Model-driven network emulation with virtual time machine

We present VENICE, a project that aims at developing a high-fidelity, high-performance, and highly-controllable experimental platform on commodity computing infrastructure to facilitate innovation in existing and futuristic network systems. VENICE employs a novel model-driven network emulation approach that combines simulation of large-scale network models and virtual-machine-based emulation of real distributed applications. To accurately emulate the target system and meet the computation and communication requirements of its individual elements, VENICE adopts a holistic machine and network virtualization technique, called virtual time machine, in which the time advancement of simulated and emulated components are regulated in complete transparency to the test applications. In this paper, we outline the challenges and solutions to realizing the vision of VENICE.