We present ANCORS, an adaptable network control and reporting system that merges technology from network management and distributed simulation to provide a unified paradigm for assessing, controlling, and designing active networks. ANCORS introduces a framework to assist in managing the substantial complexities of software reuse and scalability in active network environments. Specifically, ANCORS provides an extensible approach to the dynamic integration, management, and runtime assessment of various network protocols in live network operations. We present some of the advantages that can be obtained by merging technology from network management, distributed simulation, and active networking, and describe how ANCORS leverages complementary elements of each. We describe ANCORS's network engineering support to enable efficient, high-fidelity distributed simulation of networking software. We then use ANCORS to perform a quantitative study of the Random Drop SYN attack defense mechanism.