Abstract: Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) are decentralized networks where nodes communicate directly with each other without a fixed infrastructure. Routing protocols in MANETs play a critical role in establishing efficient communication paths among mobile nodes. This survey paper offers a comprehensive review and comparative analysis of four widely utilized MANET protocols—Dynamic Source Routing (DSR), Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV), Destination-Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV), and Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR). The evaluation encompasses an extensive examination of existing literature and research findings regarding the performance of these protocols. Rather than implementing new solutions, this study synthesizes the results from various sources to provide insights into the comparative performance of these protocols. Through a systematic review of literature, this paper discusses the key performance metrics, such as packet delivery ratio, average throughput, and average delay, associated with each protocol. Furthermore, it examines the impact of network size, node mobility, and traffic patterns on the performance of these protocols, offering valuable insights into their behavior in diverse MANET scenarios. The findings of this survey aim to assist researchers and practitioners in making informed decisions regarding the selection of optimal routing protocols for MANET deployments.

Keywords: MANET protocols, NS-3 simulation, performance analysis, packet delivery ratio, average throughput, average delay

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2024.11527