IP address autoconfiguration in ad hoc networks: Design, implementation and measurements

Ad hoc networks allow to create very dynamic communication systems, which are independent from any fixed infrastructure. One of the most important issues regarding the management of an ad hoc network is the configuration of the system according to the way users move. Since a centralized control structure does not exist, we need to determine how the IP addresses must be assigned to the nodes in the network. This task becomes more complex since the nodes can connect or disconnect unexpectedly, and the topology of the network changes throughout the time. Furthermore, a network can split into two or more parts and even merging of different networks may occur.In this work, we have addressed these issues through our new protocol, named AIPAC, for configuration and management of IP addresses in a large and highly mobile ad hoc network. The performances of this solution are evaluated through the NS2 simulator, which allowed us to check the correctness of the protocol and to estimate the control traffic generated under different operating conditions.