How to Implement Blockchain based IDS in NS2
To implement a Blockchain-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) within NS2, we require to replicate the communication among the nodes within a blockchain network and the procedure of identifying and distributing the intrusion detection alerts. This blockchain make sure that the verifiability and immutability of the IDS alerts that are distributed over the nodes within a peer-to-peer fashion. While NS2 does not natively support blockchain technology or an IDS, we can model the significant elements of both by mimicking the blockchain-based consensus, alert generation, and traffic monitoring. We give sufficient procedure to replicate it within NS2:
Step-by-Step Implementation:
- Set Up NS2
Make sure that NS2 is installed on the computer. Suppose it is not install we can use the below command to install it.
sudo apt-get install ns2
- Define the Network Topology
Initially, we describing the peer-to-peer network in which several blockchain nodes are interconnected. Every node performs as both an IDS and a participant in the blockchain network.
set ns [new Simulator]
set tracefile [open blockchain_ids.tr w]
$ns trace-all $tracefile
# Create blockchain nodes (they act as both IDS nodes and blockchain participants)
set node1 [$ns node]
set node2 [$ns node]
set node3 [$ns node]
set node4 [$ns node]
# Create peer-to-peer links between nodes (blockchain network)
$ns duplex-link $node1 $node2 1Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $node2 $node3 1Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $node3 $node4 1Mb 10ms DropTail
$ns duplex-link $node1 $node4 1Mb 10ms DropTail
- Simulate Intrusion Detection
Every single node observes the traffic for suspicious activity. If an intrusion is identified (e.g., abnormal traffic patterns or malicious packet types) then the node will generate an alert and distribute it with the blockchain.
(A) Define Intrusion Detection Logic
We replicate the simple traffic monitoring that an intrusion is detected rely on predefined criteria (e.g., an abnormal packet size or traffic rate). In this sample, we mimic an alert generation while the packet size exceeds a threshold.
# Function to simulate intrusion detection
proc detect_intrusion {packet_size threshold node_id} {
if { $packet_size > $threshold } {
puts “Node $node_id detected an intrusion: Packet size $packet_size exceeds threshold $threshold”
return 1 ;# Intrusion detected
} else {
return 0 ;# No intrusion detected
}
}
# Set the intrusion detection threshold
set threshold 512 ;# Set threshold for packet size
# Simulate traffic monitoring at node1 (acting as an IDS)
$ns at 2.0 “detect_intrusion 600 $threshold node1” ;# Example of an intrusion detected by node1
- Simulate Blockchain for Alert Sharing
When an intrusion is detected then the IDS node distributes the alert with the other nodes via the blockchain. We replicate it by broadcasting the alert to all other nodes also these nodes are check the alert and store it immutably.
(A) Simulate Blockchain Transaction (Alert Sharing)
The IDS node, which identifies an intrusion broadcasts an alert. This alert is treated as a “block” within the blockchain also every participating node confirms and stores the block.
# Function to simulate blockchain transaction (alert sharing)
proc broadcast_alert {alert sender_node nodes_list} {
foreach node $nodes_list {
puts “Broadcasting alert from $sender_node to $node: $alert”
# Each node receives the alert and verifies it
verify_and_store_block $alert $node
}
}
# Function to simulate block verification and storage
proc verify_and_store_block {alert node_id} {
puts “Node $node_id is verifying and storing the alert: $alert”
# Simulate the blockchain verification process
}
# Broadcast the alert to other nodes in the blockchain network
set nodes_list [list node2 node3 node4]
$ns at 2.5 “broadcast_alert ‘Intrusion Detected: Packet size 600’ node1 $nodes_list”
- Simulate Consensus in the Blockchain
In a blockchain network, nodes are attain the consensus on the validity of a new block (alert). We replicate it by having every node check the alert and verify its validity.
(A) Simulate Consensus Mechanism
Every node confirms the received alert and appends it to its local blockchain when consensus is attained.
# Function to simulate the consensus process
proc consensus {alert nodes_list} {
set valid 1
foreach node $nodes_list {
# Each node verifies the alert and votes on its validity
set vote [verify_alert $alert $node]
if { $vote == 0 } {
set valid 0
}
}
# If all nodes agree, consensus is reached
if { $valid == 1 } {
puts “Consensus reached: The alert ‘$alert’ is valid”
} else {
puts “Consensus not reached: The alert ‘$alert’ is invalid”
}
}
# Function for each node to verify the alert
proc verify_alert {alert node_id} {
puts “Node $node_id is verifying the alert: $alert”
return 1 ;# Simulate alert verification (1 = valid, 0 = invalid)
}
# Simulate consensus after broadcasting the alert
$ns at 3.0 “consensus ‘Intrusion Detected: Packet size 600’ $nodes_list”
- Log Events and Blockchain Activity
Log the numerous activities, containing an intrusion detection, consensus verification, and alert sharing to trace how the blockchain-based IDS functions.
# Log events for intrusion detection, alert sharing, and consensus
proc log_event {event description} {
puts “$event: $description”
}
# Log the detection, alert sharing, and consensus events
$ns at 2.0 “log_event ‘Intrusion Detection’ ‘Node1 detected an intrusion (Packet size 600)'”
$ns at 2.5 “log_event ‘Alert Sharing’ ‘Node1 broadcasted an alert to Node2, Node3, and Node4′”
$ns at 3.0 “log_event ‘Consensus’ ‘Nodes reached consensus on the alert validity'”
- Run the Simulation
When the script is complete then run the simulation using NS2:
ns your_script.tcl
- Analyze the Results
After running the simulation then verify the trace file (blockchain_ids.tr) and the console outcomes to confirm:
- Intrusions were detected by the nodes are performs as IDS.
- The alerts were shared with other nodes via the blockchain.
- The consensus process authenticated the alerts and stored them immutably within the blockchain.
Also, we can be used the NAM (Network Animator) to envision how the alerts are broadcast over the blockchain network.
- Extend the Simulation
We can extend this simulation by:
- Simulating a more complex blockchain mechanism: Launch the block creation, mining, and chain validation to model an actual blockchain system.
- Adding more intrusion detection techniques: Replicate various kinds of the attacks such as DDoS, malware and various intrusion detection approaches.
- Introducing network delays or attacks: Mimic delays or attacks on the blockchain network, like Sybil attacks, and check the resilience of the system.
- Enhancing the consensus algorithm: Execute more enhanced consensus algorithms, like Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS), to replicate the blockchain mining and reward mechanisms.
According this process we have seen and aggregated the needed informations about the implementations and example based on Blockchain Based IDS that includes the simulation process using ns2. Further data and concepts will be provided depending on your needs.
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