Optimization on OLSR protocol for lower routing overhead

Abstract

The optimized link state routing (OLSR) designed by the IETF's mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) working group is one of the four base routing protocols for ad hoc networks. This protocol is a table driven, proactive protocol. It is particularly suitable for large and dense mobile networks with less latency. However, high routing overhead is a dominant disadvantage as comparing with reactive protocols. In this paper, an optimizing scheme on OLSR by reducing the average size of HELLO messages, as well as the size and the amount number of TC messages is proposed. After analyzing and computing the overhead of the optimized OLSR protocol, which is implemented and simulated on NS-2 in different scenarios, the simulation results indicate that its routing overhead is reduced; meanwhile, the latency and the average end-to-end delay are still maintained in a low level without any change. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.