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Kathará

kathara.org

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Spec score 8.0 #9 of 31 in Network Simulation Software

What it is

Kathará is a free, open-source system for emulating networks in interactive lessons, demos, production-network sandbox tests, and protocol development. It represents network devices with containers connected through virtual Layer-2 LANs, and scenarios can use Docker or Kubernetes as their virtualization backend. Built-in images include Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch; users can also supply their own container images. A Python package exposes APIs for custom code. Kathará supports Linux, macOS on Intel or Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 and 11. Debian and Ubuntu installations are available through apt, with precompiled packages for other listed distributions. Settings cover IPv6, terminal behavior, volume mounts, and remote Docker or Kubernetes connections. The software depends on Docker by default, and rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported. The project lists version 3.8.3 as covered by security patches. It is free, with a listed price of free.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Kathará is an open-source container-based network emulation system for interactive lessons and demos, sandbox testing of production networks, and network protocol development.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
Intended users
The project says it is used in courses and projects and describes use in teaching, production-network sandbox testing, and protocol development.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Headquarters
Rome, ItalyRead 28 Sep 2026 · kathara.org
Configuration options
Settings include IPv6 enablement, terminal behavior, volume-mount policy, remote Docker connection details, and Kubernetes API connection parameters.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
Deployment backends
Network scenarios can run using Docker or Kubernetes as the backend virtualization system.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
Linux distribution support
Debian and Ubuntu installations are available through apt, with precompiled packages for other listed distributions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
Network images
Built-in images include Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch, and users can also use their own container images.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Network model
It emulates network devices as containers interconnected by virtual Layer-2 LANs.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
Operating systems
The download page lists Linux distributions, macOS with Intel or Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 and 11 as supported platforms.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
Operational requirement
Kathará depends on Docker by default and its troubleshooting page says rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Python APIs
The PyPI package provides programmatic APIs for using Kathará features from custom code.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
Security patch coverage
The security policy says patches are released only for the last version and lists version 3.8.3 as supported.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security reporting
The security policy asks users to report suspected vulnerabilities by issue or email and says a response will arrive within 48 hours.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support channel
The project directs bug reports to its GitHub repository and security-relevant reports to the Kathará mailing list.Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org

Plans and prices

Free open-source software Free No paid plans or usage limits stated Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org

Every Kathará plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Runs scenarios with Docker or Kubernetes.
  • Includes Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch images.
  • Python package provides APIs for custom code.
  • Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows 10 and 11.
  • Free open-source software; listed at free.

Limits

  • Depends on Docker by default.
  • Rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported.
  • Security patches are listed only for version 3.8.3.

Who it suits

Kathará suits educators and developers building network lessons or demos, as well as teams that need a sandbox for production-network tests or protocol development. Its Python APIs and support for custom container images also suit users who want to extend scenarios through code or their own images.

Verdict

Kathará offers a free way to build container-based network emulations across several desktop systems, with Docker and Kubernetes backends and a Python API. Check its Docker requirement and the stated security patch coverage before choosing it.

Where Specifiction places it

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