INTRODUCTION OF
SIMULATION AND OPNET
I.Aseel AlTurki
King Saud University
OUTLINE
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Ways to study a system
Advantages of simulation
OPNET modeler
Main features of OPNET simulator
OPNET workflow
OPNET’s hierarchal modeling
Editors
Project and scenarios
The project and scenario workflow
Organizing models- Object palette
Choose statistics
Simulation
What’s next
References
WAYS TO STUDY A SYSTEM
ADVANTAGES OF SIMULATION
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Money, money, money
Designing, building, testing,
 Redesigning, rebuilding, retesting,…
The level of detail that you can get from a
simulation
The only restrictions are your imagination, your
programming skills, and your CPU.
OPNET MODELER
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OPNET stands for Optimum Network Performance.
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OPNET is a computer software to simulate
communication networks.
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OPNET Modeler, in particular, is a research oriented
package, and it is one of the leading simulators used in
the industry.
OPNET MODELER (CONT..)
 OPNET
provides graphical editors to you to edit
your own devices, configure your own networks,
design your own protocols, define your own
packet formats, etc.
MAIN FEATURES OF OPNET SIMULATOR
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The graphical modeling approach(Graphical user
interface).
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The generation of statistical data is customizable.
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A variety of comprehensive analysis tools.
OPNET WORKFLOW
Create
network
models
Choose
statistics
Run
simulation
View and
analyze
results
OPNET’S HIERARCHICAL MODELING
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Three-Tiered Hierarchical Modeling
Network
 Node
 Process
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EDITORS
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Network Editor
Specify network topology and configure nodes and links.
Choose results, run simulations and view results
EDITORS (CONT..)
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Node Editor
Create models of nodes by specifying internal structure
and capabilities
 Create your own devices
EDITORS (CONT..)
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Process Editor
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Develop models of decision-making processes
representing protocols, algorithms, resource
management, operating systems, etc.
EDITORS (CONT..)
Link Model Editor
 Path Editor
 Packet Format Editor
 PDF Editor
 etc
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PROJECT AND SCENARIOS
Project-and-Scenario approach to modeling
network
 Project: Collection of related network scenarios.
 Scenario: is a single instance of the network. It
represents a unique configuration of the
network.
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THE PROJECT/SCENARIOS WORKFLOW
Create project
 Create Baseline scenario
 Import or create topology (using Object palette-next slide)
 Import or create traffic (by creating applications and
profiles)
 Choose results
 Run simulation, view results
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Duplicate scenario
 Make changes
 Re-run simulation
 Compare results
((Iterate the last three steps until you have good results))
ORGANIZING MODELS- OBJECT PALETTES
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An object palette is a graphical dialog box that
displays a group of nodes and link models.
Object palettes can be customized to contain only
the nodes and links that we need.
CHOOSE STATISTICS
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Right click  quick menu
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Edit attributes  Choose individual statistics 
Check the statistics that you need.
SIMULATION
Select Duration, Seed, other Attributes
 Run the Simulation
 View Graphs produced
 Analyze
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WHAT'S NEXT
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OPNET Online Tutorial
Do the step-by-step online tutorials
 Do some small experimental modifications to the
tutorials so you can understand better.
 Use the online help manual.
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Search YouTube for easy tutorials such as:
http://www.youtube.com/user/rodybaylor#p/u/3/9
PIoVkG3L_A
Try to simulate a real world problem
REFERENCES
http://linux01.crystalgraphics.com/view/1b3c2dOGNmM/Introduction_to_OPNET_Simulator_fla
sh_ppt_presentation
 http://www.powershow.com/view/26b936ZjRiN/Introduction_to_Opnet_Modeler_flash_ppt
_presentation
 www.cs.lamar.edu/faculty/osborne/5328/OPNE
T%20Modeler.ppt
 wow.eecs.berkeley.edu/ergen/docs/OPNET.ppt
 www.docstoc.com/docs/77648870/Simulation
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THANK YOU