#Gns3 vm install#
#Gns3 vm portable#
#Gns3 vm software#

VMware workstation is recommended when nesting of operating systems is required due to better VTx support for both AMD and Intel CPUs. VMware / VirtualBox īoth VMware and VirtualBox provide an easy way to virtualize devices and can be added to your GNS3 topologies. If you want a stable platform and officially released Cisco images which are constantly updated, GNS3 recommends the use of Qemu and Cisco VIRL images.

#Gns3 vm software#

The software is not officially released by Cisco, and those images can often be buggy. GNS3 RECOMMENDATIONS GNS3 does not recommend the use of IOU. You will also not get support from Cisco TAC. IOU is a Cisco internal tool that has not been publicly released, and a Cisco employee will need to give you both the software and a license. If you are not using Linux it is recommended that you run VIRL appliances directly in the GNS3 VM which leverages Qemu. An ASAv for example can be run natively in VMware or in Qemu.

#Gns3 vm portable#

The topologies are portable and lighter than using native VirtualBox and VMware virtual machines. GNS3 RECOMMENDATION: Qemu is the best choice for creating and using Cisco GNS3 topologies. VIRL images are created specifically for simulation and work well especially if you want newer versions of the Cisco operating system and modern features. This will allow you to access images that work with GNS3 and approved by Cisco team. To use Cisco images such as IOSvL2, you will need to purchase a Cisco VIRL subscription. Most manufacturers offer Qemu images which can also be used with GNS3. GNS3 is unable to provide IOS images for your labs.Ĭisco does not support you using IOS images on non-Cisco hardware and you may run into bugs emulating Cisco hardware. You will need access to either physical hardware or have a Cisco support contract to get an IOS image. You can copy a supported IOS image from a physical network device and use it with GNS3.

It emulates older Cisco hardware such as 3725 routers and uses actual Cisco IOS images. Cisco Dynamips ĭynamips is the technology leveraged by GNS3 since inception and emulates Cisco routers and basic switching using the Etherswitch module. As soon as you are comfortable with GNS3, it is recommended that you move to a GNS3 VM setup to make the most of GNS3 options and optimization.

This is simpler in some ways to set up, but does have limitations and should be seen as the starting point in your GNS3 journey.

#Gns3 vm install#

This means that you only install the GNS3 GUI (all-in-one). However, if you only want to create basic GNS3 topologies using Cisco IOS routers, a local (Dynamips) install will suffice. This includes the lack of proper Qemu support when running VIRL natively on Windows (not recommended), as well as a method to easily add docker containers to your projects. The GNS3 development team have worked hard to create a lightweight, robust way of creating GNS3 topologies that avoids multiple common issues experienced when using a local install of GNS3. The GNS3 VM is recommended for most situations when you are using Windows or Mac OS. This document will help you decide which emulator or simulator you should use in your GNS3 topologies. This gives you lots of flexibility when building topologies. GNS3 supports multiple emulators which you can use in your GNS3 projects.