Containerlab Free plan 8.9 Visit Marionnet
marionnet.org
What it is
Marionnet is desktop software for defining, configuring, and running virtual computer networks without physical equipment. A single GNU/Linux host can emulate Ethernet networks containing computers, routers, hubs, switches, and cables. Networks can be reconfigured while running, their diagrams update dynamically, and a gateway can connect the virtual network to the host network. Guest machines use User Mode Linux, while VDE links them and emulates network equipment. The project says guests provide binary compatibility with user-level GNU/Linux software and can run graphical applications such as Wireshark through the host X server. Marionnet is free software under the GNU General Public License, priced at free, with no warranty stated. Linux installation requires x86 or x86_64, root access, and internet access; Windows and macOS users can use the VirtualBox appliance.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Marionnet is a virtual network laboratory for defining, configuring and running complex Ethernet networks on one GNU/Linux host.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Intended users
- Its main goal is teaching computer networks in university laboratories; the project also mentions high schools and network testing or development.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Support
- The contact page lists Support at LIPN in France, and the installer page directs bug reports to Launchpad.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Headquarters
- LIPN, FranceRead 28 Sep 2026 · marionnet.org
- Founded
- 2005Read 28 Sep 2026 · marionnet.org
- Maker
- The named authors are Jean-Vincent Loddo and Luca Saiu at Université Sorbonne Paris Nord.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Architecture limitation
- The supplied kernel images are built for i386; amd64 users need i386 libc through multiarch.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sources.debian.org
- Dependency limitation
- The Debian package does not include the UML kernels or filesystem images needed to operate Marionnet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sources.debian.org
- Developer language
- The independent project description identifies OCaml as Marionnet's implementation language.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
- Disk usage
- Copy-on-write file systems economize on disk space, although disk usage remains a concern and depends on the chosen distribution.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Display requirement
- Running Wireshark inside virtual machines requires X-server TCP connections, which must not be disabled with -nolisten tcp.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sources.debian.org
- Dynamic reconfiguration
- Devices can be created, removed or modified while the rest of the virtual network continues running.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Educational use
- A university presentation describes Marionnet as enabling realistic, non-trivial network labs for distance learning without dedicated hardware.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Fault injection
- Users can inject frame loss, duplication, bit flips and transmission delays independently on link directions while a network runs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Funding
- The technical paper says Marionnet was financed by Université Paris 13.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Graphical applications
- Marionnet can use the host X server to run graphical applications such as Wireshark from virtual machines.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Graphical interface
- The GTK-based graphical interface is designed to be usable by inexperienced users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Guest software
- The project says virtual machines provide full binary compatibility with user-level GNU/Linux software.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Host and Internet access
- External sockets can connect virtual machines to the Internet or services on the host and can link virtual networks on different hosts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Installation method
- The from-scratch script downloads, compiles and installs Marionnet and its dependencies, normally under /usr/local.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Licence
- Marionnet is distributed as free software under the GNU General Public License.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Limit: physical realism
- The same presentation says virtualized hardware does not provide contact with real switches, routers and cabling, so physical practice is still needed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Limit: wireless networking
- The technical paper states that Marionnet supports only fully wired virtual networks and planned wireless support for a future version.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Linux execution
- Virtual machines run unmodified x86 GNU/Linux binaries through User-Mode Linux.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Linux requirements
- The from-scratch installer requires GNU/Linux on x86 or x86_64 with root access and an internet connection; the page says 512 MB of RAM should be enough.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Maker location
- The authors' research address is LIPN, 99 avenue J.B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Memory and disk
- The installer says 512 MB RAM should suffice; large filesystem images can require about 1 GB each, while Marionnet and dependencies use under 100 MB.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Network features
- Features include dynamic network reconfiguration, a dynamically updated network diagram, and a gateway device for connecting the virtual network to the host network.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Networking limitation
- The Debian notes say Marionnet's slirpvde gateway has limitations including no ICMP support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sources.debian.org
- Origin
- The project says Marionnet began in April 2005 at Paris 13 University for a networking course.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Package freshness
- UbuntuUpdates lists version 0.90.6+bzr508-1build2 for Ubuntu 20.04 Focal and reports no recent changelog update.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ubuntuupdates.org
- Physical-network integration
- The virtual network can be connected to the host's physical network.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
- Praise: low hardware cost
- The academic presentation emphasizes that students can perform network practical work on one personal computer without special equipment.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Project files
- Projects save network configuration and copy-on-write machine files in .mar archives, typically ranging from 10 kB to 100 MB.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Project origin
- The project began in April 2005 as Jean-Vincent Loddo's textual Netkit interface for a Paris 13 networking course.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
- Public source repository
- The GitHub repository is public, GPL-2.0 licensed and contains OCaml source, build files, documentation directories and daemon modules.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Routing
- Virtual routers use Quagga and support static routing plus protocols including RIP, OSPF, BGP and IS-IS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Security and warranty
- The installer page says some steps require superuser privileges and may have security implications; the project states that Marionnet comes with no warranty.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Security caveat
- The official installation instructions warn that some script steps require superuser privileges and may have security implications.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Simulated network
- A single GNU/Linux host can simulate an Ethernet network with computers, routers, hubs, switches, and cables.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Stable release
- Wikipedia lists 0.94.0, released January 31, 2018, as the stable release.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
- Supported distributions
- The project says any GNU/Linux distribution may work but reports testing mainly on Debian, Ubuntu and Gentoo.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- System requirement
- The official installer requires GNU/Linux on x86 or x86_64 hardware, root access and an Internet connection for downloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Teaching workflows
- Instructors can distribute preconfigured .mar networks and students can return their modified files for help or grading.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Virtual devices
- Its simulated components include computers, Ethernet hubs, Ethernet switches, IP routers, straight and crossover cables, Ethernet clouds and Ethernet sockets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Virtual machine technology
- Guest machines use User Mode Linux, and VDE links them into a virtual network while emulating cables, hubs, and switches.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
- Virtual switching
- Hubs and switches use the Virtual Distributed Ethernet infrastructure.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lipn.univ-paris13.fr
- Windows and macOS access
- Windows and Apple users can run the provided VirtualBox appliance, which requires VirtualBox and hardware virtualization enabled in the computer BIOS.Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
Plans and prices
Free software Free Share, modify and redistribute under GNU GPL · no warranty Read 15 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
Marionnet Free Free software under the GNU General Public License · No warranty stated Read 7 Oct 2026 · marionnet.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Simulates complete Ethernet networks on one host
- Supports dynamic reconfiguration and network diagrams
- Includes a gateway to the host network
- Runs GNU/Linux graphical applications such as Wireshark
- Free under the GNU General Public License
Limits
- Linux installation requires root access
- Windows and macOS require VirtualBox
- Disk usage depends on the chosen distribution
- The project states no warranty
Who it suits
Marionnet is mainly for teaching computer networks in university laboratories. The project also mentions high schools and network testing or development.
Verdict
Marionnet provides a free virtual laboratory for network instruction and experimentation. Its emulation model supports varied network equipment without physical hardware.
Where Specifiction places it
- Network Simulation Software#2 of 318.6
