KENS provides useful template for building prototypes of Ethernet/ARP/IP/TCP and many other network layers. Also, it contains automated grading system to verify the completeness of each implementation. There are solution binaries in KENS which enables incremental building of network functions.
Virtual network devices of KENS simulates queuing effect of switched network. So it can be used for precise network simulations like ns2. All packets are recorded as pcap log files which can be analyzed by Wireshark or other analysis tools.
KENS can execute actual network application source written in C. The system call requests from applications are linked with proper network layer.