A Detailed Analogy of Network Simulators � NS1, NS2, NS3 and NS4

Abstract

Networking is a field of Computer Science where the researchers are dependent on simulators and simulation as the devices used in networking are very costly and complex. It is not easily possible to establish a computer network in real world easily, also direct installation of network devices and cables is not feasible. A simulator is a low cost mechanism which can be used to deploy a network and implement protocols and test the feasibility of the network. NS aka Network Simulator is one such low cost tool, which is available as open source software to network designers. With time simulators have evolved and now Network simulators can simulate wireless networks and advanced mobile networks. The Network Simulator evolution took place with the methodologies and coding technologies. Medium level language like C++ was used in NS1 and later in NS2 we started using easy modeling language like OTCL and C++. In NS3 we can now do coding with more powerful language Python, it also has support for OTCL and C++. High level and advanced language like P4 is the recent one to be used in NS4. The network simulators are now more powerful and fast, as compared to earlier generations of simulators. This paper talks about these advancements that have taken place in the history of Network Simulators and future scopes of NS.