Kathará
Kathará is a free, open-source system for emulating networks in interactive lessons and demos, production-network sandbox tests, and protocol development.
What Kathará is
Kathará is a free, open-source system for emulating networks in interactive lessons and demos, production-network sandbox tests, and protocol development. It represents network devices as containers connected by virtual Layer-2 LANs, with Docker or Kubernetes available as the backend virtualization system. Built-in network images include Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch; users can also use their own container images. A Python package provides APIs for using Kathará from custom code. The project supports Linux, macOS on Intel or Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 and 11. Debian and Ubuntu installations are available through apt, while other listed Linux distributions have precompiled packages. Configuration options include IPv6, terminal behavior, volume-mount policy, and remote Docker or Kubernetes connection parameters. Kathará depends on Docker by default, and rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported. The security policy lists version 3.8.3 as receiving patches and asks users to report suspected vulnerabilities by issue or email.
Good
- Free, open-source software.
- Scenarios can use Docker or Kubernetes backends.
- Users can supply their own container images.
- Python package provides programmatic APIs.
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows 10 and 11.
Watch out
- Depends on Docker by default.
- Rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported.
- Security patches cover only the last version listed.
- Security policy lists version 3.8.3 as supported.
Who it suits
Kathará suits people teaching or learning networking, testing production networks in a sandbox, or developing network protocols. Its container model and Python APIs may also fit users building custom scenarios or code.
Verdict
Kathará provides network emulation for teaching, sandbox testing, and protocol development, with multiple deployment backends and operating-system options. Note the Docker requirement and the stated limits on security patch coverage.
Plans and prices
From Kathará's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free open-source software | Free | No paid plans or usage limits stated |
The facts
Each one read from Kathará's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Configuration options
- Settings include IPv6 enablement, terminal behavior, volume-mount policy, remote Docker connection details, and Kubernetes API connection parameters.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment backends
- Network scenarios can run using Docker or Kubernetes as the backend virtualization system.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project says it is used in courses and projects and describes use in teaching, production-network sandbox testing, and protocol development.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Network images
- Built-in images include Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch, and users can also use their own container images.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Network model
- It emulates network devices as containers interconnected by virtual Layer-2 LANs.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The download page lists Linux distributions, macOS with Intel or Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 and 11 as supported platforms.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Operational requirement
- Kathará depends on Docker by default and its troubleshooting page says rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Kathará is an open-source container-based network emulation system for interactive lessons and demos, sandbox testing of production networks, and network protocol development.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Python APIs
- The PyPI package provides programmatic APIs for using Kathará features from custom code.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security patch coverage
- The security policy says patches are released only for the last version and lists version 3.8.3 as supported.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks users to report suspected vulnerabilities by issue or email and says a response will arrive within 48 hours.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support channel
- The project directs bug reports to its GitHub repository and security-relevant reports to the Kathará mailing list.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Rome, Italychecked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Linux distribution support
- Debian and Ubuntu installations are available through apt, with precompiled packages for other listed distributions.checked 4 Oct 2026
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