Guevara Noubir

This project aims at designing and implementing a platform that simplifies the development and performance evaluation and comparison of cross-layer protocols for multi-hop ad hoc networks (MANET). The platform provides an integrated API for controlling and assessing, on a per-packet basis, the physical layer and MAC/LLC parameters (e.g., power, coding/modulation, fragmentation, number of retransmissions) for IEEE802.11 network interfaces. The platform provides a new way for comparing MANET protocol stacks. Today, performance evaluation of wireless mobile ad hoc networks heavily relies on simulation. However, many simulation environments have flaws, or fall short of accurately modeling the wireless physical layer (e.g., multi-path fading, interference). Experimental evaluation on the other hand is limited because of the difficulty of reproducing the channel conditions, environment, and mobility scenarios. We present a framework for virtually simultaneous performance evaluation of multiple wireless mobile ad hoc network protocols. The framework provides a virtualization layer to the physical/link layers, time virtualization, and nodes synchronization. It also guarantees a fair share of the medium to each protocol. We implemented this framework as a platform within the Click Modular Router environment. Our framework allows the developers of an ad hoc network protocol to transparently design and implement their protocols within the platform. During runtime, at any instant of time, one and only one protocol is active across the entire testbed. The protocols run in a TDMA-like cycle. Each protocol is periodically assigned a time-slot. The environment takes care of seamlessly switching between multiple protocols and maintaining the time synchronization between the nodes...