You can simply download a ready NS2 included virtual machine.

https://sites.google.com/a/deei.units.it/aljosa-dorni/download2/virtual-machine-ns2-matlab-octave

you might be using older version files on the ubuntu operating system. version check is done via this command in the terminal console:

lsb_release -a

any version older then 14.04 LTS is not supported (14.04 12.10 etc), if you are using older version that that you need to upgrade your ubuntu operating system to newer version. if version is above 14.04 LTS just upgrade the current files, its one line of code in terminal.

sudo apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

restart and retry NS-2.

if it does not work reinstalling (remove and install) ns2 takes one command:

sudo apt-get remove ns2 && apt-get install ns2

advice above is also good to use Virtual Machine NS2, but that might also require latest supported ubuntu operating system if you use old unsupported version might also not work. best advice keep OS up to date

I did update to AODV, and I did too many times of compiling and building the ns2, I faced no errors or huge delays as you mention. it is well to check the privileges and administration parameters to access the files on hard-disk. it may be unable to write on h.w, either h.d. problem or privileges problem.

the compilation method is direct can check it on the following link

http://mailman.isi.edu/pipermail/ns-users/2010-March/067576.html

regards and good luck