EMANE
Bridgewater, New Jersey, United States
What it is
EMANE is a free, open-source framework for emulating wireless network architectures on Linux. It runs as a user-space application and uses radio-model plugins with a physical-layer model to represent signal propagation, antenna profile effects and interference. Included radio models are RF Pipe, IEEE 802.11abg, TDMA and Bent Pipe, with a Comm Effect utility model; Raw Transport and Virtual Transport boundaries support IP and non-IP wireless-system emulation. XML files configure platforms, NEMs, radio models, boundaries and radio error-rate or packet-completion curves. Scenario events cover antenna profiles, locations, pathloss and fading selection, and custom event-generating applications can use the Python emane.events module. Radio-model plugins can be paired with software-defined-radio components for shared-code experimentation. The guide targets wireless communications research and development and assumes basic wireless knowledge and Linux command-line familiarity. It recommends one NEM per emulator instance for performance. C++, Python and Google Protocol Buffers can help with development, but are not prerequisites for using EMANE. The accompanying source code uses the BSD 3-clause license.
For and against
For
- Free and open-source distribution.
- Supports IP and non-IP wireless-system emulation.
- Includes several radio models and transport boundaries.
- Custom scenario events can be generated with Python.
- C++, Python and Protocol Buffers are not required to use it.
Against
- Linux is the listed operating environment.
- The guide assumes wireless and Linux command-line familiarity.
- The guide advises one NEM per instance for performance.
The verdict
EMANE offers detailed wireless emulation models and configurable scenarios for Linux-based research and development. Its technical focus and stated familiarity requirements make it more suited to users comfortable with wireless systems and the command line.
Who it suits
EMANE suits people working in wireless communications research and development who are familiar with basic wireless concepts and the Linux command line. It can also suit teams combining radio-model plugins with software-defined-radio components.
Plans and prices
EMANE
Open-source distributed wireless network emulation framework
Read 3 Oct 2026 · emane.io
On the record
- Configuration
- The emulator processes XML configuration files for platform, NEM, radio model, boundary, and radio error-rate or packet-completion curves.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Emulation
- Its physical-layer model accounts for signal propagation, antenna profile effects, and interference sources.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Help and support
- Adjacent Link's GitHub organization provides project Issues and Pull Requests for reporting application-specific bugs or questions.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The guide is for people using EMANE in wireless-communication-systems research and development and assumes familiarity with basic wireless concepts and the Linux command line.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- License
- The guide says accompanying source code is released under the BSD 3-clause license; the guide itself is under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 unless otherwise noted.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Linux application
- EMANE runs as a Linux user-space application and uses radio-model plugins with a physical-layer model to emulate a waveform's lowest layer.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Adjacent Link describes itself as a privately owned engineering company focused on developing and testing mission-critical mobile wireless systems.adjacentlink.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Network boundaries
- The distribution includes Raw Transport and Virtual Transport boundaries, and supports IP and non-IP wireless-system emulation.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Programming
- C++, Python, and Google Protocol Buffers experience can help with developing radio models or tools, but the guide says they are not prerequisites for using EMANE.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- EMANE is an open-source distributed emulation framework for designing, developing, and testing simple and complex network architectures.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Radio models
- The open-source distribution includes RF Pipe, IEEE 802.11abg, TDMA, and Bent Pipe radio models, plus the Comm Effect utility model.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Scaling guidance
- The guide advises using one NEM per emulator instance for performance reasons.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Scenario events
- Its physical layer uses antenna profile, location, pathloss, and fading-selection events, and users can create custom event-generating applications with the Python emane.events module.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- SDR integration
- EMANE radio-model plugins can be combined with existing software-defined-radio components for shared-code experimentation.emane.io · read 3 Oct 2026
