Overview of Cisco Modeling Labs

• Cisco Modeling Labs, page 1

• Cisco Modeling Labs Server Components, page 1
• Cisco Modeling Labs Client, page 2
• Virtual Images, page 2
• Cisco Modeling Labs Component Requirements, page 3
• Cisco Modeling Labs Framework, page 5

Cisco Modeling Labs

Cisco Modeling Labs is a scalable and extensible software platform that enables operators, engineers, network
designers, and architects to design Cisco-based networks and run simulations using virtual versions of selected
Cisco operating systems. Cisco Modeling Labs comprises the Cisco Modeling Labs server and the Cisco
Modeling Labs client. Together, they provide a sandbox environment that facilitates the design, configuration,
visualization, and simulation of network topologies quickly and efficiently.
• Cisco Modeling Labs server: A shared resource containing the capability to initiate topologies using
installed virtual images.
• Cisco Modeling Labs client: A point-and-click GUI that simplifies topology creation and initial device
configurations along with continuous updates. It also permits access to the Cisco Modeling Labs server
functionality.

Cisco Modeling Labs Server Components

The Cisco Modeling Labs server is available as:
• A Linux distribution that is bundled within the VMware Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) file for VMware
ESXi. The bundle includes all the supporting files.
• A Linux distribution that is bundled with an ISO image file for bare-metal environments. The bundle
includes all the supporting files.

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Cisco Modeling Labs Client

The Cisco Modeling Labs 1.1 server is a shared resource used by end users to run backend functions, such as
router bootstrap configurations, spinning up routers to operate with designated operating systems, and modifying
and testing configurations.
Cisco Modeling Labs comprises a framework of components. The main components are:
• OpenStack: An open-source platform for creating and managing large groups of virtual servers in a
cloud-computing configuration. It is used for node control, management, and networking.
• AutoNetkit: An automated configuration engine that uses templates to provide working router
configurations based on user-supplied and default parameters for each virtual machine (VM).
• Services Topology Director: Generates OpenStack calls for the creation of VMs and links based on
the XML topology definition created by the Cisco Modeling Labs client. Additionally, it provides the
bootstrap configuration, which can be autogenerated, generated manually, or imported.

Cisco Modeling Labs Client

The Cisco Modeling Labs client is a cross-platform user interface for creating and editing network designs
and simulating those network topologies on the Cisco Modeling Labs server. The Cisco Modeling Labs client
offers the following benefits:
• The ability to use a graphical point-and-click editor to quickly create and edit complex network topologies
in a sandbox.
• Access to the build, visualization, and launch functions available in the Cisco Modeling Labs server.

The Cisco Modeling Labs client enables you to interact directly with your running simulations from the user
interface. The Cisco Modeling Labs client also provides the functionality to generate default router
configurations before launching the topology simulation.
For further information on the Cisco Modeling Labs client, see Using the Cisco Modeling Labs Client Overview.

Virtual Images
Cisco Modeling Labs 1.1 includes the following images built into the Cisco Modeling Labs client:
• Cisco Virtual IOS (IOSv) Software Release 15.5(3)M
• Cisco IOSv Layer 2 Switch Software Release 15.2 (4.0.63)E
• Linux server (Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS Cloud-init)

Additionally, the following demonstration images are included in the build:

• Cisco IOS XRv Software Release 5.3.1 CCO
• Cisco CSR1000v Software Release 3.1.6 XE-based

The following production images are available to purchase separately:

• Cisco IOS XRv Software Release 5.3.1
• Cisco CSR1000v Software Release 3.1.6

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• Cisco ASAv Software Release 9.4.1

See Release Notes for Cisco Modeling Labs 1.1 for more information on Cisco virtual software–supported
features.

Cisco Modeling Labs Component Requirements

The following tables identify the minimum requirements for installing and operating the Cisco Modeling Labs
Corporate Edition, Release 1.1. For additional information, see Cisco Modeling Labs Corporate Edition Client
Installation Guide, Release 1.1 and Cisco Modeling Labs Corporate Edition System Administrator Installation
Guide, Release 1.1. These guides provide detailed information on platform requirements for installing and
operating Cisco Modeling Labs Corporate Edition, Release 1.1 for system administrators and end users.

