Saturday 25 July 2015

Cisco IOU L2 L3 lab with GNS3 | Switching in GNS3


Cisco IOS on Unix, also known as Cisco IOU,  is released for internal Cisco use only. IOU permits to run IOS natively on x86 platform while GNS3 must emulate the whole hardware. The big difference is that IOU can run more IOS instance than GNS3, but GNS3 can run real IOS version. The purpose of this article is to let you know how IOU can be integrated with GNS3 emulator software to practice switching concepts.

**Pay Attention:** Cisco IOU binaries are not for public use. If you are a Cisco guy you must ask your company how you can get IOU binary files and license. Other do not have rights to use IOU images.

Make sure you have...

Before we start I want to make sure that you all have the required tools and softwares. I have listed down them with download links below,

Virtual Box 4.3.12 (I had some bad experience with version 5.0, Check my article to know more VirtualBox EFAIL error) - https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Download_Old_Builds_4_3_pre24
IOU Images - As already mentioned, strictly for Cisco guys! But still you might get these images by Googling!  
GNS3 IOU VM - Available from sourceforge, I downloaded and used a older version in this post. But you can use any version from this link. - http://sourceforge.net/projects/gns-3/files/IOU%20VMs/
IOURC - Cisco license file for IOU Images. It is not available for public use, but while surfing I found this link which could help you! http://forum.gns3.net/topic9032.html

Setting Up GNS3 IOU VM in Virtual Box

Download the IOU Virtual Machine from the given Sourceforge link.


In the above image I have marked the file which I downloaded, However you can use any of the available versions. Once downloaded extract the tar file using 7zip or Winzip. You would see below files inside the zip file,


Open Virtual Box 4.3.12 application from the start menu. Make sure that you have already downloaded and installed it. I downloaded it from the below URL,




In Virtual Box, Click on File -> Import Appliance. It will prompt below window, 


Select the path of your ovf file (you can find it in extracted folder) and click Import as depicted in the above snapshot. And ensure that Network settings looks like below,


As shown, Make sure that VM is attached to Host-only Adapter before we start the VM. Now start the VM and check for the IP configuration using ifconfig command. Use username root and password cisco to login into the appliance. Refer the below image for example,



Now it's time to upload the IOU images. Well! I happened to find some IOU Images from this link. Type 192.168.56.101:8000/upload on your browser address bar. Click on 'Choose file', a file browser window will open. Select the downloaded IOU image and click 'Upload', this might take few minutes.


Make a note of displayed path, /home/gns3/GNS3/images/IOU/xxxxxxxx. Later you will have to enter this path in GNS3.

With this step, we have completed IOU end configuration. Let's start with GNS3...

GNS3 IOU Server Configuration

By default, GNS3 is binded with server address 127.0.0.0:8000. We have to change this value with our new IOU server address. Follow the below instructions to bind the new server.

Go to Edit -> Preferences -> GNS3 Server. Click on Local server tab. From the Host Binding drop down window select '192.168.56.101'. Make sure that port is also set to 8000. Then click Apply and OK.


Again go to Edit -> Preferences -> GNS3 Server. This time click on Remote access tab. Add a host by entering UNIX GNS3 IOU VM IP address that we found using ifconfig (mine 192.168.56.101) and 8000 as port.


Integrating GNS3 and Cisco IOU

Final step of this tutorial would be to add IOU templates to GNS3. Go to Edit -> Preferences -> IOS on UNIX. And click 'General Settings' tab, click browse to set the path to IOURC.txt file. IOURC license file would like below,


Once you have given license file details, click Apply. And now go to IOU Devices, click New button and select server type as Remote. Your remote server will be listed there → Next


Here you will receive a message “You have chosen to use a remote server, please provide the path to IOU image located on the server!”, just click OK.


Now type a Name for the IOU image and set IOU image path to be the one that you noted already while uploading the image through through browser. Refer the snapshot below to understand what I am trying to say,



Click Finish! Yes, we are done with all the configurations. By repeating the above steps, you can upload as many as images you want and you can add them to your GNS3 emulator window. For example I have uploaded 2 images (L3 and L2) as shown below.


Now go to GNS3 main window, pull the configured IOU devices. Power them on, start building your labs! Since you can configure all the devices inside your GNS3 itself, I guess this method is much better than IOU Web.



That's all folks! I believe I have covered all the required steps to get IOU running with GNS3, In case of any clarifications, do let me know through comment section below. 



