Development of a Mobile Ad-Hoc Network Testbed: Modular Implementation of Ad-Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing

It is widely acknowledged that real implementation stands out as the most accurate performance evaluation technique, surpassing simulation-based and analytical-based approaches. However, the inherent challenges and costs associated with real implementation pose significant barriers to its widespread adoption. While several testbeds have successfully navigated these challenges for ad-hoc communication, existing solutions often come with drawbacks, such as high costs, dedication to specific protocols or hardware, and limitations in terms of mobility and AI compatibility. This paper introduces a novel, versatile testbed designed for the performance evaluation of mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs). Noteworthy for its cost-effectiveness, modularity, mobility, and AI compatibility, this testbed supports non-homogeneous nodes and operates seamlessly on any system with a Linux operating system (OS). It is complemented by a user-level Application Programming Interface (API) that facilitates the implementation of various protocols on the testbed by separating the implementation from the OS functionality
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. To demonstrate its practicality, we implemented the Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol, a complex and well-known example, and compared its results with those obtained from the network simulator ns-3.