3rd International ICST Conference on Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the Development of Networks and Communities (TridentCom)

Research Article

Emulating Dynamic Topologies for Repeatable Experiments with Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1109/TRIDENTCOM.2007.4444711,
        author={Scott F. Midkiff and Luiz A. DaSilva and George C. Hadjichristofi and Tao Lin and Jahng Park},
        title={Emulating Dynamic Topologies for Repeatable Experiments with Mobile Ad Hoc Networks},
        proceedings={3rd International ICST Conference on Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the Development of Networks and Communities (TridentCom)},
        proceedings_a={TRIDENTCOM},
        year={2010},
        month={5},
        keywords={topology emulation; repeatability; mobile ad hoc networks},
        doi={10.1109/TRIDENTCOM.2007.4444711}
    }
    
  • Scott F. Midkiff
    Luiz A. DaSilva
    George C. Hadjichristofi
    Tao Lin
    Jahng Park
    Year: 2010
    Emulating Dynamic Topologies for Repeatable Experiments with Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
    TRIDENTCOM
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.1109/TRIDENTCOM.2007.4444711
Scott F. Midkiff1,*, Luiz A. DaSilva1,*, George C. Hadjichristofi2,*, Tao Lin3,*, Jahng Park4,*
  • 1: Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
  • 2: WINLAB, Rutgers University, North Brunswick, NJ, USA
  • 3: PacketHop, Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA
  • 4: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
*Contact email: midkiff@vt.edu, ldasilva@vt.edu, gh@winlab.rutgers.edu, taolin@ieee.org, Jahng.Park@samsung.com

Abstract

While analysis and simulation experiments are essential in exploring fundamental properties of various technologies and protocols, experiments with real, or at least prototype, systems are necessary to move mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) from the domain of a research topic to real applications. A major obstacle to the collection of reliable performance results in a MANET testbed is poor repeatability. Our approach is to use a hybrid testbed, consisting of wireless (802.11-based) nodes and a wired network capable of emulating dynamic topologies. In this paper, we describe a testbed capable of emulating dynamic topologies, augmented by experiments on an IEEE 802.11b-based wireless network and describe the use of the testbed in research on protocols and integration for mobile ad hoc networks. We also discuss the transition of research using the testbed into part of a hands-on undergraduate course in wireless networks and mobile systems.