- Home
- Network Simulation Software
- Kathará
Kathará
Rome, Italy
What it is
Kathará is a free, open-source system for emulating networks in interactive lessons, demos, production-network sandboxes, and protocol development. It models network devices as containers connected through virtual Layer-2 LANs, with Docker or Kubernetes available as the virtualization backend. Included images cover Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch; users can also use their own container images. A Python package provides APIs for custom code. Settings include IPv6, terminal behavior, volume mounts, and connection parameters for Docker or Kubernetes. The project lists support for Linux, macOS on Intel or Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 and 11. Debian and Ubuntu installations are available through apt, with precompiled packages for other listed Linux distributions. Kathará depends on Docker by default, and its troubleshooting guidance says rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported. The security policy says patches are released only for the last version and identifies version 3.8.3 as supported. The project directs bug reports to its GitHub repository and security reports to its mailing list.
For and against
For
- Network scenarios can use Docker or Kubernetes.
- Users can supply their own container images.
- A Python package provides programmatic APIs.
- Linux, macOS, and Windows are listed as supported.
Against
- Docker is required by default.
- Rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported.
- Security patches are listed only for the last version.
- Version 3.8.3 is listed as supported.
The verdict
Kathará provides a container-based approach to network emulation, with built-in images, custom images, and Python APIs. Check its Docker requirement and stated security patch coverage before adopting it.
Who it suits
Kathará is intended for educators and developers working with network lessons, demonstrations, sandbox testing, or protocol development. Its Python APIs may also suit users who want to control scenarios from custom code.
Plans and prices
Free open-source software
No paid plans or usage limits stated
Read 4 Oct 2026 · kathara.org
On the record
- Configuration options
- Settings include IPv6 enablement, terminal behavior, volume-mount policy, remote Docker connection details, and Kubernetes API connection parameters.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment backends
- Network scenarios can run using Docker or Kubernetes as the backend virtualization system.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project says it is used in courses and projects and describes use in teaching, production-network sandbox testing, and protocol development.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Linux distribution support
- Debian and Ubuntu installations are available through apt, with precompiled packages for other listed distributions.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Network images
- Built-in images include Quagga, FRRouting, Bind, P4, and OpenVSwitch, and users can also use their own container images.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Network model
- It emulates network devices as containers interconnected by virtual Layer-2 LANs.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The download page lists Linux distributions, macOS with Intel or Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 and 11 as supported platforms.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Operational requirement
- Kathará depends on Docker by default and its troubleshooting page says rootless Docker and Podman are unsupported.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Kathará is an open-source container-based network emulation system for interactive lessons and demos, sandbox testing of production networks, and network protocol development.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Python APIs
- The PyPI package provides programmatic APIs for using Kathará features from custom code.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security patch coverage
- The security policy says patches are released only for the last version and lists version 3.8.3 as supported.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks users to report suspected vulnerabilities by issue or email and says a response will arrive within 48 hours.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support channel
- The project directs bug reports to its GitHub repository and security-relevant reports to the Kathará mailing list.kathara.org · read 4 Oct 2026
