Open-source network simulation roundup 2024
As of early 2024, my list of network simulation and emulation tools remains stable. This post provides the latest status of the tools I list in this blog.
GNS3
Twenty-five open-source network emulators and simulators you can use in 2023
I reviewed the development and support status of all the network emulators and network simulators previously featured in my blog, as of early 2023.
Enable nested virtualization on Google Cloud
Google Cloud Platform introduced nested virtualization support in September 2017. Nested virtualization is especially interesting to network emulation research since it allow users to run unmodified versions of popular network emulation tools like GNS3, EVE-NG, and Cloonix on a cloud instance. Google Cloud supports nested virtualization using the KVM hypervisor on Linux instances. It does
How To Install dCore Linux in a virtual machine
dCore Linux is a minimal Linux system based on the Tiny Core Linux system. Like Tiny Core Linux, dCore loads its file system entirely into RAM, which should provide good performance in large network emulation scenarios running on a single host computer. dCore Linux allows users to install additional software from the Debian or Ubuntu
KVM Performance Limits for virtual CPU cores
I need to determine the maximum number of KVM virtual machines that can run on an average laptop computer. Unfortunately, I cannot find authoritative information about the maximum number of KVM virtual machines that can run on a host computer. Most information I could find about KVM limits does not publish absolute limits but, instead,
Capture data on open-source router interfaces in GNS3
In this post, I will show how to set up data capture in the GNS3 network simulator when using network devices that are emulated by VirtualBox or QEMU virtual machines. The GNS3 network simulator makes it easy for users to capture and view data passing across the interfaces of devices running in a GNS3 network
Using VirtualBox linked clones in the GNS3 network simulator
GNS3 1.3 will create and manage VirtualBox virtual machine linked clones from within the GNS3 user interface. This simplifies the process of setting up VirtualBox virtual machines in GNS3, which makes GNS3 easier to use for studying the operation of open-source routers, switches, and hosts in network simulation scenarios. In this post, I will show
GNS3 Version 1.3: What’s new for Open-Source Routers
In 2014, the GNS3 development team launched a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to support development of a major new release, version 1.0, which was released in October that same year. I was happy to support the Kickstarter campaign and now I am finally getting around to taking a look at the new version of GNS3.
Book review: The Book of GNS3
No Starch Press recently sent me a preview copy of a new book about the GNS3 network simulator, titled The Book of GNS3 written by Jason Neumann. This book covers the new version of GNS3, GNS3 1.x. Here is my review of The Book of GNS3. The Book of GNS3 effectively serves as a user
Install the GNS3 network simulator version 1.x
The GNS3 development team produced a major new release, version 1.0, in October 2014. Since then, they have been regularly updating GNS3 and, at the time I write this, the latest version of GNS3 is version 1.3.7. The latest version of GNS3 cannot be installed using a package manager like Ubuntu Software Center or Synaptic
Persistent configuration changes in TinyCore Linux
TinyCore Linux is very suitable for devices like routers that require a higher level of security. All changes made to a running TinyCore Linux system exist only in system RAM and are lost when the system restarts or is shut down. Viruses or file corruption can be removed simply by rebooting the system. When used
Using open-source routers in GNS3
GNS3 can be used to simulate a network composed exclusively of open-source routers, switches, servers, and hosts. In this post, we will investigate how well GNS3 works when we use it strictly as an open-source network simulator, without using Cisco or Juniper routers in the simulation.