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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.
The Cisco Modeling Labs server is available as:
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.
For further information on the Cisco Modeling Labs client, see Using the Cisco Modeling Labs Client Overview.
See Release Notes for Cisco Modeling Labs 1.2 for more information on Cisco virtual software supported features.
This section details the hardware and software requirements for installing the Cisco Modeling Labs server.
The following table lists hardware requirements that are based on the number of virtual nodes used.
Requirement | Description |
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Disk Space | 250 GB minimum |
Chip Set | Intel® with Intel virtualization technology VT-x and extended page tables (EPT) |
Hypervisor | VMware ESXi 5.1 U2, ESXi 5.5 U1, ESXi 6.0 (Build 2494585) |
Server type for OVA package | Any server with Intel virtualization technology VT-x and extended page tables (EPT) |
Server type for ISO package | Supported only on Cisco UCS servers with local storage |
Server Recommendation | Cisco UCS C220 M4 and Cisco UCS C420 M4 |
The recommended servers for Cisco Modeling Labs are the Cisco UCS C220 M4 and Cisco C420 M4 servers.
For more information on UCS servers, see the applicable data sheets at http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/servers-unified-computing/ucs-c-series-rack-servers/index.html.
For bare metal installations, Cisco Modeling Labs ISO package is certified only with the Cisco UCS C220 M4 and Cisco C420 M4 servers.
Sizing the Server: Number of Cores and Memory Requirements
The general rule of thumb is three virtual nodes to one physical core CPU for simulation of 49 nodes and below, and two virtual nodes to one physical core CPU for 50 nodes and above.
Note | In order to size the Cisco Modeling Lab Server resources, you must use the Cisco Modeling Labs resource calculator available at http://www.cisco.com/go/cml |
Requirement | Description | ||
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VMware | |||
VMware vSphere | Any of the following:
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Browser | Any of the following:
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Name |
Description |
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Intel Hyper-Threading Technology |
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Intel VT |
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Intel VT-d |
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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: