When the packets
don’t show up.

Docker won’t start

The installer and ns2 launcher require Docker Desktop to be installed and running.

• Open Docker Desktop and wait for it to finish starting.
• Run docker info in Terminal to check that the Docker daemon responds.
• If the image is missing, rerun the installer to build the NS2-Nam Docker image.

“XQuartz Xauthority file not found”

The launcher expects ~/.Xauthority and mounts it read-only into the container.

• Open XQuartz and make sure it has finished starting.
• Check whether ~/.Xauthority exists in your Mac home folder.
• Start a fresh ns2 session after XQuartz initializes.

See the compatibility notes for all display requirements.

NAM does not open

NAM’s graphical window is displayed through XQuartz. The installer enables local X11 connections with xhost +localhost.

• Confirm XQuartz is installed and running.
• Close and reopen XQuartz, then start a new ns2 session.
• The launcher finds the Mac IPv4 address on en0, then en1. Another network interface may need a launcher adjustment.

The Tcl command cannot find my file

Simulation scripts should be saved in ~/NS2Nam/simulations on macOS. The folder appears as /simulations inside the container.

ns send_receive.tcl

Run the command from the container’s /simulations working directory. The included example writes send_receive.nam.

Need to start over?

The uninstaller asks for confirmation, preserves your simulation scripts, and offers a separate confirmation before removing Docker resources.