SFEM3: A performance comparative analysis for SDN-based FANET Emulation using Mininet-WiFi and ns-3

The integration of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) in Flying Ad-Hoc Networks (FANETs) introduces centralized control and programmability, enhancing network flexibility and UAV resource optimization. This study evaluates and compares the performance of SDN-based FANETs using two platforms: ns-3 and Mininet-WiFi. A multi-layer architecture was implemented to analyze network behavior under different scenarios, including single-hop, multihop, multipath, and mesh topologies. Performance metrics such as bandwidth, jitter, round-trip time (RTT), and packet loss were assessed. The results reveal that Mininet-WiFi consistently outperforms ns-3, achieving up to 87% higher bandwidth, 26 times lower packet loss, and significantly reduced jitter and latency. The study highlights key limitations in ns-3, such as excessive packet fragmentation, retransmissions, and high processing overhead due to VXLAN tunneling. Recommendations for improving FANET-SDN emulation, including MTU optimizations, alternative tunneling methods, and enhanced controller configurations, are provided. These findings serve as a foundation for future research on optimizing SDN-based UAV networks for real-world deployments.