II-NEW: Scalable Software Defined Radio Network Testbed for Hybrid Measurement and Emulation

无线网络协议的最新进展为新的研究领域提供了机会，包括算法设计、频谱优化、吞吐量最大化和无线安全。每次无线技术的发展，都需要额外的测试和认证步骤，在大多数情况下，需要几轮这样的验证。这些步骤对于确保最终产品确实可供公众使用至关重要。无线协议和算法开发人员利用高度可定制的软件定义无线电（SDR）节点来创建和改进其设计。虽然SDR提供了使用点对点无线链路进行测试的理想环境，但当需要涉及多个无线电的大规模网络测量时，它们会增加用户的开销。目前，还没有一个远程访问的测试平台，允许用户定制SDR应用程序，并测试他们的无线电与可控的无线电传播（仿真，模拟和空中）信道。该项目产生的测试平台将实现这一目标，并在此过程中将德雷克塞尔大学确立为网络安全和电信系统研究的领导者。该项目完成后，该设备将在本地和远程共享的教师，工作人员和学生在研究社区的教育目的。测试床将包括Ettus USRP SDR节点（即N210，X310）连接到RFNest 16端口无线信道仿真器从智能自动化公司，其提供了为可重复实验提供高度受控的无线环境的能力。一个硬件基础设施将被开发，以分配无线电频率和定时电缆，以及安装在一个天花板脚手架网格结构在德雷克塞尔的新实验室空间这些节点。将开发一个软件基础设施，使研究人员能够利用测试平台进行定制实验，包括仿真，模拟和空中无线信道，这种独特的功能组合以前从未提供过。该基础设施将需要定制应用程序编程接口（用于与SDR、RFNest、主机和交换机连接）和远程访问接口（Web GUI、ssh），以允许用户上传其定制硬件和软件设计。通过利用现有的软件平台，该项目将提供复杂的实验设置，测量和数据管理工具以及模拟网络选项。为了增加测试平台的独特功能，Drexel的软件定义通信（SDC）测试平台，它提供了动态的可扩展性，将被移植到X310，并作为项目的一部分提供。

Recent advancements in wireless network protocols offer opportunities in new research areas including algorithm design, spectrum optimization, throughput maximization, and wireless security. Each time wireless technologies evolve, additional testing and certification steps are required, and, in most cases, several rounds of such verification are needed. These steps are crucial to ensure the final product is indeed ready for public use. Wireless protocol and algorithm developers leverage highly-customizable software defined radio (SDR) nodes to create and improve their design. Although SDRs offer an ideal environment for testing using point-to-point wireless links, they incur an increased overhead to the user for when a large-scale network measurements involving multiple radios are required. At present, there does not exist, a remotely accessible testbed that would allow users to customize SDR applications and test their radios with controllable radio propagation (emulated, simulated, and over-the-air) channels. The testbed resulting from this project will achieve this goal, and in doing so, establish Drexel University as a leader in cybersecurity and telecommunication systems research. Upon completion of the project, the equipment will be locally and remotely shared with faculty, staff, and students in the research community for educational purposes.The testbed will consist of Ettus USRP SDR nodes (i.e. N210, X310) connected to an RFNest 16-port Wireless Channel Emulator from Intelligent Automation, Inc., which offers capabilities of providing highly controlled wireless environments for repeatable experiments. A hardware infrastructure will be developed to distribute radio frequency and timing cabling as well as to install these nodes on a ceiling scaffolding grid structure in Drexel's new laboratory space. A software infrastructure will be developed to allow for researchers to utilize the testbed for customized experiments involving emulated, simulated, and over-the-air wireless channels, where this unique combination of features have never been offered before. This infrastructure will require custom application programming interfaces (for interfacing with the SDRs, RFNest, host computers, and switches) and remote access interfaces (web GUI, ssh) to allow users to upload their custom hardware and software designs. By leveraging existing software platforms, the project will offer sophisticated experiment setup, measurement and data management tools as well as emulated network options. To add to the unique features of the testbed, Drexel's software defined communications (SDC) testbed, which offers on-the-fly scalability, will be ported to X310s and made available as a part of the project.