Teaching with OPNET Software

1
Teaching with OPNET Software

• TSYS Computer Science Department
• Columbus State University

2
What is OPNET

• OPNET is a network simulation tool
• Model both communication networks and distributed
  systems.
• Analyze the performance of various networks
• Comes with an integrated tool from the aspects of
  model design, simulation, data collection, and
  data analysis.
• OPNET Technologies Ltd. Products (originally
  MIL3)
• ITGuru Intelligent Network Mgmt
• Scenarios and project
• Modeler

3
Why Teaching with OPNET

• Hands-on experience in configuring, setting up
  and simulating simple network configurations
• Increased students enthusiasm
• Simple to download and install IT Guru software

4
Evaluating Internet Connection Choices
fora Small Home PC Network
Open Lab 1 Start IT Guru. 2 Select File gt
Open. 3 Select Project from the pull-down menu at
the top. 4 Scroll down to the project named
Home_LAN, select it and click OK. ? The Simulated
network opens.
5
Scenario 1 A slow modem downloading at 20kbps

• Step 2 Configure and Run the Simulation
• 1 Click on the configure/run simulation button.
• 2 Set the simulation duration to 8 hours.
• 3 Click Run, monitor the progress bar as the
  simulation proceeds.
• 4 When the simulation completes, click Close.

Step 1 Configure the Link to 20kbps 1
Right-click on the WAN link select Edit
Attributes. 2 Click in the Value field of the
data rate attribute and select Edit. 3 Enter
20000 press Enter and then click OK.
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Scenario 1 (contd)

• Step 3 View Link Utilization
• 1 Right-click on the WAN link select View Results
  to view the utilization results for this link.

• 3 Select Overlaid Statistics from the pull-down
  menu on the bottom right-hand corner to place the
  results in the same panel.
• 4 Select Show and then click Close in the View
  Results window.

7
Scenario 1 (contd)

• Step 4 View Performance for PC2
• (Researcher PC)
• 1 Right-click on the PC2 Researcher client select
  View Results to
• view the web Responses Time and Traffic
  Received.
• 2 Expand Client Http and select Page Response
  Time (seconds).
• Also set the pull-down menu on the bottom
  right-hand corner to
• As IS.
• 3 Click Close in the View Results window.
• 4 You can use the hide or show all graphs button
  to hide
• OR show graphs.

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Scenario 2 A cable modem or DSL line downloading
at 512kbps

• Step 1. 512kbps Scenario
• 1) Select Scenariosgt Duplicate Scenario and
  name the
• scenario as 512k_Cable_Modem_connection.
• 2) Click OK.
• Step 2. Configure the link to 512kbps
• Right click on the WAN Link and change the
  data rate to
• 51200.
• Step 3. Run 512kbps Simulation
• Rerun the simulation. You can refer to the
  steps given
• previously for setting the duration and
  running the
• simulation.
• Step 4. View Results for 512kbps
• Follow the same steps mentioned before to
  view the link
• utilization and response time by the research
  PC.

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Compare Results

• 5 To compare the Response Time, unselect the
  previous statistics, change the filter on the
  right-hand bottom corner from AS IS to average
  and then close choose the following statistics

• 1 Select Results gt Compare Results
• 2 To compare the Utilization statistics, choose
  the following statistics
• 3 Select All Scenarios.
• 4 Click show.

10
Recommendations

• Link utilization and response time
• Scenario 1_____________
• Scenario 2_____________
• Cost
• Dial-up line____
• Cable/DSL____
• What would you recommend to the family?