Containerlab
7.6#1 in network simulation softwareFree planFree planWebAPIExtensionLinux
VisitContainerlab vs OMNEST
What both publish
| Fact | Containerlab | OMNEST |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | Containerlab can launch VM based routers through vrnetlab or boxen integration and can run containerlab style topologies on Kubernetes through Clabernetes. | The maker states that OMNEST can work with external simulators, Matlab, SystemC and HLA. |
| Platforms | The documentation describes Linux installation, Windows use through WSL, and macOS support on ARM and Intel Macs. | The maker’s installation guide lists Linux, macOS 15 and Windows 11 as supported platforms for OMNEST including its IDE. |
| Support | The project directs users with questions, ideas, and bug reports to its Discord community. | The maker offers email technical support, access to current versions and updates through support plans, and priority bug fixes and feature requests. |
Containerlab plans
- ContainerlabFree
- Free and open-sourceFree
OMNEST plans
- Commercial annual license—
- Commercial perpetual license—
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 OMNEST if…
OMNEST suits researchers, educators and engineers modeling networks, interconnects and other systems. It also fits organizations needing distributed simulation, emulation, hardware-in-the-loop or software embedding.