top of page
haylizraineyteter

Eve-ng: How to Import and Use Cisco IOU/IOL Images



How to Download and Use IOU Images for EVE-NG




If you are preparing for Cisco certifications or want to practice Cisco networking technologies, you might have heard of EVE-NG. EVE-NG is a network emulator that supports virtualized commercial devices and open-source routers. One of the types of images that EVE-NG can run is IOU, which stands for IOS on Unix. In this article, we will explain what EVE-NG and IOU are, how to download and use IOU images for EVE-NG, and how to test and troubleshoot them.




download iou images for eve-ng



What is EVE-NG?




EVE-NG stands for Emulated Virtual Environment - Next Generation. It is a clientless network emulator that provides a user interface via a browser. It allows you to create virtual networks with various devices from different vendors, such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Huawei, and more. You can also use Docker containers, Linux machines, Windows servers, and other tools within your network topology. EVE-NG can be used for learning, testing, proof-of-concept, or demonstration purposes.


Features and benefits of EVE-NG




Some of the key features and benefits of EVE-NG are:



  • It supports multiple virtualization technologies, such as QEMU, KVM, Dynamips, Docker, and IOL/IOU.



  • It has a simple and intuitive topology designer that lets you drag and drop devices and connect them with a click.



  • It allows you to import and export network configurations, labs, and pictures.



  • It has a custom kernel that supports L2 protocols, such as STP, VTP, DTP, CDP, LLDP, etc.



  • It has a memory optimization feature that reduces RAM usage by sharing identical memory pages among devices.



  • It has a CPU watchdog feature that monitors the CPU load and stops devices that consume too much CPU resources.



  • It has a full HTML5 user interface that does not require any additional tools or plugins.



  • It supports multiuser collaboration and interaction with real networks.



  • It has a rich integrated text editor that allows you to edit text and objects in your lab.



  • It has a lab chat feature that enables communication between lab users.



  • It has a lab timer feature that helps you manage your self-training time.



Alternatives to EVE-NG




EVE-NG is not the only network emulator available in the market. There are some alternatives that you can also consider, such as:


How to add Cisco IOU/IOL images to Eve-ng


Cisco IOU/IOL images for Eve-ng download link


Eve-ng installation and configuration guide with Cisco IOU/IOL images


Cisco IOS on Linux (IOL) images for Eve-ng


How to license Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


Cisco IOU/IOL images supported by Eve-ng


How to fix permissions for Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to test Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to create iourc license file for Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to upload Cisco IOU/IOL images to Eve-ng using FileZilla or WinSCP


How to use Cisco IOU/IOL images for CCIE routing and switching practice in Eve-ng


How to import Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng and access them via GUI


How to set up your own lab with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to practice L2/L3 switching and routing with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to avoid freeze console bug with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to run Cisco IOS on Unix (IOU) images in Eve-ng


How to run Cisco IOS on Linux (IOL) images in Eve-ng


How to convert Cisco IOS on Unix (IOU) images to Linux (IOL) images for Eve-ng


How to use NETMAP file for Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to add L2/L3 switch image i86bi_linux_l2-adventerprisek9-ms.SSA.high_iron_20190423.bin to Eve-ng


How to add L2/L3 switch image i86bi_LinuxL2-AdvEnterpriseK9-M_152_May_2018.bin to Eve-ng


How to add L3 router image i86bi_LinuxL3-AdvEnterpriseK9-M2_157_3_May_2018.bin to Eve-ng


How to add L3 router image i86bi_linux-adventerprisek9-ms.156-3.M3a.bin to Eve-ng


How to add L3 router image L3-ADVENTERPRISEK9-M-15.4-2T.bin to Eve-ng


How to update Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to troubleshoot Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to backup and restore Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to optimize performance of Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use different NVRAM and RAM values for Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to connect Cisco IOU/IOL images with other devices in Eve-ng


How to use Wireshark with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use packet capture with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use console access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use telnet access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use SSH access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use web access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use VNC access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use serial access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use cloud access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use docker access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use QEMU access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use VMware access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use VirtualBox access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use Hyper-V access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use KVM access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use XenServer access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use OpenStack access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use AWS access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng


How to use Azure access with Cisco IOU/IOL images in Eve-ng



  • Cisco Packet Tracer: a free network simulation and visualization tool for Cisco devices. It is mainly designed for CCNA level labs and scenarios.



