How to Implement Network Service Chaining in OMNeT++
To implement network service chaining in OMNeT++ has several steps to mimic the scenario in which the network traffic is transmitted via a sequence of virtualized network functions (VNFs) or services before reaching its final destination. Service chaining is usually used in software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) environments to implement policies, achieve traffic inspection, or deploy the particular services like firewalls, load balancers, or intrusion detection systems. The below are the procedures to implement the network service chaining in OMNeT++:
Step-by-Step Implementation:
- Set Up OMNeT++ and INET Framework
- Make sure that OMNeT++ and the INET framework are installed and correctly configured.
- Generate a new project in OMNeT++ and has encompasses the INET framework, that offers the essential network modules and tools.
- Design the Network Topology
- Describe the network topology in a .ned file. This topology should has contains hosts (clients and servers) and a series of network nodes that denotes the services that will be chained together.
Example .ned file:
network ServiceChainingNetwork {
submodules:
client: StandardHost {
@display(“p=100,200”);
}
firewall: StandardHost {
@display(“p=200,200”);
}
loadBalancer: StandardHost {
@display(“p=300,200”);
}
ids: StandardHost { // Intrusion Detection System
@display(“p=400,200”);
}
server: StandardHost {
@display(“p=500,200”);
}
router: Router {
@display(“p=300,150”);
}
connections:
client.ethg++ <–> Ethernet100M <–> firewall.ethg++;
firewall.ethg++ <–> Ethernet100M <–> loadBalancer.ethg++;
loadBalancer.ethg++ <–> Ethernet100M <–> ids.ethg++;
ids.ethg++ <–> Ethernet100M <–> server.ethg++;
client.ethg++ <–> Ethernet100M <–> router.pppg++;
}
This network has involves a client, a firewall, a load balancer, an IDS, and a server. Traffic from the client will be transmitted via each of these services before reaching the server.
- Implement the Service Functions
- Execute the logic for each network function like firewall, load balancer, IDS as a module in OMNeT++. These modules will process the traffic and forward it to the next service in the chain.
3.1 Firewall Module
- Execute a simple firewall that permits or blocks traffic based on predefined rules.
Example of a basic firewall implementation:
class Firewall : public cSimpleModule {
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
bool filterPacket(cMessage *msg);
};
void Firewall::initialize() {
// Initialization code, if necessary
}
void Firewall::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
if (filterPacket(msg)) {
send(msg, “out”);
} else {
EV << “Blocked packet: ” << msg->getName() << endl;
delete msg;
}
}
bool Firewall::filterPacket(cMessage *msg) {
// Example filtering logic
if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “allowedTraffic”) == 0) {
return true; // Allow this traffic
}
return false; // Block other traffic
}
3.2 Load Balancer Module
- Execute a load balancer that shares the incoming traffic between multiple backend servers.
Example of a basic load balancer implementation:
class LoadBalancer : public cSimpleModule {
private:
int serverCount;
int nextServer;
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
};
void LoadBalancer::initialize() {
serverCount = 3; // Assume 3 backend servers
nextServer = 0;
}
void LoadBalancer::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
// Forward the packet to the next server
cPacket *packet = check_and_cast<cPacket *>(msg);
packet->addPar(“destServer”) = nextServer;
nextServer = (nextServer + 1) % serverCount;
send(msg, “out”);
}
3.3 Intrusion Detection System (IDS) Module
- Execute an IDS that examines the traffic for suspicious patterns.
Example of a basic IDS implementation:
class IDS : public cSimpleModule {
protected:
virtual void initialize() override;
virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;
bool detectIntrusion(cMessage *msg);
};
void IDS::initialize() {
// Initialization code, if necessary
}
void IDS::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
if (detectIntrusion(msg)) {
EV << “Intrusion detected: ” << msg->getName() << endl;
delete msg; // Drop the packet
} else {
send(msg, “out”); // Forward the packet if no intrusion is detected
}
}
bool IDS::detectIntrusion(cMessage *msg) {
// Example intrusion detection logic
if (strstr(msg->getName(), “malicious”) != nullptr) {
return true; // Detected an intrusion
}
return false;
}
- Configure Traffic Flow
- Configure the traffic flow from the client to the server make sure that it passes via the service chain (firewall, load balancer, IDS) in the correct order.
Example of configuring the traffic flow:
*.client.numApps = 1
*.client.app[0].typename = “TcpBasicClientApp”
*.client.app[0].connectAddress = “server”
*.client.app[0].connectPort = 80
*.client.app[0].sendInterval = 1s
*.client.app[0].messageLength = 1000B
*.server.numApps = 1
*.server.app[0].typename = “TcpBasicServerApp”
This configuration sets up a basic TCP communication among the client and server where will be processed by the service chain.
- Run the Simulation
- Implement the simulation in OMNeT++ to monitor how the traffic flows via the service chain. Observe the behaviour of each service (firewall, load balancer, IDS) and how they impact the traffic.
- Use OMNeT++’s built-in tools to visualize the traffic flow, examine the decisions made by each service, and measure the overall performance of the service chain.
- Analyse the Results
- After executing the simulation, measure how efficiently the service chain operates. Key metrics to observe that contains the throughput, latency, packet loss, and the effectiveness of each service like how many intrusions were detected and blocked by the IDS.
- To assess the performance impact of the service chain on the end-to-end communication among the client and server.
- Optimize and Extend
- Based on the analysis, refine the service functions to enhance their performance or accuracy and it enhance the firewall rules, optimize the load balancing algorithm, or improving the intrusion detection logic.
- To deliberately expanding the simulation to involve more complex service chains, additional kinds of services, or changing the network conditions like congestion, link failures.
- We also discover the dynamic service chaining in which the sequence of services is adapted in real-time based on network conditions or the particular traffic features.
We clearly understood and learn the implementation process and execute the network services chaining in OMNeT++ tool that efficiently transmit through the services. We also plan to offer more information regarding the network service chaining. We are prepared to assist you with the implementation process of Network Service Chaining in OMNeT++. Our developers are here to ensure your network performance is optimized effectively.