I am wondering if the following product even exists. Here's my wish list:
Bootable CD with simple (XML, YAML) configuration allowing you to spin up multiple virtual hosts, each with their own IP and with basic services like HTTP or SMTP. It doesn't require anything more than a server responding (with default data or a HELO) to a request on a port.
Sample configuration:
<host>
<name>alpha</name>
<ip>192.168.1.1</ip>
<service>smtp</service>
</host>
<host>
<name>bravo</name>
<ip>192.168.1.2</ip>
<service>
<protocol>http</protocol>
<port>8080</port>
</service>
</host>
<host>
<name>charlie</name>
<ip>192.168.1.2</ip>
<service>http</service>
<service>smtp</service>
</host>
The Problem
I'd like to emulate a medium scale network (30 hosts) to test firewall and routing rules before deploying in a live environment. I don't care about network throughput, I just care that when I come in one interface I am firewalled and routed appropriately.
I could solve this with VMware (or some other virtualisation platform) but I feel like it's heavier than I need.