GNS3 vs Marionnet

GNS3 is free, open-source software for emulating, configuring, testing, and troubleshooting virtual and real networks. Its graphical client works with a virtual machine, and servers can run locally or remotely. Users can combine emulated devices running actual images with simulated devices, including a built-in layer 2 switch. It supports appliances from vendors such as Cisco, Brocade, Cumulus Linux, and HPE, as well as Docker, QEMU-based appliances, VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V, and connections to real networks. The GNS3 Marketplace offers preconfigured appliance templates with recommended settings. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux; documentation recommends the GNS3 VM for most Windows and macOS setups and complex topologies. Users must supply their own Cisco IOS images. There are no monthly or yearly license fees, and device capacity depends in practice on the host computer’s CPU and memory. GNS3 is used for networking education, certification practice, proofs of concept, demonstrations, and interoperability testing. A server has no authentication enabled by default and should be restricted at the network level.

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.