Download IOU for GNS3: A Guide to Using Cisco Switches and Routers on Unix/Linux
How to Download IOU for GNS3
If you are interested in learning about Cisco networking devices, you may have heard of GNS3 and IOU. GNS3 is a popular network simulator that allows you to create virtual network topologies using various emulators and simulators. IOU stands for IOS on Unix/Linux, which is a version of Cisco IOS that runs on Unix or Linux operating systems.
download iou for gns3
By using IOU devices in your GNS3 projects, you can simulate both Cisco routers and switches with high performance and flexibility. You can also interconnect them with other vendors' devices, such as Juniper, Cumulus, or Docker.
In this article, we will show you how to download IOU for GNS3 and use it in your network simulations. We will also discuss some benefits and troubleshooting tips for using IOU for GNS3.
Prerequisites
Before you can download and use IOU for GNS3, you will need the following:
A computer with Windows, Mac OS, or Linux operating system.
GNS3 software installed on your computer. You can download it from here.
GNS3 VM imported into VMware or VirtualBox. You can download it from here.
IOU images for routers and switches. You can obtain them from Cisco or other sources.
A license file for using IOU images on GNS3 server. You can obtain it from Cisco or other sources.
Step 1: Install GNS3 VM
The first step is to install the GNS3 VM on your computer using VMware or VirtualBox. The GNS3 VM is a virtual machine that runs the GNS3 server and hosts the IOU images. To install the GNS3 VM, follow these steps:
Download the GNS3 VM from here. Choose the version that matches your GNS3 software and your hypervisor (VMware or VirtualBox).
Extract the downloaded file and import the GNS3 VM into your hypervisor. For VMware, you can use the File > Open menu. For VirtualBox, you can use the File > Import Appliance menu.
Start the GNS3 VM and wait for it to boot up. You should see a screen with some information about the GNS3 server, such as the IP address and the port.
Open the GNS3 software on your computer and go to Edit > Preferences > Server. Enable the option to use the GNS3 VM and select your hypervisor. Click on Refresh and make sure the GNS3 VM is detected and running.
Step 2: Get IOU Images and License File
The next step is to get the IOU images and the license file for using them on the GNS3 server. The IOU images are files that contain the Cisco IOS software for routers and switches. The license file is a text file that contains a key for activating the IOU images.
There are different ways to obtain the IOU images and the license file, depending on your access to Cisco resources. If you have a valid Cisco account, you can download them from Cisco's website or use a tool called Cisco IOU Keygen. If you don't have a Cisco account, you can search for them online or ask someone who has them.
Once you have the IOU images and the license file, you need to rename them according to a specific format. The format is ioutype-version-platform.bin, where:
type is either l2 for switches or l3 for routers.
version is the IOS version number, such as 15.2.
platform is the platform name, such as i86bi-linux-l2-ipbasek9 or i86bi-linux-l3-adventerprisek9.
For example, an IOU image for a switch with IOS 15.2 and IP Base feature set would be named ioul2-15.2-i86bi-linux-l2-ipbasek9.bin.
The license file should be named iourc.txt and should contain a line like this:
How to install Cisco IOU on GNS3 VM
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[license] gns3vm = 1234567890abcdef;
Where gns3vm is the hostname of the GNS3 server and 1234567890abcdef is the license key generated by Cisco IOU Keygen or obtained from another source.
Step 3: Upload IOU Images to GNS3 Server
The third step is to upload the IOU images to the GNS3 server running on the GNS3 VM. To do this, you need to use a web browser and access the following URL: http://:8000/upload. You can find the GNS3 VM IP address from the GNS3 VM console or the GNS3 software preferences.
Once you access the URL, you will see a web page with a form to upload files. You need to upload the IOU images and the license file one by one. You can also drag and drop the files into the form. The files will be uploaded to the /opt/gns3/images/IOU folder on the GNS3 server.
After uploading the files, you can verify that they are correctly uploaded by accessing the following URL: http://:8000/v2/compute/iou/images. You should see a JSON output with the list of IOU images available on the GNS3 server.
Step 4: Add IOU Devices to GNS3
The fourth step is to add IOU devices to your GNS3 project and configure their properties. To do this, you need to use the GNS3 GUI and follow these steps:
Open or create a new GNS3 project and go to Edit > Preferences > IOU Devices.
Click on New and select an IOU image from the list. You can also browse for an IOU image if it is not in the list.
Enter a name and a default symbol for the IOU device. You can also change other settings, such as RAM, NVRAM, startup-config, etc.
Click on Finish and repeat the process for other IOU devices you want to add.
Click on Apply and OK to save the preferences.
Drag and drop the IOU devices from the Devices toolbar to the Workspace.
Step 5: Connect and Test IOU Devices
The final step is to connect the IOU devices with links and test their functionality with console commands. To do this, you need to use the GNS3 GUI and follow these steps:
Select a link type from the Links toolbar, such as Ethernet or Serial.
Click on an IOU device and select an interface to connect it to another IOU device or another device in your project.
Repeat the process for other links you want to create.
Start all the devices by clicking on the Start button or pressing Ctrl+R.
Right-click on an IOU device and select Console to open a terminal window with access to the device's CLI.
