[ns] ns-2.1b8 release announcement

[Padmaparna Haldar <haldar@ISI.EDU>]

This is to notify that a new release of ns (version 2.1b8) is now
available. This release of ns also comes with new releases of nam
(v1.0a10), otcl(v1.0a7), tclcl(v1.0b11) and ns-allinone(v2.1b8) pkg. The
ns/nam release has many new features/modules as well as several bug-fixes
which are listed in brief below.

You can download the latest release versions right away directly
(by HTTP) from http://www.isi.edu/nsnam/dist/ and
by FTP from ftp://ftp.isi.edu/nsnam/.

The ns-build page at http://www.isi.edu/nsnam/ns/ns-build.html
should be updated to show the release by midnight today.

Please send all your comments and bug-reports to ns-users@isi.edu
Thanks,
--Padma
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


 What's new in ns-2.1b8
--------------------------

New Modules:
--------------
* Diffserv model from Nortel has been integrated into ns source code.
  Modifications made to diffserv module which allows separate classes for
  different policies. This allow users to add their policies easily.

* RED-PD (preferential-drop) model added. RED-PD introduces a pre-filter in front
  of a RED queue to drop selected flows preferentially. (Code from Ratul Mahajan, U.W..)

* Preliminary version of pushback which is used to detect and control
  high bandwidth aggregates added.

* Nix-Vector (where the routing path is included in pkt hdr) Routing
  contributed by George F.Riley, Georgia Tech, integrated into ns source code.

* Ported Kathy Nichole's version of two-way tcp into ns (calling it
  BayFullTCP).

* Source-routing code contributed by Rishi Bhargava added.


Updated Modules:
-----------------
* Trace support added for MAC level collisions for IEEE 802.3 lans.

* Implemented an abstract LAN, in which CSMA/CD mechanism is replaced by a
  DropTail queue. (Code from Alefiya Hussain, USC.)

* ECN has been added to TFRC, the equation-based congestion control
  module.

* GAF (grid-based adaptive fidelity) algorithm added for AODV and DSR. (Code from Ya Xu, USC.)

* New APIs for adding error model to wireless nodes. Also experimental bit-error
  model and a simple FEC module are added.(Code from Jong-suk Ahn, Dongguk)

* Emulation support to allow ns BayFullTCP agent to interact with
  real world TCP application supporting active and passive connections.
  Also emulation code added for passing TCP/UDP traffic through
  ns.

* First-cut support for event-tracing (traces showing events that can be used to
  interpret as well as visualize different events in a simulation) added;
  Support added for TCP events only. Shall be extended in future to other
  non-TCP events.

* Bind function for binding TclObjects in tclcl added.

* Three new validation tests added for two-way tcp.


Bug fixes :
----------
* Patch added for scheduler to use 64bit integer when available

* Updated lib/dmalloc_support.cc for 4.7.1/4.8.0

* Fixed the "packet RX while in IFS" bug in 802.3, that could lead to
  packet duplication.

* Default routing code in ns modified to increase run-time efficiency

* Several changes made to TCP, two-way TCP and RED parameters.
  Bug-fixes made for TCP and two-way TCP.

* Several bug-fixes made for AODV, satellite repeater code, out of range
  addresses for ascii-to-integer conversions, wireless diffusion code etc.

* Memory leak fixed in old web traffic generator code


What's new in nam-1.0a10
------------------------------------
* Major updates to the nam editor. Basic ns scripts can be created and run
  through the gui. Link loss models and queueing types will be filled in
  over the next couple of months.

* Rewrote parsing code to be table driven, more stable, and
  to better detect errors. Cleaned up nam trace file syntax to remove
  trace event language ambiguities but tried to keep backwards
  compatibility.

* Modified  nam_stream.cc to handle pseudo-real-time pipe input.

* Added support for running external user definable scripts or programs
  from nam by clicking on a node button.  See nam section in the ns
  manual for more information.

* Fixed some visualization bugs especially when viewing wireless
  network trace file animations.

* Much improved nam documentation.  The nam section of ns manual now
  includes an overview and documentation of the nam trace file format.


--
------------------------------------------------
Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
--Thoreau

Padmaparna Haldar