How to Install GNS3 on Linux Mint
GNS3 is a popular network simulator program and more comprehensive and advanced than Cisco Packet Tracer.
How to Setup GNS3 on Linux Mint 18 / 19.1 / 19.2
To learn more about GNS3, see “What is GNS3“. We also recommend you to read What is Packet Tracer and How to Use Packet Tracer.
This network simulator program can be installed and used on Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems. However, if you want to install GNS3 on Linux platforms, the installation may differ between Linux platforms.
In our previous articles, we installed GNS3 on Windows and macOS;
In this article, we will install the Cisco network simulator on Mint 18.3 Sylvia / 19 Tara and finally test it by adding a Cisco Router c7200 IOS image.
NOTE: You can also install and run GNS3 2.1.21 by following the steps in this article.
How to Run and Configure GNS3 on Mint
Follow the steps below to install and use GNS3 to prepare for Cisco exams on your Linux computer.
Step 1
Open Terminal on the Linux desktop and execute the following command to add GNS3 to the Repository.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gns3/ppa
Step 2
Press Enter to continue.
Step 3
To update the Linux Mint software, use the sudo apt-get update command.
sudo apt-get update
Step 4
To start the GNS3 installation, follow the command below and press Y to continue the installation, then press Enter.
sudo apt-get install gns3-gui
Step 5
If you want non-superusers users to run the GNS3 program, enter Yes.
Step 6
If you want non-superusers users to do packet capture using the Wireshark program, continue with the Yes option. In this step, we continue with No because we do not want Non-superusers users to perform packet analysis.
Step 7
After installing GNS3, run the program by executing the gns3 command on the Terminal.
How to Add Cisco IOS to GNS3
Adding Cisco IOS to GNS3 is easy. Just like adding Cisco IOS to GNS3 on Windows operating systems, adding the Cisco IOS image on the Linux system involves the same steps.
Now follow the steps below to add Cisco IOS to GNS3 on your Linux computer.
Step 1
After the GNS3 program opens, in the Setup Wizard window, select Run the topologies on my computer and click Next.
Step 2
Make sure the Host binding setting for GNS3 is as shown in the image below and wait while GNS3 connects to the Local Server.
Step 3
GNS3 has successfully connected to the Local Server and click Next to continue.
Step 4
In the Import an appliance template file window, select Add an iOS router using a real IOS image (supported by Dynamips) option and click OK.
Step 5
To add a Cisco Router, click the Browse button in the IOS image window to define the location of the Cisco IOS image.
Step 6
After selecting Cisco Router c7200 IOS image, click the Open button.
Step 7
After you have added the Cisco Router, click Next.
Step 8
The Idle-PC value sets so that the Cisco Routers or Switches on GNS3 do not exhaust the computer’s processor too much. Now, click on the Idle-PC finder button to set the Cisco Router Idle-PC value.
Step 9
Create a new project on GNS3 and drag and drop the Cisco Router you added into the workspace. Next, run the Router and open the CLI prompt to check that the Cisco Router is running.
Step 10
After you have completed the GNS3 installation, you can check the version of GNS3 in Help / About as follows.
How to Use GNS3 in Linux Mint ⇒ Video
Watch the video below for step-by-step installation and configuration of GNS3 and also subscribe to our YouTube channel to support us!
Final Word
In this article, we have examined how to install GNS3 on Mint operating system. And finally, we have added Cisco IOS to GNS3 on Mint. Thanks for following us!
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