ns-3 RELEASE NOTES
This file contains ns-3 release notes (most recent releases first).
All of the ns-3 documentation is accessible from the ns-3 website:
http://www.nsnam.org
including tutorials:
http://www.nsnam.org/tutorials.html
Release 3.2 (pending)
=====================
Availability
------------
This release is immediately available from:
http://www.nsnam.org/releases/ns-3.2.tar.bz2
Supported platforms
-------------------
ns-3.2 has been tested on the following platforms:
- linux x86 gcc 4.2, 4.1, and, 3.4.6.
- linux x86_64 gcc 4.3.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.1, 4.1.3, 3.4.6
- MacOS X ppc and x86
- cygwin gcc 3.4.4 (debug only)
Not all ns-3 options are available on all platforms; consult the
wiki for more information:
http://www.nsnam.org/wiki/index.php/Installation
New user-visible features
-------------------------
a) Learning bridge (IEEE 802.1D)
It is now possible to bridge together multiple layer 2 devices to
create larger layer 2 networks. The Wifi and Csma models support
this new mode of operation. (contributed by Gustavo Carneiro)
b) Python bindings
It is now possible to write simulation scripts in python using our
python bindings (contributed by Gustavo Carneiro).
c) Real-time simulator
It is now possible to run simulations synchronized on the real-world
wall-clock time (contributed by Craig Dowell).
d) Network Simulation Craddle
It is now possible to use the Network Simulation Craddle
(http://www.wand.net.nz/~stj2/nsc/) in ns-3 and run simulations
using various versions of kernel TCP network stacks. (contributed
by Florian Westphal as part of his Google Summer of Code work)
e) A statistics framework
Joseph Kopena contributed a statistics framework which can be used
keep track of simulation data in persistent storage across multiple
runs (database and ascii file backends are available).
More information on the wiki:
http://www.nsnam.org/wiki/index.php/Statistical_Framework_for_Network_Simulation
API changes from ns-3.1
-----------------------
API changes for this release are documented in the file CHANGES.html
Known issues
------------
ns-3 build is known to fail on the following platforms:
- gcc 3.3 and earlier
- optimized builds on gcc 3.4.4 and 3.4.5
- optimized builds on linux x86 gcc 4.0.x
The IPv4 API defined in src/node/ipv4.h is expected to undergo major changes
in preparation of the merge of the IPv6 API and implementation.
Future releases
---------------
Our next release, which is expected to happen in 2 to 4 months from now, will
feature the merging of some of our projects currently in development: IPv6,
emulation, and synchronous posix sockets.
Release 3.1 (2008/06/30)
========================
The first ns-3 stable release
-----------------------------
This release is immediately available from:
http://www.nsnam.org/releases/ns-3.1.tar.bz2
We dedicate this initial ns-3 release to our late contributor and friend,
Federico Maguolo.
What is ns-3 ?
--------------
ns-3 is a new discrete-event network simulator designed for supporting network
research and education. ns-3 features a solid, well documented C++ core and
models for TCP/IP (IPv4), several link types including WiFi, and mobility
models.
ns-3 is an open source project released under the GNU GPLv2 license which
allows anyone to use ns-3 without having to pay any license fee or royalties.
ns-3 is actively seeking new contributors to extend the range of supported
models and/or to maintain existing models.
Where to get more information about ns-3
----------------------------------------
All the ns-3 documentation, is accessible from the ns-3 website:
http://www.nsnam.org
Including, tutorials:
http://www.nsnam.org/tutorials.html
Supported platforms
-------------------
ns-3 is regularly tested on the following platforms:
- linux x86 gcc 4.2, 4.1, and, 3.4.6.
- linux x86_64 gcc 4.1.3, 4.2.1, 3.4.6
- MacOS X ppc and x86
- cygwin gcc 3.4.4 (debug only)
Known issues
------------
ns-3 is known to fail on the following platforms:
- gcc 3.3 and earlier
- optimized builds on gcc 3.4.4 and 3.4.5
- optimized builds on linux x86 gcc 4.0.x
The IPv4 API defined in src/node/ipv4.h is expected to undergo major changes
in preparation of the merge of the IPv6 API and implementation.
Future releases
---------------
Our next release, which is expected to happen in 2 to 4 months from now, will
feature the merging of some of our projects currently in development: python
scripting, IPv6, emulation, a statistics framework and synchronous posix
sockets.
