OPNET- stood for Optimized Network Engineering Tools.In the network research area, it is very costly to deploy a complete test bed containing multiple networked computers, routers and data links to validate and verify a certain network protocol or a specific network algorithm. The network simulators in these circumstances save a lot of money and time in accomplishing this task. Network simulators are also particularly useful in allowing the network designers to test new networking protocols or to change the existing protocols in a controlled and reproducible manner.
OPNET is the registered commercial trademark and the name of product presented by OPNET Technologies incorporation. It is one of the most famous and popular commercial network simulators by the end of 2008. Because of it has been used for a long time in the industry, it become mature and has occupied a big market share.
OPNET ' s software environment is called Modeler, which is specialized for network research and development. It can be flexibly used to study communication networks, devices, protocols, and applications. Because of the fact of being a commercial software provider, OPNET offers relatively much powerful visual or graphical support for the users. The graphical editor interface can be used to build network topology and entities from the application layer to the physical layer. Object-oriented programming technique is used to create the mapping from the graphical design to the implementation of the real systems. We can see all the topology configuration and simulation results can be presented very intuitively and visually. The parameters can also be adjusted and the experiments can be repeated easily through easy operation through the GUI.
OPNET inherently has three main functions: modeling, simulating, and analysis. For modeling, it provides intuitive graphical environment to create all kinds of models of protocols. For simulating, it uses 3 different advanced simulations technologies and can be used to address a wide range of studies. For analysis, the simulation results and data can be analyzed and displayed very easily. User friendly graphs, charts, statistics, and even animation can be generated b y OPNET for users ' convenience.
According to the OPNET whitepaper, OPNET ' s detailed features include:
1. Fast discrete event simulation engine
2. Lot of component library with source code
3. Object-oriented modeling
4. Hierarchical modeling environment
5. Scalable wireless simulations support
6. 32-bit and 64-bit graphical user interface
7. Customizable wireless modeling
8. Discrete Event, Hybrid, and Analytical simulation
9. 32-bit and 64-bit parallel simulation kernel
10. Grid computing support
11. Integrated, GUI-based debugging and analysis
12. Open interface for integrating external component libraries
OPNET is the registered commercial trademark and the name of product presented by OPNET Technologies incorporation. It is one of the most famous and popular commercial network simulators by the end of 2008. Because of it has been used for a long time in the industry, it become mature and has occupied a big market share.
OPNET ' s software environment is called Modeler, which is specialized for network research and development. It can be flexibly used to study communication networks, devices, protocols, and applications. Because of the fact of being a commercial software provider, OPNET offers relatively much powerful visual or graphical support for the users. The graphical editor interface can be used to build network topology and entities from the application layer to the physical layer. Object-oriented programming technique is used to create the mapping from the graphical design to the implementation of the real systems. We can see all the topology configuration and simulation results can be presented very intuitively and visually. The parameters can also be adjusted and the experiments can be repeated easily through easy operation through the GUI.
OPNET is based on a mechanism called discrete event system which means that the system behavior can simulate by modeling the events in the system in the order of the scenarios the user has set up. Hierarchical structure is used to organize the networks. As other network simulators, OPNET also provides programming tools for users to define the packet format of the protocol. The programming tools are also required to accomplish the tasks of defining the state transition machine, defining network model and the process module.
As of all, OPNET is a popular simulator used in industry for network research and development. The GUI interface and the programming tools are also useful to help the user to build the system they want.
MAIN FEATURES:
OPNET inherently has three main functions: modeling, simulating, and analysis. For modeling, it provides intuitive graphical environment to create all kinds of models of protocols. For simulating, it uses 3 different advanced simulations technologies and can be used to address a wide range of studies. For analysis, the simulation results and data can be analyzed and displayed very easily. User friendly graphs, charts, statistics, and even animation can be generated b y OPNET for users ' convenience.
According to the OPNET whitepaper, OPNET ' s detailed features include:
1. Fast discrete event simulation engine
2. Lot of component library with source code
3. Object-oriented modeling
4. Hierarchical modeling environment
5. Scalable wireless simulations support
6. 32-bit and 64-bit graphical user interface
7. Customizable wireless modeling
8. Discrete Event, Hybrid, and Analytical simulation
9. 32-bit and 64-bit parallel simulation kernel
10. Grid computing support
11. Integrated, GUI-based debugging and analysis
12. Open interface for integrating external component libraries
