(Russian version) (Back to main page...)

Network Emulator 3.0

CONTENTS:

I. Introduction

II. Short description and the interface

III. People

IV. Downloading

I. Introduction

    The Network Emulator (NE) creation was started in 1997 as the toy for his author. It was detected in process that the author's knowledges of TCP/IP networks was not so valid and correct. The NE project had turned into the program which began to teach his author. NE has passed a way from simple packet router to intelligent organizer of virtual virtual mashines: on the any computer it is possible to run a few programs at once. All of them will be running simultaneously.
    Some time later another application was appeared: teaching the students for the principles of TCP/IP administration. This way was successfully realized by Dmitriy Karyaev. The program is implemented into the education process on subject "Computer Networks" in Ulyanovsk State Technical University.

    NE was tested on the following operation systems:

 

II. Short description and the interface

    Possibilities and implemented technologies:
routing, channel modelling subsystem, IP filtering (and the capability to show access lists for a Cisco routers), packet types: ICMP, UDP, TCP, low-level ARP requests, interfaces concept, sockets concept (raw, datagramm, stream), emulation of hosts, switches and hubs, processes: traceroute, talkd, talk, echoer, gated (with BGP), link reliability level, nice preview system, capability to link some NE's through a real TCP/IP network.

    The NE was primordial developed as the visual environment for creation of the virtual IP networks by the assemblage them from the virtual computers with the virtual interfaces and the virtual links between them. The context menus appearing after right click are general instrument of controlling the objects.

    Visual objects are:

  • A host
  • A switch
  • A hub
  • An interface
  • An universal channel (link)
  • A coaxial Ethernet cable
  • Interface to a remote networks

    Visual facilities are not very useful when it needed to perform many even steps or to check some process in detail. The problem was solved by the implementation of two types of text windows: a console window and an application window.
 
 


A console window
An application window

    It is possible to view the active processes, the active sockets, to kill process in a console window. An application window is designed for dialog between a process and a user. As the virtual operation system is the imitated UNIX system, so the native type of interface between a mashine and a user is text dialog. Virtual programs are running on virtual multitasking environment of a virtual UNIX, so the failures of the virtual program will NOT affect other programs and of course will not affect the NE at all.
    Non-obvious actions:
 

  • To delete object besides the menu - Del.
  • To Clear window (console or application window) - Ctrl+L.
  • Closing a window - Ctrl+D.
  • Moving a window - Alt+<dragging by the left mouse button>.
  • Window sizing is the same operation but in application to IV-fourth of window (bottom right corner).

    •  

    III. People

    • Concepts by Lev Walkin, December 1996
    • Basic information and initial impulse by Vladimir Barmin, 1994 - 1997
    • Code and design by Lev Walkin, March 1997 - August 1998
    • Some interesting ideas from Dmitry Karyaev, 1997 - 1998
    • Testing and criticism by UlSTU Students, 1998
    • Advanced testing by Kostya Bekreev, 1998
    • Special thanks to Nataly and Michael Valkins, July 1980 - 1998

     

    IV. Downloading


        Here you can download it: ne30r.zip (600 kb.). (Overwrite contents of ne30r.zip with add-on.zip (OleAuto32 & MSVBVM50 = 1100 kb.) if you're not running Windows 98).

     


    Lev Walkin, LMW28
    www.spelio.net.ru
    vlm@spelio.net.ru