| Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are networks which can operate without any infrastructure and possess self-organizing capabilities. The wireless nodes communicate among themselves using multihop radio relaying, without the packets passing through a central access point or a base station. Efficient routing forms the basis of a fast and reliable communication network and routing inside a network is a function of speed and stability with which the nodes are able to acquire addresses. Since in a highly mobile, infrastructure-less scenario, pre-configuration of addresses is not a possibility, the node addresses need to be configured dynamically with minimum delay and packet loss.;The purpose of this Masters' thesis is to devise a new address autoconfiguration technique for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks. While the search for a highly proficient addressing protocol continues, there have been many techniques proposed so far. All such techniques have their own advantages, but most still leave unresolved issues. The address configuration scheme proposed in this thesis aims to solve many of such issues through a simplified approach. The primary parameters on which the efficiency of this approach depends are address length, address assignment, connection to the Internet, network merger and network partition. The nodes have 16-bit addresses within the network. Each MANET will have a central address assignor, backup address assignors, gateway node for connection to the Internet and network identification ID. The technique has a provision for handling network mergers and partitions. The approach is configurable in multiple MANET applications. |
