What is Network Simulator?

Network simulators and network emulators are used in the research work of the computer network. A network simulator is a tool or software program that allows for analyzing the relationships between different components connected in the network.

What is a Network Simulation?

Network Simulator

Network simulation is one of the methods used in computer network research work. And in this, there is a software program that examines the various network entities’ relationships and then forms the network performance. And various network entities include switch, links, nodes, routers, and access points. In the analysis lab, there is a monitoring of the services, different applications, supports, and performance of the network. For evaluation of network or protocol performance in different conditions, various surrounding features can also be modified in the controlled environment.

Network Emulator

A network emulator is also one kind of method used in network research for testing the real applications’ acts over the virtual network. In this, we apply only the mathematical form of the channels, protocols, traffic, and network models. The main work of network emulation is to optimize decision-making by assessing the performance and by evaluating the change impact.

Uses of Network Simulators

There are different types of network simulators available and very simple simulators to very complex simulators are available nowadays. The following things are enabled by the network simulator for the user.

• It is used for the modeling of the topology of the network which represents the devices connected in the network and the connection link between those devices.
• Also used for the modeling of the flow of the application or we can say traffic.
• Performace metrics of the network are provided as an output by the network simulator.
• Visualize the flow of the packet in the network between different devices.
• Device designs.
• Analysis of the technology or protocol.

A cost-effective way is provided by the network simulator for the following:

• Analysis of the Latency, 5G-NR capacity, throughput
• Research and Development(R & D) of the Network(network simulator is used as the reference in approx 70% of all the Research papers of the network).
• It provides a cost-effective way for many applications used in the defense department like UHF/MANET Radios based VHF Radio / Tactical data links, etc.
• Simulations of VANET, IOT
• Simulation of the UAV drone/network swarm communication.
• Machine Learning: Network parameters optimization by testing the algorithms used in ML.
• In the education department: Research and Development(R&D), Online courses, Experimentation work in the lab. As buying hardware components is very expensive so network simulator is used by most universities for the R&D

List of Network Simulators

• GNS3
• Cisco Packet Tracer
• Putty
• Secure CRT
• Microsoft Visio
• PRTG Network Monitor
• WIRESHARK
• EVE-NG
• Network Simulator -NS3
• SNMP Agent Simulator

GNS 3: Graphical Network Simulator-3

Refer to the below image for the GN3

Graphical Network System 3 is abbreviated as GNS3 and it is software/tool used for the simulation/emulation of the network we can consider it just like a virtual network that is in the suitcase. Real and virtual network devices combination supported by it and it allows the simulation of the complex scenarios of the network. And this software is available for many operating systems such as MAC, Windows, and Linux. It provides a virtually risk-free environment for designing, building, configuring, and testing the scenarios of your network.

Refer to the below image for the GN3

Cisco Packet Tracer

Cisco systems are used to design the Cisco packet tracer. It is a dominant network simulation tool. These are used for designing network topologies and also allowed to imitate these designed networks in modern computer networks. Among networking aspirants and beginners, it is the most commonly used network simulation network. It is mostly used in the procedure of Cisco CCNA training for certification.

Refer to the below image for the Cisco Packet Tracer

Putty

PUTTY is an emulator which is open source and available completely free and it is also considered as the network file transfer application and serial console. Some of the protocols supported by it are telnet, SSH, SCP, and raw socket connection.

Refer to the below image for the Putty

Secure CRT

SecureCRT is used for the designing of an SSH connection along with the forwarding configuration of a dynamic port.

Refer to the below image for the Secure CRT

Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Visio is an application that was built by Microsoft and it is one of the vector graphics and diagramming applications that allow for developing the High-Level Design (HLD), Low-Level Design (LLD), designs of the network architecture, etc. It is considered a wonderful application for diagramming and it allows the user to build any sort of diagram.

Refer to the below image for the Microsoft Visio

PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG is defined as a monitoring tool of the network that helps us in making sure that there are no chances of interruption and outages in the system and also makes it simple to work on the computer. By getting the details of bandwidth and consumption of resources it can improve the efficiency of the network.

Refer to the below image for the PRTG Network Monitor

WIRESHARK

Wireshark is defined as an open-source and freely available packet analyzer. It is generally used for resolving the problem of network troubleshooting and is also used in the process of interpretation, review, or the development of protocols.

Refer to the below image for the WIRESHARK

EVE-NG

We can define EVE as an excellent network virtual environment tool and software also. It is mostly used for development and network security purposes. It allows us to emulate mostly all types of networks and also with a risk-free environment.

Refer to the below image for the EVE-NG

Network Simulator -NS3

For defining a series of discrete event network simulators, the NS term is generally used, particularly for ns-1, ns-2, and ns-3. In the area of network research, a discrete event simulator NS-3 is used. In both wired and wireless networks, its work is to give support for the simulation process of TCP, routing, and multicast protocols.

Refer to the below image for the Network Simulator -NS3

SNMP Agent Simulator

A Java-based application that can simulate the SNMPv1/v2c/v3 agents is known as the SNMP Agent Simulator by iReasoning. With the help of an installed Java virtual machine, it can be run on any platform like Windows, Unix, Linux, or any other. It gives us the facility to test, develop and train SNMP management with no need of purchasing and managing costly hardware devices.

Refer to the below image for the SNMP Agent Simulator

Advantages of Network Simulators

The advantages of network simulators include the following.

• When the user performs a designing process in real-world systems, then at this time the simulator provides the facility of practical feedback to users.
• It gives the facility to the system designer to know about various troubles at the different stages of abstraction.
• These are very useful as it teaches and also demonstrate the main functionality to the students.

Conclusion

• Network simulator and network emulator are used in the research work of the computer network.
• Network simulator is a software program that examines the various network entities’ relationships and then forms the network performance.
• Network emulator is also one kind of method used in network research for testing the real applications acts over the virtual network.
• Network simulator is used for the modeling of the topology of the network which represents the devices connected in the network and the connection link between those devices.
• SNMP Agent Simulator, WIRESHARK, and Cisco Packet Tracer are some of the network simulators.