How to Implement Network Automation in OMNeT++

To implement the network automation in OMNeT++, we have to create a framework that can dynamically configure and maintain network parameters, devices, and protocols in the course of simulation. It also has some tasks like automated routing updates, dynamic topology changes, or automated traffic generation. Get Implementation and simulation results on Network Automation in OMNeT++tool from our leading experts.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to implementing a basic network automation framework in OMNeT++ using the INET framework:

Step-by-Step implementation:

Step 1: Set Up OMNeT++ and INET Framework

1. Install OMNeT++: Download and install the latest version of OMNeT++ from the OMNeT++
2. Install INET Framework: Download and install the INET framework from the INET repository.

Step 2: Define the Network Automation Module

Generate the essential .ned and C++ files for the network automation module.

Define the Module in .ned File

Create a .ned file for the network automation module.

simple NetworkAutomation

{

parameters:

@display(“i=block/control”);

double updateInterval @unit(s) = default(5s); // Interval for automation tasks

gates:

input fromNetworkLayer;

output toNetworkLayer;

input fromMacLayer;

output toMacLayer;

}

Step 3: Implement the Network Automation Module in C++

Create the corresponding .cc and .h files.

NetworkAutomation.h

#ifndef __NETWORKAUTOMATION_H_

#define __NETWORKAUTOMATION_H_

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/common/INETDefs.h”

#include “inet/networklayer/contract/IRoutingTable.h”

#include “inet/networklayer/contract/IInterfaceTable.h”

#include “inet/networklayer/ipv4/Ipv4Header_m.h”

#include “inet/networklayer/ipv4/Ipv4Route.h”

#include “inet/networklayer/common/L3AddressResolver.h”

#include <map>

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class NetworkAutomation : public cSimpleModule

{

private:

double updateInterval;

IRoutingTable *routingTable;

IInterfaceTable *interfaceTable;

cMessage *updateMsg;

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

void performAutomationTasks();

void updateRoutingTable();

public:

NetworkAutomation();

virtual ~NetworkAutomation();

};

#endif

NetworkAutomation.cc

#include “NetworkAutomation.h”

Define_Module(NetworkAutomation);

NetworkAutomation::NetworkAutomation()

{

updateMsg = nullptr;

}

NetworkAutomation::~NetworkAutomation()

{

cancelAndDelete(updateMsg);

}

void NetworkAutomation::initialize()

{

updateInterval = par(“updateInterval”);

routingTable = getModuleFromPar<IRoutingTable>(par(“routingTableModule”), this);

interfaceTable = getModuleFromPar<IInterfaceTable>(par(“interfaceTableModule”), this);

updateMsg = new cMessage(“performAutomationTasks”);

scheduleAt(simTime() + updateInterval, updateMsg);

}

void NetworkAutomation::handleMessage(cMessage *msg)

{

if (msg == updateMsg)

{

performAutomationTasks();

scheduleAt(simTime() + updateInterval, updateMsg);

}

else

{

delete msg;

}

}

void NetworkAutomation::performAutomationTasks()

{

// Example: Automatically update the routing table

updateRoutingTable();

// You can add more automation tasks here

}

void NetworkAutomation::updateRoutingTable()

{

// Example: Simple logic to update the routing table

// This should be replaced with actual automation logic

Ipv4Route *route = new Ipv4Route();

route->setDestination(L3AddressResolver().resolve(“10.0.0.2”));

route->setNetmask(Ipv4Address::ALLONES_ADDRESS);

route->setGateway(Ipv4Address(“10.0.0.1”));

route->setInterface(interfaceTable->getInterfaceById(0));

route->setSourceType(IRoute::MANUAL);

routingTable->addRoute(route);

}

Step 4: Integrate with Simulation Model

Assimilate the NetworkAutomation module into a network simulation model.

Network Configuration .ned File

State the network topology by generating a .ned file.

network AutomatedNetwork

{

parameters:

@display(“bgb=600,400”);

submodules:

host1: StandardHost {

parameters:

@display(“p=100,200”);

}

host2: StandardHost {

parameters:

@display(“p=300,200”);

}

router: Router {

parameters:

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

automation: NetworkAutomation {

parameters:

@display(“p=200,300”);

}

connections:

host1.pppg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router.pppg++;

host2.pppg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router.pppg++;

}

Step 5: Configure the Simulation

Configure the simulation parameters in the omnetpp.ini file.

network = AutomatedNetwork

**.pppg[*].queue.typename = “DropTailQueue”

**.ipv4.routingTable = “inet.networklayer.routing.manet.Router”

**.networkLayer.networkProtocol.typename = “Ipv4NetworkLayer”

**.transportLayer.tcp.typename = “Tcp”

**.transportLayer.udp.typename = “Udp”

**.application[*].typename = “UdpBasicApp”

**.application[*].destAddresses = “host1”  // Set destination as needed

**.application[*].destPort = 2000

**.application[*].startTime = uniform(0s, 10s)

**.application[*].sendInterval = uniform(1s, 2s)

**.application[*].packetLength = 512B

**.automation.updateInterval = 5s

Step 6: Test and Debug

1. Run Simulations: Execute simulations to test the behavior of your NetworkAutomation module under various network conditions.
2. Analyze Results: Validate the correctness and performance of the execution.
3. Debugging: Use OMNeT++’s debugging tools to troubleshoot any issues.

Step 7: Add More Automation Tasks

Extend the performAutomationTasks method to comprise more advanced automation tasks like dynamic topology changes, automated traffic generation, or more complex routing updates based on network conditions.

In conclusion, we comprehensively shown both installation and basic implementation of network automation in the OMNeT++ and will offer another simulation process through another procedure.