On the Fidelity of Single-Machine Network Emulation in Linux

Network emulation strikes the balance between using real machines on full-fledged networks and running software models of applications and networks in simulation environments. Advanced Linux features make it possible to emulate entire networks on a single machine, enabling experiments that are much easier to run and repeat. However, some of these features were not designed with the primary purpose of supporting emulation frameworks: if not carefully configured, they can lead to erroneous results. In this paper we note a few properties of Linux-based network emulation that researchers should consider while planning their experiments. We also recommend a particular configuration that improves the fidelity of emulation results.