Welcome to OpenSAND


OpenSAND , formerly known as Platine, is a user-friendly and efficient tool to emulate satellite communication systems, mainly DVB-RCS2 - DVB-S2 . It provides a suitable and simple means for performance evaluation and innovative access and network techniques validation. Its ability to interconnect real equipments with real applications provides excellent demonstration means.

This platform has been initially developped by Thales Alenia Space in the frame of IST european projects, R&T CNES studies and internal research.

It has been also promoted by CNES (French Space Center) as a reference open-source software tool within its research and development studies and activities in the domain of satellite communication systems and networks.

OpenSAND overview


OpenSAND provides an easy and flexible way to emulate satellite communication systems. The objectives of the OpenSAND Satellite network emulation testbed are:

  • Provide a research and engineering tool able to validate access and network innovative functionalities
  • Provide measurements points and analysis tools for performance evaluation
  • Ensure interconnection with real terrestrial networks and applications for demonstration purposes

The OpenSAND platform can be seen as a highly configurable black box providing satellite network access on each terminal and gateway. Users can simply plug their workstations and servers behind gateways and/or terminals and perform tests through a satellite network.

The OpenSAND wiki provides a list of all the available features.

Satellite network architecture


The OpenSAND philosophy


OpenSAND provides a suitable and simple means for performance evaluation and innovative access and network techniques validation. Its ability to interconnect real equipments with real applications provides excellent demonstration means.

Owing to its modular design and implementation, the OpenSAND satellite emulation platform is able to emulate a complete DVB-RCS2 - DVB-S2 system in a realistic and flexible way. The testbed supports both transparent and regenerative satellites for access or mesh satellite systems. It could be extended to handle alternate emulations (customized or other access standards, other type of satellite systems...).

The source codes of OpenSAND components is distributed “as is” under the terms and conditions of the GNU GPLv3 license or the GNU LGPLv3 license. The OpenSAND images are licensed under the CC0 license .

The intention of the OpenSAND Steering Commitee is to facilitate its use and encourage any contributions, improvement and perpetuation of OpenSAND for the benefit of the whole OpenSAND Community.

OpenSAND goal

The major key drivers for this platform are the following:

  • Simply operable
  • Simplicity in design – allowing fast development
  • Flexibility – allowing to simply adapt to specific needs
  • Upgradeability – allowing to simply add specific functionalities
  • Offering various measurement points
  • Available on low-cost equipment
  • Documentation