Performance testing of rate adaptation algorithms in WLAN

In this thesis we test the performance of Rate Adaptation mechanisms in 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks. We consider three different Rate Adaptation Algorithms i.e. SampleRate, Onoe and AMRR (Adaptive Multi Rate Retry) available on Atheros Chipsets for which open source MadWiFi (Multi-band Atheros Driver for WiFi) drivers are available. The performance testing is carried out in a realistic wireless environment realized by using a wireless channel simulator and a set of wireless nodes working in ad-hoc mode. A set of wireless channels proposed by 802.11 Task Group are used. The channels can be configured to provide identical environment for testing the different algorithms. We measure the throughput of different traffic workloads over each algorithm to evaluate and compare how the three algorithms adapt the PHY data rates to the varying wireless channel conditions. The analysis of the test results helps in better understanding the Rate Adaptation mechanisms and the possible advantages and drawbacks of the different design approaches currently in practice