QualNet Network Simulator

Make Networks Work

Network modeling software for: Development Analysis A typical scenario is
QualNet enables the evaluation of on-the-move communication networks faster comprised of:
and with more realism than any other tool. It uses a network digital twin to • Nodes representing network
digitally represent the entire network, the various protocol layers, radios, elements and endpoints
antennas, and devices. QualNet employs state of the art Parallel Discrete Event (routers, switches, radios,
Simulation (PDES) algorithms designed to leverage multi-core and parallel sensors, PCs, servers,
processors to dramatically increase the event processing rate and hence satellites, ground stations,
simulation execution speeds to run high-fidelity simulations of large networks at mobile phones, access
faster than real-time speeds. points, etc.) and the
protocols running on them
• The QualNet network simulation platform (QualNet) is used by planners,
analysts, IT technicians, and communication specialists to evaluate the • Links that connect the
performance of communication networks under different operational nodes (buses, LAN
conditions and to identify and mitigate identified operational issues. The segments, radio
analysis proceeds by first creating a simulation model, or scenario, transmissions, Wi-Fi signals,
representing the network and its operating environment, executing the LTE connections, etc.)
scenario and analyzing the results.
• Environment in which the
Features of QualNet network operates (indoors,
rural, or urban environment,
The major features of QualNet include the following: weather, etc.)

• QualNet can model a variety of heterogeneous networks (wired, wireless, • Mobility patterns, if any, of
under-water, satellite, etc.) with thousands of nodes exchanging different the communication devices
types of traffic. These scenarios can run at faster than real-time speed,
making it possible to quickly perform “what-if” analysis of the network’s • Applications and other
performance under different operating conditions. sources of traffic operating
• QualNet supports a large number of high-fidelity models for network devices, on the network
protocols from all layers of the protocol stack, applications, terrains,
propagation models, and mobility models. The model library includes models
for wireless technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi and WiMax); cellular networks (e.g.,

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 GSM, UMTS, LTE, and 5G); military waveforms (e.g., Link-11, Link-16); satellite
communications; underwater communications; devices such as routers, switches, and access
points; indoor, rural, and urban terrain; and many real-world applications. Thus, real-world
commercial and tactical networks operating in multiple domains can be modeled and
analyzed in QualNet at a high level of fidelity.
• QualNet’s Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) interface supports dynamic interactions to modify the
operations of a running scenario. For example, users can activate/deactivate nodes and
modify the traffic rate of certain applications via the HITL interface.
• The QualNet VR-Link interface allows QualNet to network with other constructive simulators,
virtual reality applications, and Computer-Generated Force (CGF) tools, such as OTB and
OneSAF, using High Level Architecture (HLA) or Distributed Interaction Simulation (DIS).
• The QualNet GUI can be used to visualize different types of packet flows as the scenario is
running to provide an operational view of the network. Dynamic statistics can also be
displayed while a scenario is running.
• Orientation change extension FFC for Standard SIM
• QualNet’s Analyzer can be used to plot hundreds of metrics post simulation. QualNet also
provides for the generation of detailed time-stamped tables in an SQL database, from which
queries and reports such as connectivity among nodes, throughput, latency, path loss, packet
drop, etc., can be produced. Third-party tools, such as Tableau, can also be used to create
reports from the statistics database.
• QualNet’s heatmap feature can be used to refine a network layout based on the signal
coverage of wireless transmitters in the scenario, which can be displayed graphically.
• The QualNet framework is highly flexible and extensible: models for new protocols, devices,
and applications can be easily developed and incorporated in simulation scenarios. High-
fidelity models can also be developed by incorporating actual code from protocol
implementation.

QualNet Platform Architecture

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Creating QualNet Scenarios
To study the performance of and analyze real-world networks, it is critical that the network be accurately
represented in the simulation. QualNet provides an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface to create network
scenarios using pre-configured models of devices, link-types, and applications. The scenario can be
further refined by setting specific parameter values in easy-to-use property editors. QualNet also
provides domain-specific "palettes" of pre-configured network components with advanced
functionalities, such as subnets, commonly used devices, etc. This provides a convenient way of
creating simulation models of networks that are in the planning stage.

