How to Calculate Network Cost in omnet++

To calculate the network cost in OMNeT++ can state to numerous categories of costs related with network operations, like energy consumption cost, or routing cost, bandwidth cost. The particular kind of cost depends on the network scenario and the metrics we are interested in optimizing.

Steps to Calculate Network Cost in OMNeT++:

1. Define the Cost Metric:
   • Define the type of cost we want to calculate. General cost metrics contain:
     • Bandwidth Cost: The cost connected with using network bandwidth.
     • Energy Cost: In the network, cost based on the energy consumed by nodes
     • Routing Cost: The cost related with choosing a specific route, frequently related to hop count, delay, or energy usage.
     • Operational Cost: The cost of maintaining network operations, like maintaining links or nodes.
2. Set Up the Network Model:
   • Describe the network topology using NED files in OMNeT++. It contains setting up nodes, links, and routing protocols. Make sure that the model reflects the scenario where the chosen cost metric is related.
3. Implement Cost Calculation:
   • Based on the selected metric, execute the logic to evaluate the cost. It canbe done by changing the behaviour of nodes or links to account for the cost as packets are transmitted, processed, or routed.
4. Accumulate Costs:
   • As the simulation runs, accumulate the evaluated costs. It can be done by adding the cost at each step like per packet, per hop to a entire cost variable.
5. Calculate and Record the Total Network Cost:
   • The accumulated cost can be analysed to compute the total network cost at the end of the simulation.

Example Implementation: Energy Cost Calculation

Given below is an example of how to measure energy cost in a wireless sensor network scenario using OMNeT++:

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/power/storage/SimpleEpEnergyStorage.h”

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class SensorNode : public cSimpleModule {

private:

SimpleEpEnergyStorage *energyStorage;  // Energy storage module

double energyCostPerJoule;             // Cost per unit of energy (Joule)

double totalCost;                      // Total accumulated cost

protected:

virtual void initialize() override {

energyStorage = check_and_cast<SimpleEpEnergyStorage *>(getParentModule()->getSubmodule(“energyStorage”));

energyCostPerJoule = par(“energyCostPerJoule”).doubleValue();

totalCost = 0.0;

// Schedule the first activity (e.g., sensing or transmitting)

scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“activityInterval”).doubleValue(), new cMessage(“activity”));

}

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override {

if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “activity”) == 0) {

// Simulate energy consumption due to activity (e.g., sensing, transmitting)

double energyConsumed = par(“energyConsumptionPerActivity”).doubleValue();

energyStorage->draw(energyConsumed);

// Calculate the cost of the energy consumed

double cost = energyConsumed * energyCostPerJoule;

totalCost += cost;

EV << “Node ” << getId() << ” consumed ” << energyConsumed << ” J, cost: ” << cost << “, total cost: ” << totalCost << “\n”;

// Check if the node has run out of energy

if (energyStorage->getResidualEnergyCapacity() <= 0) {

EV << “Node ” << getId() << ” has depleted its energy and is now inactive.\n”;

cancelAndDelete(msg);  // Stop further activities

} else {

// Schedule the next activity

scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“activityInterval”).doubleValue(), msg);

}

}

}

virtual void finish() override {

EV << “Final total cost for node ” << getId() << “: ” << totalCost << “\n”;

}

};

Define_Module(SensorNode);

Explanation:

• SensorNode Module:
  • Energy Storage: Use SimpleEpEnergyStorage to model the energy storage in each sensor node. The module mimics energy consumption and follows the remaining energy.
  • Cost Calculation: For each activity like sensing, transmitting, energy is consumed, and a respective cost is estimated based on a predefined cost per unit of energy in Joule.
  • Total Cost: The cost of each activity is gathered into totalCost, which denotes the node’s total operational cost over the simulation.
• finish() Function:
  • The final total cost is logged, giving a measure of the energy cost incurred by the node at the end of the simulation,.

5. Run the Simulation:

• Compile and run the OMNeT++ project. The simulation will determine and gather the network cost as defined in the cost metric.

6. Analyze and Interpret Results:

• To analyse the total network cost by using the simulation results. Depending on the metric used, we might want to enhance the network configuration to decrease costs like by minimizing energy consumption or optimizing routing paths.

Additional Considerations:

• Custom Metrics: Depending on the network scenario, we might want to define custom cost metrics that combine several factors like energy + delay costs.
• Network Optimization: Use the evaluated costs to manage network optimizations, like selecting energy-efficient routing protocols or adjusting transmission power to balance energy consumption and communication range.
• Scenario-Specific Costs: The cost metric should reflect the particular goals of the network scenario. For example, bandwidth cost might be more related, while in a sensor network, energy cost is critical in a commercial network.

Throughout this topic, we had execute step-by-step procedure to calculate Network cost in OMNeT++. It contains network models, cost calculations, extra considerations and examples. We will provide more informations about Network Cost in other tools.

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