The new node API differs considerably from the old method of creating nodes in ns. Following is a list of differences between the two:
| New API | Old API |
| ns_ node-config | ns_ dsdv/dsr/tora-create-mobile-node |
| ns_ node | |
| No global variable dependency | Strong global dependency |
| Nam support exists (namtrace-all-wireless) | No nam support |
| Energy model support | No energy model |
| Global instance for channel and topology removed | Global instances of channel and topology |