Recommended QEMU settings:
Boot example (manual QEMU):
qemu-system-x86_64 \
-machine pc \
-cpu host \
-smp 1 \
-m 2048 \
-drive file=i86bi-linuxl3-adventerprisek9-m2.157-3.May.2018.bin,format=raw \
-serial telnet:127.0.0.1:5000,server,nowait \
-device virtio-net-pci,netdev=net0 \
-netdev user,id=net0
The date (May 2018) often causes concern for students. "Do I need IOS 17.x?"
The answer is No for routing. Routing protocols are mature. IOS 15.7(3) is stable and covers 99% of the routing features tested in CCNP/CCIE written exams. i86bi linuxl3-adventerprisek9-m2 157 3 may 2018.bin
Security Note: Since this image is from 2018, it contains known vulnerabilities (e.g., older SSL versions, default keys). Do not expose the management interface of this router to the public internet.
If you are studying for your CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE certifications, you have likely spent hours staring at a GNS3 or EVE-NG topology. You’ve probably encountered a file with a dauntingly long name: i86bi_linuxl3-adventerprisek9-m2.157-3.May.2018.bin.
To the uninitiated, it looks like a random string of characters. To a network engineer, it tells a specific story about the evolution of network simulation, the transition from hardware to virtualization, and the specific feature sets available for labbing. Recommended QEMU settings:
In this post, we are going to break down exactly what this file is, why the "May 2018" date matters, and how to get the most out of it in your home lab.
Once the router boots, you’ll get the standard IOS CLI:
Router> enable
Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# hostname R1
R1(config)# interface eth0/0
R1(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
R1(config-if)# no shutdown
R1(config-if)# exit
R1(config)# router ospf 1
R1(config-router)# network 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
R1(config-router)# end
R1# write memory
Verify crypto support:
R1# show crypto isakmp policy
Verify version:
R1# show version | include IOS
Should show:
Cisco IOS Software [Everest] Linux Software (I86BI_LINUXL3-ADVENTERPRISEK9-M), Version 15.7(3)
This image boots in under 10 seconds. When troubleshooting a complex redistribution issue, saving minutes per reboot across 20 routers drastically improves productivity. Boot example (manual QEMU): qemu-system-x86_64 \ -machine pc
Copy i86bi-linuxl3-adventerprisek9-m2.157-3.may.2018.bin to your /opt/unetlab/addons/iol/bin/ directory (Eve-NG path) or the IOU folder in GNS3.