A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a network of mobile routers or hosts formed by the union of arbitrary topology which is connected by wireless links, and it configures itself by its own. The routers move freely, and they organize themselves randomly; thus, the topology is very uncertain. The major challenge in the deployment of routing protocols is to find efficient routes between the communicating nodes. This paper analyzes different proactive, reactive and hybrid MANET routing protocols. Including distance sequenced distance vector (DSDV), optimized link state routing (OLSR), fisheye state routing (FSR), ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV), ad hoc on-demand multi path distance vector routing (AOMDV), dynamic source routing (DSR), and zone routing protocol (ZRP). The performances of protocols are analyzed with increasing number of nodes with different performance metrics such that packet delivery ratio, throughput, routing overhead, and an end-to-end delivery are evaluated. The simulated comparative performance analysis has been done by using NS-2 network simulation tool using random waypoint model. The results show ZRP performs poorly for all the metrics except for the end-to-end delay and FSR; AOMDV shows the highest packet delivery ratio, but because of high routing overhead and an end-to-end delay of AOMDV, FSR overpowers among all protocols.

MANET, routing protocols, AODV, DSDV, DSR, OLSR, FSR, ZRP, AOMDV, NS-2, performance analysis.