practical experiment with kivans: a virtual laboratory for

m-ICTE 2009 – Virtual Presentation 182 1

Practical Experiment with KivaNS: A virtual Laboratory for Simulating IP Routing in Computer Networks Subjects.

F.A. Candelas, P. Gil

AUROVAAutomatics, Robotics and Computer Vision Group

http://www.aurova.ua.es

IntroductionFree open-source software for the simulation of computer networksF t d d f li ti f i l ti IP ti

Contents

Features needed for a new application for simulating IP routingKivaNS to simulate IP

ArchitectureMain featuresUsing and simulating with KivaNS

Teaching computer networks at the University of AlicantePractical experiments.act ca e pe e tsStudent OpinionEvaluation using KivaNS

Conclusions and Demos

index


In the scope of the technical courses and careers based on communication technologies, the use of virtual laboratories is very common. For example:

Introduction

•Experimentation and practical learning of

Laboratories for simple simulations and remote access of resources.

Virtual laboratories can be also applied in the Computer Networks to enable students realize practical exercises without the necessity of access to real networks.

•Experimentation and practical learning of difficult concepts.

•Flexibility of time-tables.•Access to limited equipment•Autoevaluation systemsA

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INTRODUCTION

KivaNS as an original development environment to teach and learn the different topics about Computer Networks.

•A free open-source software.•Simulate computer networks connected with the TCP/IP architecture without real equipment.

•User-friendly and a compressible graphical interface.

•Applied as support for the student in the University of Alicante and other universities and technical institutes in the world

Gen

eral

asp

ects


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There are applications to evaluate the performance of a network, to simulate the working of a specific protocol or LAN, to simulate a dynamic routing of packets of data, etc.

Free Open source

COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE FREE SOFTWARECOMMERCIAL SOFTWARE FREE SOFTWARE

It is more complete than free software.It has more user-friendly interfaces than free software.

Programming:Require programming to prepare simulation and get results.Based on programming languages which are not quite intuitive.

Graphical user Interface:It is not homogeneous. Many times, it is basically an animation to display results.

It has a high cost because they are target to professionalsExample: Bosom Netsim by CISCO

Contents and aspects that cover.It does not consider different link layer technologies neither advanced routing aspects..

for Simulation of Computer Networks

Example: Ns-Network Simulator, J-Sim Network Simulator, Cnet Network Simulator

Example: IP Routing Simulator, TCP Control Flow Simulator


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Free software:Can be used by our students or other people without any cost.

Portable softwareTh d h t b il bl t b difi d ll fl ibl t

Features needed

The source code has to be available to be modified as well as flexible to improve it with new modules. This fact permits that the application be updated with new network technologies and protocols. Java is a good option.

User-friendly graphical InterfaceThe student of a Computers Networks subject should be centred in the operation of the networks, and he should not spend time in programming.

The target of software must be IP routing simulationThe target of software must be IP routing simulationSeveral technologies for the link layer have to be considered.

for Simulation of Computer Networks

http://www.aurova.ua.es/kivaKIVANS

(Kiva Network Simulator)

Our Proposal:


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KivaNS is composed of three main blocks programmed completely in Java which can run in different platforms and operating systems:

Simulation engine and classes that implement the available equipment and networks:

Architecture

equipment and networks:It is based on a simple discrete event manager which attends and schedules events from the modules that implement the available equipment and networks. The equipment modules also access to other modules which manages the communications in the different layers of the network architecture

API (Application Programming Interface):It facilitates the use of the simulation modules from different Java applications.It is independent from the graphical user-interface.

Comprehensive graphical environment To use the simulation modules without the need of programming.

KivaNS to Simulate IP

Architecture

Architecture of 3 Blocks: Block 2: API objects (some of them)

Block 1: Simulation engine and modules: Block 3: Graphical user-interface



The main features that KivaNS offers in comparison to other free open-source applications are the following:

Complete graphical user-interfaceT d t k h d fi th t f th

Main Features I

To draw network schemes and configure the parameters of the equipment and networks.

Support for different layers for the network architectureThe current version has several link layer technologies in addition to IP and other auxiliary protocols.

A modular architectureIt facilitates to include new networks, additional equipment, and even new layers for the network architecture.new layers for the network architecture.

The configuration of interfaces and IP routing tables is very similar to the routing tables of real operating systems.

It is possible to configure the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) of the link layer and evaluate the fragmentation of the packets of data.


The simulation manages the addresses of the link layer in addition to the IP addresses

To do this, the ARP protocol (Address Resolution Protocol) has been also implemented

Main Features II

also implemented. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) to resolve common networks problems, like in the real networks was implemented

The more frequent ICMP error messages have been implemented. It is also possible to disable specific errors.In addition to, it is possible to schedule several transmissions to be simulated send packets of data inside ICMP messages of “echo” (similar to the command “ping”). Networks can be configured to generate specific or random errors

The simulation can be carried out either step by step or fullDuring the simulation, a trace of the frames and packets which are involved in the scheduled transmissions is displayed.



Up to now, in KivaNS have been implemented the following layers and modules of the TCP-IP network architecture:

Main Features III

Two kinds of the Ethernet link layer: A i lifi d i f th i i l

Layers and protocols

A simplified version of the original IEEE 802.3 with CSMA/CD access over a bus or a hub topology.Switched IEEE 802.3, with link layer bridging of frames.

IP (Internet Protocol):IP addressing and routing.IP fragmentation.


IP broadcast.Three kinds of networks devices, in addition to wires and network buses, can be configured and simulated:

Computers, routers and switches.

