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Installing NS2 on Linux / WSL2

Posted on Feb 22, 2024

Installing NS2 on Linux / WSL2

Network Simulator 2 (NS2) is a popular tool used for simulating network protocols and scenarios. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of installing NS2 on Ubuntu Linux or Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2), along with necessary dependencies and configurations.

Installing NS2 Dependencies

Before installing NS2, we need to ensure that all necessary dependencies are met.

Install nam

First, let’s install nam, the Network Animator tool:

  • Download the suitable nam installer from this link. After downloading, run the following command::
sudo dpkg -i FILE_NAME

Replace FILE_NAME with the actual name of the downloaded nam installer.

  • For example: If you have downloaded nam_1.15-10-ubuntu14_amd64.deb, then the command will be:
sudo dpkg -i nam_1.15-10-ubuntu14_amd64.deb

Navigate to the directory where the installer is located before executing the above command.

Install ns2-allinone-2.35

Install g++-4.8

sudo apt-get install g++-4.8

If you encounter issues installing g++-4.8, you may need to add an older repository and then install it manually:

echo "deb [trusted=yes] http://th.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic main universe" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install g++-4.8
  • If there are errors, try:
sudo apt --fix-broken install

and then proceed

Install Additional Dependencies

You might encounter errors related to missing dependencies. Install them using:

sudo apt install libx11-dev xorg-dev

Install NS2

Download the NS2 installer and unzip it:

tar xvf ns-allinone-2.35_gcc5.tar.gz
cd ns-allinone-2.35/
export CC=gcc-4.8 CXX=g++-4.8 && ./install
cd ns-2.35/
sudo make install

After successful installation, you should be able to execute ns in the terminal.

Optional: Install Build Tools

If you’re using Ubuntu, it’s recommended to install essential build tools( if make files are missing ):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential

Post-Installation Configuration

Cleanup (Optional)

To remove the older repository link from your system:

sudo sed -i '$ d' /etc/apt/sources.list

Setting up GUI Support in WSL2 (Optional)

If you’re using WSL2 and need GUI support, follow these steps:

GWSL Setup

  1. Download GWSL from this link from their official github repository.
  2. Install GWSL and run it.
  3. Allow GWSL through the Windows Firewall.
  4. Enable Display / Audio Auto Exporting.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed NS2 on your Linux system or WSL2. With NS2, you can simulate various network scenarios and protocols for research or educational purposes. If you encounter any issues during the installation process, feel free to ask for further assistance.

Keep coding and stay creative! 🚀

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