In other words, if you configure a layer 3 IP address on a link, the virtual appliance thinks you’re physically setting in a real server room with a physical console cable plugged into its console port. The devices have no idea that they’re playing in your little sandbox. You can setup a complete virtual lab using real Cisco IOS images all on virtual hardware. GNS3 is the de-facto tool for testing and learning how network devices interact.
Today it’s all changed and man – I can tell you – it’s so much easier to setup. How crazy is that? There’s literally no need to purchase the physical Cisco hardware.īack in my day, I used Dynanips (the hardware emulation engine that drives GNS3) but it was an arcane command line interface and no one really knew how to use it. You can actually download a complete GNS3 workbench with built in labs specifically designed to help you earn your CCNA certification. I’ve been a CCNP for several years now and I wish I knew about GNS3. It’s also a boon to anyone studying for their Cisco certifications such as the CCNA or CCNP. Ha, GNS3 is like the poor network engineers friend. Oh GNS3! What would I do without you baby?
