[Paper Review] Performance Analysis of MANET Routing Protocols Using An Elegant Visual Simulation Tool

Nazmus Saquib, Md. Sabbir Rahman Sakib+1 more|ArXiv.org|Nov 13, 2009

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks13 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper introduces ViSim, a user-friendly visual simulation tool that enhances ns-2-based simulations for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) by providing real-time graphical visualization in a Windows environment. It enables researchers and students to easily configure and observe the performance of MANET routing protocols—DSDV, DSR, and AODV—through intuitive interface-driven simulations, with key findings showing AODV outperforms DSDV and DSR in terms of packet delivery ratio and end-to-end delay under varying mobility conditions.

ABSTRACT

The task of simulation is often complicated for which many naive users often seek for relatively easier solutions. In many cases, simulations are done without any visual output which makes them non-attractive. In this paper, we present ViSim; a new simulation tool that has a user-friendly graphical interface. ViSim could be useful for researchers, students, teachers in their works, and for the demonstration of various wireless network scenarios on computer screen. It could make the task of simulation more exciting and enhance the interest of the users without going into complex command-only text interface. ViSim is not a simulation engine rather it calls ns-2 simulations in the background and makes the task easy for the users to visualize the simulation in Windows environment. Though ViSim is mainly a simulation demonstration tool, any user with the knowledge of ns-2 and Tcl scripting is also allowed to do necessary modifications and quick configurations for any other MANET routing scenario. Using our simulation tool, we measured the performances of several Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) routing protocols. In this paper, we present the performance analysis of three prominent MANET routing protocols; DSDV, DSR, and AODV using our tool. The details of various features of ViSim, brief descriptions of the selected routing protocols and their comparisons, details about the performed experiments, and the gained results are presented in this work.

Motivation & Objective

• To address the complexity and lack of visual feedback in traditional ns-2 simulations for MANETs.
• To develop a user-friendly graphical tool that simplifies simulation setup and visualization for researchers and students.
• To enable intuitive performance comparison of prominent MANET routing protocols—DSDV, DSR, and AODV—through visualized simulation results.
• To support both demonstration and customization by allowing users to modify Tcl scripts for specific network scenarios.
• To enhance engagement and learning in wireless network education and research through interactive simulation.

Proposed method

• ViSim acts as a front-end interface that invokes underlying ns-2 simulations without replacing the simulation engine.
• The tool provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for configuring network parameters such as node count, mobility model, and routing protocol selection.
• It captures and displays simulation results in real time, including node movement, packet transmission, and routing table updates.
• Users can select from predefined scenarios or customize network settings using Tcl scripts compatible with ns-2.
• Performance metrics such as delivery ratio, end-to-end delay, and routing overhead are collected and visualized post-simulation.
• The tool supports integration with standard ns-2 scripts, enabling advanced users to extend functionality through script-level modifications.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How does ViSim improve the usability and accessibility of ns-2 simulations for MANET routing protocols?
• RQ2 What are the relative performance differences between DSDV, DSR, and AODV under varying mobility and network conditions?
• RQ3 Can a visual simulation interface enhance learning and research efficiency in mobile ad-hoc networks?
• RQ4 How effective is ViSim in enabling quick configuration and visualization of complex MANET scenarios?
• RQ5 To what extent does ViSim support customization for advanced users familiar with ns-2 and Tcl scripting?

Key findings

• AODV demonstrated the highest packet delivery ratio across all tested mobility scenarios, outperforming DSDV and DSR.
• DSR showed lower end-to-end delay than DSDV in low to moderate mobility environments.
• DSDV exhibited higher routing overhead due to periodic control packet exchanges, especially in high-mobility settings.
• ViSim successfully visualized dynamic routing table updates and packet forwarding, enhancing user understanding of protocol behavior.
• The tool significantly reduced the learning curve for new users by replacing complex command-line operations with a visual interface.
• Performance comparisons were consistently reproducible and visually intuitive, supporting effective protocol evaluation.