Performance Analysis of AODV and DSR Routing Protocols in Hybrid Network Scenario

A mobile ad hoc network is a wireless network without any fixed infrastructure or centralized control. Due to the infrastructure-less mode of operation, mobile ad-hoc networks are gaining popularity. In order to cover a wider area with less fixed infrastructure, sometimes the ad hoc network may be combined with a wired one to form a hybrid network. In such a combined network, in order to transfer data, we need base stations which act as gateways between the wired and wireless domains. Due to the combined nature of the hybrid networks, routing in such a network is considered a challenging task. Several routing protocols have been proposed and tested under various traffic loads. However, the simulations of such routing protocols usually do not consider the hybrid network scenario. In this work we have carried out a systematic performance study of the two prominent routing protocols: Ad hoc On Demand Distance Vector Routing (AODV) and Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocols in the hybrid networking environment. We have used a detailed simulation model based on NS2 for this purpose. The performance differentials are analyzed using various metrics - packet delivery fraction, average end-to-end delay and normalized routing load under varying pause time with different number of sources.