Release 3.0.13 (2008/06/02)
===========================
- point to point links generate ppp pcap traces
- point to point links support asymmetrical data rates.
- generate doxygen documentation for all attributes and trace sources
- add ConfigStore and GtkConfigStore to contrib module
- socket API now support tx and rx buffers: implemented for UDP and TCP
- ARP cache now supports per-entry pending queues
- lots of bugfixes and implementation and API cleanups
Warning: among API changes in this release, Application::Start and
Application::Stop now interprets the time argument as a relative
instead of absolute simulation time, to align with how Simulator::Schedule
behaves. Any code that calls these APIs in the middle of the simulation
will need to be adapted.
The API of Simulator::StopAt (time) has also changed. Now it is
called Simulator::Stop (time), and takes a relative time, instead of
absolute.
Release 3.0.12 (2008/04/07)
===========================
- Add Attribute support to the TypeId metadata system and add
attribute support to all in-tree models
- Add a mid-level helper API to build simulation topologies
and perform simple ascii and pcap link-level tracing.
- Large amount of structural changes to accomodate the needs
of the upcoming python bindings
- new rate control algorithm (RRAA) and a jakes propagation model
in the 802.11 model (Federico Maguolo).
- regression test framework added
- TCP delayed acknowledgements and multitasking server
Release 3.0.11 (2008/02/15)
===========================
- Initial port of GTNetS TCP implementation (initial version
that does not support multitasking or delayed acknowledgments yet,
but supports a reliable stream service)
- Changes to the ns-3 object model to create a TypeId-based
metadata system
- lots of bug fixes throughout the system
- tutorial updates
Release 3.0.10 (2008/01/15)
===========================
- Add tutorial document content;
- Valgrind option for "waf" tool;
- Doxygen organization changes.
Release 3.0.9 (2007/12/15)
==========================
- A 802.11 model ported from Yans. This model supports:
* a rather extensive PHY model
* log-distance and friis propagation model
* a simple set of rate control algorithms (ARF, Ideal,
AARF, constant-rate)
* adhoc and infrastructure mode (beacon+assoc)
- Use smart pointer for Packet in the APIs
- A new contrib directory with helper classes:
EventGarbageCollector, Gnuplot
- Tracing support for Applications
- many bugs fixed
Release 3.0.8 (2007/11/15)
==========================
- A simple error model
- Source files for ns-3 tutorial
Release 3.0.7 (2007/10/15)
==========================
- OLSR routing protocol
- A timer class
- Additional mobility models (random waypoint, random 2D walk)
- A mobility visualization tool
Release 3.0.6 (2007/09/15)
==========================
- Static multicast IPv4 routing
- Logging overhaul (NS_LOG macros)
- Refactoring of tracing subsystem
- Tutorial document started
Release 3.0.5 (2007/08/15)
==========================
- Refactoring to support win32-based unix environments (Cygwin, mingw)
- "Packet socket" for allowing applications to access NetDevices directly
- Generalized, polymorphic Address class
- Add CSMA NetDevice model (from Emmanuelle Laprise)
- Modularize IPv4 routing support (from Gustavo Carneiro)
- Add mobility framework and basic mobility models
- Global unicast centralized routing
Release 3.0.4 (2007/07/15)
==========================
- Enable waf as the default build system.
- Per-packet metadata: a system to track which headers and trailers
are added to a packet
- Simplifications to point-to-point devices and channel
Release 3.0.3 (2007/06/15)
==========================
- Enable Waf for release tarballs: users can now build ns-3
with the "waf" tool. See doc/build-waf.txt.
- Add support for variable time precision: it is now possible
to run a simulation with an accuracy which is higher or lower
than a nanosecond: seconds, milliseconds, microseconds,
femtoseconds and picoseconds are supported.
- Optimize and rework the COM framework, solidify the component
manager
- Many small API cleanups
Release 3.0.2 (2007/05/18)
==========================
- Implement a new memory management infrastructure based
on reference counting and smart pointers (the latter being
optional)
- Implement a COM-like framework with support for QueryInterface
to provide object extensibility
- Add support for a BSD-style socket API for user applications
Release 3.0.1 (2007/03/31)
==========================
- First public release; not yet pre-alpha.
- Simple UDP-based simulation script (examples/simple-p2p.cc)