How to configure IOU in GNS3

By | May 1, 2020

How to configure IOU in GNS3

We are aware that GNS3 is the best platform to get the simulated environment for routing practice. But when we are trying for switching, it not looks easy. Because adding L2 & L3  switches in GNS3 is not easy like adding routers.

No problem …..   We are having  complete solution with detailed steps and file download links.

Please follow the below steps:

Download the files ( GNS3 , Virtual Box , IOU VM , IOU & IOL , IOS ) from below link:

1. Download all the images and setup files in a folder from above link.

NOTE: Make sure you are using all above files as with same version. If you will update the version then it can cause a issue.

3. Install the GNS3 as the same version.

NOTE: If you are using heigher version then it can create a issue and can break the syncronisation between GNS3 and IOU. in this case you can use the network type NAT in IOU. you will see it later

4. Install the Oracle Virtual Machine
5. Install the IOU on virtual machine
6. Login in IOU and get the IP address to access the portal
6. Open the browser and upload the IOS & licence files on portal
7. Link the GNS3 with virtual box and IOU
8. Add the IOU images in GNS3
9. Start the IOU device

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Practical and detailed steps:

Download all the files and collect in a sigle folder so you can manage the things easily.

First , do the double click on oracle virtual machine setup file to install

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Do click on Next button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Click on Next button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Do click on Next button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Click on Yes button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Do click on Install button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Click on Install button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Click on Finish button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Double click on Oracle Virtual Machine icon

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Virtual Box will look like below after open

gns3 iou vm download

Click on File menu and then click on Import appliance

gns3 iou vm download

Click on browse icon

cisco iou download

Select the IOU file and click on Open button

how to install iou

Click on Next button

iou cisco switch

Click on Import button

sample iou

It below show you progress like below

cisco iou image download

Do right click on IOU and then click on Start, once it imported

cisco iou image download




Click on Change Network Settings button (If you are getting below error)

gns3 iou vm setup


Go to Network and selcect the Bridged Adapter and then click on OK button. (Some heigher GNS3 version requires the NAT)

gns3 iou vm setup

Do the login in IOU , once it booted. Please use the below IOU credentials:

Username: root

Password: cisco

cisco iou image

Run the ifconfig command to see the ip address (don”t use ipconfig command that can run on windows. IOU is an UNIX platform so it will support only unix/linux commands

how to install iou

Copy the IP address and use it like an URL. In our case IOU IP address is 192.168.0.121. So URL will be http://192.168.0.121:8000/upload

iou network simulator

See below example of URL

Click on Choose button and select the file type as IOU.

ios image for gns3

Select the IOS file from downloaded IOS images and then Click on OK button.

cisco l2 switch models

Click on Upload button , once the file selected. This process will be repeat for each IOS file.

l3 switch

Select the IOU licence in file type and click on Choose button

cisco iou l3 appliance

Select the IOURC.txt file and click on Open button

cisco iou l3 appliance

Click on Upload button once file is selected

cisco iou l3 appliance

Open the GNS3 and go to Edit menu and click on Preference

cisco iou l3 appliance

Go to Server —> Local Server —->Select IP address—-> fill port number as 8000

NOTE: Be remeber that IP address should be same in range as IOU IP address. Means, first three octet should be same. In our case, IOU IP address is 192.168.0.121. so we can select any IP address in range 192.168.0.X

Then click on Apply and OK button

how to install iou

Go to Edit menu —-> Preference —-> Server —> Remote Server —->Fill the IP address of IOU —-> fill port number as 8000 —–> Click on Add button

how to install iou

Click on Apply and OK button , once IP address and port number added

how to install iou

Go to Edit menu —-> Preference —-> IOS on UNIX—> Click on Browse

how to install iou

Select the IOURC.txt file and click on Open button

how to install switch ios in gns3

Click on Apply and OK button

how to install switch ios in gns3

Go to Edit menu —-> Preference —->IOS Devices under IOS on UNIX—> Click on New button

how to install switch ios in gns3

Click on Next button

how to install switch ios in gns3

Click on OK button

how to install cisco switch in gns3

Enter a name for device as per your choice. To fill the IOU image section , go to the browser

how to install cisco switch in gns3

Copy the IOS file path

how to install cisco switch in gns3

Paste the IOS file path into IOU image section and click on Finish button

how to install cisco switch in gns3

Click on Apply and OK button

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Go to device Section then drag and drop the device. right click on device and select the Start

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Double click on device icon to open the device CLI ( Command Line Interface)

How to configure IOU in GNS3

You will see the below screen that means device is booting. you can configure the device once it is booted.

How to configure IOU in GNS3

Thanks For Reading …………………………..

How to configure IOU in GNS3


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