The Tool Desk
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This guide covers what ns-3 is, who it is for, how to get started, and which official resources to use. The project’s download page lists ns-3.47, released February 16, 2026, and ns-allinone-3.47, released March 15, 2026; check the official download page for current release information.
What is ns-3?
ns-3 is a discrete-event simulator: instead of advancing a model continuously in real time, it processes scheduled events—such as a packet being sent, received, or dropped—to represent how a network scenario unfolds. It is used to study Internet systems in a controlled software environment. The project is community-maintained and distributed as free, open-source software under GPLv2. See the ns-3 project homepage for the project’s description and license information.
A simulation is defined by its scenario program and the models it uses. The results describe that modeled scenario; they are not, by themselves, proof of how a deployed network or every real-world device will behave. For protocol-specific work, consult the selected model’s documented scope and limitations and establish suitable validation evidence.
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Who uses ns-3?
- Researchers can use it to investigate network designs, protocols, and scenarios in a repeatable simulation environment.
- Educators and students can use it to explore how network systems behave without requiring a physical network experiment for every scenario.
- Network engineers can use it to model questions that are appropriate for the available ns-3 models, while treating conclusions as specific to the modeled assumptions.
How do I download the latest release?
Use the project’s official download page to choose between the mainline ns-3 source release and the all-in-one distribution. The page lists ns-3.47, released February 16, 2026, and ns-allinone-3.47, released March 15, 2026. Those are release facts, not a guarantee that a later version has not appeared; verify the page when you download.
| Option | What it is | When to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| ns-3.47 | Mainline ns-3 release; the project lists its release date as February 16, 2026. | Choose the standard release archive when you want the main ns-3 source distribution. |
| ns-allinone-3.47 | All-in-one distribution; the project lists its release date as March 15, 2026, and says this series bundles compatible contributed modules with mainline ns-3. | Consider it if you need the compatible contributed modules included in that distribution. |
Both release entries are on the official ns-3.47 download page. The project’s tutorial also describes obtaining source from a release archive or from the repository; use the project’s current download and repository instructions for the route you choose.
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How do I get ns-3 up and running?
The usual workflow is to acquire the source, configure and compile it into libraries, then create and run a scenario program. The official quick start is the best entry point for the current commands and steps, while the installation guide covers build requirements and optional components.
- Choose a source route. Download a release archive from the official release page, or follow the repository instructions linked from the project documentation.
- Check prerequisites and build options. Follow the current official documentation index to the installation guide. Requirements and optional components can depend on the version and build configuration.
- Build ns-3. Use the current build instructions for the source distribution you selected. A successful build produces libraries that scenario programs can use.
- Start with a tutorial example. Work through the official tutorial quick start and run an example before adapting it to your own question.
- Define and run a scenario. Create or modify a program that configures the models, nodes, links, traffic, and measurements relevant to your simulation, then build and execute it using the tutorial’s instructions.
Exact commands are intentionally best taken from the current quick start and installation documentation: they can change between releases and depend on the source package and configuration. The tutorial describes a common C++ workflow, but the manual also documents Python access to nearly all of the API, so C++ is not the only way to work with ns-3.
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How are ns-3 scenarios written?
C++ scenario programs
The typical command-line workflow is to write a C++ main program that defines the simulation scenario and links against ns-3 libraries. You can begin with an official example and adapt it, rather than building every part of a scenario from scratch. This route is useful when you want direct control over the program that configures and runs the simulation.
Python API access
The manual describes Python access to nearly all of the ns-3 API. Consult the current documentation for the supported setup and details; do not assume every C++ workflow or example transfers unchanged to Python.
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Which ns-3 documentation should I use?
The project maintains distinct resources for different tasks. Start with the official documentation index and use the resource that matches your question:
- Tutorial and quick start: learn the basic workflow and run an initial example. The quick-start page is a practical first step.
- Installation guide: check build requirements and optional components for your chosen release.
- Manual: understand the simulator’s architecture, core concepts, and programming interfaces.
- Model library: inspect the details and documented scope of particular protocol, device, or other models.
- Doxygen API reference: look up classes, methods, and other API details while writing code.
- Community help: use the project’s user group or Zulip resources linked from its documentation.
What should you verify before trusting a simulation?
ns-3 gives you a framework for executing a defined model; the suitability of a result depends on whether the models, assumptions, scenario, and measurements fit the question. Before drawing conclusions, check the relevant model documentation, make assumptions explicit, and consider what evidence supports using that model for the system you want to study. The project’s model library and manual are starting points, not substitutes for question-specific validation.
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Does ns-3 require a physical product?
No specific physical product is established as necessary for using ns-3. It is software obtained as source, and its key getting-started materials are digital documentation and examples. The available project information does not establish a topic-specific physical accessory, repair tool, or purchasable print manual that should be recommended for this software.
Quick Recap
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