Performance analysis of a parallel and distributed simulation framework for large scale wireless systems

ABSTRACT

The simulation of ad hoc and sensor networks often requires a large amount of computation, memory and time to obtain significant results. The parallel and distributed simulation approach can be a valuable solution to reduce the computation time, and to support model components' modularity and reuse. In this work we perform a testbed evaluation of a new middleware for the simulation of large scale wireless systems. The proposed middleware has been designed to adapt and to scale over a heterogeneous distributed execution infrastructure. To realize a testbed evaluation of the considered framework we implemented and investigated a set of wireless systems' models. Specifically, we identified two classes of widely investigated wireless models: mobile ad hoc, and static sensor networks. In this work we present the performances of the simulation framework, with respect to the heterogeneous set of execution architectures, and the modeled systems' characteristics. Results demonstrate that the framework leads to increased model scalability and speed-up, by transparently adapting and managing at runtime the communication and synchronization overheads, and the load balancing.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.8 Types of Simulation
          Subjects: Discrete event

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.8 Types of Simulation
          Subjects: Distributed; Parallel

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Performance

Keywords:
middleware design, overheads reduction, parallel and distributed simulation, scalability, wireless systems