Even with a perfect process, things can go wrong. Here are some common issues and their solutions:
To download and set up images for , it is important to understand that the software itself does not come with pre-installed vendor images due to licensing restrictions [11]. You must obtain these images legally from vendors like and then upload them to your EVE-NG server 1. Legal Ways to Obtain Images
Create a free guest account on the Arista website to download vEOS (Switching) and cEOS (Container) images.
: Some network operating systems are free to download and use legally, such as Arista vEOS , and various Linux distributions like Direct Download & Collection Services
Solution : Verify that the IOL license file ( /root/.iourc ) is present and correctly formatted. Also, double-check that the IOL image file has 777 permissions ( chmod 777 /opt/unetlab/addons/iol/bin/*.bin ). Download All Eve-ng Images
To conserve resources, build core architectures using lightweight IOL or IOSv nodes. Save heavy firewall images exclusively for localized choke points and policy enforcement areas within your virtual topology. To help you get started with a specific setup, tell me:
"Downloading all EVE-NG images" is not a one-time event but a fundamental skill that unlocks the full potential of the platform. While it may seem daunting at first, understanding the distinct roles of , IOL , and Dynamips images, knowing where to source them (ethically and effectively), and mastering the straightforward import process will set you on the path to becoming a network simulation expert.
| Vendor | Device Image | How to Obtain | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | IOSv, IOSvL2, ASAv, CSR1000v, XRv9k | Cisco.com (Software Center) – Requires valid contract | | Juniper | vMX, vSRX, vJunos-switch | Juniper.net (Trial or perpetual license) | | Arista | vEOS | Arista.com (Free registration for vEOS-lab) | | Fortinet | FortiGate, FortiWeb | Support portal (Trial VM images available) | | Palo Alto | PA-VM | Support portal (Highly restricted; requires license) | | VyOS | VyOS Router | VyOS.net (Free community edition) | | Alpine Linux | Linux Host | Official Alpine Linux download (Free) |
Access images via a Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) subscription. You can legally download the reference platform ISO containing updated IOS-v, IOS-XE, ASA, and Nexus images. Even with a perfect process, things can go wrong
Sign up for a Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) subscription. A CML subscription grants legal access to download the latest authorized Cisco virtual images (vIOS, vIOS-L2, ASAv, XRv, and NX-OSv), which can be legally exported and imported into EVE-NG.
Double-check that you selected the exact hardware template when dragging the node into your topology canvas.
If your uploaded file is named vios-image.qcow2 , you must rename it to match EVE-NG's template requirements (usually virtioa.qcow2 ):
Register for a Customer Support Portal (CSP) account or utilize corporate access to download the PAN-OS KVM/QEMU .qcow2 or .img files. Legal Ways to Obtain Images Create a free
mv /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/viros-adventerprisek9-m.vios-up28-ext.20171024/vios-image.qcow2 /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/viros-adventerprisek9-m.vios-up28-ext.20171024/virtioa.qcow2 Use code with caution. Step 5: Convert Formats (If Necessary)
Juniper offers free trial versions of vMX, vQFX, and vSRX directly on their official website for evaluation purposes.
: The most secure and legal method. Use your corporate or partner credentials to download official operating system files from vendors like Palo Alto Networks Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)
As discussed, most vendor images shared in public repositories are copyrighted and distributed without official permission. While they are widely used for personal, non-commercial, educational purposes, this practice is not legal. For complete legal compliance, images must be obtained directly from the vendor's official support portal using a valid license or service contract.