Facilitating experimental networking research with the FINS framework

  • Authors:

  • Abdallah S. Abdallah;Mark D. Horvath;Michael S. Thompson;Allen B. MacKenzie;Luiz A. DaSilva

  • Affiliations:

  • Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA;Bucknell University, LEWISBURG, PA, USA;Bucknell University, LEWISBURG, PA, USA;Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA;Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

  • Venue:
  • WiNTECH '11 Proceedings of the 6th ACM international workshop on Wireless network testbeds, experimental evaluation and characterization
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

In mid-stack wireless networking research, simulation is often the final step of many research projects. Implementing and testing ideas on experimental networks can be difficult and expensive. The logistics and cost of buying, administering, and maintaining equipment cannot be ignored. Additionally, most mid-stack research must be implemented in an operating system kernel, usually the Linux kernel, a task that few are ready to attempt. The goal of the Flexible Internetwork Stack (FINS) Framework is to facilitate experimental research by removing the kernel development and by creating a solution that runs on small form-factor devices. The framework works by shifting most of the network stack functionality into userspace and moving network data to and from the kernel as needed. This means that all protocol development happens in userspace and the OS kernel is rebuilt only once. Implementations of standard protocols, developed by us, are included to ensure a "turn key" experience and simple start to using the framework.