Once you have the image legally, the next step is to get it running in your chosen network emulator. Since direct usage outside CML is restricted, we focus on the intended environment.
In EVE-NG, always run the permissions fix script after adding a new image via the CLI: /opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions Use code with caution. Deploying in VMware Workstation or ESXi
Ensure you have an active Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) license. This is the only official way to legally download the qcow2/vmdk images. vios-adventerprisek9-m.vmdk.spa.157-3.m3 download
Upload the file via SFTP to your EVE-NG server under the correct directory naming convention (e.g., /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/vios-15.7.3-M3/ ). Ensure the final filename inside the folder matches the naming conventions required by the template (usually virtioa.qcow2 ).
: You can use the built-in CML/VIRL appliance templates to import the image and start labbing instantly. A Note on Security and Licensing Once you have the image legally, the next
This ensures you are using a clean, untampered image directly from Cisco. 2. Integration with GNS3 and EVE-NG
Engineers use this file to build complex, virtual "cities" of data, testing how traffic moves across a continent—all from their laptop. It’s a safe sandbox where a single typo won't crash a real company's internet, but will instead teach a valuable lesson in a simulated environment. Deploying in VMware Workstation or ESXi Ensure you
If your organization has an active tied to an account with software download privileges, you can log in directly to the Cisco Software Download Center.
Because this image utilizes the feature set, it supports almost every protocol and tool required for professional network validation and certification tracks like the CCNP or CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure:
What specific you intend to design.
: Represents Cisco IOS Software Release 15.7(3)M3 , a stable and mature branch of the classic 15.x train. Key Technical Features & Capabilities