Side by side
Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) vs Kathará
Both stand on network simulation software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted
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.
Visit Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) Free plan APILinuxMac+2
Kathará supports teaching, sandbox testing, and protocol development across several operating systems and backend options. Its Docker requirement and stated patch coverage are important considerations for deployment.
Visit KatharáThe facts
| Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) | Kathará | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | nrl.navy.mil | kathara.org |
| On network simulation software | #12 of 31 | #8 of 31 |
Common Open Research Emulator (CORE): 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.
Kathará: what it does well
- Free open-source software with no usage limits stated.
- Runs scenarios with Docker or Kubernetes.
- Users can supply their own container images.
- Python APIs support custom code.
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows 10 and 11.
What to know first
- Depends on Docker by default.
- Rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported.
- Security patches are listed for version 3.8.3.
Alternatives to Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) Alternatives to Kathará The whole list