Freedom251 › Network Simulation Software
Marionnet
What Marionnet is
Marionnet is desktop software for building and running virtual computer networks without physical networking equipment. A single GNU/Linux host can emulate an Ethernet network containing computers, routers, hubs, switches, and cables. Users can reconfigure the network as it runs, see its diagram update, and connect it to the host network through a gateway. Guest machines use User Mode Linux, while VDE connects them and emulates network links and equipment. The project says the guests support user-level GNU/Linux software with binary compatibility and can run graphical applications such as Wireshark through the host X server.
Marionnet is free software under the GNU General Public License, with no warranty stated. Its main intended use is teaching computer networks in university laboratories; the project also mentions high schools and network testing or development. A from-scratch installation needs GNU/Linux on x86 or x86_64, root access, and an internet connection. Windows and macOS users can use a VirtualBox appliance, which requires VirtualBox and hardware virtualization enabled in the computer BIOS. Disk use depends on the chosen distribution, despite copy-on-write filesystems.
Who it suits
Marionnet suits university and high-school settings that teach networking, as well as people working on network testing or development. Linux users can install it directly; Windows and macOS users can use its VirtualBox appliance.
What it does well
- Free software under the GNU General Public License.
- Emulates computers and network equipment on one host.
- Network diagram updates as the virtual network changes.
- Can run graphical guest applications such as Wireshark.
- Available through a VirtualBox appliance for Windows and macOS.
What to know first
- From-scratch installation requires GNU/Linux, root access, and internet.
- VirtualBox appliance requires hardware virtualization enabled in BIOS.
- Disk use depends on the chosen distribution.
- The project states that it comes with no warranty.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Marionnet | Free software under the GNU General Public License · No warranty stated | Free |
| Free software | Share, modify and redistribute under GNU GPL · no warranty | Free |
As marionnet.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Marionnet website.
- For a from-scratch install, use GNU/Linux on x86 or x86_64 with root access and an internet connection.
- For Windows or macOS, use the provided VirtualBox appliance and enable hardware virtualization in the computer BIOS.
- Create a virtual network using the available computers, routers, hubs, switches, and cables.
Verdict
Marionnet offers a way to teach, test, or develop network setups without physical networking equipment. Installation requirements differ by platform, and the project warns that disk use varies and provides no warranty.
Questions
How much does Marionnet cost?
The listed plan is free. Marionnet is free software under the GNU General Public License.
Is there a free plan or trial?
A free plan is listed, and there is no free trial.
Which platforms can run Marionnet?
The listed platforms are Linux, macOS, and Windows. A from-scratch installation requires GNU/Linux; Windows and macOS users can run the VirtualBox appliance.
What is required for the VirtualBox appliance?
It requires VirtualBox and hardware virtualization enabled in the computer BIOS.
Who makes Marionnet, and what is it for?
The project says Marionnet began at Paris 13 University in April 2005 for a networking course. Its main goal is teaching computer networks in university laboratories, with high schools and network testing or development also mentioned.
Does Marionnet come with a warranty?
The project states that Marionnet comes with no warranty.
Facts from Marionnet's own pages
- Architecture limitation
- The supplied kernel images are built for i386; amd64 users need i386 libc through multiarch. · sources.debian.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Dependency limitation
- The Debian package does not include the UML kernels or filesystem images needed to operate Marionnet. · sources.debian.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Developer language
- The independent project description identifies OCaml as Marionnet's implementation language. · en.wikipedia.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Disk usage
- Copy-on-write file systems economize on disk space, although disk usage remains a concern and depends on the chosen distribution. · marionnet.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Display requirement
- Running Wireshark inside virtual machines requires X-server TCP connections, which must not be disabled with -nolisten tcp. · sources.debian.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Dynamic reconfiguration
- Devices can be created, removed or modified while the rest of the virtual network continues running. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Educational use
- A university presentation describes Marionnet as enabling realistic, non-trivial network labs for distance learning without dedicated hardware. · lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Fault injection
- Users can inject frame loss, duplication, bit flips and transmission delays independently on link directions while a network runs. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2005 · marionnet.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Funding
- The technical paper says Marionnet was financed by Université Paris 13. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Graphical applications
- Marionnet can use the host X server to run graphical applications such as Wireshark from virtual machines. · marionnet.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Graphical interface
- The GTK-based graphical interface is designed to be usable by inexperienced users. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Guest software
- The project says virtual machines provide full binary compatibility with user-level GNU/Linux software. · marionnet.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- LIPN, France · marionnet.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Host and Internet access
- External sockets can connect virtual machines to the Internet or services on the host and can link virtual networks on different hosts. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Installation method
- The from-scratch script downloads, compiles and installs Marionnet and its dependencies, normally under /usr/local. · marionnet.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Its main goal is teaching computer networks in university laboratories; the project also mentions high schools and network testing or development. · marionnet.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Marionnet is distributed as free software under the GNU General Public License. · marionnet.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: physical realism
- The same presentation says virtualized hardware does not provide contact with real switches, routers and cabling, so physical practice is still needed. · lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: wireless networking
- The technical paper states that Marionnet supports only fully wired virtual networks and planned wireless support for a future version. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Linux execution
- Virtual machines run unmodified x86 GNU/Linux binaries through User-Mode Linux. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
- Linux requirements
- The from-scratch installer requires GNU/Linux on x86 or x86_64 with root access and an internet connection; the page says 512 MB of RAM should be enough. · marionnet.org, 7 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The named authors are Jean-Vincent Loddo and Luca Saiu at Université Sorbonne Paris Nord. · marionnet.org, 15 Oct 2026
- Maker location
- The authors' research address is LIPN, 99 avenue J.B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France. · www-lipn.univ-paris13.fr, 15 Oct 2026
Where Marionnet stands on Freedom251
- Network Simulation Software#3 of 31