Automated Analysis of AODV using UPPAAL

TL;DR

This paper presents an automated formal analysis of the AODV routing protocol using UPPAAL, identifying potential issues and limitations through exhaustive model checking of small network topologies.

Contribution

It introduces a UPPAAL model of AODV derived from process algebra, enabling automated detection of problematic behaviors in small network configurations.

Findings

Identified undesirable behaviors in AODV models.

Automated analysis covers all topologies up to 5 nodes.

Supports development of improved protocol variants.

Abstract

This paper describes an automated, formal and rigorous analysis of the Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing protocol, a popular protocol used in wireless mesh networks. We give a brief overview of a model of AODV implemented in the UPPAAL model checker. It is derived from a process-algebraic model which reflects precisely the intention of AODV and accurately captures the protocol specification. Furthermore, we describe experiments carried out to explore AODV's behaviour in all network topologies up to 5 nodes. We were able to automatically locate problematic and undesirable behaviours. This is in particular useful to discover protocol limitations and to develop improved variants. This use of model checking as a diagnostic tool complements other formal-methods-based protocol modelling and verification techniques, such as process algebra.