QualNet Network Simulator Software

The QualNet® communications simulation platform (QualNet) is a planning, testing and training tool that “mimics” the behavior of a real communications network. Simulation is a cost-effective method for developing, deploying and managing network-centric systems throughout their entire lifecycle. Users can evaluate the basic behavior of a network, and test combinations of network features that are likely to work. Our network simulator software tool provides a comprehensive environment for for designing protocols, creating and animating network scenarios, and analyzing their performance.

  • QualNet Packet Tracer — A graphical tool that provides a visual representation of packet trace files generated during the simulation of a network scenario. Trace files are text files in XML format that contain information about packets as they move up and down the protocol stack.
  • QualNet File Editor — A text editing tool
  • QualNet Command Line Interface — Command line access to the simulator

QualNet is composed of the following components:

  • QualNet Architect– A graphical scenario design and visualization tool. In Design mode, you can set up terrain, network connections, subnets, mobility patterns of wireless users, and other functional parameters of network nodes. You can create network models by using intuitive, click and drag operations. You can also customize the protocol stack of any of the nodes. You can also specify the application layer traffic and services that run on the network. In Visualize mode, you can perform in-depth visualization and analysis of a network scenario designed in Design mode. As simulations are running, users can watch packets at various layers flow through the network and view dynamic graphs of critical performance metrics. Real-time statistics are also an option, where you can view dynamic graphs while a network scenario simulation is running.
  • QualNet Analyzer — A statistical graphing tool that displays hundreds of metrics collected during simulation of a network scenario. You can choose to see pre-designed reports or customize graphs with their own statistics. Multi-experiment reports are also available. All statistics are exportable to spreadsheets in CSV format.

 

AGI – Dynamic geometry environment

  • Accurate world models
  • Superior object mobility
  • Advanced antenna characteristics
  • High fidelity path-loss calculations

SCALABLE – OSI network layer modeling

  • Extensible network layer protocols
  • Discrete event simulation of the network stack
  • Environment bandwidth and saturation

 

This video highlights the co-simulation capabilities of QualNet and STK which allow for better performance in operational environments by establishing highly realistic mission scenarios. The integration allows the user to tailor design and operations of the communication systems to meet the specific needs of each mission while improving the levels fidelity in the analysis of mobile communications. This helps clarify the network performance effects on the mission and enables the user to make proper modifications resulting in increased confidence and comprehensive field test planning and analysis.

 

QualNet enables users to:

  • Design new protocol models
  • Optimize new and existing models
  • Design large wired and wireless networks using pre-configured or user-designed models
  • Analyze the performance of networks and perform what-if analysis to optimize them
  • The key features of QualNet that enable creating a virtual network environment are:

Speed

QualNet can support real-time speed to enable software-in-the-loop, network emulation, and human-in-the-loop modeling. Faster speed enables model developers and network designers to run multiple “what-if” analyses by varying model, network, and traffic parameters in a short time.

Scalability

QualNet can model thousands of nodes by taking advantage of the latest hardware and parallel computing techniques. QualNet can run on cluster, multi-core, and multi-processor systems to model large networks with high fidelity.

Model Fidelity

QualNet uses highly detailed standards-based implementation of protocol models. It also includes advanced models for the wireless environment to enable more accurate modeling of real-world networks.

Portability

QualNet and its library of models run on a vast array of platforms, including Windows and Linux operating systems, distributed and cluster parallel architectures, and both 32- and 64-bit computing platforms. Users can now develop a protocol model or design a network in QualNet on their desktop or laptop Windows computer and then transfer it to a powerful multi-processor Linux server to run capacity, performance, and scalability analyses.

Extensibility

QualNet can connect to other hardware and software applications, such as OTB, real networks, and third party visualization software, to greatly enhance the value of the network model.

Scenario-Based Communications Simulation

In QualNet, a specific network topology is referred to as a scenario. A scenario allows the user to specify all the network components and conditions under which the network will operate. This includes: terrain details, channel propagation effects including path loss, fading, and shadowing, wired and wireless subnets, network devices such as switches, hubs and routers, the entire protocol stack of a variety of standard or user-configured network components, and applications running on the network. Most of these are optional; you can start with a basic network scenario and specify as much detail as necessary to improve the accuracy of your network model.