ns-3

What ns-3 is

ns-3 is a discrete-event network simulator aimed mainly at networking research and education. Its core supports a workflow from configuring simulations through collecting and analyzing traces, and it can model IP and non-IP networks, including wireless work involving Wi-Fi and LTE. A real-time scheduler supports simulation-in-the-loop scenarios, including sending and receiving ns-3 packets on real network devices. Direct Code Execution lets users run C or C++ applications or the Linux kernel networking stack within ns-3. It is free software under GNU GPLv2 and is available for Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted deployments. Releases arrive roughly two or three times per year, primarily as compressed source archives. Documentation includes tutorials, installation guidance, model library documentation, a reference manual, and Doxygen API documentation. The project also lists NetAnim for network animation and Bake for package management in advanced builds. Support channels include mailing lists, Zulip chat, and the issue tracker; the project says it is maintained by volunteers without backing from a specific company.