  • GNS3: a free and open-source network simulator that supports multiple vendors and platforms. It requires external hypervisors, such as VMware or VirtualBox, to run devices.



  • Free SNMP Agent Simulator: a freemium tool that simulates SNMP devices and traps. It can be used to test SNMP-based network management applications.



  • NetSim: a paid network simulator and emulator that supports Cisco, Juniper, and other devices. It has pre-built labs for various certification exams.



Dynamips: a free and open-source Cisco router emulator. It can run IOS images without any modifications What are IOU Images?




IOU stands for IOS on Unix. It is a type of image that can run Cisco IOS software on a Linux platform. IOU images are mainly used for internal testing and development purposes by Cisco engineers. They are not officially supported by Cisco for customer use. However, some authorized customers may have access to IOU images for their own testing and learning needs.


Types and versions of IOU images




There are two types of IOU images: L2 and L3. L2 images can emulate Cisco switches, while L3 images can emulate Cisco routers. Both types of images can support various features and protocols, such as VLANs, STP, OSPF, BGP, MPLS, etc. However, they may not have all the functionalities and commands of the real devices.


The versions of IOU images are based on the IOS versions that they emulate. For example, L2-ADVENTERPRISEK9-M-15.1-20130726.bin is an IOU image that emulates IOS version 15.1 with the Advanced Enterprise feature set. The versions of IOU images may vary depending on the source and date of release.


Advantages and limitations of IOU images




Some of the advantages of using IOU images are:



  • They are lightweight and consume less resources than other types of images, such as QEMU or Dynamips.



  • They can run multiple instances on a single server without affecting the performance.



  • They can support L2 protocols and features that are not available in other types of images.



  • They can be easily integrated with EVE-NG and other network emulators.



Some of the limitations of using IOU images are:



  • They are not officially supported by Cisco and may have bugs or errors that are not fixed.



  • They require a license file to run properly, which may be difficult to obtain or generate.



  • They may not have all the features and commands of the real devices, especially the newer ones.



  • They may not be compatible with some devices or platforms that use different architectures or operating systems.



How to Download IOU Images for EVE-NG




If you want to use IOU images for EVE-NG, you need to download them from a reliable source. There are some websites that offer free or paid downloads of IOU images, such as:



  • [Networkhunt.com](^1^): This website provides a step-by-step guide on how to add IOU images to EVE-NG, as well as links to download various versions of L2 and L3 images.



  • [EVE-NG.net](^2^): This is the official website of EVE-NG, where you can find documentation, tutorials, and support for using EVE-NG. It also has a section on how to add IOU images to EVE-NG, with links to download some recommended versions of L2 and L3 images.



  • [YouTube.com](^3^): This is a popular video-sharing platform, where you can find many videos on how to use EVE-NG and IOU images. For example, you can watch this video by NetworkHunt that shows how to add Cisco IOL/IOU images to EVE-NG.



Steps to download IOU images




The steps to download IOU images may vary depending on the source and format of the files. However, a general procedure is as follows:



  • Select the type and version of the IOU image that you want to download from the source website.



  • Click on the download link or button and save the file to your local computer.



  • If the file is compressed or archived, extract it using a tool like WinRAR or 7-Zip.



  • If the file is not executable, change its permissions using a tool like chmod or FileZilla.



  • If the file does not have a .bin extension, rename it accordingly.



You should now have an IOU image file that is ready to be uploaded to EVE-NG. How to Add and License IOU Images in EVE-NG




After downloading the IOU images, you need to upload them to EVE-NG and generate a license file for them. This will allow you to use the IOU images in your labs and simulations.


Steps to upload IOU images to EVE-NG




The steps to upload IOU images to EVE-NG are as follows:



  • Log in to your EVE-NG server using a tool like PuTTY or WinSCP.



  • Create a folder for the IOU images under /opt/unetlab/addons/iol/bin/ using a command like mkdir.



  • Copy the IOU image files from your local computer to the folder using a tool like WinSCP or FileZilla.



  • Fix the permissions of the IOU image files using a command like /opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions.



