Space Network Emulation System Based on a User-Space Network Stack

doi:10.12142/ZTECOM.202502003

ZTE Communications ›› 2025, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (2): 11-19.DOI: 10.12142/ZTECOM.202502003

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Space Network Emulation System Based on a User-Space Network Stack

LEI Jianzhe¹, ZHAO Kanglian¹(), HOU Dongxu², ZHOU Fenlin²

^1.Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
^2.ZTE Corporation, Shenzhen 518057, China

Received:2025-02-22 Online:2025-06-25 Published:2025-06-10
About author:LEI Jianzhe is a student at the School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, China. His research focuses on space network emulation and network forwarding technologies.
ZHAO Kanglian (zhaokanglian@nju.edu.cn) received his PhD degree from Nanjing University, China. He is currently working at Nanjing University as a professor and doctoral supervisor. His main research interests include space intelligent information networks and 6G integrated terrestrial and space networks.
HOU Dongxu received his PhD degree from the School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, China in 2022. He is working at ZTE Corporation. His research interests include satellite network routing technologies and bearer networks.
ZHOU Fenlin is a Chief Engineer for Future Network Research at ZTE Corporation. His research directions include computing networks, deterministic networks, intelligent computing networks, non-terrestrial networks, and future network architectures.
Supported by:
the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62131012);ZTE Industry-University-Institute Cooperation Funds(IA20230712005)

Abstract

Abstract:

This paper presents a space network emulation system based on a user-space network stack named Nos to solve space networks' unique architecture and routing issues and kernel stacks' inefficiency and development complexity. Our low Earth orbit satellite scenario emulation verifies the dynamic routing function of the protocol stack. The proposed system uses technologies like Open vSwitch (OVS) and traffic control (TC) to emulate the space network's highly dynamic topology and time-varying link characteristics. The emulation results demonstrate the system's high reliability, and the user-space network stack reduces development complexity and debugging difficulty, providing convenience for the development of space network protocols and network functions.

Key words: network emulation, space network, user-space network stack, network function virtualization

LEI Jianzhe, ZHAO Kanglian, HOU Dongxu, ZHOU Fenlin. Space Network Emulation System Based on a User-Space Network Stack[J]. ZTE Communications, 2025, 23(2): 11-19.

Figures/Tables 10

Figure 1 Emulation system architecture

Figure 2 Emulation system architecture with integrated Nos

Figure 3 Link handovers occur frequently

Figure 4 Virtual fei interface configuration for soft forward and its link-mapping rules

Figure 5 Additional packet encapsulation

Figure 6 Traffic control (TC) queuing discipline tree

Figure 7 A small low Earth orbit constellation scenario

Figure 8 Delay and packet loss between two adjacent-orbital satellites in the same latitude region

Figure 9 Delay and packet loss between two ground station terminals

Figure 10 Throughput and bandwidth utilization of one ground station terminal

References 13

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Space Network Emulation System Based on a User-Space Network Stack

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