Freedom251 › Network Simulation Software
Mininet-WiFi
What Mininet-WiFi is
Mininet-WiFi extends the Mininet SDN network emulator with virtual Wi-Fi stations and access points, letting users model wireless behavior and movement in a Linux environment. It uses Linux wireless drivers, including 80211_hwsim, and offers Traffic Control and wmediumd approaches for simulating the wireless medium. The project recommends wmediumd for ad hoc and wireless mesh networks. Documented mobility models include RandomWalk, TruncatedLevyWalk, RandomDirection, RandomWayPoint, GaussMarkov, ReferencePoint, and TimeVariantCommunity. Containernet integration lets Docker containers serve as Mininet hosts and Mininet-WiFi stations in networking and cloud testbeds. The documentation also covers running SUMO externally and support for 6LoWPAN. It is free, with source installation and a downloadable VM image. The project recommends the latest Ubuntu LTS and provides installation guidance for Ubuntu and Debian, plus experimental Fedora instructions. Its IEEE 802.11p procedure works only with Linux kernel 5.5.
Who it suits
Mininet-WiFi suits researchers and developers building wireless network, mobility, mesh, or cloud testbeds on Linux. It is also relevant for users who need to connect Docker containers or SUMO to network emulation.
What it does well
- Free.
- Includes several documented mobility models.
- Supports Containernet and SUMO integration.
- Supports 6LoWPAN through fakelb and mac802154_hwsim.
What to know first
- Requires a Linux environment.
- IEEE 802.11p procedure works only with kernel 5.5.
- Fedora installation guidance is experimental.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mininet-WiFi | Open-source network emulator · requires a Linux environment | Free |
As mininet-wifi.github.io lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Choose the downloadable VM image or source installation.
- For source installation, use the guidance for Ubuntu or Debian; Fedora instructions are experimental.
- Use the latest Ubuntu LTS, as recommended by the project.
- If using the VM image, consider VirtualBox, available for OS X, Windows and Linux.
- Use the mininet-wifi-discuss mailing list for support and community discussion.
Verdict
Mininet-WiFi brings wireless stations, access points, mobility, and several integrations to Mininet-based emulation. Check its Linux requirements and the kernel-specific 802.11p limitation before planning a setup.
Questions
How much does Mininet-WiFi cost?
The listed plan is free. The pricing model is free.
Which platforms does it support?
It runs in a Linux environment. The project recommends the latest Ubuntu LTS and provides source installation guidance for Ubuntu and Debian, plus experimental guidance for Fedora.
How can I install it?
The project offers a downloadable VM image and source installation. It recommends VirtualBox as a free virtualization option available for OS X, Windows and Linux.
Does it support mobile station movement?
Yes. It can emulate mobile station position and movement, with documented models including RandomWalk, GaussMarkov and TimeVariantCommunity.
Does it work with Docker containers?
Containernet allows Docker containers to act as Mininet hosts and Mininet-WiFi stations for networking and cloud testbeds.
What kernel is needed for the documented 802.11p procedure?
The instructions state that the procedure works only with Linux kernel 5.5.
Facts from Mininet-WiFi's own pages
- 6LoWPAN
- Mininet-WiFi supports 6LoWPAN through fakelb and mac802154_hwsim, with the latter supported from Linux kernel 4.18. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Container integration
- Containernet allows Docker containers to act as Mininet hosts and Mininet-WiFi stations for networking and cloud testbeds. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The project offers a downloadable VM image and source installation, and recommends VirtualBox as a free virtualization option available for OS X, Windows, and Linux. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Documented limitation
- The IEEE 802.11p instructions state that their procedure works only with Linux kernel 5.5. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Mobility
- Documented mobility models include RandomWalk, TruncatedLevyWalk, RandomDirection, RandomWayPoint, GaussMarkov, ReferencePoint, and TimeVariantCommunity. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Network behavior
- Traffic Control and wmediumd are its two approaches for simulating the wireless medium, and the site recommends wmediumd for ad hoc and wireless mesh networks. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Platform requirements
- The project recommends the latest Ubuntu LTS; its getting-started guide also describes source installation on Ubuntu, Debian, and experimentally Fedora. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Mininet-WiFi extends the Mininet SDN network emulator with virtualized Wi-Fi stations and access points. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Security-related capability
- The documentation says wpa_supplicant is used with Hostapd to support WPA, among other things. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- SUMO integration
- The documentation shows how to run SUMO as an external program using a TraCI server port and configuration file. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- The getting-started guide identifies the mininet-wifi-discuss mailing list as the source for support and community discussion. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Wireless emulation
- It uses Linux wireless drivers and the 80211_hwsim wireless simulation driver to emulate wireless devices and mobile station position and movement. · mininet-wifi.github.io, 7 Oct 2026
Where Mininet-WiFi stands on Freedom251
- Network Simulation Software#20 of 31