Properties of a router

Creating and Simulating in simple steps:Step 1: To draw a network scheme.Step 2: To validate the design and configuration of network to find important errors in the interfaces routing tables or connections

Using and Simulating

errors in the interfaces, routing tables or connections. Step 3: To schedule different data transmission between pairs of computers:

User can specify parameters such as the IP source and destination addresses, the size of the data and the option of fragmenting data.

Step 4: To start the simulation, and perform it step by step or fully




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Exercises about ARP, IP and ICMP protocols:Experiments over real network in the laboratory:

The students work from the laboratory at the UniversityThe teachers configure the network devices available the laboratory to create a

Practical Experiments

The teachers configure the network devices available the laboratory to create a real network implemented physically.Students use a open source network protocol analyzer called ‘Wireshark’ and other tools to generate and analyze traffic of packets in a real network. Different free software tools are used. Teachers assist students in the experiments.Students answer questionnaires about aspects of these protocols.

The same experiments using KivaNS:The students can work from home or another place.The students draw a scheme of a network and they configure the objects whichThe students draw a scheme of a network and they configure the objects which represent networks device so they create a virtual network implemented with KivaNS. Only KivaNs is needed.The students run KivaNS and simulate packets in different ways. Situations.The students answer the same questions that they did with real network

Teaching Computer Networks with KivaNS


Statistics studies about the use of KivaNS from interviews:Interviews have been made by 35 students of “Networks Courses” during the last year, although 43 did experimentation with KivaNS.In the interviews, students have given their opinion like users answering 15 questions.

Student Opinion I

, g p g qThe questions have covered several topics and aspects. The main conclusions of this questions are:

Problems: The 52% of students have not had any kind of problems with KivaNS, and only 30% has had some problem during the execution of the application.Interface: The 53% students think that the interface is very intuitive and it has easy handling, against 26% students who think that it is neither better nor worse than others.Handling: The 9% students think that is complicated, difficult or it requires of a

t i ff t t l t h d it F th th 13% t d t d t i th icertain effort to learn to hand it. Furthermore, the 13% students do not give their opinions in this aspect. Stability: The stability while software is running, is considered robust by 9%, very good by 26%, medium by 26% and bad or quite improvable by 21%. The 17% students do not give their opinion about this aspect.

The most positive Features valued: Free and open code by 61% of students.


Student opinion about how KivaNS help in the understanding of TCP-IP network architecture:

Opinion of the students of Computer Networks subjects in University of Alicante about the advantages that KivaNS offers to help in the

Student Opinion II

Alicante about the advantages that KivaNS offers to help in the understanding of ARP, IP and ICMP protocols.

D determines how of good KivaNS is todesign and to simulate configurations ofrouting IP

C measures the satisfaction level to use it tounderstand general concepts and aspects ofnetwork

B is the general valuation of the application


A is the aid that provides KivaNS to pass thesubject of “Networks”


Evaluation of different aspects of “Networks Courses” with the use of KivaNS:

Two types of experiments have been resolved with KivaNS and without KivaNS The experiments were about how work ARP and ICMP protocols

Evaluation with KivaNS I

KivaNS. The experiments were about how work ARP and ICMP protocols.The valuation of the learning has been done over 43 students of University of Alicante who have been chosen voluntary.The same experiments have been resolved without KivaNS for the same students. In this case, the experimentation has been made over a real network devices configured in a laboratory.

Evaluation of student’s learning using KivaNS and real Laboratory


Example of experiment and questions answered (I).

Evaluation with KivaNS II

Step 1: Draw network schemeStep 2: Configuration PCs


Step 3: Configuration Routers and validate

interconnection


Example of experiment and questions answered (II).

Evaluation with KivaNS III

Step 4: Simulate Example of packets and frames displayed

the simulation

Step 5: Example of questions to student

Example to configure the event which sends a

packet with 1000 bytes.


ARP-Proxy Exercise 1PC_A run the command ‘ping -n 1 10.1.1.130’. All the ARP-tables are empty.

ARP Exercise 2PC_B run the command ‘ping -n 1 10.1.1.2’. All the ARP-tables are empty.

Step 5: Example of questions to student


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The great majority of the students consider that KivaNS is good softwareto learn these protocols without experimenting in a real network.Our students emphasize the facility to and setup use it, like anadvantage in contrast to other applications of simulations that they know

Conclusions

advantage in contrast to other applications of simulations that they know.KivaNS, and specially their graphical user interface, can aid to studentsto prepare the learning of TCP/IP in home or in another place apart fromthe laboratory of our University.The simulation API is more appropriate to develop degree projects andfor post-degree courses.The application is free and open source software, and their capabilitiescan be expandedcan be expanded.In addition to the University of Alicante, KivaNS is being using in manyfaculties and institutes of Spain and South America, to teach networksubjects of for degree projects.

RESULTS

Demos

See Video 2 (Click here):See Video 1 (Click here):

See Video 3 (Click here): SIMULATION OF PACKETS TO

ANSWER EXERCISE1

See Video 2 (Click here): CONFIGURATION PROPERTIES

OF NETWORK DEVICES.

See Video 1 (Click here): CREATION A NETWORK

SCHEME

RESULTS


People who use Kivans

University of Alicante, Alicante (Spain)University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria (Spain).National University ‘Daniel Alcides Carrion’ (Perú).University of Cordoba, Cordoba (Spain)EAFIT University, Medellín (Colombia).Latin University of Costa Rica (Costa Rica).University of Computer Sciences (Cuba).Coordination of Development CGTI UdeG, Jalisco (Mexico)Others.

RESULTS

Practical Experiment with KivaNS: A virtual Laboratory for Simulating IP Routing in Computer Networks Subjects.

F.A. Candelas, P. Gil

AUROVAAutomatics, Robotics and Computer Vision Group

EndThanks for your attention

http://www.aurova.ua.es

practical experiment with kivans: a virtual laboratory for

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