Mininet vs OMNeT++

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.

OMNeT++ is a modular C++ simulation library and framework used mainly to build network simulators. Its discrete-event models consist of communicating C++ modules whose structure is defined in the NED language. Simulations can run in Qtenv, a graphical runtime environment, or Cmdenv, a command-line interface. The IDE Analysis Tool uses Pandas and Matplotlib to analyze and plot results; R and Matlab can also process them. Extensions cover real-time simulation, network emulation, database integration, and SystemC integration, while the INET model library provides Internet stack models and other protocols and components. Packages are offered for Linux, Windows, and macOS, along with a core archive and container images. The project recommends opp_env for installation and uses WSL in its recommended Windows route. Its Academic Public License allows noncommercial teaching and research; commercial work requires a separate license, priced on request. The maker says the software has no telemetry or account system and keeps models and results on the user's computer.