Enter some commands to configure and test the device, such as show version, show ip interface brief, ping, etc.
Benefits of IOU for GNS3
Now that you know how to download and use IOU for GNS3, you may wonder what are some benefits of using it for your network simulations. Here are some of them:
Performance
IOU devices use less resources than Dynamips or Qemu devices, which are other types of Cisco devices supported by GNS3. This means that you can run more IOU devices on your computer without slowing it down or crashing it. You can also run more complex network topologies with more features and protocols.
Flexibility
IOU devices support both routers and switches, which means that you can simulate both layer 2 and layer 3 networks with Cisco devices. You can also interconnect them with other vendors' devices, such as Juniper, Cumulus, or Docker, which are also supported by GNS3. This gives you more options and scenarios for your network simulations.
Learning
IOU devices can help you prepare for Cisco certification exams or real-world deployments by giving you hands-on experience with Cisco IOS software. You can practice various commands, configurations, troubleshooting techniques, and best practices with IOU devices. You can also learn from online resources, such as blogs, videos, books, or courses that use IOU for GNS3 as a teaching tool.
Troubleshooting IOU for GNS3
Although IOU for GNS3 is a powerful and useful tool for network simulation, it is not perfect and may encounter some issues from time to time. Here are some common issues that may arise when using IOU for GNS3 and some solutions or tips for resolving them:
Common Issues
The GNS3 VM does not start or does not connect to the GNS3 software.
The IOU images or license file are not uploaded to the GNS3 server or are not recognized by the GNS3 software.
The IOU devices do not start or do not respond to console commands.
The IOU devices do not communicate with each other or with other devices in the project.
The IOU devices show errors or warnings related to the license file or the IOU image.
Solutions
Make sure that your hypervisor (VMware or VirtualBox) is running and that the GNS3 VM is imported and started correctly. Check the network settings of the GNS3 VM and make sure that it has an IP address and a port that match the GNS3 software preferences. Restart the GNS3 VM or the GNS3 software if needed.
Make sure that you have uploaded the IOU images and the license file to the /opt/gns3/images/IOU folder on the GNS3 server using the web browser. Check that the files are named correctly according to the format explained in step 2. Verify that the files are listed in the GNS3 software preferences under IOU Devices.
Make sure that you have enough RAM and CPU resources on your computer to run the IOU devices. Check that the IOU devices have the correct settings, such as RAM, NVRAM, startup-config, etc. in the GNS3 software preferences. Try to stop and start the IOU devices again or use a different console application, such as PuTTY or SecureCRT.
Make sure that you have connected the IOU devices with the correct link type and interface. Check that the IOU devices have valid IP addresses and subnet masks for their interfaces. Try to ping or traceroute between the IOU devices or other devices in the project. Use debugging commands, such as show ip route, show cdp neighbors, show interfaces, etc. to troubleshoot the connectivity issues.
Make sure that you have a valid license file for using IOU images on GNS3 server. Check that the license file is named iourc.txt and contains a line with the hostname of the GNS3 server and a license key. Try to generate a new license key using Cisco IOU Keygen or another source. Make sure that you have compatible IOU images for your license file and your GNS3 software version.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download IOU for GNS3 and use it in your network simulations. We have also discussed some benefits and troubleshooting tips for using IOU for GNS3. We hope that you have found this article helpful and informative.
If you want to learn more about IOU for GNS3, you can check out these links:
GNS3 Documentation: IOU Support
GNS3 Academy: Cisco IOS on UNIX (IOU)
GNS3 Forums: IOU Section
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions related to IOU for GNS3:
What is the difference between IOU and IOSv?
IOU and IOSv are both versions of Cisco IOS that run on Unix or Linux operating systems. However, IOU is an older version that is not officially supported by Cisco, while IOSv is a newer version that is part of Cisco's Virtual Internet Routing Lab (VIRL) product. IOSv has more features and supports more platforms than IOU, but it also requires more resources and a valid VIRL license to use.
Can I use IOU for GNS3 without a license file?
No, you cannot use IOU for GNS3 without a license file. The license file is required to activate the IOU images on the GNS3 server. Without a license file, the IOU devices will not start or will show errors or warnings related to the license.
Can I use IOU for GNS3 on a Mac OS computer?
Yes, you can use IOU for GNS3 on a Mac OS computer. However, you will need to install VMware Fusion or VirtualBox on your Mac OS computer and import the GNS3 VM into it. You will also need to use a web browser to upload the IOU images and the license file to the GNS3 server running on the GNS3 VM.
Can I use IOU for GNS3 with real Cisco devices or physical network interfaces?
Yes, you can use IOU for GNS3 with real Cisco devices or physical network interfaces. You can connect the IOU devices with the real Cisco devices using the Cloud node in GNS3. You can also connect the IOU devices with the physical network interfaces using the Ethernet Switch node in GNS3.
Can I use IOU for GNS3 with other network simulators or emulators?
Yes, you can use IOU for GNS3 with other network simulators or emulators, such as Packet Tracer, EVE-NG, or Cisco VIRL. However, you will need to convert the IOU images to a compatible format for each simulator or emulator. You will also need to have a valid license file for using IOU images on each simulator or emulator.