I've installed GNS3 over and over and over…

I wrote this wiki article for future me.

Cisco IOS images use VIRL provided IOSv, IOSvL2.
I think that there is no valid IOS15 included box in this world for exam.
Dynamips supports only C7200 and IOS15 series.
Other specific box IOS images 12, and you can find box miraculous situation on eBay, Yahoo auction.

In CCIE R&S v5.1 Exam, IOS 12 not target version.

You should think buy VIRL-PE 20 node version subscription to run the valid IOS15 images on GNS3 VM.

Cisco Virtual Internet Routing Lab Personal Edition (VIRL PE) 20 Nodes - The Cisco Learning Network

I ASSUME YOU HAVE ALREADY DOWNLOADED VALID IOSv, IOSvL2 IMAGE WITH VIRL.

Go to https://www.gns3.com/

You should signup GNS3 account. Strongly recommended.

or take a GNS3 build artifacts on GitHub

Releases · GNS3/gns3-gui · GitHub

choose Sign Up

Sign up completed you are ready to download GNS3 applications.

You need to download GNS3 GUI client, and GNS3 VM. You can run GNS3 on GNS3 server, but I strongly recommended You use GNS3 VM you don't want to have any unpredictable results, except install on Linux System.

Additionally, You should use Nested-VM supported Hypervisor like a VMware Workstation, KVM(Kernel based Virtual Machine).

OK. Let's go ahead.

go back to previous page to download GNS VM.

take some coffee break, you've been downloaded GNS3 files.

Add New Host-only network.

If you deployed previous step Cisco VIRL, this step is necessary.

select vacant VMnetN.

Before this step, you need to extract GNS3VM ova zip.

I recommend extract to high I/O performance area. (e.g. SSD attached to SATA, NVMe M.2)

Initial import status.

Configure, Verify VM.

Make sure enabled “Virtualize Intel Vt-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI”. and close it. VMware configuration

Change Host-only network Adapter setting that explicitly specify previous created Host-only Networking.

Memory, CPU allocation step later. leave it.

If you see “eth0 is not configured. Please manually configure it via the Networking menu.” message.
You need to configure above explicitly Host-only networking setting.

Let's go to install GNS3 GUI client!

Double click GNS3-2.1.4-all-in-one.exe.

All default.

Of course, this installation area should be high I/O performance area. (e.g. SSD attached to SATA, NVMe M.2)

do not touch

Some reason, this error happened, but I already installed latest Wireshark. Skip this.

Wireshark 2.4.5

You not need to use Solarwinds Standard Toolset in this timing. select No.

make sure GNS3 server(not VM) binding address 127.0.0.1. other one - e.g self-assigned IP address 169.254.0.0 - not work properly.

allocate more cpu, memory resource best simulation performance.

if you selected over cores, get this error message.

GNS3 VM booting.

1. Import GNS3 appliance - GNS3

It's time to import Cisco IOSv, IOSvL2!

Go to GNS3 appliance page.

Marketplace - Appliances - GNS3

and search appliance IOSv

1. Marketplace - Cisco IOSv - GNS3
2. Marketplace - Cisco IOSvL2 - GNS3

1. Cisco IOSv appliance - GNS3
2. Cisco IOSvL2 appliance - GNS3

I decide to use Cisco IOSv 15.5(3)M, Cisco IOSvL2 15.2.4055

in IOSv, You need to download IOSv_startup_config.img

In the same manner, import IOSvL2 appliance.

All setup done!

Let's create first topology.

drag and drop Multi-layer switch and Router, terminal PC(VPCS).

Start Simulation.

all connected, green.

Open all terminal

Configure each node following configuration.

