Factors affecting the performance of ad hoc networks

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are an emerging class of network architectures that are characterized by their highly dynamic topology, limited resources (i.e., bandwidth and power), and lack of fixed infrastructure. The primary motivation for such networks is increased flexibility and mobility. Random node mobility along with various other factors such as network size and traffic intensity may be very dynamic, resulting in unpredictable variations in the overall network performance. This study centers on investigating and quantifying the effects of various factors and their two-way interactions on the overall performance of ad hoc networks. This study contributes to the modeling and development of adaptive ad hoc protocols (routing, medium access control, scheduling and buffer management). Using 2^kr factorial experimental design, we isolate and quantify the effects of five factors: node speed, pause-time, network size, number of traffic sources, and type of routing (source versus distributed), that affect the performance of ad hoc networks. Specifically, this paper evaluates the impact of these factors on the following performance metrics: throughput, average routing overhead, and power consumption. Our study was conducted using a library-based simulator for sequential and parallel simulation of wireless networks.