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For the simplest start, use Mininet’s prebuilt Ubuntu VM. Choose a source installation if Mininet must run directly in your Ubuntu environment or you need a particular source revision. Use apt only after checking that your Ubuntu release provides a suitable Mininet package. The project documents all three routes, but its Ubuntu package examples are for 18.04 and 20.04, so they do not establish availability or version on newer releases.
What Mininet does—and what it does not
Mininet emulates a network of virtual hosts, switches, controllers, and links on one machine. Its hosts run standard Linux networking software, and its switches support OpenFlow. It is used for learning, development, prototyping, testing, and debugging; it is not a substitute for validating a design on physical hardware. A successful emulation does not prove that a real network will behave identically. Mininet’s overview and sample workflow describe the project and its use.
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Which Mininet installation method should you use?
| Method | Good fit | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Prebuilt Mininet VM | Beginners, learning, or a non-Linux host that can run a virtual machine | Mininet runs in a guest and depends on a compatible virtualization setup. |
| Install from source | Native Ubuntu use, selecting a source revision, or choosing components | Requires cloning the project and running its installer; dependencies and compatibility depend on the Ubuntu release. |
| Ubuntu package with apt | A quick system-managed install, if the release’s repositories provide an adequate version | Availability and version depend on the distribution; Mininet warns that packages may be older. |
The Mininet project calls its pre-packaged Mininet/Ubuntu VM the easiest way to get started. Its download page also documents source installation and distribution packages. Check the project’s current download instructions before choosing, especially if you are on a newer Ubuntu release.
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The VM packages Mininet, OpenFlow tools, and kernel configuration changes intended to support larger Mininet networks. It keeps the Mininet environment separate from your host Ubuntu installation, but requires virtualization software and a VM image that works with your host. Mininet’s setup notes list VirtualBox, VMware, QEMU, and KVM; the notes are not a guarantee that a particular image will import on every current host or hypervisor.
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- Open the Mininet download page and obtain the offered VM image.
- Install or choose a virtualization system supported by your host. The Mininet VM setup notes explain the project’s documented setup.
- Import and start the image, then follow its setup notes and the Mininet walkthrough.
This is the most direct choice for learning when you do not need Mininet installed into the host’s Ubuntu environment. Confirm the currently offered image and host compatibility before relying on it.
Method 2: Install Mininet from source on Ubuntu
Use source when you want a native installation or need to select a source revision. The project’s instructions assume a fresh Ubuntu or Debian system and recommend recent releases because they include newer Open vSwitch versions. The installer can install the full set of components included with the VM or a smaller set.
Install the full component set
Run the project’s documented commands:
git clone https://github.com/mininet/mininet
cd mininet
sudo util/install.sh -aThe -a option requests the full set of components included in the VM.
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The installer’s -nfv option installs Mininet, the user switch, and Open vSwitch. The project also documents checking out a tagged source version before running the installer, which is useful when a course, lab, or existing codebase requires a particular revision. Follow the exact checkout instructions on the official download page; do not assume the default repository branch is a specific release.
Mininet 2.3.0 and later added Python 3 support alongside Python 2, according to the Mininet Project Contributors’ 2021 announcement. That is version history, not a claim that 2.3.0 is the current latest release or that every older user script works with Python 3. Check the requirements of the code you intend to run.
Method 3: Install the Ubuntu package with apt
A distribution package is convenient when it exists for your release and its version meets your needs. Mininet’s download page shows sudo apt-get install mininet and gives Ubuntu 18.04 and 20.04 as examples, while warning that distribution packages may lag behind. Those historical examples do not confirm package availability or version on Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, or another current release.
- Check your Ubuntu release’s package repositories for Mininet and inspect the available version before installing.
- If the package is present and suitable, install it with
sudo apt-get install mininet. - Check the installed version with
mn --version.
If no suitable package is available, use the source route or the VM rather than assuming the older example applies to your release.
Test the installation with a basic Mininet network
After installation, Mininet’s download page proposes this smoke test, which creates a simple topology and checks connectivity among its hosts:
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sudo mn --switch ovsbr --test pingallA successful run should report that hosts can reach one another. This verifies a basic Mininet/Open vSwitch path, not every topology or workload. The Mininet walkthrough covers the CLI and topology examples after the software is installed.
Fix the “Open vSwitch is not working” error
The ovsbr smoke test depends on Open vSwitch. If Mininet reports that Open vSwitch is not working, check that the package is installed and its service is running. The download page gives sudo apt-get install openvswitch-switch and sudo service openvswitch-switch start as examples, but service-management commands can vary by Ubuntu release. Confirm the correct package and service instructions for your release before using them; then rerun the smoke test.
What a Mininet result tells you
Mininet is useful for experimenting with network behavior using virtual components, but simulated results should be treated as results from that emulated environment. The project’s sample workflow illustrates a topology of 64 hosts and 9 switches and reports about 45 seconds for its pingall example on the author’s laptop. That is one specific example, not a general performance expectation or benchmark for your machine.
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