Important The requirements listed in the following table are for topologies containing Cisco IOSv nodes only. You
must use the resource calculator for topologies containing nodes other than Cisco IOSv nodes.
This is a basic rule of thumb since there are many variables, such as the type of nodes running (Cisco IOSv
versus Cisco IOS XRv), the number of routing protocols, the timers set on each node, the amount of traffic,
and so on. Each of these use their share of computational resources that are usually running on dedicated
hardware.

Table 1: Server Hardware Requirements

Requirement Description
Small Installation (Minimum) Server with capacity to run base package of 15 IOSv nodes
Memory (RAM) 16 GB
Disk Space 250 GB minimum
Processors 4 CPU cores
Small and Medium Installation Server with a capacity to run up to 50 nodes
Memory (RAM) 128 GB
Disk Space 250 GB minimum
Processors 16 CPU cores
Large Installation Server with a capacity to run up to 100 nodes
Memory (RAM) 256 GB
Disk Space 250 GB minimum
Processors 40 CPU cores

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Table 2: Server Software Requirements

Requirement Description
VMware vSphere One of the following:
• ESXi 5.1 U2 (Build 1483097)
• ESXi 5.5 U1 (Build 1623387)
• ESXi 6.0 (Build 2494585)

Note You must verify that you are using vSphere Client v5.5
Update 2 (Build 1993072) or later before deploying Cisco
Modeling Labs. Failure to use the minimum version will
result in a failed deployment that returns an error stating that
nested virtualization is not supported.
Browser One of the following:
• Google Chrome Version 33.0 or later
• Internet Explorer 10.0 or later
• Mozilla Firefox 28.0 or later
• Safari 7.0 or later

Note Internet Explorer is not supported for use with the AutoNetkit
Visualization functionality and the User Workspace
Management interface.

Table 3: Client Hardware Requirements

Requirement Description
Operating System Either of the following:
• Microsoft Windows
◦Windows 7 or
◦Windows 8

• OS X
◦OS X 10.8 or later

Memory (RAM) 500 MB

Disk Space 200 MB

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Table 4: Client Software Requirements

Requirement Description
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) For Windows and OS X, either of the following:
• Version 6
• Version 7
• Version 8

Browser One of the following:

• Google Chrome Version 33.0 or later
• Internet Explorer 10.0 or later
• Mozilla Firefox 28.0 or later
• Apple Safari 7.0 or later

Note Internet Explorer is not supported for use with the AutoNetkit
Visualization functionality and the User Workspace
Management interface.

Cisco Modeling Labs Framework

Figure 1: Cisco Modeling Labs Framework

Cisco Modeling Labs includes numerous features that enable you to create and simulate small and large
network designs. This user guide is organized in a task-based format where the main features are grouped
into four sections that are referred to as phases.
The following items describe each phase which should help you determine, which section to refer to when
using this guide:

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1 Design: This phase includes the tasks for creating a network topology. You use a blank canvas to create
topologies from scratch or import existing network topologies. You can also adjust where and how interfaces
are used on each device.
2 Build: This phase includes the tasks associated with configuring routers, external connections, and servers,
creating the required configurations, setting up interfaces, IP addressing, and routing protocols for the
virtual routers. There are several ways to create these configurations. You can use the AutoNetkit
functionality to set up the initial configuration, or you can input your own configuration details. Whatever
configurations you create in this phase will be the configurations that the Cisco Modeling Labs server will
use when it initiates the node simulations.
3 Visualization: This phase is optional and operates only if you use AutoNetkit to create your configurations
during the build phase. It includes the tasks related to running visualization scenarios of your network
design and configuration. It provides visual views of your topology whereby you can see how the nodes
will interact with each other in specific circumstances, including physical set up, as well as with specific
routing protocols, such as IS-IS and OSPF. It also supports MPLS and BGP.
4 Simulation: This phase includes the tasks for initiating the nodes and making them active. Once the nodes
are operational, you can use Telnet or SSH to connect to the consoles as you would connect to a router
console. You can run connectivity tests and modify configurations. This is where the power of the product
is realized: you can modify and test configurations as if you were on actual physical devices. In this phase,
you can also save your configurations and extract them for sharing with others or save them and use them
as reference when configuring the production network.

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