A new module that inherit from AdhocHost in omnet++

Question

I need a new module that inherit from AdhocHost. Friends asked before this question, and Mr Jerzy D answered that:

In OMNeT++ behavior is defined only for simple modules. So one cannot define a C++ classes for a compound module.

but the manual states:

Although the C++ class for a compound module can be overridden with the @class property, this is a feature that should probably never be used. Encapsulate the code into a simple module, and add it as a submodule.

How can I create this module? It is not logical to create a cSimpleModule module from scratch because I wanna use predefined AdhocHost parameters,method,... and also my new define.

Answer 1

You are right, in OMNeT++ there is the possibility to define a class for compound module. My answer you have mentioned was not 100% correct.

---

To create a new module that inherits from AdhocHost and has own class one should do at least:

1. In inet4\src\inet\node\inet create a new file AdhocHostExtended.ned:

   package inet.node.inet;
   import inet.node.inet.AdhocHost;
   
   module AdhocHostExtended extends AdhocHost {
       @class(AdhocHostExtended);
       int par1;
       double par2;
   }
   

2. In the same directory create AdhocHostExtended.h:

   #ifndef __INET4_ADHOCHOSTEXTENDED_H_
   #define __INET4_ADHOCHOSTEXTENDED_H_
   
   #include <omnetpp.h>
   using namespace omnetpp;
   
   namespace inet {
   
   class AdhocHostExtended : public cModule  {
     protected:
       virtual int numInitStages() const override { return NUM_INIT_STAGES; }
       virtual void initialize(int stage) override;
       virtual void handleMessage(cMessage *msg);
   };
   
   } //namespace
   #endif
   

3. In the same directory create AdhocHostExtended.cc:

   #include "AdhocHostExtended.h"
   namespace inet {
   
   Define_Module(AdhocHostExtended);
   
   void AdhocHostExtended::initialize(int stage) {
     // an example of reading new parameter in the first stage
     if (stage == INITSTAGE_LOCAL) {
        EV << "par1 = " << par("par1").intValue() << endl;
     }
     // your code
   }
   
   void AdhocHostExtended::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {
        // your code
   }      
   
   } //namespace
   

Take care of using a proper stage inside initialize(). Stages are defined in /inet4/src/inet/common/InitStages.h