OS Packet Processing Mechanism Simulation Architecture for Enabling Digital Twins of Networks in ns-3

Digital Twin technology is a valuable approach for modeling and simulating complex network systems. It is used to comprehensive analysis of network performance, protocols and configurations. The ns-3 simulator has the capability to simulate real-world network environments, supporting the implementation of Network Digital Twins. However, the current ns-3 simulator pays more attention to simulating network protocol algorithm, while ignoring the network packet processing in device node. It can not simulate packet processing based on OS. In this paper we propose a new architecture based on ns-3 for simulating OS packet processing mechanism, called NS3 - Modular Packet Processing Simulation Architecture (NS3-MPPSA). In NS3-MPPSA, various hardware resources involved in packet processing are modeled. Packet processing mechanisms can be implemented by selecting and combining processing units flexibly. The obtained results indicate that NS3-MPPSA enhances the capabilities of ns-3, enabling accurate and realistic simulation of packet processing. Thus, it provides better support for the implementation of Network Digital Twins.