  • Restart the EVE-NG server using a command like service apache2 restart.



You should now see the IOU images in the list of available nodes in EVE-NG.


Steps to generate a license for IOU images




The steps to generate a license for IOU images are as follows:



  • Log in to your EVE-NG server using a tool like PuTTY or WinSCP.



  • Get the host ID of your EVE-NG server using a command like ioukeygen.py.



  • Copy the host ID and paste it into a text file named iourc.txt.



  • Add a line with the format [license number] = [host ID]; at the beginning of the file.



  • Save the file and copy it to /opt/unetlab/addons/iol/bin/ using a tool like WinSCP or FileZilla.



  • Fix the permissions of the file using a command like chmod 777 iourc.txt.



You should now be able to run the IOU images without any license issues.


How to Test and Troubleshoot IOU Images in EVE-NG




Once you have added and licensed the IOU images, you can test them by creating and running a lab with them. You can also troubleshoot them if you encounter any problems or errors.


Steps to create and run a lab with IOU images




The steps to create and run a lab with IOU images are as follows:



  • Log in to your EVE-NG web interface using a browser.



  • Create a new lab or open an existing one.



  • Add nodes from the list of available nodes, selecting the IOU images that you want to use.



  • Connect the nodes with network interfaces, choosing the appropriate types and names.



  • Edit the node properties, such as name, CPU, RAM, console, etc., if needed.



  • Start the nodes and open their consoles using tools like Telnet or VNC.



  • Configure and verify the devices using IOS commands and protocols.



  • Save and export your lab if you want to reuse it later.



You should now be able to test and practice Cisco networking technologies using IOU images in EVE-NG.


Common issues and solutions with IOU images




Some of the common issues and solutions with IOU images are:



IssueSolution


The node does not start or shows an error message.Check if the node has a valid license file. Check if the node has enough resources allocated. Check if the node has a compatible image version. Check if the node has a correct network interface type and name. Restart the node or the server if needed.


The node does not respond or shows a blank screen.Check if the node has a valid console type and port. Check if the node has an active connection with the server. Check if the node has any configuration issues. Reload or reboot the node if needed.


The node does not communicate or shows packet loss.Check if the node has a correct IP address and subnet mask. Check if the node has a correct routing protocol and configuration. Check if the node has a correct firewall or access list configuration. Check if the node has any physical or logical link issues. Ping or traceroute the node if needed.


If you still have any issues or questions with IOU images, you can refer to the documentation and support pages of EVE-NG and IOU, or ask for help from the online community forums and groups.


Conclusion




In this article, we have learned how to download and use IOU images for EVE-NG. We have explained what EVE-NG and IOU are, how to download and upload IOU images, how to generate a license for them, and how to test and troubleshoot them. We hope that this article has helped you to enhance your network emulation and learning experience with EVE-NG and IOU.


If you have any feedback or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!


FAQs




Here are some frequently asked questions about IOU images and EVE-NG:


Q: What is the difference between IOL and IOU?




A: IOL stands for IOS on Linux. It is similar to IOU, but it runs on a Linux platform instead of a Unix platform. IOL images are also used by Cisco internally, but they are not compatible with EVE-NG.


Q: How can I get a license number for IOU images?




A: There are some websites that offer free or paid license numbers for IOU images, such as [iou-gen.net] or [iou-web.net]. You can also generate your own license number using a tool like ioukeygen.py or iougen.py.


Q: How can I update or change the IOU images in EVE-NG?




A: You can update or change the IOU images in EVE-NG by following the same steps as uploading them. You just need to replace the old image files with the new ones in the same folder, and fix the permissions accordingly.


Q: How can I backup or restore my labs with IOU images in EVE-NG?




A: You can backup or restore your labs with IOU images in EVE-NG by using the export and import functions in the web interface. You can also use tools like WinSCP or FileZilla to copy the lab files from or to the /opt/unetlab/labs/ folder.


Q: How can I connect my IOU devices to real networks or devices in EVE-NG?




A: You can connect your IOU devices to real networks or devices in EVE-NG by using the cloud nodes or the pnet interfaces. You can also use tools like Wireshark or tcpdump to capture and analyze the traffic between them. 44f88ac181


0 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page