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Cloonix
What it is
Cloonix is a free, open-source framework for creating and viewing emulated virtual networks. It runs as a user-land application on a Linux distribution and provides a graphical canvas for connecting virtual machines, containers, and network elements through Open vSwitch bridges. Virtual machines use QEMU-KVM; containers use crun and can take ZIP files or directories as root filesystems. Available network elements include NAT, host TAP and physical interfaces, links between Cloonix networks, and a packet transit item for dropping, shaping, or delaying traffic. Wi-Fi emulation uses vwifi between QEMU-KVM machines and the iw command to place a physical interface in a container namespace. For supported interfaces, a Wireshark spy can display or save packet captures, but it is not the complete Wireshark application. The server connection is a password-protected TCP stream. Cloonix is an AGPLv3 suite of C software components. Its bundle installer requires administrative privileges; cloonix-toy does not. Version 53.01 is listed as the latest release, dated November 4, 2025.
For and against
For
- Graphical canvas displays connected network topologies.
- Supports QEMU-KVM virtual machines and crun containers.
- Packet transit can drop, shape, or delay traffic.
- cloonix-toy installation does not require administrator privileges.
Against
- Requires a Linux distribution to run.
- Bundle installation requires administrative privileges.
- Wireshark spy is not the full Wireshark application.
The verdict
Cloonix offers Linux-based network emulation with multiple virtual and physical network elements. Choose it if its Linux requirement and installation options fit your setup.
Who it suits
Cloonix suits Linux users building virtual network topologies from virtual machines, containers, and network elements. Its command and installation options also suit users who need to avoid administrator privileges or inspect packet captures.
Plans and prices
Cloonix
AGPLv3 software · Linux host required
Read 4 Oct 2026 · clownix.net
On the record
- Host platform
- The project README describes Cloonix as a user-land application that needs a Linux distribution to run.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Inspection
- Users can open a Wireshark spy for supported interfaces, which can display or save packet captures but is not the complete Wireshark application.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Installation choices
- The project offers a bundle installation requiring administrative privileges and a cloonix-toy installation that does not require root or administrator privileges.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation names Open vSwitch, crun, QEMU-KVM, SPICE, and Wireshark as key external components.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The documentation describes Cloonix as an AGPLv3 suite of C software components.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The official homepage lists Vincent Perrier and provides the contact address [email protected].clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Network elements
- Its documented network items include NAT, host TAP and physical interfaces, links between Cloonix networks, and a packet transit item for dropping, shaping, or delaying traffic.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Network topology
- Users create networks from virtual machines, containers, and other items linked through Open vSwitch bridges, and view the topology on a graphical canvas.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Cloonix is a KVM based virtual network creation framework.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Release
- The official homepage lists version 53.01 dated November 4, 2025 as the latest version.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Remote access
- The documentation says the server connection is a TCP stream protected by a password.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Virtualization
- Cloonix supports QEMU-KVM virtual machines and crun containers using ZIP files or directories as root filesystems.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
- Wi-Fi emulation
- The documentation says Wi-Fi emulation uses vwifi between QEMU-KVM machines and the iw command to place a physical interface in a container namespace.clownix.net · read 4 Oct 2026