For analyzing existing networks, QualNet provides several utilities to easily replicate "as is" networks
and application traffic in QualNet. Thus, planners and analysts can have a high degree of confidence
that the results obtained by simulating the model are applicable to the real network as well. These
utilities include:

• Topology Converter: This tool imports a network topology specified in a Visio format and
creates a simulation model of the network based on the topology.
• Packet Capture (PCAP) Traffic Mapper: This utility converts traffic captured from a real
network, with a tool such as Wireshark, into equivalent simulated application traffic that can
be used in a QualNet simulation to analyze network performance.
• NetFlow Importer: This tool also creates simulation models of real network traffic, but
instead of using information from captured packets, it uses traffic flow statistics advertised in
NetFlow packets.

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 • Router Configuration Importer: This tool
imports the actual configuration files used to
configure physical routers from popular vendors,
such as Cisco, and uses them to directly
configure the corresponding routers in the
simulation models.

Components of QualNet
The major components of QualNet are:

• Simulator: At the heart of QualNet is a

simulator, which uses state-of-the-art techniques
to run simulations of large networks at a fast
speed without compromising accuracy. QualNet
is based on a highly specialized kernel and
efficient memory management techniques that Design Modee
result in very high simulation speeds.
Furthermore, QualNet exploits the computing
power available on multi-processor platforms by
employing efficient PDES techniques and smart
partitioning, i.e., dividing the workload optimally
among the processors.
• QualNet GUI: The QualNet GUI provides an
easy-to-use platform to create, visualize, and
analyze network scenarios.
o Design Mode: This mode is used to create
virtual network models via an intuitive point-
and-click drag-and-drop graphical interface.
Virtual network models can include
communication devices, wired and wireless
links, mobility patterns of wireless users,
physical characteristics such as terrain and
buildings, protocols at all layers of the stack, Visualize Modee
etc. Different types of applications and
services that run on the network can be
applied.
o Visualize Mode: This mode is used to
observe and analyze network behavior as the
simulation is running. Users can watch
packets at various layers flow through the
network and view dynamic graphs of real-
time statistics.
o Analyzer: After the simulation completes,
Analyzer is used to plot and analyze a large
number of statistics collected during the
simulation.

• Statistics Database: In addition to a statistics

file, QualNet provides a high-performance
database interface that allows time-series and
statistical data to be stored in a database during Analyzer

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 the simulation run. Statistics can be collected at different levels of granularity: from summary
statistics at the system level to detailed statistics at the event level. The statistics database
can be used to perform after-experiment review and generate reports.
• External Interfaces: QualNet has the capability to federate seamlessly with other simulators,
such as kinetic battlefield simulators, via High Level Architecture (HLA), Distributed
Interaction Simulation (DIS), AGI’s System Tool Kit (STK), and Socket interfaces.
• Model Libraries: QualNet includes an extensive set of high-fidelity models of communication
devices, wired and wireless links, communication protocols, environmental factors such as
terrain and buildings, and real-world applications. These models are divided into a number of
standard and optional libraries.
o Standard libraries
- Developer
- Multimedia and enterprise
- Wireless
o Optional libraries
- Advanced wireless
- Cellular
- Federation interfaces
- LTE
- Military Radios [ITAR]
- Sensor networks
- TIREM propagation interface (requires third party software)
- Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS)
- Underwater communication networks
- Urban propagation

System Requirements
CPU
• 64-bit (x86-64 compatible) processor

Memory
• 512 MB free for LAN-size simulations without GUI
• 2 GB free for LAN-size simulations with GUI
• 2-4 GB for large networks (1000+ nodes)

Disk
1 GB free disk space

Video Card
Discrete graphics card with at least 128 MB memory supporting hardware 3D acceleration

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 Display
1024 x 768 or better resolution

Operating System
• Windows
o Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro (64-bits only)
• Linux (64-bits only):
o CentOS version 7.6
o Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) version 7.6
o Ubuntu versions 16.04 LTS and 18.04 LTS

Compiler (needed only if you want to modify the code)

• Windows
o Microsoft Visual Studio 2017
o Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2017 for Windows Desktop
• Linux

Distribution glibc Version gcc Version

CentOS 7.6 2.17 4.8

RHEL 7.6 2.17 4.8

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS 2.23 5

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 2.27 7

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This information is subject to change without notice. © Keysight Technologies, 2022, Published in USA, April 13, 2022, 3122-1395.EN