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60 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. bro i was looking for gns3 iou image, i hv tried 100 of times but after doing all steps. I am getting error message in the end as of server cannot access this image o r denied. please send me gns3 iou images of l2 & l3. its request you to privide version of gns3 and gns3 vm server version, so i can do steps properly.

      Delete
    2. What is the error you are getting?

      Delete
    3. I like trains

      Delete
  2. Thank you man!!! This post helped me a lot on my CCNP studies.

    Regards.

    ReplyDelete
  3. thak you very much, and we can now connect l3 and l2 but we faces problem when connecting gns ios to iou

    "server 127.0.0.1 cannot communicate with server 192.168.56.101, most likely because your local server host binding is set to a local address"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks a ton !!!

    It's really helpful.... Much appreciative you work... !!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bro i was looking for gns3 iou image, i hv tried 100 of times but after doing all steps. I am getting error message in the end as of server cannot access this image o r denied. please send me gns3 iou images of l2 & l3. its request you to privide version of gns3 and gns3 vm server version, so i can do steps properly.

      Delete
  5. Thank you ! this has been informative

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Senthil,

    I'm trying to integrate IOU with GNS3 1.3.11. I've following components with me;

    1. GNS3 1.3.11 (downloaded from GNS portal)
    2. GNS3.IOU.VM-1.3.11 (downloaded from GNS portal).
    3. L2 and L3 images:
    i86bi_linux-l3-adventerprisek9-ms.154-2
    i86bi-linux-l2-ipbasek9-15.1g

    I followed the same procedure mentioned by you above, but L2 and L3 IOU devices are not coming up. i.e I can't start the devices. Please help me to fix it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi,

    I'm trying to integrate IOU with latest version of gns3 (1.3.11). Tried with below components;

    1. gns3 1.3.11
    2. GNS3.IOU.VM-1.3.11
    3. L3 and L2 images:
    i86bi_linux-l3-adventerprisek9-ms.154-2.T
    i86bi-linux-l2-ipbasek9-15.1g

    The above listed L3 and L2 images worked fine with gns3 1.2.3 and corresponding IOU.VM, but with new version of gns3 1.3.11, the IOU devices(router and switch) are not coming up. i.e, not able to start the devices. Please help me to fix it....

    Thanks
    Basanna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. check the message in the console box in gns3. i think it is IOURC mismatch

      Delete
  8. Hi Senthil,

    I have followed all the necessary steps to setup GNS3 IOU on VM.

    But I keep getting error on gns3 (The node is intialized unknown error)
    Kindly help.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it works with GNS3 1.2 version

      Delete
  9. I am getting error in gns3. After all setting successful when i tried to run the router or switch then I am getting error that "This nod doesn't initialized unknown error". Please help on this.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Where can we download the IOU image L2, L3, seems can't find it online? can you send me a link to download this Cisco ious ?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks a lot for detailing the integration of GNS3 with IOU.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi senthil... I tried your tutorial and worked. But I have problem while I save my project and then I open again next time. The notification is "Server error from 192.168.56.101:8000: DLS1: Could not find a iourc file (IOU license)
    ". I use GNS3 version 1.3.0. Do you know the reason? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  13. thank you dude. it is very helpful for ccie workers :).

    ReplyDelete
  14. Can we configure HSRP by using IOU?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hy bro. where i must located the iourc file ? in server 192.168.56.101 or in local drive like drive D or C in Windows OS ?

    and what file type the license ? IOURC.txt or .iourc ?

    thanks before..

    ReplyDelete
  16. your license file is less semicolon in end line..

    [license]
    gns3-iouvm = cd11acbc599f2364;

    thank you bro.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Could anyone send me i86bi_linux-l3-adventerprisek9 file?
    I have tried searching on google but just shady sites and ads everywhere. Just downloaded a file and got WAJAM browser extension was installed instead :(

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you!! This info has helped me immensely.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great howto, made setting the whole thing up very easy!

    ReplyDelete
  20. how to connect asa with L2 and L3 switches do we need to import in VM 192.168.56.101 if yes please share procedure for same

    ReplyDelete
  21. I cant find any l2 IOUs on your link. Can you advise? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  22. I recived the following message:

    "The virtual machine 'GNS3 IOU VM_1' has terminated unexpectedly during the start with the exit code 1 (0x1). More details may be avaliable in etc etc"

    What would be the problem?

