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Common Open Research Emulator (CORE)

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What Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) is

Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) builds real-time virtual networks that can connect to physical networks and routers. It is used for network and protocol research, demonstrations, application and platform testing, scenario evaluation, security studies and enlarging physical test networks. A drag-and-drop GUI lets users create nodes and links, draw topologies and launch terminals for emulated nodes. Applications and protocols can run without modification. On Linux, CORE uses namespaces, Ethernet bridging, virtual interfaces and Netem queuing disciplines to form and configure networks. The core-daemon exposes a gRPC API used by the GUI and other systems, while Python modules support scripted emulation. CORE supports distributed operation and hardware-in-the-loop, and its emulated networks can connect to live networks. Documented services include EMANE, FRR, Quagga, SDN and XORP; EMANE can be used for higher-fidelity wireless networks. CORE is free and open source under a BSD-2-Clause license. It requires Linux kernel 3.3 or later, Python 3.10 or later and supporting tools and GUI components. Installation options include RPM and DEB packages and scripts.

Who it suits

CORE suits researchers and teams working on network or protocol studies, demonstrations, testing, security work or larger physical test networks. It requires a Linux environment and supporting software.

What it does well

  • Emulates networks in real time and connects to physical networks.
  • Supports distributed operation and hardware-in-the-loop.
  • GUI supports topology creation and terminal launches.
  • gRPC API and Python modules enable system interaction and scripting.
  • Free and open source under BSD-2-Clause.

What to know first

  • Runs on Linux.
  • Requires Linux kernel 3.3 or later and Python 3.10 or later.
  • GUI and additional supporting tools are required.

Limits

CORE requires a Linux environment with the listed kernel, Python, networking, package, virtual-environment, and GUI components. It is provided as self-hosted software rather than a hosted platform.

Getting started

  1. Review the documented Linux requirements, including kernel 3.3 or later and Python 3.10 or later
  2. Install CORE with a prebuilt DEB or RPM package, or use the script-based installation
  3. Use the project documentation for Ubuntu 22.04, Rocky Linux 8.10, or CentOS examples
  4. Launch the GUI and draw a topology with nodes and links
  5. Configure emulated networks and open terminals for emulated nodes
  6. Use the gRPC API or Python modules when scripting is needed

Verdict

CORE offers GUI-based and scripted real-time network emulation, including connections to physical networks and hardware-in-the-loop operation. It is free, but requires Linux and the documented supporting components.

Questions

Is Common Open Research Emulator free?

Yes. CORE is free, has a free plan, and is open source under a BSD-2-Clause license.

Which platforms does CORE support?

The listed platforms are API, Linux, and self-hosted deployments.

Does CORE provide an automation API?

Yes. The core-daemon exposes a gRPC API, and Python modules support scripted network emulation.

What networking integrations are documented?

Documentation includes services for EMANE, FRR, Quagga, SDN, and XORP. EMANE can be used with CORE for higher-fidelity wireless networks.

How can CORE be installed?

The project offers prebuilt RPM and DEB packages and script-based installation, with documented Ubuntu 22.04, Rocky Linux 8.10, and CentOS examples.

Facts from Common Open Research Emulator (CORE)'s own pages

API
NRL says the CORE API lets other systems interact with CORE emulation and is used for communication between CORE components. · nrl.navy.mil, 10 Oct 2026
APIs
The core-daemon provides a gRPC API, and the GUI communicates with the daemon over gRPC. · coreemu.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Customization
CORE is described as highly customizable and includes Python modules for scripting network emulation. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Distributed and physical networks
CORE supports distributed emulation and hardware-in-the-loop, and its emulated networks can connect to live networks. · nrl.navy.mil, 9 Oct 2026
Installation
The repository documents package installation using deb or rpm packages and script installation for Ubuntu 22.04 and CentOS. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Installation options
The project offers prebuilt RPM and DEB packages and script-based installation; its documentation gives Ubuntu 22.04 and Rocky Linux 8.10 examples. · coreemu.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations
CORE documentation includes provided services for EMANE, FRR, Quagga, SDN, and XORP. · coreemu.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Intended users
NRL describes CORE for research, demonstrations, testing, security studies, and increasing the size of physical test networks. · nrl.navy.mil, 10 Oct 2026
Interface
CORE provides a drag-and-drop GUI for creating nodes and links, and can launch terminals for emulated nodes. · coreemu.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Interface and scripting
CORE includes a GUI for drawing topologies of lightweight virtual machines and Python modules for scripting network emulation. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Key features
NRL lists an easy-to-use GUI canvas, centralized configuration and control, hardware-in-the-loop, distributed operation across multiple CORE instances, and customization. · nrl.navy.mil, 10 Oct 2026
License
The GitHub repository identifies the project license as BSD-2-Clause. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Network implementation
CORE runs on Linux and uses Linux namespaces, Ethernet bridging, virtual interfaces, and Netem queuing disciplines to form and configure emulated networks. · coreemu.github.io, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose
CORE emulates networks on one or more machines and can connect emulated networks to live networks. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Real-time and physical connections
NRL says CORE runs emulations in real time and can connect them to physical networks and routers. · nrl.navy.mil, 10 Oct 2026
Requirements
The repository states that CORE requires Python 3.9 or later. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Support
The repository points users to GitHub-hosted documentation and a Discord channel for support discussions. · github.com, 10 Oct 2026
Unmodified software
NRL says CORE runs applications and protocols without modifying them. · nrl.navy.mil, 10 Oct 2026
Use cases
NRL says CORE is typically used for network and protocol research, demonstrations, application and platform testing, networking scenario evaluation, security studies, and expanding physical test networks. · nrl.navy.mil, 10 Oct 2026
Wireless integration
CORE documentation describes using EMANE with CORE for higher-fidelity wireless networks. · coreemu.github.io, 10 Oct 2026

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