DMSRP-module: An NS-3 module for hierarchical multi-sink routing in mobile wireless networks

Abstract

DMSRP-Module is a software module developed for the NS-3 network simulator that implements the Dynamic Multi-Sink Routing Protocol (DMSRP), a hierarchical, auto-clustering, and multi-hop routing protocol for distributed mobile wireless networks. It targets dynamic and heterogeneous scenarios such as mobile ad hoc networks, vehicular ad hoc systems, wireless sensor networks, and large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. The module supports multi-parent routing, adaptive clustering around sink nodes, and coordinated inter-cluster communication through sink and server entities to maintain routing stability and optimize data dissemination efficiency. Its modular and extensible architecture allows researchers to configure, extend, and evaluate hierarchical routing strategies under realistic simulation conditions. The module integrates customizable parameters for mobility models, node density, and energy constraints, enabling comprehensive performance analysis. Designed in accordance with NS-3’s object-oriented framework, DMSRP-Module ensures compatibility with existing protocol stacks, link-layer models, and traffic generators. By seamlessly integrating into the NS-3 simulation environment, it facilitates reproducible experimentation, comparative benchmarking, and efficient development of routing protocols.