Simulations and Tools for Telecommunications
521365S:
OPNET - Network Simulator
Simulations and Tools for Telecommunications
521365S:
OPNET - Network Simulator
Jarmo Prokkola
Research team leader, M. Sc. (Tech.)
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Kaitoväylä 1, Oulu
P.O. Box 1100, 90571 Oulu, Finland
GSM: +358 40 706 1549
Email: jarmo.prokkola@vtt.fi
22.04.2008: Tietotalo, University of Oulu
VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND
22.04.2008 , Jarmo Prokkola 2
About the presenter (me)
• Research scientist / research team leader in VTT Technical Research Centre of
Finland from 2004 –
• Research scientist in University of Oulu, Centre for Wireless Communications &
Telecommunication laboratory from 1998 to 2004
• Research interests include:
• Cross-layer design methods
• Wireless Networks
• Channel Access methods
• Ad Hoc networks
• MAC protocols
• Quality of Service (QoS) in heterogeneous networks
• QoS measurement methods and tools
• Working with OPNET since 1999
• Mainly wireless system research and ad hoc networking techniques
VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND
22.04.2008 , Jarmo Prokkola 3
Contents
•General information and Introduction
•OPNET modeling hierarchy
•Network Domain
•Node Domain
•Process Domain
•Simulations & analysis
•External System Domain
•Physical layer modeling (radio link)
•Packet formats
•OPNET products & additional modules
•Tips for the rookies
•Summary
VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND
22.04.2008 , Jarmo Prokkola 4
General Information
•A common presentation of the OPNET simulator (OPNET Modeler)
is provided
•OPNET is extensive and powerful simulation software with wide
variety of possibilities
•Enables the possibility to simulate entire heterogeneous networks
with various protocols
•Development work was started in 1986 by MIL3, Inc., while nowadays
the company is called OPNET Technologies, Inc.
•In 2007: 490 employees, revenue: ~ 95 M$
•Originally the software was developed for the needs of military, but it
has grown to be a world leading commercial network simulation tool
•OPNET is quite expensive for commercial usage but there are also
free licenses for educational purposes
VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND
22.04.2008 , Jarmo Prokkola 5
Introduction
• OPNET is a high level event based network level simulation tool
• Simulation operates at “packet-level”
• Originally built for the simulation of fixed networks
•OPNET contains a huge library of accurate models of commercially available
fixed network hardware and protocols
• Nowadays, the possibilities for wireless network simulations are also very wide
•Accurate radio transmission pipeline stage for modeling of the physical layer
(radio interface)
•The simulator has a lot of potential, but there exists typically a lack of the
recent wireless systems
•Much of the work considering new technologies must be done by oneself
• OPNET can be used as a research tool or as a network design/analysis tool (end user)
• The threshold for the usage is high for the developer, but low for the end user
