Containerlab
7.6#1 in network simulation softwareFree planFree planWebAPIExtensionLinux
VisitContainerlab vs ns-3
What both publish
| Fact | Containerlab | ns-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Support | The project directs users with questions, ideas, and bug reports to its Discord community. | Support is provided through mailing lists, Zulip chat, and the issue tracker, and the project says it is maintained by volunteers without backing from a specific company. |
Containerlab plans
- ContainerlabFree
- Free and open-sourceFree
ns-3 plans
- ns-3Free
Pick Containerlab if…
Containerlab suits network engineers and others who need to define and manage network labs as code. It also fits users who want to start topologies in CI or pair labs with telemetry stacks.
Pick ns-3 if…
ns-3 is suited to researchers and educators studying networks, particularly users comfortable writing simulation scripts or modifying and extending libraries. Its real-time scheduler and code execution framework may suit work that connects simulations with real network devices or software.