How to Build a CCIE V5 Lab with Cloud Services Router

Herein, we would be discussing how to build a CCIE v5 lab using Vmware and the Cisco CSR1000v cloud services routers. It will detail the issues which I have faced which should hopefully help you out to make this build a lot easier. Also, if you wish to practice on much better infrastructures, then on home Lab, I would recommend you to join the training courses offered at the SPOTO Club. 

So, to begin with, you would be building a VMWare ESXi server as well as run multiple instances of the Cisco CSR1000v router – this could be connected to certain physical switches as well as you could have a 20 router / 4 switch topology that would be provided for all your lobbying needs. We would be focusing on the router build only as well as a later post which would be focused on the switch build and connecting them.

Virtual Rack – Shopping List

For building your virtual CCIE rack you would need:

1 x server or high power desktop along with at least 16GB ram for 10 routers and 32GB ram for 20 routers

1 x Cisco CSR1000v ova file

1 x VMWare ESXi 5.1

Server or High Power Desktop

I have built this out twice now, once on a high-end DL360 G8 server and on a Dell Optiplex 790 desktop the second time. Once they are built and up and running there is no performance difference in the two boxes. So I would be recommending that unless you would be having access to some big servers then a good desktop PC is considered to be more than suitable.

Which ESXi version to use for the CCIE lab setup?

For this tutorial and my home lab setup, I am using ESXi 5.1, This is based on the fact that I have tested this and it works. I tried to use ESXi 5.5 but got hung up with the web client so went back to 5.1 and then install and setup worked without a problem. As they say, if it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it!

INSTALLING VMWARE ESXI

Now you have everything you need to install the hypervisor onto your chosen platform. I am not going to detail installing the hypervisor but if you want a good tutorial there are many good tutorials out there. In simple terms make a bootable USB stick, copy the ISO file onto your USB stick and put into your server/desktop and boot the hardware from the USB.

VIRTUAL SERIAL

On your vSphere Client, you should now see your newly deployed router it will not have a green arrow beside it because it is not powered on.

ENABLE SERIAL PORT OVER NETWORK IN ESXI FIREWALL

By default, the ESXi server will block access to the VM Serial port over the network. You need to enable this in the Security Profile. 

ESX Server License Type 

NOTE: To be able to use the VM Serial Port functionality for your CSR Rack you will need the Enterprise License. My server was running the VMware vSphere 5 Enterprise Plus which was Licensed for 1 physical CPUs (unlimited cores per CPU)

If your server does not show Enterprise then your telnet to the routers will not work. You would be now able to power on the first Virtual router in your CCIE virtual rack.

POWERING ON THE CISCO CSR 1000V

You need to Right-click on your router and select power on. You should now be able to connect to your router using your chosen terminal client and see it boot up.

Be patient as the first time you boot the router it will take quite a few minutes to start.

So, again if you wish to gain good practical experience and that too with passing guarantee, you should check out the Courses which are being offered at the SPOTO Club.

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