How to Add Cisco Router to GNS3 VM

In this article, we will examine how to add Cisco IOS images to the GNS3 VM running on VMware Workstation virtualization program.

How to Add Router/Switch to GNS3 Virtual Machine

As you prepare for Cisco exams, you can easily upload Cisco images to the GNS3 VM program you have installed on your computer for more specific topologies.

Because IOS images stored on the GNS3 Server stores in one place, you can provide centralized IOS storage management.

How to Install Router on GNS3 Server

Follow the steps below to add Cisco’s Router or Switch to your GNS3 server.

   Step 1

After running the GNS3 network simulator software, create a new project.

   Step 2

Click Edit / Preferences to activate the GNS3 VM Server.

   Step 3

In the Preferences window, click GNS3 VM, and then select Enable the GNS3 VM.

   Step 4

After enabling “Enable the GNS3 VM”, click the OK button to save the setting.

   Step 5

As soon as you press the OK button, the GNS3 VM will start running.

   Step 6

You can check that the GNS3 VM is running smoothly from the Servers Summary section.

   Step 7

Check the network connection by pinging the GNS3 Server’s IP address.

   Step 8

To add a network device, click Edit / Preferences again.

   Step 9

In the window that opens, you can see that the previously installed c7200 Cisco Router stores on the Local Server.

Now, click the New button to add a new Router.

   Step 10

From the window that opens, select Run the router on the GNS3 VM and click Next.

   Step 11

To install the router, select New Image and click the Browse button to select the IOS image you downloaded to your computer.

   Step 12

Wait while the IOS image upload to the GNS3 virtul machine.

   Step 13

After adding the image file to the program, click Next to continue.

   Step 14

In the Name and Platform window, type the name of the device you added, and then click Next after configuring the platform.

   Step 15

The default RAM value of the Router you added will be automatically set as follows. If you wish, you can increase the default amount of RAM here.

   Step 16

In the Network Adapters window, select the FastEthernet or GigabitEthernet interfaces you want to add to the Router and click Next.

   Step 17

In the WIC modules window, add the WIC-2T unit and click Next.

   Step 18

To set the Idle-PC value for the router, click on the Idle-PC finder.

   Step 19

Calculating Idle-PC value for Cisco Router…

   Step 20

Once the optimal value for the router found, click OK to continue.

   Step 21

Close the Idle-PC window by clicking the Finish button.

   Step 22

You can verify that the Cisco c3745 Router has added to the GNS3 Server from “Server:” in the IOS Router Templates window.

   Step 23

Drag and drop the added Router into the workspace and start it.

   Step 24

You can use the show ip int br or show version commands to verify that the Cisco Router is working properly on the server.

How to Upload Router IOS to the GNS3 VM ⇒ Video

You can watch the video below to add a Router to the GNS3 server and also subscribe to our YouTube channel to support us!

   Final Word

In this article, we have installed Cisco Router image on the GNS3 virtual machine. And finally, we have verified that the Cisco router is running on the GNS3 Server. Thanks for following us!

   Related Articles

♦ How to Install L2 Switch in GNS3
♦ How to Install L3 Switch in GNS3
♦ How to Use VPCS
♦ How to Configure Router Basically
♦ How to Connect VMware to GNS3