1. Teaching with OPNET Software
TSYS Computer Science Department
Columbus State University

2. What is OPNET OPNET is a network simulation tool
Model both communication networks and distributed systems.
Analyze the performance of various networks
Comes with an integrated tool from the aspects of model design, simulation, data collection, and data analysis.
OPNET Technologies Ltd. Products (originally MIL3)
ITGuru: Intelligent Network Mgmt
Scenarios and project
Modeler

3. Why Teaching with OPNET
Hands-on experience in configuring, setting up and simulating simple network configurations
Increased student’s enthusiasm
Simple to download and install IT Guru software

4. Evaluating Internet Connection Choices for a Small Home PC Network
Open Lab :
1 Start IT Guru.
2 Select File => Open.
3 Select Project from the pull-down menu at the top.
4 Scroll down to the project named Home_LAN, select it and click OK.
 The Simulated network opens.

5. Scenario 1: A slow modem downloading at 20kbps
Step 1: Configure the Link to 20kbps:
1 Right-click on the WAN link select
Edit Attributes.
2 Click in the Value field of the data
rate attribute and select Edit.
3 Enter 20000; press Enter and then
click OK.
Step 2: Configure and Run the Simulation:
1 Click on the configure/run simulation button.
2 Set the simulation duration to 8 hours.
3 Click Run, monitor the progress bar as the simulation proceeds.
4 When the simulation completes, click Close.

6. Scenario 1 (cont’d) Step 3: View Link Utilization:
1 Right-click on the WAN link select View Results to view the utilization results for this link.
2 Expand point-to-point and select utilization in both directions.
3 Select Overlaid Statistics from the pull-down menu on the bottom right-hand corner to place the results in the same panel.
4 Select Show and then click Close in the View Results window.

7. Scenario 1 (cont’d) Step 4: View Performance for PC2 (Researcher PC)
1 Right-click on the PC2 Researcher client select View Results to
view the web Responses Time and Traffic Received.
2 Expand Client Http and select Page Response Time (seconds).
Also set the pull-down menu on the bottom right-hand corner to
As IS.
3 Click Close in the View Results window.
4 You can use the hide or show all graphs button to hide
OR show graphs.

8. Scenario 2: A cable modem or DSL line downloading at 512kbps
Step kbps Scenario
1) Select Scenarios=> Duplicate Scenario and name the
scenario as 512k_Cable_Modem_connection.
2) Click OK.
Step 2. Configure the link to 512kbps
Right click on the WAN Link and change the data rate to
51200.
Step 3. Run 512kbps Simulation
Rerun the simulation. You can refer to the steps given
previously for setting the duration and running the
simulation.
Step 4. View Results for 512kbps
Follow the same steps mentioned before to view the link
utilization and response time by the research PC.

9. Compare Results
5 To compare the Response Time, unselect the previous statistics, change the filter on the right-hand bottom corner from AS IS to average and then close choose the following statistics:
1 Select Results => Compare Results
2 To compare the Utilization statistics, choose the following statistics:
3 Select All Scenarios.
4 Click show.

10. Recommendations Link utilization and response time
Scenario 1:_____________
Scenario 2:_____________
Cost
Dial-up line____
Cable/DSL____
What would you recommend to the family?