NETWORK SIMULATION

                    Network Simulation is, actually the concept of implementing a network without actually setting it up. It is about producing an entire virtual environment for a specified network and its functioning. It can be implemented as a part of experimenting purposes in various types of networks like TCP, ATM, IP, LAN etc..

                              In a simple way, let us illustrate an example of network simulation. In a simple LAN (Local Area Network), if we need to implement a small alteration, say we need to experiment a totally new application. It is understood that we need to know whether it functions well in all the components associated with that network. We think it is impossible to know how each system reacts to the new application before actually implementing it. We also know that it is quite difficult to implement that change in all the systems in connected to that Local Area Network before it has been proved successful. Here comes the significance of network simulation. We can use network simulation software such as ns2/ns3, Netsim, Glomossim so that we can virtually set up that network and test the alteration we need to implement and watch out for its consequences. This provides an opportunity for the developers to make decisions upon the experiment results without even actually setting up the system.

                                  In practice, this system of virtual network implementation has got numerous benefits. In many real life situations, the network implementation would be difficult to implement and rather expensive. In such situations, a network simulator has a big role. Implementation cost is reduced much in such cases. Being inexpensive, users/developers can test various changes, observe its outcomes, analyze them and arrive at better conclusions. There are many open source and commercial network simulators available today that serves these purposes. And this accounts for time saving too. That means the longer time that may be taken for the real life network implementation for testing is eliminated. This results in a faster simulation and its analysis, and is a better option for programmers. Also the power consumed in implementing in all components of a system in reality in case of testing can be saved much since simulation is set up virtually in a single system.