My Personal Experience using GNS3 #
I stated using GNS3 on Monday, so far it been alright i’m preety new to networking as an industry, so this was/is very new to me.
What is GNS3 #
According to Wikipedia:
“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 uses Dynamips emulation software to simulate Cisco IOS.
GNS3 is used by many large companies including Exxon, Walmart, AT&T and NASA, and is also popular for preparation of network professional certification exams. As of 2015, the software has been downloaded 11 million times.”
Why did I pick GNS3 ? #
I personnaly picked them, because they where the most recommended free alternative to firl.
Installation #
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I went to their download page and clicked on windows
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Then I had to create an account
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Then I had to decide on which version to download, choosing to go with the latest one, I picked that and hit downlad.
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After waiting for it to download, I clicked on the installer and was briefly prompted thoriugh the steps.
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You can just follow the installer from this point on, but i just wanted to note that since I have vmware installed I chose to run the gms3 vm in vmware for convenience instead of doing it on my own system.
The Cisco Factor #
Gns3 is a free piece of software, meaningt that it lacks a few things. It by default only comes with an ehternet hub, an ethernet switch, vpcs and like 2 other thnings.
I had to download a cisco switch and router for myself in order to actually start my lab work, and that leads me to my experience downloading the files for the router and switch.
Downloading the Software #
As you would expect downloading the software was not as straightforward as I would have hoped, at least from the CISCO Official website.
The files are free but getting some of them are a bit….
Anyways in the end I could not download the switch from CISCO’s website but I did succed in downloading the router,but actually that reminds me.
Before I even went to CISCO’s website I first went ot GNS3’s website, to the appliance page to be specific. In there I searched for the correct switches according to the guide that I was following at the time. Sadly though I got the appliances they required other files to work, so that was a waste of time.
Anyways back to the main story, I did succesfully and easily might i add, downloaded the 7200 router from CISCO’s website, but for the switch I had to find a random blog bost that I discovered on the web that hosted the download file for the swicth on drive.
Installing the Software #
To actually install the software into GNS3 takes a few steps.
For the Switch all I had to do was to first open a project with GNS3, then I clicked on edit in the menu bar, then I clicked on the prefrences option, then I clicked on the quemo vm option and then I clicked on new instance then after a few more confirm clicking I had to pick the file from the file manager pop-up then I had to configure it.
This step is best done according to your prefrences, but for me I selected switch as the category(obv) then I changed the icon, then I picked there interfaces and telnet console.
For the router
