1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

Modifying WLAN MAC Back-off Algorithm

Objective
Change the standard WLAN MAC back-off algorithm to study its effect on WLAN throughput. Modify the default exponential back-off algorithm ( ig. A! "mplement a slo# gro#th back-off algorithm ( ig. $!

%irst trial &'- irst retransmission (&- )econd retransmission *(- +hird retransmission

%irst trial %irst retransmission &'- )econd retransmission &'- +hird retransmission

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ * o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

Methodology
Manipulate the si,e of the congestion #indo# used in the back-off algorithm -un simulations #ith default and modified back-off algorithms Compare the results of the simulation runs o )tatistics expected to be affected WLAN +hroughput WLAN .ropped /ackets +/ 0pload and .o#nload -esponse +imes

Note1 "f you prefer to 2ust follo# along3 you can use the reference models (pro2ect1 &'456WLAN6"nternals6And6"nterfaces6ref!.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ ! o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

Instr ctions
Network Model and Traffic Pattern

&. Application Configuration a. +/ +raffic1 '78 9:+3 '78 /0+ i. ile of si,e '777 bytes (;73777 bits! e<ery & sec.

b. +otal application traffic in the net#ork1 i. (;7777 bits = & sec! > &' stations ? 7.* Mbps. ii. )ufficient to saturate a #ireless LAN operating at & Mbps and therefore to cause retransmissions.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ - o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

Examine the Initial Scenario with the Original Back-off Algorithm &. )tart Modeler unless it is already running. 4. @pen the pro2ect 1529_WLAN_Internals_and_Interfaces. (. +he scenario exponential_backoff should appear. ;. +his scenario has been already simulated and the results sa<ed. a. Click on to <ie# the sa<ed results.

b. We #ill discuss these results later. c. Click on again to hide the panels after inspection.

Modify the MAC Model y Changing the Back-off Algorithm &. @pen the process model #lan6mac6&'45. a. Choose File / Open / Process odel and select !lan_"ac_1529. 4. Add a ne# state <ariable to be used as a flag for doubling the si,e of the Contention Windo# (CW!. a. :dit state <ariables by clicking on i. +ype1 ii. Name1 iii. Comments1 $oolean double6c#6max => lag to double CW si,e. >= .

b. )croll to the end of the table and add the <ariable.

c. Click on O# to close the state <ariables dialog box. (. Modify $A@ 6N::.:. state to implement our slo#-gro#th approach. 6N::.:. state. a. :dit (double-click! enter execs of $A@

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ # o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

b. "nitiali,e our ne# <ariable at the beginning of a ne# transmission procedure (short_retry_count + long_retry_count == 0!3 because the back-off algorithm restarts again for each ne# packet. i. )croll to line 4% #here the comment says

ii. Add three lines starting at line 45 as follo#s1

c. 0se the flag to decide on increasing the CW si,e at each retransmissions i. "f the flag is on3 increase the CW si,e and reset the flag ii. "f the flag is off3 set the flag to on so that #e increase the CW si,e during the next retransmission.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ . o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

i. )croll to line (% #here the comment says

ii. Add the ne# code starting at line (5 as follo#s1

d. )a<e your changes in the $A@

6N::.:. state

i. Choose File / $a%e.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ / o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

;. )a<e your changes to the WLAN MAC process model a. Choose File / $a%e. '. Compile the modified process model by clicking on *. Close the process model. !"n a new #im"lation with the modified ack-off algorithm &. "n the /ro2ect :ditor3 s#itch to scenario slo!_&ro!t'_backoff. a. Choose $cenarios / $!itc' (o $cenario. 4. +his scenario uses our modified MAC model. +o <erify this1 a. .ouble-click on one of the #orkstations. b. .ouble-click on the !ireless_lan_"ac module. c. .ouble-click on the enter execs of the )#OFF_N**+*+ state. d. Berify your changes. e. Close all #indo#s except the /ro2ect :ditor. (. -un the simulation by first clicking on and then on the ,-n button. .

Com$aring the re#"lt# of the #im"lation r"n# ;. Click on to make the panel templates appear.

+he templates are designed to compare the results of both scenarios.

'. Load the templates #ith the latest data. a. Choose +*$ / Panel Operations / Panel (e"plates / Load Wit' Latest ,es-lts.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ 0 o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

*. Application layer delays increase faster #ith modified back-off algorithm.

%. /acket drops start around *7 seconds #ith modified back-off algorithm and increase #ith a higher rate.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ 1 o+ ,

1529 Understanding WLAN Model Internals, Interfaces, and Performance

C. Maximum achie<able global WLAN throughput drops by approximately (7 Abps #ith modified back-off algorithm.

Concl sions
Customi,ing the back-off algorithm lo#ered the efficiency of the MAC protocol3 causing higher delays and lo#er global layer-4 throughput. or the net#ork used in this lab3 the slo#-gro#th approach does not look like a good choice compared to the original algorithm.

!ake-A"ay #oint
@/N:+Ds WLAN models adhere to ":::Ds C74.&& standard3 but the standard implementation can be easily modified to customi,e the WLAN beha<ior.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: DO NOT DISCLOSE, FORWARD, DISTRIBUTE, SHARE, OR MAKE COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART. Copyrigh !""# OPNET T$%h&o'ogi$(, I&%.

P)g$ , o+ ,