A novel architecture for a framework to support the storage of network simulation data into distributed storages for remote access

Design, implementation and test of a communication network require the use of tools allowing the execution of simulations accurate enough to enable: a) the assessment of the correctness of the algorithms that govern the behavior of the nodes; b) the simulation of actual operating conditions in terms of accuracy of channel and mobility models, as well as of traffic conditions and network usage, in order to verify compliance with the QoS parameters; c) simulation code reusing on target devices. Simulation of Mobile Ad-hoc NETworks (MANETs), designed for civil and or military use is particularly challenging, due to high number of nodes, different mobility and channel models and different types of traffic and QoS requirements, and led to the design of several network simulators. Among them, OMNeT++, OPNET and ns-3 are arguably the most popular ones for scientific and industrial activities. Each of the above simulators is characterized by specific advantages and drawbacks, as well as different available models. Although they share an approach based on discrete event simulation, they are significantly different in the way the user provides inputs, collects outputs and builds his/her own models. In this paper we propose a methodology to store simulation data in a distributed and scalable storage system that is exploitable in any of the above listed simulators. Furthermore, the paper illustrates a way to apply the proposed methodology to an emulation environment.