Netkit: Easy Emulation of Complex Networks on Inexpensive Hardware

Maurizio Pizzonia; Massimo Rimondini

4th International ICST Conference on Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the Development of Networks & Communities

Research Article

Netkit: Easy Emulation of Complex Networks on Inexpensive Hardware

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Cite: BibTeX Plain Text

@INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/tridentcom.2008.3155,
    author={Maurizio Pizzonia and Massimo Rimondini},
    title={Netkit: Easy Emulation of Complex Networks on Inexpensive Hardware},
    proceedings={4th International ICST Conference on Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the Development of Networks \& Communities},
    publisher={ICST},
    proceedings_a={TRIDENTCOM},
    year={2010},
    month={5},
    keywords={Network emulation Routing Virtual laboratories User-Mode Linux},
    doi={10.4108/tridentcom.2008.3155}
}

Maurizio Pizzonia
Massimo Rimondini
Year: 2010
Netkit: Easy Emulation of Complex Networks on Inexpensive Hardware
TRIDENTCOM
ICST
DOI: 10.4108/tridentcom.2008.3155

Maurizio Pizzonia¹^,*, Massimo Rimondini¹^,*

1: Dept. of Computer Science and Automation Roma Tre University

*Contact email: pizzonia@dia.uniroma3.it, rimondin@dia.uniroma3.it

Abstract

Network emulators are software environments that closely reproduce the functionalities and the behavior of real world networks.

In this paper we describe Netkit, a freely available lightweight network emulator based on User-Mode Linux. Netkit allows users to experiment with a large number of network technologies and provides tools for a straightforward setup of complex network scenarios that can be easily distributed via email or published on the Web. Netkit also comes with a set of ready to use experiences, accompanied by lecture slides, that enable users to immediately experiment with specific case studies. Our system has proved itself to be helpful in testing the configuration of ISP-scale real world networks and is profitably used within University level networking courses.

We provide a detailed comparison against other competing solutions and experimental measures about the scalability of the system.

Keywords: Network emulation Routing Virtual laboratories User-Mode Linux

Published: 2010-05-16
Publisher: ICST
Modified: 2010-05-16

: http://dx.doi.org/10.4108/tridentcom.2008.3155