Open-source network simulation roundup 2024

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I updated the status of the open-source network simulation and network emulation projects tracked in this blog. I found no new projects to add to my lists in 2023 or early 2024. I also did not have to delete any projects because they all seem to have an acceptable level of support in 2024.

Read the rest of this post for information about the latest open-source network simulator releases, as of the end of February, 2024.

Network Simulators

  • cnet (No links; see below.)
    • The development team is re-writing the cnet code base and the old version is no longer available to download. A new version will be released soon: in, or after, March 2024. I will update the links on my web site at that time.
  • ns-3
    • ns-3 continues to be a major, active project. The most recent release was ns-3.41 on February 9, 2024. The ns-3 source code is on GitLab. at
  • OMNet++
    • OMNeT++ also continues to be a major project that is actively maintained. Release 6.0.3 was made available on February 24, 2024. The OMNET++ source code is on GitHub.
  • Shadow
    • Shadow is actively maintained with many fixed and features added in 2023. The most recent release was v3.1.0 on Dec 30, 2023. The Shadow source code is on GitHub.

Network Emulators for Engineers

  • Cloonix
    • Cloonix continues to be actively maintained. The latest release was v34-00 on December 29, 2023, and (updated thanks to the received comment from the developer) a new release will be coming soon.
  • CORE
  • IMUNES
    • IMUNES development has started again and it is now being maintained. The latest release was v2.4.0 in January 2024, the first new release in almost five years!
    • The IMUNES source code is on GitHub
  • EVE-NG Community Edition
    • The EVE-NG Community Edition is still available but is not receiving active development. The last community edition release over was a year ago on February 22, 2023.
    • The EVE development team is focusing on the paid EVE-PRO/LC version.
  • GNS3
    • GNS3 is actively developed and the latest release is v2.2.45 on January 12, 2024.
    • Release 3.0 is in beta and will include CI/CD improvements that aim to attract developers.
    • The GNS3 source code is on GitHub.

Network Emulators for Developers

  • Containerlab
    • Containerlab continues to be a very active project with frequent releases. The latest release is v0.51.3 on February 22, 2024.
    • A new feature named Clabernetes enables Containerlab to run in a cluster of servers, greatly increasing the size of labs you can emulate
    • The Containerlab source code is on GitHub.
  • NetLab
    • NetLab is frequently updated. The latest release is v1.7.2 on January 26, 2024
    • The NetLab source code is on GitHub
  • OpenConfig-KNE
    • OpenConfig-KNE continues to be regularly updated. The latest release was v0.1.17 on February 20, 2024.
    • The OpenConfig-KNE source code is on GitHub
  • vrnetlab
    • vrnetlab continues to be supported. There have been updates to the source code within the past six months — mostly bug fixes and maintenance of supported node types.
    • The vrnetlab source code is on GitHub.
  • Linux Network Stack Test (fix name)
    • LNST development is stable. There have been minor updates over past few years. The last major release was in 2019.
    • The LNST mailing list is very quiet over the past year.
    • The LNST source code is on GitHub.

Software Defined Networks

  • Mininet
    • Mininet development is stable. The most recent changes were made to the source code in September 2023 but the last major release, v2.3.0, was release in 2021.
    • The Mininet mailing list is still active
    • The Mininet source code is on GitHub.
    • The Mininet-WiFi variant is also stable and still supported. The author continues to respond to GitHub Issues in a timely manner.
  • Containernet
    • Containernet continues to be maintained. While its last official release was in 2019, its source code has received updates as recently as December, 2023.
    • The Containernet source code is on GitHub.

Mobile and Radio Networks

  • Colosseum
    • The Colosseum emulator is stable. One of its components, Openairinterface was updated to v2.0.1 in January 2024.
    • Source code for the Colosseum components is available from links on the Colloseum web site.
  • Cooja
    • Cooja is still part of the Contiki-NG project, whose latest release was v4.9 on July 17 2023. By itself, Cooja receives minor changes.
    • The Cooja source code is on GitHub
  • CrowNet
    • CrowNet received some minor fixes over the past year. Development activity is low.
    • Some of the simulation systems that CrowNet incorporates have been updated recently:
    • INET v4.5.2 on August 29, 2023
    • Simu5G v1.2.2 on April 19, 2023
    • Vadere v3.0 on October 4, 2023
  • CupCarbon
    • CupCarbon was updated to R6.0, which adds support for IoT nodes. However, the version 6.0 source code is not available (except in the downloaded .jar file).
    • Version 5.2, from two years ago, seems to be the version available on GitHub.
    • Also, CupCarbon does not declare its license. Reader, please add a comment to this post if you know the open-source status of this project.
  • Meshtasticator
    • Meshtasticator received a few maintenance fixes over past year, but no major development.
    • The Meshtasticator source code is on GitHub
  • NEmu
    • NEmu has undergone active development over the past few years. Release 0.8.1 came out in September 2023.
    • The NEmu source code is on GitLab

Network Emulators maintained by Universities

  • Kathara
    • Kathara is actively maintained, with frequent releases. The latest release is v3.7.1 in January, 2024.
    • Labs and Tutorials are also frequently updated
    • The Kathara source code is on GitHub.
  • Labtainers
    • Labtainers continues to be actively maintained. The most recent release was v1.3.7u on November 27, 2023
    • The Labtainers source code is on GitHub.
  • VNX
    • The VNX emulator is stable. It is supported and was last updated to version 2.0b.6807 on December 20, 2023.
    • New VNX filesystems continue to be added, with the latest filesystems added in December, 2023.
    • The VNX source code is available on the VNX website.

Network Demonstrators for High School Teachers

Tools

  • tinet
    • tinet is still actively maintained. The latest release is v0.0.4 on January 17, 2024.
    • The tinet source code is on GitHub
  • Nix
    • I am adding Nix to the list of build it yourself tools.
    • Nix is another way to build network nodes in a declarative manner, making it easy to manage changes to your simulation scenarios.

2 thoughts on “Open-source network simulation roundup 2024”

  1. Vincent Perrier

    Hello, cloonix will very soon (before end of march) produce a version that runs inside a podman that is not root. The only root commands necessary in the preparation will be:
    sudo setfacl -R -m u:${USER}:rw /dev/kvm
    sudo setfacl -R -m u:${USER}:rw /dev/vhost-net
    sudo setfacl -R -m u:${USER}:rw /dev/net/tun

    This because these 3 devices are used for the kvm emulation.

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