Ns-2 vs. OPNET: A comparative study of the IEEE 802.11e technology on MANET environments

Abstract

In this work we present the results of a comparative study between two well-known network simulators: ns-2 and OPNET Modeler. In particular, we focus on a performance evaluation of the IEEE 802.11e technology on Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) in both stationary and mobile scenarios. The paper describes the tested scenarios in detail, and discusses simulation results obtained with OPNET Modeler, comparing them with those obtained with ns-2. The performance of IEEE 802.11e in the presence of legacy IEEE 802.11 stations is also analyzed. Due to the significant differences between both simulators, we enumerate those changes required so as to make results obtained via both simulators comparable. The results that have been reached support the conclusion that the behavior of both simulators is quite similar in general.