Marionnet
Marionnet is a desktop virtual network laboratory for building and running computer networks without physical networking equipment.
What Marionnet is
Marionnet is a desktop virtual network laboratory for building and running computer networks without physical networking equipment. One GNU/Linux host can emulate an Ethernet network containing computers, routers, hubs, switches, and cables. Users can reconfigure the virtual network while it runs, view an updated diagram, and connect it to the host network through a gateway. Guest machines use User Mode Linux, while VDE links them and emulates network connections and devices. The project says the guest machines support user-level GNU/Linux software and can run graphical applications such as Wireshark through the host X server.
Marionnet is free software under the GNU General Public License, with no warranty stated. Its main use is teaching networking in university labs; the project also mentions high schools and network testing or development. A from-scratch installation requires GNU/Linux on x86 or x86_64, root access, and an internet connection. Windows and macOS users can use a VirtualBox appliance, which requires VirtualBox and hardware virtualization enabled in the computer BIOS. Disk usage varies with the selected distribution, even with copy-on-write file systems.
Good
- Emulates computers, routers, hubs, switches, and cables.
- Network configuration and diagram update dynamically.
- Gateway can connect the virtual network to the host.
- Can run graphical applications such as Wireshark.
- Free software under the GNU General Public License.
Watch out
- From-scratch installation requires GNU/Linux and root access.
- VirtualBox appliance requires hardware virtualization enabled.
- Disk usage depends on the chosen distribution.
- The project states that it comes with no warranty.
Who it suits
Marionnet suits educators teaching computer networks and users who need a virtual network for testing or development. Windows and macOS users can access it through the provided VirtualBox appliance.
Verdict
Marionnet provides a free way to simulate and reconfigure networks for teaching, testing, or development. Installation requirements differ by platform, and the project states that it offers no warranty.
Plans and prices
From Marionnet's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free software | Free | Share, modify and redistribute under GNU GPL · no warranty |
| Marionnet | Free | Free software under the GNU General Public License · No warranty stated |
The facts
Each one read from Marionnet's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Architecture limitation
- The supplied kernel images are built for i386; amd64 users need i386 libc through multiarch.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Dependency limitation
- The Debian package does not include the UML kernels or filesystem images needed to operate Marionnet.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Developer language
- The independent project description identifies OCaml as Marionnet's implementation language.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Disk usage
- Copy-on-write file systems economize on disk space, although disk usage remains a concern and depends on the chosen distribution.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Display requirement
- Running Wireshark inside virtual machines requires X-server TCP connections, which must not be disabled with -nolisten tcp.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Dynamic reconfiguration
- Devices can be created, removed or modified while the rest of the virtual network continues running.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Educational use
- A university presentation describes Marionnet as enabling realistic, non-trivial network labs for distance learning without dedicated hardware.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Fault injection
- Users can inject frame loss, duplication, bit flips and transmission delays independently on link directions while a network runs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Funding
- The technical paper says Marionnet was financed by Université Paris 13.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Graphical interface
- The GTK-based graphical interface is designed to be usable by inexperienced users.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Guest software
- The project says virtual machines provide full binary compatibility with user-level GNU/Linux software.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Host and Internet access
- External sockets can connect virtual machines to the Internet or services on the host and can link virtual networks on different hosts.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installation method
- The from-scratch script downloads, compiles and installs Marionnet and its dependencies, normally under /usr/local.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Its main goal is teaching computer networks in university laboratories; the project also mentions high schools and network testing or development.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Marionnet is distributed as free software under the GNU General Public License.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: physical realism
- The same presentation says virtualized hardware does not provide contact with real switches, routers and cabling, so physical practice is still needed.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: wireless networking
- The technical paper states that Marionnet supports only fully wired virtual networks and planned wireless support for a future version.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2005checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- LIPN, Francechecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker
- The named authors are Jean-Vincent Loddo and Luca Saiu at Université Sorbonne Paris Nord.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker location
- The authors' research address is LIPN, 99 avenue J.B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Graphical applications
- Marionnet can use the host X server to run graphical applications such as Wireshark from virtual machines.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Linux execution
- Virtual machines run unmodified x86 GNU/Linux binaries through User-Mode Linux.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Linux requirements
- The from-scratch installer requires GNU/Linux on x86 or x86_64 with root access and an internet connection; the page says 512 MB of RAM should be enough.checked 7 Oct 2026
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