How to Implement SDN NDN in OMNeT++

To implement the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) with Named Data Networking (NDN) in OMNeT++ has includes to generate the emulation scenarios that has contains the SDN controllers, NDN routers, and communication links among them. The INET framework can be protracted to provision both SDN and NDN functionalities. The below are the detailed procedures on how to implement the SDN NDN in OMNet++:

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Step 1: Install OMNeT++ and INET Framework

1. Download OMNeT++:
   • Install the OMNeT++ latest version.
2. Install OMNeT++:
   • Based on the operating system download the OMNet++.
3. Download and Install INET Framework:
   • The INET framework offers the models for internet protocols and is often used with OMNeT++.
   • We must download it from the INET website.

Step 2: Set Up Your Project

1. Create a New OMNeT++ Project:
   • Open the OMNeT++ IDE.
   • Go to File -> New -> OMNeT++ Project.
   • Enter a project name and select the appropriate options.
2. Set Up Directory Structure:
   • Guarantee project has the essential folders, like src for source files and simulations for NED files and configuration.
3. Add INET to Your Project:
   • Right-click on your project in the Project Explorer.
   • Select Properties -> Project References.
   • Check the box for INET.

Step 3: Define SDN-NDN Network Models Using NED

1. Create NED Files:
   • In the src directory, create a new NED file (e.g., SDN_NDNNetwork.ned).
   • Describe the network topology in the NED file. Here’s a simple example:

package sdn_ndn;

import inet.node.inet.StandardHost;

import inet.node.inet.Router;

import inet.node.ethernet.EtherSwitch;

import inet.networklayer.configurator.ipv4.Ipv4NetworkConfigurator;

network SDN_NDNNetwork

{

parameters:

int numHosts = default(4);

int numSwitches = default(2);

int numNDNRouters = default(2);

submodules:

configurator: Ipv4NetworkConfigurator {

@display(“p=100,100”);

}

sdnController: StandardHost {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

switch[numSwitches]: EtherSwitch {

@display(“p=300,100+100*i”);

}

ndnRouter[numNDNRouters]: Router {

@display(“p=400,100+100*i”);

}

host[numHosts]: StandardHost {

@display(“p=500,100+100*i”);

}

connections allowunconnected:

for i=0..numSwitches-1 {

sdnController.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> switch[i].ethg++;

for j=0..numNDNRouters-1 {

switch[i].ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> ndnRouter[j].ethg++;

}

for k=0..numHosts-1 {

ndnRouter[(i+k) % numNDNRouters].ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> host[k].ethg++;

}

}

}

Step 4: Implement SDN Controller Logic

1. Create C++ Modules for the SDN Controller:
   • In the src directory, make a new C++ class like SDNControllerApp.cc.
   • Include necessary OMNeT++ headers and describe your SDN controller logic.
2. SDN Controller Implementation:

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/applications/base/ApplicationBase.h”

#include “inet/applications/tcpapp/TcpBasicClientApp.h”

#include “inet/applications/tcpapp/TcpServerHostApp.h”

#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”

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

#include “inet/networklayer/contract/ipv4/Ipv4Address.h”

#include “inet/networklayer/contract/IL3AddressType.h”

#include “inet/linklayer/ethernet/switch/MacRelayUnit.h”

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class SDNControllerApp : public ApplicationBase

{

protected:

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;

void handlePacket(Packet *pkt);

void configureSwitch(cModule *switchModule);

cMessage *configEvent = nullptr;

};

Define_Module(SDNControllerApp);

void SDNControllerApp::initialize(int stage)

{

ApplicationBase::initialize(stage);

if (stage == INITSTAGE_LOCAL) {

configEvent = new cMessage(“configSwitch”);

scheduleAt(simTime() + par(“configStartTime”), configEvent);

}

}

void SDNControllerApp::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg)

{

if (msg == configEvent) {

for (cModule::SubmoduleIterator it(getSystemModule()); !it.end(); ++it) {

cModule *submodule = *it;

if (strstr(submodule->getName(), “switch”)) {

configureSwitch(submodule);

}

}

delete configEvent;

} else {

Packet *pkt = check_and_cast<Packet *>(msg);

handlePacket(pkt);

}

}

void SDNControllerApp::configureSwitch(cModule *switchModule)

{

// Implement switch configuration logic (e.g., flow table setup)

EV << “Configuring switch: ” << switchModule->getFullPath() << endl;

}

void SDNControllerApp::handlePacket(Packet *pkt)

{

// Handle received packets (e.g., process control messages)

EV << “Received packet: ” << pkt->getName() << endl;

delete pkt;

