Learn How to install GNS3 VM and Link With Latest GNS3 2.x

In the new version 2.0.0 of GNS3, running the GNS3 VM is much easier as compared to the previous versions.
This article will illustrate you: how we can import our GNS3-VM in the VMware Workstation and connect that GNS3-VM to the GNS3.

These steps contain:

1. Downloading source of the software which will be required for this practical.
2. Processor for import the GNS3-VM, change the setting of it, and connectivity test from the Windows.
3. Setup the Local Server in GNS3.
4. Association of the GNS3-VM with GNS3.

Step 1:

• Download the GNS3 version 2.x
• Download the GNS3 VM VMWARE WORKSTATION version 2.x
• In case if you do not have VMWare installed on your machine, you can download VMWare Workstation , before starting this exercise this should be installed on your device.

Install the GNS3 version 2.x , and VMware Workstation on your machine.

This is the downloaded GNS3 VM image for VMWare workstation:

Step 2:

VMware Workstation 11.1.0 and Window 10 is running on my machine, if you are using other version or software the graphics can be different.

In this step we will import the downloaded GNS3 VM,  which is GNS3 VM.ova. In VMware Workstation, from the File menu click on Open

Then select the GNS3 VM.ova and click on Open button.

Select the storage path for the new GNS3 VM and click on Import.
Note: Be sure that you have enough free space  on your HDD for GNS3-VM, otherwise you may get the error message during installation.

It is optional, if you want to change the setting of the new VM click on 'Edit Virtual Machine Setting'. Otherwise,  you can skip it and power on the VM. Here, I increased the RAM from 2GB to 8GB and the Processor from 1 to 2.

Now Power on the GNS3 VM.

We can observe that this VM received the IP address (192.168.165.128) from the VMware DHCP,

We can check the DHCP from where the VM received the IP address. Moreover, if you want to assign IP address as per your choice, change the DHCP network. I kept the same IP address.

This GNS3 VM is connected with Vmnet1, and having the network address 192.168.159.0/24. That’s why our VM’s IP address is 192.168.159.128, which is from the IP Address range.

Test the connectivity from the Command line.

Step 3:

Start the GNS3 version 2.0.0.0, and then from the Help tab click on Setup Wizard.

Select the Server option 'Run Modern IOS (IOSv or IOU), ASA and appliances from non-Cisco manufacturers' and click on Next

In the Local server configuration, whatever the IP address and TCP Port no. which is 3080 we will select now, next time it will use the same combination for running the Local server.

If you will face such type of error select the IP address 127.0.0.1 from the list.

Step 4:

From this point we will associate our GNS3 VM with GNS3. Click on Refresh button in case of error.

Select the GNS3 VM.

In the Server Summary, two servers are present, one is Local and another is GNS3 VM. Now, we have both the options for our projects and we can also use our IOS image on Local sever as well as on GNS3 VM.

IOS image can be normal image which we can run on Local and VM, or IOU which we can run only on GNS3 VM. Without the images we cannot create our topology, so that we have to set the IOS images which we want to use.

In this version we can place our IOS image in a folder and just give the path of it, whenever we will add a new  IOS image from the Preferences  automatically all the images in the folder will be appearing in the list.

Select the folder of IOS images.

 Add the new IOS images which you want used in your topology.

In the my IOS image folder, I placed only two IOS images, which we can see in the list, this feature is different to the previous versions.

Further steps you can follow from Easy & Error-Free Step-by-step Installation of New GNS3 2.0.0