NetAnim

NetAnim is a graphical visualization tool designed to accompany the ns-3 network simulator. It reads animation trace files generated by ns-3’s AnimationInterface and renders a visual replay of the simulated network, including node placement, links, and packet events. The program helps researchers and students analyze network behavior by providing a time-based representation of transmissions, receptions, and routing actions.

NetAnim presents the network topology as a set of nodes connected by links, with optional movement when mobility models are used. Packets can be visualized as moving objects that traverse links, with colors or styles indicating different packet types or statuses. The user interface supports common controls such as play, pause, step, and time scaling, along with zooming and panning to explore the topology from different perspectives. NetAnim typically runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS and is built with the Qt toolkit.

Usage involves instrumenting an ns-3 script to generate an AnimationInterface trace file, usually an XML file, during the simulation. After the run completes, NetAnim loads the XML file to display the animation. Some workflows also provide a separate topology file to define node positions, though NetAnim can render embedded positions from the trace.

Development and availability: NetAnim is an open-source project associated with the ns-3 project and is maintained by the ns-3 community. It remains a widely used tool for visual validation of ns-3 simulations, with compatibility dependent on the versions of ns-3 and supporting libraries.