Network emulation

Network emulation is a technique for testing the performance of real applications over a virtual network. This is different from network simulation where purely mathematical models of traffic, network models, channels and protocols are applied. The aim is to assess performance, predict the impact of change, or otherwise optimize technology decision-making. Network emulation is a technique for testing the performance of real applications over a virtual network. This is different from network simulation where purely mathematical models of traffic, network models, channels and protocols are applied. The aim is to assess performance, predict the impact of change, or otherwise optimize technology decision-making. Network emulation is the act of introducing a device to a test network (typically in a lab environment) that alters packet flow in such a way as to mimic the behavior of a production, or live, network — such as a LAN or WAN. This device may be either a general-purpose computer running software to perform the network emulation or a dedicated emulation device which usually does link emulation. Network emulators incorporate a varying amount of standard network attributes into their designs including: the round-trip time across the network (latency), the amount of available bandwidth, a given degree of packet loss, duplication of packets, reordering packets, corruption and modification of packets, and/or the severity of network jitter.