diff --git a/test/distro/debian b/test/distro/debian
index 1548761..0fac983 100644
--- a/test/distro/debian
+++ b/test/distro/debian
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ htools	cat kill qemu-system-x86_64 qemu-system-aarch64 qemu-system-ppc64
 def	distro_quick_pasta_test
 host	export SHELL="/bin/dash"
 host	dash
-host	(nc -w1 -6 -l -p 10000 > /tmp/init_msg; echo "from_init" | nc -q0 ::1 9999) &
+host	(socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10000 OPEN:/tmp/init_msg,create,trunc; echo "from_init" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:9999) &
 hostb	./pasta
 sleep	1
-host	nc -w1 -6 -l -p 9999 > /tmp/ns_msg &
+host	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:9999 OPEN:/tmp/ns_msg,create,trunc &
 sleep	2
-host	echo "from_ns" | nc -q0 ::1 10000
+host	echo "from_ns" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:10000
 sleep	2
 host	echo
 sleep	1
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Wno-missing-field-initializers -Wno-missing-braces -Wno-type-limits" make
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios _
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-ppc64 -m 2048 -smp 2 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefau
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ test	Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye, stable), amd64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-debian-11-nocloud-amd64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ test	Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye, stable), aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-debian-11-generic-arm64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ test	Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye, stable), ppc64le
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-ppc64 -m 2048 -smp 2 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-debian-11-generic-ppc64el.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ sleep	2
 host	growpart /dev/sda 1
 host	resize2fs -p /dev/sda1
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ sleep	2
 host	growpart /dev/vda 1
 host	resize2fs -p /dev/vda1
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ test	Debian GNU/Linux sid (experimental), ppc64le
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-ppc64 -m 2048 -smp 2 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-debian-sid-nocloud-ppc64el-daily.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
diff --git a/test/distro/fedora b/test/distro/fedora
index 56805c5..daad6a4 100644
--- a/test/distro/fedora
+++ b/test/distro/fedora
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ htools	cat kill qemu-system-x86_64
 
 # Quick pasta test: send message from init to ns, and from ns to init
 def	distro_quick_pasta_test
-host	(ncat -6 -l ::1 10000 > /tmp/init_msg; echo "from_init" | ncat ::1 9999) &
+host	(socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10000,bind=[::1] OPEN:/tmp/init_msg,create,trunc; echo "from_init" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:9999) &
 hostb	./pasta
 sleep	1
 host	PS1='$ '
-host	ncat -6 -l ::1 9999 > /tmp/ns_msg &
+host	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:9999,bind=[::1] OPEN:/tmp/ns_msg,create,trunc &
 sleep	2
-host	echo "from_ns" | ncat ::1 10000
+host	echo "from_ns" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:10000
 sleep	2
 host	echo
 sleep	1
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ endef
 # Bracketed paste mode off, needed from Fedora 34
 def	distro_quick_pasta_test_fedora34
 host	bind 'set enable-bracketed-paste off'
-host	(ncat -6 -l ::1 10000 > /tmp/init_msg; echo "from_init" | ncat -6 ::1 9999) &
+host	(socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10000,bind=[::1] OPEN:/tmp/init_msg,create,trunc; echo "from_init" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:9999) &
 hostb	./pasta
 sleep	1
 host	PS1='$ '
 host	bind 'set enable-bracketed-paste off'
-host	ncat -6 -l ::1 9999 > /tmp/ns_msg &
+host	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:9999,bind=[::1] OPEN:/tmp/ns_msg,create,trunc &
 sleep	2
-host	echo "from_ns" | ncat -6 ::1 10000
+host	echo "from_ns" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:10000
 sleep	2
 host	echo
 hout	NS_MSG cat /tmp/ns_msg
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ test	Fedora 26, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-26-1.5.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ test	Fedora 27, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-27-1.6.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ test	Fedora 28, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-28-1.1.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ test	Fedora 28, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-28-1.1.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ test	Fedora 29, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-29-1.2.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ test	Fedora 29, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-29-1.2.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ test	Fedora 30, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-30-1.2.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ test	Fedora 30, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-30-1.2.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ test	Fedora 31, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-31-1.9.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ test	Fedora 31, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-31-1.9.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ test	Fedora 32, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-32-1.6.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ test	Fedora 32, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-32-1.6.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ test	Fedora 33, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-33-1.2.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ test	Fedora 33, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-33-1.2.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ test	Fedora 34, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-34-1.2.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ test	Fedora 34, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-34-1.2.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ test	Fedora 35, x86_64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefaults -no-reboot -nographic -vga none __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-35-1.2.x86_64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ test	Fedora 35, aarch64
 host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-aarch64 -m 2048 -cpu cortex-a57 -smp 2 -M virt -bios __BASEPATH__/QEMU_EFI.fd -nodefaults -nographic -vga none -serial stdio __BASEPATH__/prepared-Fedora-Cloud-Base-35-1.2.aarch64.qcow2 -net socket,fd=5 -net nic,model=virtio -device virtio-rng-pci -snapshot
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
-host	yum -y install make gcc nmap-ncat
+host	yum -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 hout	RET CFLAGS="-Werror" make; echo $?
diff --git a/test/distro/opensuse b/test/distro/opensuse
index d77821a..d48deb7 100644
--- a/test/distro/opensuse
+++ b/test/distro/opensuse
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ htools	qemu-img virt-edit guestfish head sed cat kill qemu-system-x86_64 qemu-sy
 
