Date: April 30, 1998
Time: 12 Noon
Place: Wean Hall 8220

Speaker: David Maltz, Carnegie Mellon University

A Performance Comparison of Multi-Hop Wireless Ad Hoc Network Routing Protocols

Abstract:
An ad hoc network is a collection of wireless mobile nodes dynamically forming a temporary network without the use of any existing network infrastructure or centralized administration. Due to the limited transmission range of wireless network interfaces, multiple network "hops" may be needed for one node to reach another across the network. In recent years, a variety of new routing protocols targeted specifically at this environment have been developed, but little performance information on each protocol and no realistic performance comparison between them is available, largely due to absence of good simulators for wireless networks.

We have extended the ns network simulator to accurately model the MAC and physical-layer behavior of the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard, including a realistic wireless transmission channel model. Using this simulator, we have studied the performances of four multi-hop wireless ad hoc network routing protocols that cover a range of design choices: DSDV, TORA, DSR, and AODV. In the process, we learned that several of the truisms used in developing these protocols are, in fact, false. We have also gleaned new insights into the dynamics of these routing protocols in a variety of network environments.

This is the joint work of the CMU Monarch Project whose members include Josh Broch, Yih-Chun Hu, Jorjeta Jetcheva, David B. Johnson, and David A. Maltz.

SDI / LCS Seminar Questions?
Karen Lindenfelser, 86716, or visit www.pdl.cmu.edu/SDI/