Enhancing the NS-2 Network Simulator for Near Real-Time Control Feedback and Distributed Simulation Breaks

A network simulator coupled with a visualization package enables the human visual system to analyze the results of network modeling as a supplement to analytical data analysis. This research takes the next step in network simulator and visualization suite interaction. A mediator (or run-time infrastructure (RTI) in the literature) provides researchers the potential to interact with a simulation as it executes. Utilizing TCP/IP sockets, the mediator has the capability to connect multiple visualization packages to a single simulation. This new tool allows researchers to change simulation parameters on the y without restarting the network simulation.