Tag: General

This install is intended for running IOU/IOL images on the GNS3 VM because it is the preferable way of running IOS in GNS3 now.

Pre-Requisites:

1. Install VMware Workstation Player
   http://www.vmware.com/products/player/playerpro-evaluation.html
2. Install VMware VIX API
   https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api/
3. Install Wireshark
   https://www.wireshark.org/download.html
   Install WinPCAP provided by Wireshark

 

Install GNS3:

1. Install GNS3
   https://www.gns3.com/software/download
2. Install only the following components:

   

1. We don’t need Dynamips/QEMU/VPCS/Cpulimit because we’ll be running everything off of the GNS3 VM server.  We don’t install SuperPutty from here because its not the latest version and the first thing it does when you open it is bug you about upgrading to the latest version.  There are setup instructions for it below.

Install Loopback Adapter

1. Open an Admin Command Prompt

cd “c:\Program Files\gns3”

loopback-manager.cmd

1. Install a new Loopback interface (reboot required)
2. Reboot

1. Rename the new Loopback adapter to “Loopback”
2. Assign it an IP address

 

Setup GNS3 VM:

1. Download the GNS3 VM version that matches the installed GNS3 version
   https://github.com/GNS3/gns3-gui/releases
2. Import the VM and keep the defaults
3. Add a 3rd Network Adapter that will be in Bridged mode and connected to the Loopback adapter (Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter)

   

1. Power on the VM
2. SSH into the VM using gns3/gns3 for the credentials
   1. Sudo to root and run the following:
      1. echo ‘127.0.0.127 xml.cisco.com’ >> /etc/hosts
3. Leave the VM powered on, we’re done with it for now
4. Open an Administrator command prompt
5. cd into the GNS3 install directory and run the following:
   1. IMPORTANT: On my work laptop, added the additional interfaces broke network connectivity to the VM after they were added.  I have no idea why but after I reinstalled VMware Workstation which uninstalled all the adapters, I was able to connect to the VM again.  On the work laptop, I’m running without the additional adapters and it seems fine so far.
   2. vmnet-manager.cmd
   3. Select option 1 which will add the vmnet interface 2 to 19 (this can take a while, please be patient)
   4. If it looks like this process has hung, you follow step 2 in the url below to add the adapters
      https://www.gns3.com/support/docs/how-to-use-vmware-player-in-gns3

 

Configure GNS3 to use the GNS3 VM server:

1. Open up GNS3
2. Goto Edit > Preferences
   
   Be sure to leave “Start VM in headless mode” unchecked.  I ran into issues where the VM would not automatically startup when opening GNS3 and also cause the GNS3 process to linger when closing out of it.

3. Disable “Use of the local server” for Dynamips and QEMU.  We’ll use the GNS3 VM instead for running those processes.

 

 

Create the L2/L3 IOU Devices:

1. Goto Edit > Preferences
2. Set the iourc file to use with the license (IOU devices need a license to run)
   
3. Create the L2 image:
   
4. Create the L3 image:

   

Add Device Image

New appliance template > Add and IOU > Run the IOU > New Image > Browse

 

i86bi-linux-l2-ipbasek9-15.1e.bin – IOU-L2

i86bi-linux-l3-adventerprisek9-15.4.2T.bin – IOU-L3

 

 

Operational Notes:

• Sometimes a restart of all the routers/switches are required when new links are created between devices.  Even though the line protocols show as up, I’ve found a restart is required for traffic to actually pass through them.

 

If you want to use SuperPutty as the SSH client for GNS3 click this link:
SuperPutty with GNS3