IMUNES

IMUNES is a network emulator for building IP experiments with virtual nodes and controlled links. It suits engineers, researchers and educators who need to run realistic network scenarios on a FreeBSD or Linux host. Its flexibility comes with a real setup constraint: Linux experiments require Docker and root access.

Overview

IMUNES brings topology creation, node configuration and emulation into a GUI. It is designed to run hundreds or thousands of virtual nodes on one physical machine, with experiments instantiated in seconds and efficient use of host resources. That scale makes it a strong fit for lab work that would otherwise require many separate devices, though the host still needs to support the project’s execution model.

Each virtual node has its own IPv4 and IPv6 configuration, IPsec, sockets, firewall settings and address space. Preserving standard UNIX APIs means BSD and Linux binaries can run unmodified, which is useful when experiments need to reflect normal system behavior rather than an abstract network model.

Key features

Topology and traffic control

The GUI manages experiments and supports automated creation and configuration of nodes and links. Links can impose delay, bit-error rate, duplication and bandwidth conditions, giving users control over network behavior without relying on physical equipment to reproduce those conditions.

Live changes and automation

JSON configuration and live mode allow nodes, interfaces and links to be modified while an experiment is running. An automation API also supports programmatic workflows, a useful combination for repeatable scenarios and experiments that need to change without being restarted.

Emulation model

IMUNES provides real-time emulation and hardware-in-the-loop support. Its model is emulation rather than simulation, making it the more relevant choice when users want to run ordinary BSD or Linux binaries within an experiment.

Pricing

IMUNES is free and open source, with the listed plan listed as free. There are no paid tiers to trade features against, and the project provides public source repositories, examples, security examples, manuals and virtual-machine images. The free model makes it accessible for teaching and research as well as product testing, but users must supply and administer a compatible environment.

Platforms

The project’s emulation targets are FreeBSD and Linux. On FreeBSD it uses jails and netgraph; on Linux it uses Docker, requires a Docker daemon and a minimum Linux kernel version of 3.10, and experiments must be run as root. Those Linux requirements can rule it out on managed or restricted machines. The directory platform labels also include macOS, Windows, self-hosted and web, but those labels do not change the stated FreeBSD and Linux emulation targets.

The latest listed image is IMUNES-FreeBSD-14.3-RELEASE (BETA), a 4GB amd64 OVA for VMware or VirtualBox. Users who prefer an appliance-style start can use that image, while Linux users need to meet the Docker and privilege requirements directly.

Who it's for

IMUNES is suited to network engineers developing or testing IP scenarios, researchers who need configurable node and link behavior, and instructors building network teaching labs. Its use in Ericsson Nikola Tesla product testing and University of Zagreb teaching laboratories illustrates those settings. It is less suitable where root access is unavailable or where an organization cannot run Docker on its Linux hosts.

Pros and cons

• Per-node network configuration: Separate address spaces and IPv4, IPv6, IPsec, socket and firewall settings support varied, realistic topologies.
• Controllable links: Delay, bit-error rate, duplication and bandwidth controls help reproduce network conditions within an experiment.
• Scales on one machine: The project targets hundreds to thousands of virtual nodes, reducing the need for one physical system per node.
• Linux setup is privileged: Docker, Linux 3.10 or newer, and root execution make deployment difficult on locked-down hosts.
• FreeBSD image is a beta: The latest listed 4GB OVA is marked beta, so users seeking a non-beta appliance should not treat it as one.

Alternatives

Compare network simulation software if you want to survey the category before choosing an emulator.

• EVE-NG is worth considering for a freemium option with a defined free allowance of seven nodes per instance and 63 per lab; its paid Base plan is from €150 (priced on request) and remains limited to the Admin role.
• GNS3 is another free, open-source choice if you want software that can be downloaded and used without monthly or yearly licensing.
• OMNeT++ fits academic users who need a free noncommercial license for teaching or research, with commercial use requiring a separate license.
• Containerlab may suit users seeking a free Linux server or VM workflow; it requires Docker and sudo privileges for some operations.
• Kathará is a free open-source alternative with no paid plans or usage limits stated.
• ns-3 is a free GNU GPLv2 option for research, development and use.
• QuNetSim is a free MIT-licensed alternative installable via pip.
• NetSim by Tetcos is the Windows-only alternative, with a free Lite plan for individual use and academic pricing for a 100-node plan with 35-plus inbuilt lab experiments.

Verdict

Choose IMUNES if you need configurable, real-time IP emulation with per-node settings, traffic controls and room to scale on a single host. Its free model and support for ordinary BSD and Linux binaries are strong reasons to adopt it for labs and product scenarios. Look elsewhere if your Linux environment cannot grant root access or run Docker, or if you need an officially non-beta FreeBSD appliance.