    ReplyDelete
  23. I started running oracle IOU VM and before Type login and password it appears "use your browser with http://:8000/upload" i really dont know what to do? I become crazy

    ReplyDelete
  24. thanks lot... done successful installation!!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. thank you, works awesomely

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi
    Please suggest how to overcome the problem such as...
    IOU SW imges opend but does not accept some command like. int vlan 1 and IP address to the same SW.Error massage is...invalid command.Request you to help me out in this regard.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Please help me to resolve this:
    => Server error from 192.168.219.129:8000: IOU1: IOU image '/home/gns3/GNS3/images/IOU/i86bi-linux-l3-adventerprisek9-15.4.1T.bin is not accessible in gns3 1.3.13 and same iouvm on vmware in win7

    ReplyDelete
  28. => Server error from 192.168.219.129:8000: IOU1: IOU image '/home/gns3/GNS3/images/IOU/i86bi-linux-l3-adventerprisek9-15.4.1T.bin is not accessible in gns3 1.3.13 and same iouvm on vmware in win7

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Senthil, Thanks for this Step by Step procedure. It helped me in setup.

    I faced the problem of getting the IP of Local server in the drop down list in GNS3 192.168.56.1 instead of 101. remote server is .101.

    Please guide me to rectify this error. rest everything is going good. This is creating problem when I am trying to start router and it checks for Idle PC

    ReplyDelete
  30. working fine, but when i reopen a saved project the following error occur "Server error from 192.168.196.128:8000: IOU1: Could not find a iourc file (IOU license)" please suggest its resolution.

    ReplyDelete
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  32. Hello,
    Instead of port number 8000, I always have 3080 on GNS 3. Can I work with it?
    Thx

    ReplyDelete
  33. hi,
    I have followed the steps, but am getting this message bellow, please help
    Error while creating project: Client version 1.5.2 differs with server version 1.3.3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess this would fix your problem. http://letusexplain.blogspot.com/2016/04/fix-gns3-iou-error-error-while-creating.html

      Delete
  34. Thanks a lot. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  35. when i start my IOU device it says can not connect to server, i stuck here since long. pls help

    ReplyDelete
  36. guys i wanted to create my ccnp lab similar to that on the students lab should i use l2 iou image for access layer switch

    ReplyDelete
  37. the lab with four switches dls2,DLS1,ALS1,ALS2 switches. should i used the layer 2 switch for all the switches

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have the IOU oracle vm and the iou bin file's but can get the GNS3 to configure
    So i have the local server configure as 55.1 and remote as 55.101 ifconfig show 55.1

    i use http://192.168.55.101:8000/upload to upload the images

    i86bi-linux-l2-adventerprisek9-15.1a.bin and l3 file is in /home/gns3/GNS3/images/IOU

    I make sure the license file is loaded

    And i click on iou devices and new

    Im getting an error "error while getting the WM's cant connect to server"

    Help me out

    perincolony@gmail.com



    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi,
    Thanks for the post, i tried researching and couldnt find detail steps on setting up the vm. i went through all the process and got the vM commected however, i am getting errors once i try to add the iou image. the first error i get is "Error while getting the vms: Get/Iou/image not found". i however will proceed and add the image, how when i try adding the device to the workspace i get this error "Error while creating nodes :...node not found"

    please help me as this is the only obstacle to be practicing my ccna

    ReplyDelete
  40. hii
    i have getting some issues that when i upload the image in web browser and success but upload file is showing in my gns3/iou folder
    even on iou vm i m finding the directory for uoloaded file
    cd home/gns3/Gns3/images/iou/i86bi
    sheems no such directory

    whats is problem
    please help for that
    thanx

    ReplyDelete
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  43. hi,

    I am using gns3.1.2. when i am putting the iuo divce in project getting this error. Can you please help-
    Error while getting the VMs: Cannot connect to compute 'IOU_server' with request GET /iou/images
    Error while getting the VMs: Cannot connect to compute 'IOU_server' with request GET /iou/images
    Error while creating node: Cannot connect to compute 'IOU_server' with request POST /projects

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Senthil,

    This info has indeed been informative. Can you please help me with the below error i a getting:

    Error while creating node: The server 344cc25c-2039-4400-8610-632c8db9eb6b is not a GNS3 server or it's a 1.X server

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hello Guys,

    Getting Error.

    Error while creating node: Compute ID ac213ca1-933f-4da6-a21d-c2de2e276c72 doesn't exist
    Compute ID ac213ca1-933f-4da6-a21d-c2de2e276c72 doesn't exist


    Let me know if any solution for the same.

    ReplyDelete
  46. But what if I am a Cisco girl... :(

    ReplyDelete
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