Network emulation in the SAM simulator

Emulation capability in network simulation allows exposing experimental algorithms and protocols to live traffic load and to introduce real packet processing times. This paper describes the design and implementation of the emulation facility in the simple ad hoc simulator (SAM). The emulation architecture works in the user space allowing implementing and testing routing protocols for ad hoc networks. With respect to SAM, the emulator gives the possibility to test the routing protocols with a real exchange of signaling and data packets between the hosts present in the network. With respect to a wireless live test, the emulator works on hosts connected each other via wired links and the wireless channel is simulated.