trace file format

[Yan Yu <yanyu@catarina.usc.edu>]

Hello, all
   I did some DSR simulation in ns. I have Q about that trace file format.
In mac layer trace log( tracename = MAC ), besides data packets, there 
are 3 kinds of control packets where type="DSR", "MAC", and "ARP" 
respectively, From my understanding, "DSR" is related to DSR routing 
control message, "MAC" is RTS and CTS handshaking control message, Here I 
have two questions:
1. what is "ARP" msg?

2. In my simulation, there is huge number of "MAC" layer handshaking 
control message( about 10:1 comparing to # of data pkts, or other type of 
control msg, such as DSR routing msg, or ARP packet. ). Is this 
considered as normal??

I copied examples of MAC layer control message log from the trace file at 
the end of this email.

I would appreciate any comments!
Best Regards,
yan

------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

r 1.002816726 _20_ MAC  --- 1 DSR 24 [0 ffffffff f 800] [energy 0.050000] 
		   ^^^	      ^^^^
		tracename     type

------- [15:255 20:255 32 0] 1 [1 1] [0 1 0 0->0] [0 0 0 0->0]

s 1.005533356 _20_ MAC  --- 0 ARP 80 [0 ffffffff 14 806] [energy 
0.050000] ------- [REPLY 0/0 0/0]

r 1.006084802 _20_ MAC  --- 0 MAC 44 [28f 14 f 0] [energy 0.049910]
s 1.006094802 _20_ MAC  --- 0 MAC 38 [1ed f 0 0] [energy 0.049910]