Network emulator architecture

A method for emulating a network link on a host computer, the method comprising:

• specifying, by way of a user-mode application running on the host, an emulator configuration;
• filtering, at a filter list, a packet captured by a kernel-mode driver running on the host;
• if the packet is matched at the filter list, applying, at a link group list, an emulation procedure to the packet;
• reporting, by a tracing component, information regarding the packet;
• and
• sending out the packet.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for emulating a network link on a host computer, the instructions comprising:

• specifying, by way of a user-mode application running on the host, an emulator configuration;
• filtering, at a filter list, a packet captured by a kernel-mode driver running on the host;
• if the packet is matched at the filter list, applying, at a link group list, an emulation procedure to the packet;
• reporting, by a tracing component, information regarding the packet;
• and
• sending out the packet.

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions and computer-readable data for implementing a kernel-mode network emulator driver having components comprising:

• a packet filter list that filters a captured packet;
• a virtual network link that receives the packet from the packet filter list;
• a link group list that applies an emulation procedure to the packet;
• a timer management component that manages a timer associated with the emulation procedure;
• and
• a packet dispatcher component that sends out the packet.