV routing Protocol Trace file
As seen from the trace file for the simulation of the DSDV routing protocol, data packets are being send
from approximately 0.00416 seconds of time. At this point the energy in every node is still 60 joules.
There is energy loss at 0. 004262 seconds of time at the very same time. This is an indication that the
nodes have begun sending and receiving data packets. From the overall checkout from the trace file,
there is uniform data packets sending and receiving in this protocol. This sending data is done every
second of the time hence subsequent energy loss [7]. The rate at which energy is being lost is abit
uniform all through the simulation process though it decreases slightly from 0 to 300 seconds. The
increase in the rate of nodes movement and collision is what resulted to the increase in the rate at which
data packets are dropped from the 5th second to 10th seconds. Though, throughout the simulation as
seen from the trace files, there is still uniform but minimal rate of data packets dropping [8].
AODV routing Protocol Trace file
On this routing protocol, data packets sending on happens during the first 5 seconds of simulation. After
which there was no trace of data packets sending. Packets of data send was massive during this first 5
seconds only.
Data packets reception was only done during the first 5 seconds of data transfer. This is because data
sending was only during the first 5 seconds also. Data sending and receiving always takes place at the
very same time. There was no trace of data packets being received after 5 seconds of massive data
reception ended [9].
Data packets dropping was very massive within the first 5 seconds. this is because, at this time, data
sending and receiving was very massive therefore the rate at which data packets collides and drops also
increased. After 5 seconds, only few drops were traced till 10th second since there was movement of
nodes from one place to another.
Energy consumption was only traced during the first 5 seconds of simulation since this was the time
when data packets transfer was very much high. The reduction of energy was done from 60 joules to 58
joules. Only 2 joules were consumed [10].

Results
The graph below shows the analysis on the DSDV routing protocol in terms of data send, receiving,
dropping and energy consumption.
The graph below shows the analysis on the AODV routing protocol in terms of data send, receiving,
dropping and energy consumption.