Introduction to OPNET Simulator

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Introduction to OPNET Simulator

• Yi Pan

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OPNET Simulator

• What is OPNET?
• OPNET is a computer software to simulate
  communication networks
• It is a software package allowing you to test new
  network design, protocols, etc. without actually
  having the real devices
• Great flexibility is provided by OPNET to set up
  parameters from the physical layer to application
  layer simulating complex real scenarios
• It is one of the leading simulator used in
  industry

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OPNET Simulator

• A few brief view of OPNET
• OPNET provides graphical editor to users to edit
  your own devices, configure your own networks,
  design your own protocols, and define your own
  packet formats

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OPNET Simulator

• OPNET network model

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OPNET Simulator

• OPNET node model for devices

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OPNET Simulator

• OPNET process model

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Programming in OPNET

• Process model is the main model we program in
  OPNET
• Process model is a finite state machine
  describing the behavior of an automaton
• Process is run in an event-driven environment
• Each process model defines the behavior of the
  protocol according to received events
• The behavior is defined by processing the event
  in the states and setting up the condition for
  transitions in the finite state machine

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Programming in OPNET

• Process model revisit

C codes written in the states describing protocol
behavior
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Programming in OPNET

• Other models used in OPNET programming
• Packet format definition
• A packet format model is used to describe the
  format of your designed protocols packet in a
  GUI
• Links to connect your devices
• Default link models are available to set up
  connections between devices
• Point-to-point link, bus link, and radio link are
  all available
• Set up transceivers in the node models for
  devices and connect the devices with compatible
  transceivers in the network model

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Programming in OPNET

• Other models in OPNET programming

Packet model
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Programming in OPNET
Link model defining features of links
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Programming in OPNET

• Transceiver modules to associate with the links
  between devices

Point-to-point Receiver
Point-to-point Transmitter
Bus Receiver
Bus Transmitter
Radio Receiver
Radio Transmitter
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Starting to use OPNET

• Recommend steps
• Do the step-by-step online tutorials
• Do some small experimental modifications to the
  tutorials that relates to your possible projects
• Start using OPNET and always use the online help
  manual for numerous OPNET library functions