feature interface-vlan feature vn-segment-vlan-based # for VXLAN feature ospf feature bgp
Once you have legally obtained the file, here is how to deploy it.
No additional files are strictly required for basic boot. However, for advanced features (like guest shell), ensure: Nxosv-final.7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 Download
Before you download a file, you must trust it. Understanding the naming convention helps you verify its authenticity. Let’s break down this complex string:
| Component | Meaning | | :--- | :--- | | nxosv | Nexus OS Virtual – indicates this is the virtual appliance, not a physical switch image. | | final | Denotes this is a general availability (GA) release, not a beta or engineering special (early field trial). “Final” builds are typically the most stable. | | 7.0.3 | The major and minor release version. Cisco NX-OS 7.x is a long-lived stable branch widely used in data centers for features like VXLAN, EVPN, and MPLS. | | I7.4 | The image maintenance version. “I” often signifies a specific feature set or hardware abstraction layer. I7.4 implies this is the 7th major maintenance release, with the 4th minor update. | | .qcow2 | The file format. QEMU Copy-On-Write version 2 is the native disk format for KVM-based hypervisors (Linux KVM, Proxmox, oVirt). | Understanding the naming convention helps you verify its
Why is this specific version sought after?
Version 7.0.3.I7.4 strikes a rare balance: it is new enough to support modern features like segment routing and programmability (Guest Shell, Bash, Python), but old enough to be stable and resource-light compared to NX-OS 9.x or 10.x. It requires only about 4GB of RAM and 8GB of storage per instance, making it ideal for modest lab environments.
After downloading the Nxosv-final.7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 image: “Final” builds are typically the most stable
Once you have the legal file in hand, here is how to deploy it on the two most popular hypervisors.