How to Implement Network Digital Twins in OMNeT++
To implement the Network Digital Twins in OMNeT++ encompasses making a simulated replica of a physical network to mimic, observe, and analyse its behaviour in real-time or near-real-time. It permit for optimizing performance, predicting outcomes, and testing scenarios without affecting the actual network. The following is a step-by-step process to executing Network Digital Twins in OMNeT++:
Step-by-Step Implementations:
- Set up OMNeT++ and INET Framework
- Make sure that OMNeT++ and the INET framework are installed and appropriately configured.
- Generate a new project in OMNeT++ and contain the INET framework, which delivers the needed network modules and tools.
- Design the Physical Network Topology
- Initially, state the physical network topology in a .ned file. This topology should denote the actual physical network that we need to make a digital twin of.
Example .ned file for Physical Network:
network PhysicalNetwork {
submodules:
client: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
server: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,200”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
connections:
client.ethg++ <–> Ethernet100M <–> router.pppg++;
router.pppg++ <–> Ethernet1G <–> server.ethg++;
}
This network contains a client, a server, and a router, signifying the physical network.
- Create the Digital Twin of the Network
- Describe a parallel network that performances as the digital twin of the physical network. This twin will emulate the physical network’s topology, behaviour, and state.
Example .ned file for Digital Twin:
network DigitalTwinNetwork {
submodules:
clientTwin: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,300”);
}
serverTwin: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,300”);
}
routerTwin: Router {
@display(“p=300,250”);
}
connections:
clientTwin.ethg++ <–> Ethernet100M <–> routerTwin.pppg++;
routerTwin.pppg++ <–> Ethernet1G <–> serverTwin.ethg++;
}
This network mirrors the physical network with paralleling twin components.
- Synchronize State between Physical and Digital Twin
- Execute a mechanism to synchronize the state of the physical network with the digital twin. It comprises capturing data from the physical network and updating the twin’s state consequently.
4.1 Capture Data from the Physical Network
- Execute data capture in the physical network to monitor traffic, performance metrics, and other related states.
Example of capturing data:
class PhysicalNetworkMonitor : public cSimpleModule {
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void captureState();
};
void PhysicalNetworkMonitor::initialize() {
// Initialization code, if necessary
}
void PhysicalNetworkMonitor::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
captureState();
send(msg, “out”);
}
void PhysicalNetworkMonitor::captureState() {
EV << “Capturing physical network state at time ” << simTime() << endl;
// Capture and log metrics like latency, throughput, and packet loss
}
4.2 Update the Digital Twin
- Perform a mechanism in the digital twin network to update its state based on the captured data from the physical network.
Example of updating the digital twin:
class DigitalTwinUpdater : public cSimpleModule {
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void updateState();
};
void DigitalTwinUpdater::initialize() {
// Initialization code, if necessary
}
void DigitalTwinUpdater::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
updateState();
send(msg, “out”);
}
void DigitalTwinUpdater::updateState() {
EV << “Updating digital twin state based on captured data at time ” << simTime() << endl;
// Update digital twin’s state to match physical network’s state
}
This code takes the state of the physical network and updates the digital twin consequently.
- Implement Real-Time Monitoring and Analytics
- Use the digital twin to observe the network in real-time, perform analytics, and predict future states or potential issues.
5.1 Real-Time Monitoring
- Execute real-time monitoring in the digital twin to track network performance metrics endlessly.
Example of real-time monitoring:
class DigitalTwinMonitor : public cSimpleModule {
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void monitorNetwork();
};
void DigitalTwinMonitor::initialize() {
// Initialization code, if necessary
}
void DigitalTwinMonitor::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
monitorNetwork();
send(msg, “out”);
}
void DigitalTwinMonitor::monitorNetwork() {
EV << “Monitoring digital twin network at time ” << simTime() << endl;
// Monitor metrics like throughput, latency, and packet loss
}
5.2 Predictive Analytics
- Apply predictive analytics to prediction network performance and detect potential issues before they happen.
Example of predictive analytics:
class PredictiveAnalytics : public cSimpleModule {
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
void predictFutureState();
};
void PredictiveAnalytics::initialize() {
// Initialization code, if necessary
}
void PredictiveAnalytics::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
predictFutureState();
send(msg, “out”);
}
void PredictiveAnalytics::predictFutureState() {
EV << “Predicting future state of the digital twin network at time ” << simTime() << endl;
// Implement predictive algorithms to forecast future network state
}
This permits the digital twin to not only reflect the physical network but also to expect and make for potential variations or issues.
- Run the Simulation
- Implement the simulation in OMNeT++ to monitor the synchronization among the physical network and its digital twin. Observe the digital twin’s ability to reflect the physical network’s state and react to variations.
- To visualize the network topology, traffic flow, and real-time updates to the digital twin using OMNeT++’s built-in tools.
- Analyse and Optimize
- Consider the behaviour of the digital twin compared to the physical network. Find discrepancies, delays, or inaccuracies in the synchronization and work to enhance the digital twin’s performance.
- Use the digital twin to test various situations, optimize network configurations, and validate varies before applying them to the physical network.
- Extend the Digital Twin
- Expand the digital twin to comprise more detailed models, like network security, fault tolerance, or energy consumption.
- Examine incorporating machine learning models for more advanced predictive analytics and automatic decision-making in the digital twin.
In this simulation, we had demonstrated the executing process, an instances, and their theory are supports to setup and analyse the network Digital Twins in OMNeT++. We are ready to provide more details as required.
We can help you implement Network Digital Twins using the OMNeT++ tool for your projects. For the best guidance, reach out to omnet-manual.com.. We focus on improving performance, forecasting results, and testing scenarios for your projects.