GNS3 has definitely matured as a product and offers tremendous functionality especially if you look at the cross vendor platform support that it offers. I definitely prefer the interface of GNS3 over other products such as VIRL. VIRL is maturing and getting there as a product, but the VM Maestro interface leaves a lot to be desired. Anyways, without getting into a quick review of the differences between the different products, I wanted to write up a quick post on how to setup GNS3 VM VMware ESXi installation. I had recently refamiliarized myself with GNS3 and it has changed a good amount since the last time I had used it.
One of the bigger changes lately is the use of the GNS3 VM instead of the IOU VM that has replaced this functionality moving forward. However, I found the documentation a bit all over the place when it came to setting up the GNS3 VM so I wanted to quickly encapsulate what I did to get it up and running in my ESXi lab environment.
Setup GNS3 VM VMware ESXi
Now Let's get started: Step1: Import 'GNS3 VM.ova' file on your VMWare Workstation or Virtual Box Step 1a: Upload IOU L2 and L3 image files Skip to content Open Menu. Free download page for Project GNS3's GNS3 IOU VM 1.3.1.ova.GNS3 is a graphical network simulator that allows you to design complex network topologies. You may run simulations or configure devices ranging from simple workstations to powerful Cisco router.
Navigate to the GNS3 official website and download the OVA template for VMware ESXi. You will need to create a free account if you have not done so already. Notice the Download the GNS3 VM link at the bottom.
Once you have downloaded the OVA template, you will deploy this in the normal means of deploying an OVA file in vCenter. Either using the WebUI or vCenter client, deploy the template. The VM boots for the first time. I love the extending tongue of the GNS3 logo to show boot progress.
Upon the first boot, you may be prompted to configure the network settings. In this particular lab environment, I didn’t have a DHCP server running, so the ethernet adapter wasn’t able to pull an IP address as you can see below. By default it is set to DHCP.
Also, since the VM uses KVM, so you must enable nested virtualization or you will receive the error message below.
To enable nested virtualization capabilities on the GNS3 VM, open the WebUI in vCenter and in the Edit Settings dialog box under the CPU, you will see the option for Hardware virtualization. Place a check in the Expose hardware assisted virtualization to the guest OS. This must be done when the VM is powered off.
Now, when you boot, you should not see the error. Now we will configure the Networking of the GNS3 VM. Select the Networking – Configure networking settings option in the menu.
This will open the low level edit of the /etc/network/interfaces file where you can edit your network settings. To disable DHCP and set a static IP address, comment/uncomment out the following:
- iface eth0 inet dhcp
- iface eth0 inet static
As you can see below, I commented out the DHCP line and then uncommented the static line and set my IP address parameters in that section.
After you save the file, you will be prompted to reboot to instantiate the network changes you have made.
As you can see when you boot the VM, you should see your new IP address configured.
Thoughts
GNS3 has come a long way and is certainly in my humble opinion the best network lab software you can use due to the wide range of vendors that it can simulate as well as the ease of use of the interface. Add to the fact, that you can even use your VIRL images in the new GNS3 VM, it becomes a swiss army knife of capabilities. In the next post, I will show how to upgrade/install your GNS3 Windows installation as well as how to install appliances from the marketplace and import your VIRL images. As we have show in this setup GNS3 VM VMware ESXi post, the process to get up and running with the new GNS3 VM is painless and easy.
IT Network
This article will guide you about installing GNS3 VM virtual server and configuring GNS3 network simulation software to works with GNS3 VM virtual server.
You might come up with a question in mind that why do we need GNS3 VM virtual server while we already have GNS3 network simulation software.
GNS3 VM virtual server is an isolated Ubuntu virtual server power by GNS3 Technologies Inc. It consumes CPU and memory usage from local virtual server itself, not from a real physical computer. So, it can improve your computer performance while running GNS3 network simulation software. Qemu in GNS3 VM virtual server work much better on Linux, Cisco ASAv Qemu firewall virtual servers as an example, which is less randomly problem happened.
In this instruction install GNS3 VM virtual server , it is assumed that:
a. You have some basic knowledge of using GNS3 network simulation software.
b. You have some basic knowledge about VMware workstation.
b. You have VMware workstation 11 installed on you real physical computer.
c. You have internet access.
b. You have some basic knowledge about VMware workstation.
b. You have VMware workstation 11 installed on you real physical computer.
c. You have internet access.
Download GNS3 network simulation software from https://gns3.com/software. It is required that you have a GNS3 account. If you don’t have one, just create it. Follow the installation instruction.
First we need to download GNS3 VM virtual server. At the time of writing this document, GNS3 VM virtual server version is 2.0.0 beta 1. Anyway, you can always download the latest version from https://github.com/GNS3/gns3-gui/releases. Click on “GNS3.VM.VMware.Workstation.2.0.0b1.zip” to download it.
After finish downloading, you need to extract the zip file. The downloaded GNS3 VM virtual server is in OVA format, so what we need to do is just import it to VMware workstation. Start VMware workstation, choose “File” and then click on “Open…”.
Browse to the location where you had recently just downloaded GNS3 VM virtual server to, and then click on “Import”.
Power on GNS3 VM virtual server and make sure that it gets an IP address. You don’t need assign static IP address for it. GNS3 software will discover and detect GNS3 VM virtual server by itself.
Start GNS3 network simulation software and go to “Edit”, click on “Preferences”. On preferences window, click “Server” option. Go to “GNS3 VM server” tab, check on “Enable the GNS3 VM” check box. Under “Virtualization software” section, check select on “VMware”, then click on “OK” to finish.
GNS3 network simulation software will try to connect to VMware and then call for GNS3 VM virtual security appliance to start.
Go to “Edit”, click on “Preferences”. On preferences window, under “Dynamips” option click on “IOS routers” and then click “New” to add to Cisco IOS image of router.
Selection the option of “Run the IOS on the GNS3 VM” to run Cisco IOS router on GNS3 VM virtual server. Then, click “Next” to continue.
Select “New Image” and then browse to IOS file location. In my case here, use an Cisco image file name “c7200-adventerprisek9-mz.124-11.T.bin”.
Click on “Idle-PC finder”, wait for the Idle-PC process to complete, then click on “Finish” to end the process of adding Cisco IOS image to GNS3 VM virtual server.
Let create a project to test whether the Cisco IOS image added is working properly.
Launch telnet console to the router to see if it is working fine. As we can see in the picture below, now Cisco IOS image router is working fine.
That is all about GNS3 VM virtual server. I hope that now you can start work with this virtual security appliance as a network security tools by yourself. It is really great, isn’t it? If you have any questions or suggestions you can always leave your comments below. I will try all of my best to review and reply them. Thank you and have a great day.
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