Architecture, design and source code comparison of ns-2 and ns-3 network simulators

Abstract

Ns-2 and its successor ns-3 are discrete-event simulators. Ns-3 is still under development, but offers some interesting characteristics for developers while ns-2 still has a big user base. This paper remarks current differences between both tools from developers point of view. Leaving performance and resources consumption aside, technical issues described in the present paper might help to choose one or another alternative depending of simulation and project management requirements.