Side by side
Mininet vs OMNEST
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 APILinuxMac+2
Mininet provides a free way to build and investigate virtual networks using Linux networking and OpenFlow. Its single-server resource ceiling and Linux compatibility limits matter when choosing it for larger or non-Linux environments.
Visit Mininet Free plan APILinuxMac+2
OMNEST combines an IDE, protocol models, integration options, and distributed execution for complex simulation work. Free educational use and company evaluation are available, while commercial research, embedding, and ongoing support involve licensing decisions.
Visit OMNESTThe facts
| Mininet | OMNEST | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | mininet.org | omnest.com |
| On network simulation software | #10 of 31 | #14 of 31 |
Mininet: what it does well
- Free under a permissive BSD open source license
- Includes parameterized and custom topologies
- Extensible Python API for network experiments
- Networks can connect to real networks
What to know first
- Limited by one server’s CPU and bandwidth
- Cannot run non-Linux-compatible OpenFlow switches or applications
- Requires the Linux kernel
OMNEST: what it does well
- Full simulation IDE workflow
- INET protocol model library
- Parallel distributed simulation
- Real-time emulation and hardware-in-the-loop
- Free educational use
What to know first
- Commercial pricing requires a quotation
- Industry research requires a commercial license
- Embedding requires custom licensing
- Support plans govern updates and priority fixes
Alternatives to Mininet Alternatives to OMNEST The whole list