Setting up GNS3 and GNS3 VM Network emulator.
INTRODUCTION
This is a simple guide on how to quickly get started using GNS3 Network emulator. The installation of gns3 vm can be quite complicated but it was made wasy in this tutorial.
GOAL:
This project shows how to easily install GNS3 , GNS3VM and VMware for virtualization, and also how to setup my network programmabilty lab in the other lesson.
LINK TO NETWORK PROGRAMMABILTY LESSON:
Why GNS3?
Graphical Network Simulator-3 (shortened to GNS3) is a network software emulator first released in 2008. It allows the combination of virtual and real devices, used to simulate complex networks. It has a variation of vendors that can be used. It is most efficiently used with the gns3 vm , however it can be used alone.
Why GNS3 Virtual Machine (VM)?
The GNS3 VM is a linux Virtual Machine with a GNS3 server inside. This allow you to run stuff on Linux controller from your Windows PC. You can load devices virtually on the VM.
It is required to load some network devices IOS image.
NB: This setup applies to windows user.
OUTLINE:
1 Download and install GNS3
2 Download and install GNS3 Virtual Machine
3 Download and install VM Ware workstation 12 player
4 Download and install VIX Version 1.15
5 Configure the GNSVM on GNS3
6 Importing Appliances and IOS image used in the network programmabilty lesson (optional)
1 Download and install GNS3:
Visit https://www.gns3.com/software/download to download latest version of GNS3. Then install it
On the top bar click edit then preferences:
then click gns3 vm
then we can see a link to download the gns3 vm.
2 Download GNS3 VM:
After clicking the download here link, it downloads the gns3 vm for the specific gns3 version.
eg. https://github.com/GNS3/gns3-gui/releases/download/v2.2.12/GNS3.VM.VMware.Workstation.2.2.12.zip
3. Download VMWare workstation 12 player:
VMware is a Virtualization software thatcreates an abstraction layer over computer hardware that allows the hardware elements of a single computer — processors, memory, storage, and more — to be divided into multiple virtual computers, commonly called virtual machines (VMs).
NB: VMware workstation 12 player is the most recommended version to run the GNS3 VM.
Download and install from here:
Load the GNS3 vm : click player button at the top bar, then files, and open the gns3 vm ova file you downloaded.
4 Download VIX Version 1.15
The VIX API allows users to automate virtual machine operations on VMware Server or VMware Workstation
Download and install from here:
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads/details?productId=535&downloadGroup=PLAYER-1200-VIX1150
5. Configure the GNS3 VM on GNS3:
In the preferences click the virtualization engine. after loading the gns3 vm on the vmware, it wiil now appear.
choose port 80, RAM of 2048MB, 1 VCPUS, Keep the GNS VM running .
the click apply , then ok. We then see GNS3 VM started up and working.
6. Importing GNS3 Appliances and ios image used in the network programmabilty lesson (optional)
Appliances used: Ubuntu Docker Container. download from here:
https://www.gns3.com/marketplace/appliances/ubuntu
vIOS-L2 IOS image for Cisco Switch download: https://gist.github.com/TolgaBagci/d6d0f98fcc81850261e8b6e757edd415
NB: The NAT Cloud and Router are already availiable on GNS3
6.1 Import Ubuntu Docker Container appliance on GNS3 .
6.2 import vIOS-L2 IOS image for Cisco Switch.
Click edit then preferences,then click Qemu VMs
then add a name:
click next
click next:
browse the cisco switch ios you downloaded and click finish:
You can now drag devices on the left to the main screen:
you now have this setup:
7. CONCLUSION
This project showed how to easily install GNS3 , GNS3VM and VMware for virtualization, and also how to setup my network programmabilty lab. GNS3 network emulator is most prefered for network professionals.
WRITER: OLUYEDE SEGUN . A(jnr)
REFERENCES:
LINK TO NETWORK PROGRAMMABILTY LESSON:
linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oluyede-segun-adedeji-jr-a5550b167/
twitter profile: https://twitter.com/oluyedejun1
TAGS: #NETWORKING #GNS3 #NETWORKPROGRAMMABILITY
