How to Implement Software Defined Wide Area Network in OMNeT++

To implement the Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) in OMNeT++ has needs to setup emulation wherever the network devices are controlled by a centralized controller to handle and enhance the network’s performance. The INET Framework in OMNeT++ delivers the tools to design like networks. The given below are the detailed procedures on how to implement the implementing SD-WAN in OMNeT++:

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Install OMNeT++ and INET Framework

Make sure we have OMNeT++ and the INET Framework installed.

Create a New OMNeT++ Project

Open OMNeT++ IDE: Start the OMNeT++ IDE.
Create a New Project: Go to File -> New -> OMNeT++ Project. Name your project (e.g., SDWANSimulation).

Import INET into Your Project

Import INET: Right-click on project in the Project Explorer, choose Properties. Go to Project References and check the INET project.
Copy INET Examples: Copy example configurations from the INET framework to project for reference.

Define the Network Topology

Generate a new NED file to describe the network topology has includes edge devices, routers, and the SDN controller.

Example: SD-WAN Network Topology (SDWANNetwork.ned)

package sdwan;

import inet.node.inet.StandardHost;

import inet.node.inet.Router;

import inet.node.inet.SDNController;

network SDWANNetwork

{

parameters:

@display(“bgb=800,400”);

submodules:

edgeDevice1: StandardHost {

@display(“p=100,300”);

}

edgeDevice2: StandardHost {

@display(“p=300,300”);

}

edgeDevice3: StandardHost {

@display(“p=500,300”);

}

router1: Router {

@display(“p=200,200”);

}

router2: Router {

@display(“p=400,200”);

}

router3: Router {

@display(“p=600,200”);

}

sdnController: SDNController {

@display(“p=300,100”);

}

connections:

edgeDevice1.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router1.ethg++;

edgeDevice2.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router2.ethg++;

edgeDevice3.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router3.ethg++;

router1.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router2.ethg++;

router2.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> router3.ethg++;

router1.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> sdnController.ethg++;

router2.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> sdnController.ethg++;

router3.ethg++ <–> Eth10M <–> sdnController.ethg++;

}

In this instance:

edgeDevice1, edgeDevice2, and edgeDevice3 are standard hosts representing edge devices.
router1, router2, and router3 are routers.
sdnController is the centralized SDN controller.
The Eth10M channel models a 10 Mbps Ethernet link.

Configure the Simulation

Generate an OMNeT++ initialization file to configure the parameters of the simulation.

Example: Configuration File (omnetpp.ini)

network = sdwan.SDWANNetwork

sim-time-limit = 100s

# Visualization

*.visualizer.canvasVisualizer.displayBackground = true

*.visualizer.canvasVisualizer.displayGrid = true

# Host Configuration

*.edgeDevice*.numApps = 1

*.edgeDevice*.app[0].typename = “UdpBasicApp”

*.edgeDevice*.app[0].destAddresses = “router1 router2 router3”

*.edgeDevice*.app[0].destPort = 5000

*.edgeDevice*.app[0].messageLength = 1024B

*.edgeDevice*.app[0].sendInterval = 1s

*.router*.numApps = 1

*.router*.app[0].typename = “UdpSink”

*.router*.app[0].localPort = 5000

# UDP Configuration

*.edgeDevice*.hasUdp = true

*.router*.hasUdp = true

# SDN Controller Configuration

*.sdnController.numApps = 1

*.sdnController.app[0].typename = “SDNControllerApp”

# IP Address Configuration

*.edgeDevice1.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“edgeDevice1.xml”)

*.edgeDevice2.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“edgeDevice2.xml”)

*.edgeDevice3.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“edgeDevice3.xml”)

*.router1.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“router1.xml”)

*.router2.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“router2.xml”)

*.router3.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“router3.xml”)

*.sdnController.ipv4.config = xmldoc(“sdnController.xml”)

Create IP Address Configuration Files

Generate XML files to outline the IP address configuration for each host, router, and the SDN controller.

Example: IP Configuration File for edgeDevice1 (edgeDevice1.xml)

</interface>

<route>

</route>

</routing>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for edgeDevice2 (edgeDevice2.xml)

</interface>

<route>

</route>

</routing>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for edgeDevice3 (edgeDevice3.xml)

</interface>

<route>

</route>

</routing>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for router1 (router1.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for router2 (router2.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for router3 (router3.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Example: IP Configuration File for sdnController (sdnController.xml)

</interface>

</config>

Implement SD-WAN Controller Logic

To mimic the SD-WAN, so we need to execute the controller logic for handling the network. This can be completed by extending existing applications or making the custom applications in the INET framework.

Example: Simple SDN Controller Logic (Pseudo-Code)

class SDNControllerApp : public cSimpleModule

{

protected:

virtual void initialize() override;

virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg) override;

private:

void setupRouting();

};

void SDNControllerApp::initialize() {

// Initialization code

setupRouting();

}

void SDNControllerApp::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {

// Handle messages from network elements

}

void SDNControllerApp::setupRouting() {

// Logic to set up initial routing rules

// Example: setting up flow rules for routers

}

Run the Simulation

Build the Project: Right-click on project and choose Build Project.
Run the Simulation: Click on the green play button in the OMNeT++ IDE to start the simulation.

Here, we understood how to implement, deploy the software defined wide area network in OMNeT++ simulator that will handle and manage the network performance. More information will be provided regarding the SD-WAN.

Our developers are here to assist with the implementation of Software Defined Wide Area Networks using the OMNeT++ tool. If you’re looking for more simulation and project ideas, feel free to reach out to us!