Packet tracer is the most simplest tool.

You can also use

GNS and Opnet.

ns3 is the best

HI it will depend on how u want to measure the performance, if you depend on Packet tracer or other network stimulation the result will note be accurate . However, if you can tell me more what u want to measure

Throughput.

Latency.

Server and client response time.

I will try to help

My regards

Hamza

to be close to real scenario, use netkit and c to develop you own dhcp protocol and see how it reacts. it may not be the best choice for ARP as it is in low layer of TCP/IP stack. but this remain possible if you work with raw socket.

regards

Dear sir 

every simulator has advantage and disadvantage, so u need to chose which one most suitable for proposed work. However,   I suggest NS3.

Hope this answer be helpful 

Best Regards

I think Openet is one of the choice