 # Quick pasta test: send message from init to ns, and from ns to init
 def	distro_quick_pasta_test
-host	(nc -6 -l -p 10000 > /tmp/init_msg; echo "from_init" | nc -N ::1 9999) &
+host	(socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10000 OPEN:/tmp/init_msg,create,trunc; echo "from_init" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:9999) &
 hostb	./pasta
 sleep	1
 host	PS1='$ '
-host	nc -6 -l -p 9999 > /tmp/ns_msg &
+host	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:9999 OPEN:/tmp/ns_msg,create,trunc &
 sleep	2
-host	echo "from_ns" | nc -N ::1 10000
+host	echo "from_ns" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:10000
 sleep	2
 host	echo
 sleep	1
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ host	ip link set eth0 up
 sleep	2
 host	echo "DNSSERVERS='__DNS6__'" | netconfig modify -s dns_resolver -i eth0
 # zypper sometimes segfaults, hence the retries
-host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make netcat-openbsd && break; done; echo
+host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make socat && break; done; echo
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ host	ip link set eth0 up
 sleep	2
 host	echo "DNSSERVERS='__DNS6__'" | netconfig modify -s dns_resolver -i eth0
 # zypper sometimes segfaults, hence the retries
-host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make netcat-openbsd && break; done; echo
+host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make socat && break; done; echo
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ host	ip link set eth0 up
 sleep	2
 host	echo "DNSSERVERS='__DNS6__'" | netconfig modify -s dns_resolver -i eth0
 # zypper sometimes segfaults, hence the retries
-host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make netcat-openbsd && break; done; echo
+host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make socat && break; done; echo
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ sleep	10
 host	echo "DNSSERVERS='__DNS6__'" | netconfig modify -s dns_resolver -i enp0s1
 sleep	10
 # No segfaults ever seen with this
-host	zypper install -y gcc make netcat-openbsd; echo
+host	zypper install -y gcc make socat; echo
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ host	ip link set eth0 up
 sleep	10
 host	echo "DNSSERVERS='__DNS6__'" | netconfig modify -s dns_resolver -i eth0
 sleep	10
-host	zypper install -y gcc make netcat-openbsd; echo
+host	zypper install -y gcc make socat; echo
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ host	ip link set ens2 up
 sleep	2
 host	echo "DNSSERVERS='__DNS6__'" | netconfig modify -s dns_resolver -i ens2
 # zypper sometimes segfaults, hence the retries
-host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make netcat-openbsd && break; done; echo
+host	for i in $(seq 1 10); do zypper install -y gcc make socat && break; done; echo
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
diff --git a/test/distro/ubuntu b/test/distro/ubuntu
index ec6c819..6666f38 100644
--- a/test/distro/ubuntu
+++ b/test/distro/ubuntu
@@ -16,6 +16,26 @@ htools	qemu-img virt-edit guestfish cat kill qemu-system-x86_64 qemu-system-ppc6
 
 # Quick pasta test: send message from init to ns, and from ns to init
 def	distro_quick_pasta_test
+host	(socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:10000 OPEN:/tmp/init_msg,create,trunc; echo "from_init" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:9999) &
+hostb	./pasta
+sleep	1
+host	PS1='$ '
+host	socat -u TCP6-LISTEN:9999 OPEN:/tmp/ns_msg,create,trunc &
+sleep	2
+host	echo "from_ns" | socat -u STDIN TCP6:[::1]:10000
+sleep	2
+host	echo
+sleep	1
+hout	NS_MSG cat /tmp/ns_msg
+check	[ __NS_MSG__ = "from_init" ]
+hostb	exit
+host	echo
+hout	INIT_MSG cat /tmp/init_msg
+check	[ __INIT_MSG__ = "from_ns" ]
+endef
+
+# Quick pasta test: netcat-openbsd version for Ubuntu 16.04 ppc64
+def	distro_quick_pasta_test_netcat
 host	(nc -w1 -6 -l -p 10000 > /tmp/init_msg; echo "from_init" | nc -q0 ::1 9999) &
 hostb	./pasta
 sleep	1
@@ -59,7 +79,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Wno-missing-field-initializers -Wno-missing-braces -Wno-type-limits" make
@@ -92,7 +112,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc,accel=kvm:tcg -m 1024 -nographic -serial
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Wno-missing-field-initializers -Wno-missing-braces -Wno-type-limits -Wno-sign-compare" make
@@ -122,7 +142,7 @@ host	./qrap 5 qemu-system-ppc64 -m 2048 -smp 2 -nographic -serial stdio -nodefau
 host	PS1='$ '
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Wno-missing-field-initializers -Wno-missing-braces -Wno-type-limits -Wno-sign-compare" make
@@ -145,12 +165,14 @@ host	dhclient -4
 # Skip apt-get update here: some updates to xenial-updates around 2022-01-30
 # broke dependencies for libc6 and gcc-5 -- note that powerpc is not officially
 # supported on this version
+
+# socat not available: install netcat-openbsd and run the test with it
 host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make
 
-distro_quick_pasta_test
+distro_quick_pasta_test_netcat
 
 hint
 sleep	1
@@ -169,7 +191,7 @@ host	apt-get -y remove needrestart snapd
 host	dhclient -4
 sleep	2
 host	apt-get update
-host	apt-get -y install make gcc netcat-openbsd
+host	apt-get -y install make gcc socat
 
 host	make clean
 host	CFLAGS="-Werror" make