Software Software Frame Frame

Simulator Simulator (SFS)(SFS)Technion CS Computer Communications Lab

(236340)in cooperation with ECI telecom

Uri Ferri & Ynon Cohen

January 2007

AGENDAAGENDA

Background and Background and MotivationMotivation• High cost of network testing and High cost of network testing and

simulation hardware simulation hardware • Low availability of hardware-based Low availability of hardware-based

testing equipmenttesting equipment• Software-based simulators are Software-based simulators are

more agile and therefore easier to more agile and therefore easier to configure and extend. configure and extend.

Product OverviewProduct OverviewSFS simulates networking hardware for testing purposes:•Lower cost of testing equipment•Support various protocols, network topologies and testing scenarios in a single user friendly tool•Provide infrastructure for future extensions, such as additional protocols and testing behaviors

Features Features – packet – packet generationgeneration

Send frames of various protocols:• Currently supported protocols include:

Ethernet IP Arp

Igmp V2&V3

TcpUdp

Complete control over packet content using xml import/exportSupport packet customization storage and reuseIncludes library of default packets for cases in which packet contents are insignificant

• Support for default packet customization

Configuring a PacketConfiguring a Packet

Sending the PacketSending the Packet

Features Features – versatile – versatile behaviorsbehaviors

– Compose complex behaviors using simple atomic behaviors:

• Send Message

• Listen for Message

• Wait

– Example:

Features Features – versatile – versatile behaviorsbehaviors

– Composing operations:

• Concatenation

• Multiplication

– Example:

Features Features – versatile – versatile behaviorsbehaviors

– Arbitrary compositions:

• Free usage of atoms and customized composite behaviors

• Save complex pre-defined compositions for future use as parts of even more complex behaviors.

– Example:

Configuring an Agent Configuring an Agent using a protocol from a fileusing a protocol from a file

Configuring an AgentConfiguring an Agentusing an inlined protocolusing an inlined protocol

Configuring an AgentConfiguring an Agentusing the default protocol using the default protocol

Using the AgentUsing the Agent

Features Features – end point – end point simulationsimulation

– Simulate endpoints such as computers, set top boxes, servers etc.

– Each simulated machine has its own properties and behaviors:

• Ethernet and IP address

• Configured agent to perform specific behavior

• Runs as an independent resource (thread) on the test machine itself

Configuring an EndPointConfiguring an EndPoint

Activating the EndPointActivating the EndPoint

Features Features – end point – end point simulationsimulation

Definition and usage of a sequence of similar (but not identical) endpoints - as simple as using a single endpoint.

• May be used to simulate a network of client computers, or set top boxes.

• Infrastructure also supports mixed endpoint sequences for use in future extensions.

Configuring an EndPoint Configuring an EndPoint sequencesequence

Activating the EndPoint Activating the EndPoint sequencesequence

Features Features – configuration– configuration– Complete control over the main simulation entities:

• Packets of all supported protocols

• Composite behaviors

• End points and end point sequences

– External configuration through use of xml documents:

• Every entity has a well defined configuration file.

• Support for three types of compositions :

– Inline : for ease of use.

– Reference: for extensibility and reuse of definitions.

– Default: to shorten definition, when specific details are less important.

Deployment

– External independent testing software tool.• A single executable file, which includes a command

line interface, may be installed on any PC with a network card.

• Command line enables single line, easy to use, stateless instructions.

• Simple xcopy installation• Possible use:

– Simulator for massive networks with multiple end users, routers and servers.

– Specifically, simulate a full IPTV infrastructure for DSLAM testing

– Embedded in an existing application• Controller API is exposed for use by the programmer.• Possible use:

– Stub for unit testing without use of hardware.

Technology - overview

• Project involved refactoring and expanding of an existing tool into a versatile testing infrastructure.

• Most of the original code was refactored. Only few of the original communication services remain.

• Support for IGMP V3 protocol was added.

• Adopted Standards:

– Object Oriented design and implementation

– Use of design patterns

– Utilization of industry standard STL as source for data containers, and other open-source libraries for services such as XML parsing.23

Technology - design

• Object Oriented Design:

– Full class hierarchy for packet protocols and behaviors.

– Implementation

in C++.

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Technology – design

• Design Patterns:

– Factory design pattern:

• Templated factories are utilized for creation of packets, Behaviors, and Endpoints.

• Required design and implementation of class metadata and reflection, not internally supported by c++.

– Composite design pattern:

• Used to allow generic, complex Behaviors.

• More atoms and composition rules may easily be added programmatically, in order to further enhance this feature. 25

Technology – design example

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