A Multi-Metric Approach in AODVv2: Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Security for MANETs

As the Internet of Things (IoT) rapidly expands, there is a growing need for advanced routing solutions that accommodate constrained devices and diverse network requirements. Traditional single-metric routing approaches typically focused on parameters such as delay, hop count, or Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU), lack the adaptability required by IoT environments where energy efficiency, bandwidth considerations, and security constraints must be balanced. A more flexible protocol could improve network performance and prolong device lifetimes. To this aim, building on the extensibility of AODVv2, we developed and integrated a multi-metric routing protocol into the ns-3 simulator. Our implementation allows for the prioritization of multiple factors, such as residual battery levels, node reliability, and hop count, through a customizable metric ordering. Using Type-Length-Value (TLV) encoding, the protocol seamlessly incorporates additional metrics without compromising existing functionalities. Experimental results demonstrate that our multi-metric AODVv2 outperforms the original AODVv2 in terms of network performance, reduces energy consumption, and enhances the overall network longevity, thus providing significant benefits for IoT network management. Our released code paves the way for the programmability of other routing metric systems, including battery discharge rates, and the development of dynamic trust adjustment mechanisms for robust and adaptive routing.