The Distributed Embedded System (DES) research group studies real world wireless multi-hop networks (WMHN), the performance and applicability of abstract algorithms, as well as the common assumptions of simulations and analytical methods by testbed-based research.

The DES-Testbed is a hybrid wireless multi-transceiver testbed for long-term studies. It consists of a wireless mesh network (WMN) and a wireless sensor network (WSN). Our hybrid devices are called DES-Nodes. Currently, the testbed consists of 115 wireless mesh routers equipped with three or more IEEE 802.11a/b/g network adapters and the same number of wireless sensor nodes of type MSB-A2. In addition we have a virtualizer running several virtual machines (VMs) that recreate the testbed's topology and its lossy links. Using a custom kernel module in the VMs and a daemon on the virtualizer we can fully emulate the wireless medium.

The research focus of our group is on network architectures, protocols on ISO/OSI layers 2-7, and applications for next generation wireless networks. The DES-Testbed enables to compare simulation studies with real world experiments. To ease the specification, execution, and evaluation of  experiments in complex scenarios, we developed serveral frameworks to support our holistic research projects:

• DES-SERT: Framework for underlay routing in user space
• DES-TBMS: Automated experimentation and evaluation system
• DES-Cript: A domain specific language to specify and run experiments
• DES-LOFT: Framework for indoor localization and navigation
• DES-Chan: Framework for distributed channel assignment
• DES-Vis: Testbed visualization and monitoring

The DES-Testbed is an essential part of ongoing projects such as OPNEX, WISEBED, G-Mesh-Lab, and WiMeshLab.

Example visualization of one part of the DES-Testbed

To view the current state of the testbed use our DES-Vis application.