Basic OSPF Configuration, all routing devices in area 0 (backbone)

• R1

conf t
hostname R1
!
int gig0/2
ip addr 192.168.0.254 255.255.255.0
no shut
int gig0/0
ip addr 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
no shut
!
router ospf 1
network 192.168.0.0 0.0.255.255 area 0
!
end

• R2

conf t
hostname R2
!
int gig0/2
ip addr 192.168.4.254 255.255.255.0
no shut
int gig0/1
ip addr 192.168.3.1 255.255.255.0
no shut
!
router ospf 1
network 192.168.0.0 0.0.255.255 area 0
!
end

• SW1

en
conf t
hostname SW1
!
ip routing
!
int gig0/0
no switchport
ip addr 192.168.1.254 255.255.255.0
no shut
int gig0/1
no switchport
ip addr 192.168.3.254 255.255.255.0
no shut
int gig0/2
no switchport
ip addr 192.168.2.254 255.255.255.0
no shut
!
router ospf 1
network 192.168.0.0 0.0.255.255 area 0
!
end

• PC-1

ip 192.168.0.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.254
save

• PC-2

ip 192.168.4.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.4.254
save

• PC-3

ip 192.168.2.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.2.254
save

Verification

R1#sh ip ro
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
       D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
       i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
       ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
       o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
       a - application route
       + - replicated route, % - next hop override, p - overrides from PfR

Gateway of last resort is not set

      192.168.0.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.0.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
L        192.168.0.254/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
      192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L        192.168.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
O     192.168.2.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.1.254, 00:00:23, GigabitEthernet0/0
O     192.168.3.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.1.254, 00:00:13, GigabitEthernet0/0
O     192.168.4.0/24 [110/3] via 192.168.1.254, 00:00:13, GigabitEthernet0/0

SW1#sh ip ro
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
       D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
       i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
       ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
       o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
       a - application route
       + - replicated route, % - next hop override

Gateway of last resort is not set

O     192.168.0.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.1.1, 00:07:41, GigabitEthernet0/0
      192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L        192.168.1.254/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
      192.168.2.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.2.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
L        192.168.2.254/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
      192.168.3.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.3.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
L        192.168.3.254/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
O     192.168.4.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.3.1, 00:00:08, GigabitEthernet0/1

R2#sh ip ro
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
       D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
       N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
       E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
       i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
       ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
       o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
       a - application route
       + - replicated route, % - next hop override, p - overrides from PfR

Gateway of last resort is not set

O     192.168.0.0/24 [110/3] via 192.168.3.254, 00:00:23, GigabitEthernet0/1
O     192.168.1.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.3.254, 00:00:23, GigabitEthernet0/1
O     192.168.2.0/24 [110/2] via 192.168.3.254, 00:00:23, GigabitEthernet0/1
      192.168.3.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.3.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
L        192.168.3.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/1
      192.168.4.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C        192.168.4.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2
L        192.168.4.254/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/2

PC-1> ping 192.168.2.1
84 bytes from 192.168.2.1 icmp_seq=1 ttl=62 time=16.366 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.1 icmp_seq=2 ttl=62 time=2.301 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.1 icmp_seq=3 ttl=62 time=4.256 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.1 icmp_seq=4 ttl=62 time=2.398 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.1 icmp_seq=5 ttl=62 time=8.488 ms

PC-1> ping 192.168.2.254
84 bytes from 192.168.2.254 icmp_seq=1 ttl=254 time=15.693 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.254 icmp_seq=2 ttl=254 time=6.317 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.254 icmp_seq=3 ttl=254 time=11.525 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.254 icmp_seq=4 ttl=254 time=6.241 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.2.254 icmp_seq=5 ttl=254 time=4.823 ms

PC-1> ping 192.168.4.1
84 bytes from 192.168.4.1 icmp_seq=1 ttl=61 time=16.961 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.1 icmp_seq=2 ttl=61 time=8.415 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.1 icmp_seq=3 ttl=61 time=6.937 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.1 icmp_seq=4 ttl=61 time=14.644 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.1 icmp_seq=5 ttl=61 time=6.549 ms

PC-1> ping 192.168.4.254
84 bytes from 192.168.4.254 icmp_seq=1 ttl=253 time=6.320 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.254 icmp_seq=2 ttl=253 time=7.687 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.254 icmp_seq=3 ttl=253 time=7.313 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.254 icmp_seq=4 ttl=253 time=8.617 ms
84 bytes from 192.168.4.254 icmp_seq=5 ttl=253 time=8.096 ms

All works fine, welcome to internetworking simulation with GNS3!

1. DO NOT EXECUTE VPCS in GNS3 server, arp response too slow. EXECUTE VPCS in same VM(with another routing devices).

1. GNS3 documentation
2. Install GNS3 — PG1X Document