Comparative Study of Routing Protocols in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are self-organizing wireless networks formed by mobile nodes without reliance on fixed infrastructure. Routing in MANETs presents unique challenges due to dynamic topology changes, limited bandwidth, and constrained energy resources. This paper presents a comparative analysis of four widely studied MANET routing protocols: Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV), Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR), and Destination-Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV). Using NS-3 simulations with varying network sizes, node mobility patterns, and traffic loads, the study evaluates each protocol across four key metrics: packet delivery ratio, end-to-end delay, routing overhead, and throughput. Results indicate that reactive protocols (AODV and DSR) outperform proactive protocols (OLSR and DSDV) in networks with low to moderate traffic and high mobility, while proactive protocols demonstrate advantages in dense, high-traffic scenarios with lower mobility. The paper provides protocol selection guidelines based on deployment characteristics.