We have completed a prototype software implementation of the Dynamic Backplane API, and incorporated enhancements to it. First, we have enhanced the emulation backplane interface to support the exchange of interactions across protocol layers. Using this interface, the user has complete flexibility in choosing the most appropriate simulator for any specific protocol layer. Next, we enhanced the backplane implementation to optimize the simulator execution for speed in split-protocol setting. The optimization is achieved by using shared-memory communication mechanism for communication between simulators that simulate different protocols layers of the same set of network nodes.
An initial prototype of this system is now operational. We have incorporated this technique into two popular network simulators, namely, ns-2 and GloMoSim. The simulators are now capable of using this additional (split-protocol) feature of the backplane interface. These enhancements afford the modeler complete flexibility on deciding how best to map network nodes and their protocol models to multiple simulators, at the granularity of individual protocol layers.
Additionally, using our updated backplane, ns-2 and GloMoSim can now interoperate in a much more seamless fashion.
A first prototype implementation of the dynamic loading portion of the interception layer is operational on the Linux and Solaris platforms. It has been tested with a few common network applications, such as commercial web browsers. Work is continuing to integrate the interception layer with the backplane and to be able to run more elaborate experiments, involving distributed simulation applications (such as the ModSAF).
We demonstrated the large-scale simulation capability of PDNS at the DARPA NMS PI meeting in April 2001.
We are at present actively involved in finalizing demonstration plans targeted for the next PI meeting scheduled to be held mid-October. We are exploring the use of our technology in collaboration with multiple other participants of the DARPA NMS program along with personnel at SPAWAR in California. The joint demonstration being explored involves on-line simulation-based techniques for rapidly optmizing the network communication logistics associated with one or two navy operation scenarios. Further details will be posted to this website as plans solidify.