The increasing complexity of modern distributed systems, spanning cloud computing, edge devices, and ultra-low latency applications, needs accurate and scalable network emulation. This comparative study analyzes the fidelity of one of the most popular network emulators (Mininet) against a physical testbed to quantify performance deviations with a focus on scalability.
Using iPerf for benchmarking, we measure bandwidth allocation dynamics under incremental client loads (1–20 nodes). Results show that Mininet accurately emulates throughput distribution across different nodes with errors below 9\%. We further discuss Mininet’s limitations in replicating high-bandwidth links and propose a Python-based topology configuration tool to streamline emulation workflows. This work provides empirical insights into the fidelity and constraints of software-defined network emulation and the possibility of integration in a digital twin system.