What are pipeline stages? Where can I get more information about pipeline stages?

What are pipeline stages? Where can I get more information about pipeline stages?

A pipeline stage is a name given to a C file that implements one aspect of a wired or a radio link.

OPNET models support various links like point-to-point links, bus links and radio links. These links determine the connectivity between different nodes. A communication link (wired or wireless) is characterized by various properties like transmission delay, propagation delay, bit error rate etc. Each of these aspects is modeled by a separate c file (<filename.ps.c>) in OPNET. The functions in these files are invoked one after the other for a packet undergoing transmission over a link. Since the packet is processed by these functions in sequence like in a pipeline, these functions are called pipeline stages. Depending on the type of link (point-to-point, bus or wireless), the number of pipeline stages needed to model the link are different. For example, a wireless link is very complex due to pathloss, collisions, antenna gains etc. Hence, there are 14 distinct pipeline stages for a wireless channel.

Please note that all communication between nodes uses pipeline stages. The specific pipeline stages used depend on the type of link connecting the two nodes. The radio pipelines are used when wireless communication is being modeled.

In OPNET, modeling wireless networks requires a special license for the wireless module. This module was previously called the radio module.

The concept of pipeline stages is explained in great detail in the product documentation. Please look at the following sections

Modeler Main Menu -> Modeling Concepts -> Communication Mechanisms -> Communication Link Models.

Modeler Main Menu -> General Models -> Pipeline Stages (bus link and point-to-point link)

Modeler Main Menu -> Wireless Module User Guide -> Radio Transceiver Pipeline

See also additional FAQs, including FAQ#136.