This is the ns-3 uart-net-device module used to add co-processor capabilities to the ns-3 network simulator.

In essence, this provides ns-3 with the ability to interact with real IEEE 802.15.4 devices. This approach takes any protocol stacks and IoT applications previously developed for ns-3 and enables them to communicate directly with real hardware (e.g., ns-3 Zigbee or IEEE 802.15.4 ns-3 applications). The advantages of this approach are substantial, as it permits the development of more accurate IoT protocols within ns-3 that can effectively operate on both simulated and real hardware. Additionally, due to the small size and low cost of IoT devices, our proposal facilitates the creation of portable IoT devices testbeds on the fly using ns-3.

Currently, only devices with NXP JN5169 microcontrollers are supported; extending support to other microcontrollers is under consideration.

While UART Netdevice installation on ns-3 is straightforward, to use it is also necessary that the JN5169 microcontroller contains a specific firmware to enable communication with ns-3. We call this firmware "CommonShimLayer". Code and installation details can be found in the additional resources of this project.

The UART NetDevice module can be added to ns-3 in a plug-in fashion. For details about this module, requirements, and installation, look at the documentation in the doc/ folder.

Copyright (c) 2025 Tokushima University, Japan

Author: Alberto Gallegos Ramonet