Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Mininet VS NetSim

Compare Mininet VS NetSim and see what are their differences

Mininet logo Mininet

Mininet is a robust and inexpensive Instant Virtual Network designed to function on standard PCs like Laptops and Desktops.

NetSim logo NetSim

NetSim software was created to simulate various Cisco systems. Cisco software is known around the world as being one of the best network, routing and switch systems for businesses and private use. Read more about NetSim.
  • Mininet Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-02-21
  • NetSim Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

Mininet features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Mininet provides a simple and user-friendly interface, allowing users to easily create and manage network topologies without requiring extensive knowledge of network configurations.
  • Cost-Effective
    Since Mininet is an open-source software, it is available for free, making it a cost-effective solution for educational and experimental purposes in networking.
  • Rapid Prototyping
    Mininet enables the quick creation and deployment of network prototypes, which is ideal for testing new ideas and configurations without the need for physical hardware.
  • Scalability
    With the ability to emulate large networks on a single machine or scale out with multiple machines using virtualization, Mininet offers flexibility in terms of scalability.
  • Rich Ecosystem
    Mininet supports a wide range of networking protocols and integrates well with other networking tools, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for network research and development.

Possible disadvantages of Mininet

  • Performance Limitations
    Being an emulation tool, Mininet might not perfectly mimic the performance of a real network, particularly for highly demanding network applications.
  • Complexity in Large Scale
    Managing very large network topologies can become complex and cumbersome, requiring careful configuration and resource management.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running large or complex network simulations on Mininet can be resource-intensive, requiring substantial CPU and memory allocation, which can be limiting on less powerful machines.
  • Limited Real-World Testing
    While Mininet is excellent for prototyping and testing, it may not fully replicate the behavior of networks in real-world environments, potentially missing aspects related to physical hardware limitations.
  • Learning Curve
    Although Mininet is generally user-friendly, there is still a learning curve associated with effectively using the tool, especially for those unfamiliar with command-line interfaces and network configurations.

NetSim features and specs

  • Comprehensive Lab Exercises
    NetSim offers a wide variety of lab exercises that cover different levels of networking expertise from beginner to advanced. This helps users gain practical experience and a deep understanding of networking concepts.
  • Realistic Network Simulations
    NetSim provides realistic network simulations that closely mimic actual networking environments. This provides users with a genuine feel of working with real networking hardware and configuration scenarios.
  • Learning Mode and Skill Building
    The platform includes interactive learning modes that aid in skill building. These modes guide users through lab exercises, offering hints and feedback to ensure a smooth learning curve.
  • Versatility
    NetSim is versatile and can be used for certifications like Cisco's CCNA, CCNP, and others. This makes it a good investment for those who are pursuing multiple certifications.
  • Cost-effective
    Compared to purchasing actual networking hardware, NetSim is a cost-effective solution for hands-on network training and practice.

Possible disadvantages of NetSim

  • Limited Hardware Interaction
    NetSim is a simulation tool, so it does not provide the physical interaction with networking equipment, which can be a drawback for users wanting to gain experience with actual hardware.
  • Performance Limitations
    Because it is software-based, NetSim may have performance limitations compared to real networking hardware, particularly in handling very large scale or complex network topologies.
  • Dependency on Software Updates
    Users are reliant on Boson to provide regular updates to the software to keep it in line with current networking technologies and certification requirements. Any delay in updates can be a drawback for users.
  • Learning Curve
    While NetSim offers guidance, there is still a learning curve associated with effectively using the software. New users might find it challenging initially.
  • Cost
    Although cost-effective relative to purchasing physical hardware, NetSim itself is a paid software and might be considered expensive for individual learners or small institutions.

Mininet videos

Introduction to Mininet

More videos:

  • Review - Review mininet by jaring kambing gunung
  • Review - Samsung F300 Review Unboxing MiniNET.si

NetSim videos

CCNA Trunking Review with the Boson NetSim!

More videos:

  • Demo - NetSim 13 Demo
  • Demo - Netsim 12 Configuration Demo Lab Walkthrough

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Mininet and NetSim)
Simulation Software
44 44%
56% 56
Technical Computing
35 35%
65% 65
Tool
50 50%
50% 50
Numerical Computation
14 14%
86% 86

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Mininet seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Mininet mentions (3)

  • How do I learn the basics and beyond of networking?
    You can learn routing even on a host in Linux with iptables as well as Linux network namespaces via mini net http://mininet.org/ etc. once you’re comfortable there you can start looking at docker networking and also frr as well as gns3 or eve-ng running virtualized routers. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Reverse Engineering a mysterious UDP stream in my hotel
    Or instead of using Docker, you can also get a Mininet VM, (optionally) install a desktop environment on it and create any manner of network configurations to tinker with, and use Wireshark to analyse traffic. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Cloudflare outage on June 21, 2022
    You can learn BGP with mininet: https://mininet.org/ You can simulate arbitrarily large networks and internetworks with this, provided you have the hardware to run a large enough number of virtual appliances, but they are pretty lightweight. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago

NetSim mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of NetSim yet. Tracking of NetSim recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Mininet and NetSim, you can also consider the following products

ns-3 - a discrete-event network simulator for internet systems

GNS3 - GNS3 is a graphical network simulator that allows simulation of complex networks.

Paessler Multi Server Simulator - Paessler Multi Server Simulator is inexpensive and robust software that helps you power massive-scale testing.

Cisco Packet Tracer - Download Cisco Packet Tracer, an innovative network simulation and visualization tool used by Cisco Networking Academy students and instructors.

FlexSim - Simulation software to model, simulate, predict, and visualize systems in manufacturing, material handling, healthcare, warehousing, mining, etc.

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming

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