EXata Network Modeling vs Mininet
EXata Network Modeling
keysight.comMininet
mininet.orgSide by side
| Figure | EXata Network Modeling | Mininet |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Network Simulation Software | 7.3 (#27) | 8.5 (#3) |
| Integrations | The technical overview says EXata can run live applications across simulated networks and connect models with physical equipment such as servers, computers, radios, and sensors. | The recommended Mininet VM includes OpenFlow binaries and tools, and Mininet supports Open vSwitch and multiple OpenFlow controllers. |
| Intended users | Keysight describes EXata as a platform for scientists, engineers, IT technicians, communications specialists, and network planners. | The project describes Mininet as useful for development, teaching, and research. |
| Support | Keysight links EXata customers to KeysightCare, the Keysight Support Portal, and its Software Download Center for support and software updates. | The project directs users to its FAQ, documentation, and mininet-discuss mailing list for support and discussion. |
| Use cases | Keysight lists protocol and waveform research, network design, capacity prediction, RF propagation modeling, mission planning, and cyber resiliency assessment among EXata use cases. | Mininet supports research, development, learning, prototyping, testing, and debugging. |
Plans
In their own words
EXata Network Modeling
EXata Network Modeling has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Mininet
Mininet is a free network emulator that creates virtual hosts, switches, controllers and links on one machine. Its hosts run standard Linux network software on the real Linux kernel and network stack, while switches support OpenFlow. The project describes uses including research, development, learning, prototyping, testing and debugging, including experiments with SDN systems using OpenFlow and P4. A topology-aware and OpenFlow-aware command-line interface supports debugging and network-wide tests. Users can select parameterized topologies or create custom ones, and an extensible Python API supports network creation and experimentation. Mininet networks can connect to real networks, and code developed in Mininet can move to real systems with minimal changes. Installation options include a pre-packaged virtual machine, native installation from source and packages for recent Ubuntu or Debian 11 and later; Fedora support is experimental. Mininet depends on the Linux kernel, while its VM can run through VMware or VirtualBox on Mac, Windows and Linux. Its networks are constrained by a single server's CPU and bandwidth, and it cannot currently run non-Linux-compatible OpenFlow switches or applications. Mininet is released under a permissive BSD open source license.