Hybrid routing protocols to secure network layer for Mobile Ad hoc Networks

Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET) is an emerging area with practical applications. An Ad-Hoc network consists of a collection of wireless mobile nodes that are capable of communicating with each other without the use of a network infrastructure. However, routing security in MANETs appears to be a problem due to open medium, dynamic topology and constrained capability. The proposed work estimates the applicability of IPSec into Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET's) to provide security services for both routing information and data message at network layer. The simulation result shows that IPSec-LANMAR routing protocol outperforms IPSec-FSR and IPSec-OLSR routing protocols and the experiments are carried out using the simulator Qualnet version 4.5. IPSec-LANMAR would be a better choice for MANETs due to the enhanced security offered for both message and routing information. The performance of IPSec with different routing protocols LANMAR, OLSR and FSR for MANETs is compared based on different parameter metrics.