}

Step 5: Implement NDN Router Logic

1. Create C++ Modules for NDN Routers:
   • In the src directory, create new C++ classes such as NDNRouterApp.cc.
   • Include essential OMNeT++ headers and describe your NDN router logic.
2. NDN Router Implementation:

#include <omnetpp.h>

#include “inet/applications/base/ApplicationBase.h”

#include “inet/common/packet/Packet.h”

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

using namespace omnetpp;

using namespace inet;

class NDNRouterApp : public ApplicationBase

{

protected:

virtual void initialize(int stage) override;

virtual void handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg) override;

void handleNDNPacket(Packet *pkt);

};

Define_Module(NDNRouterApp);

void NDNRouterApp::initialize(int stage)

{

ApplicationBase::initialize(stage);

}

void NDNRouterApp::handleMessageWhenUp(cMessage *msg)

{

if (msg->isSelfMessage()) {

delete msg;

} else {

Packet *pkt = check_and_cast<Packet *>(msg);

handleNDNPacket(pkt);

}

}

void NDNRouterApp::handleNDNPacket(Packet *pkt)

{

// Handle received NDN packet

EV << “Received NDN packet: ” << pkt->getName() << endl;

// Implement NDN processing logic (e.g., forwarding based on content name)

delete pkt;

}

Step 6: Integrate SDN and NDN Modules into Network Model

1. Modify NED File to Use SDN and NDN Modules:
   • Update NED file to use the custom SDN controller and NDN router application modules:

package sdn_ndn;

import inet.node.inet.StandardHost;

import inet.node.inet.Router;

import inet.node.ethernet.EtherSwitch;

import inet.physicallayer.contract.packetlevel.IRadioMedium;

import inet.physicallayer.common.packetlevel.RadioMedium;

network SDN_NDNNetwork

{

parameters:

int numHosts = default(4);

int numSwitches = default(2);

int numNDNRouters = default(2);

submodules:

radioMedium: RadioMedium {

@display(“p=100,100”);

}

configurator: Ipv4NetworkConfigurator {

@display(“p=200,100”);

}

sdnController: StandardHost {

@display(“p=200,200”);

@children:

wlan[0].radio.transmitter.typename = “SDNControllerApp”;

wlan[0].radio.receiver.typename = “SDNControllerApp”;

}

switch[numSwitches]: EtherSwitch {

@display(“p=300,100+100*i”);

}

ndnRouter[numNDNRouters]: Router {

@display(“p=400,100+100*i”);

@children:

wlan[0].radio.transmitter.typename = “NDNRouterApp”;

wlan[0].radio.receiver.typename = “NDNRouterApp”;

}

host[numHosts]: StandardHost {

@display(“p=500,100+100*i”);

}

connections allowunconnected:

for i=0..numSwitches-1 {

sdnController.ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> switch[i].ethg++;

for j=0..numNDNRouters-1 {

switch[i].ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> ndnRouter[j].ethg++;

}

for k=0..numHosts-1 {

ndnRouter[(i+k) % numNDNRouters].ethg++ <–> Eth100M <–> host[k].ethg++;

}

}

}

Step 7: Configure Simulation Parameters

1. Create omnetpp.ini:
   • In the simulations directory, generate an omnetpp.ini file.
   • Describe simulation parameters, like the duration and network parameters:

network = SDN_NDNNetwork

sim-time-limit = 100s

# Mobility

**.host[*].mobility.bounds = “0,0,1000,1000”

# SDN Controller application parameters

**.sdnController.udpApp.startTime = uniform(0s, 10s)

**.sdnController.udpApp.sendInterval = exponential(1s)

**.sdnController.udpApp.messageSize = 256B

**.sdnController.udpApp.localPort = 1000

**.sdnController.udpApp.destPort = 2000

# NDN Router application parameters

**.ndnRouter[*].udpApp.localPort = 2000

Step 8: Build and Run the Simulation

1. Build the Project:
   • In the OMNeT++ IDE, right-click on your project and select Build Project.
2. Run the Simulation:
   • Go to Run -> Run Configurations.
   • Set up a new run configuration for project and run the simulation.

Step 9: Analyse Results

1. View Simulation Results:
   • After the simulation completes, use OMNeT++’s tools to evaluate the outcomes.
   • Open the ANF (Analysis Framework) to visualize and understand the data.

As we discussed earlier about how to implement and evaluate the basic SDN NDN in OMNet++ simulator tool that creates the scenarios in the network then apply essential algorithm to execute the results. We plan to share the additional insights regarding the SDN NDN.

For the implementation of SDN and NDN in OMNeT++, you may contact us to obtain optimal simulation and project performance outcomes from our expert developers. We specialize in both SDN and NDN protocols.