Partov: a network simulation and emulation tool

Network protocol design and evaluation requires either full implementation of the considered protocol and evaluation in a real network, or a simulation based on a model. There is also a middle approach in which both simulation and emulation are used to evaluate a protocol. In this article the Partov engine, which provides both simulation and emulation capabilities simultaneously, is presented. Partov benefits from a layered and platform‐independent architecture. As a pure simulator, it provides an extensible plugin‐based platform that can be configured to perform both real‐time and non‐real‐time discrete‐event simulations. It also acts as an emulator, making interaction with real networks possible in real time. Additionally, a declarative XML‐based language is used, acting as a glue between simulation and emulation modules and plugins. It supports dynamic network modelling and simulation based on continuous time Markov chains. Partov is compared with other well‐known tools such as NS‐3 and real processes such as Hping3. It is shown that Partov requires less overhead and is much more scalable than NS‐3.