Integration of a Quantum Key Distribution Network Simulation Module into the NS-3 Network Simulation Environment

Abstract

Research into QKD generation is expanding and becoming more complex, raising the need for highly accurate and scalable simulation technologies to assess practical feasibility and anticipate issues within the practical application of theoretical accomplishments. Installing a full testbed with many community hosts and connections to verify and confirm a favorable community set of rules or protocol might be quite expensive due to the peculiarity of the QKD linkage, which requires optical and Internet connection among the network nodes. There are many situations when using a network simulator would save significant time and money. Researchers are able to conduct tests and validate their findings because to the simulation environment’s support for the inclusion of complex network topologies, a high degree of control, and repeatable trials. In this research, we established the framework for the QKD community simulation module that eventually evolved into Model 3’s community simulator (NS-3). The module allows for the QKD community to be simulated in either an overlay manner or a single TCP/IP mode. This means it’s not limited to simulating QKD-based community technologies.