Network Emulation Tools

In general, it is difficult to assess performance of distributed
applications and protocols before they are deployed on the real
network, because the interaction with network impairments such as
delay is hard to predict. Therefore, researchers and
practitioners often use emulation to mimic deployment (typically
wide-area) networks for use in laboratory testbeds.

The emulators listed below implement logical interfaces with configurable
parameters such as delay, bandwidth (capacity) and packet loss rates.

• NIST network emulator - Linux kernel 2.4 and older
• netem - Linux kernel 2.6 and newer
• Dummynet - included in FreeBSD
• hxbt - Streams module for Solaris/OpenSolaris

– Main.TobyRodwell - 06 Apr 2005
-- Main.SimonLeinen - 15 Dec 2005