NSTOOLS 2026 · INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NETWORK SIMULATION TOOLS · PISA, ITALY · OCT 19, 2026
Pisa, Italy · October 19, 2026

NSTools 2026

The International Workshop on Network Simulation Tools brings together the people who build, validate, and rely on discrete-event simulators, emulators, and testbeds — the instruments that let networking research be reproducible.

Why a workshop on simulation tools

Modern networking research rarely gets tested on the network it will eventually run on. Between an idea and a deployed protocol sits a chain of instruments — simulators, emulators, and physical or virtual testbeds — each trading off realism, cost, and reproducibility differently. A 2023 survey of the field frames the choice plainly: simulators and emulators give researchers a controlled, repeatable environment but sacrifice some realism, while testbeds trade that repeatability for behavior closer to a live network. Most published results, in practice, rest on whichever of these tools the author's lab could afford and configure correctly.

That dependency is exactly why the tools themselves deserve a dedicated venue. NSTools was founded in 2007 on the premise that simulator internals, validation methodology, and model fidelity are research questions in their own right — not just plumbing. Two decades on, that premise has only strengthened: widely used platforms such as the open-source ns-3 simulator and the OMNeT++ framework continue to ship new releases several times a year, each adding models for technologies — LEO satellite mobility, Wi-Fi power-save modes, 6LoWPAN neighbor discovery — that didn't exist when the tools were first designed.

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NSTools 2026 continues that line: a single-track, one-day program in Pisa built around three themes that have anchored every edition of the workshop — measuring simulation accuracy against real systems, domain-specific modeling choices, and the engineering of new ad hoc tools. The full technical program lists this year's accepted papers and keynote.

Don't forget to prepare for the workshop. Write down the schedule and questions in your Digital Planner. Take notes and plan effectively.

At a glance

  • Format: single-track, one day, in person
  • Location: Pisa, Italy
  • Date: October 19, 2026
  • Focus: simulation accuracy, domain-specific modeling, ad hoc tool development
  • Technical co-sponsorship: ICST, CREATE-NET
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HISTORY

Co-chairs’ message

The founding rationale for NSTools, written for the first edition, on why cross-layer complexity pushed research toward simulation and testbeds in the first place.

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PROGRAM

Technical program

The full day-of schedule: keynote, three paper sessions, and coffee breaks, with authors’ affiliations for every accepted paper.

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See the schedule →
AUTHORS

Submission guidelines

Formatting rules, the EasyChair submission process, registration requirements, and camera-ready instructions for accepted authors.

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From the NSTools insights blog
TOOLS

ns-3, explained

What the open-source ns-3 simulator actually does, and where it fits in a research workflow.

Read article →
TOOLS

OMNeT++ & INET

How OMNeT++'s modular core pairs with the INET protocol library.

Read article →
METHODOLOGY

Simulator vs. emulator vs. testbed

A practical comparison for choosing the right evaluation platform.

Read article →
SECURITY

Cyber ranges

How simulated networks are used to train and test cybersecurity response.

Read article →