Click to upload the image into your designated GNS3 VM storage pool. 2. Deploying in EVE-NG
To understand the capabilities of this virtual image, it helps to break down its highly structured filename fragment by fragment:
This specific image—the —is a cornerstone for modern network simulation. Unlike the older Dynamips-based images that required high CPU resources to emulate hardware, IOSv is a native virtual machine specifically designed to run on hypervisors. In this post, we’ll break down what this image is, why version 15.7(3)M3 is a sweet spot for labs, and how to get it running in your environment. What exactly is this file? The filename tells a specific story about the software: Vios : Stands for Virtual IOS.
Disclaimer: Cisco, IOS, VIRL, and CML are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. This article is for informational purposes and does not provide illegal software. Vios-adventerprisek9-m.vmdk.spa.157-3.m3
“Cisco does not distribute IOS as .vmdk files for production. If you found this on a torrent or lab archive, it’s likely a repack — use only in isolated lab environments.”
: Stands for Virtual IOS , a software-only version of Cisco's Internetwork Operating System designed to run on x86 hardware via a hypervisor rather than on physical router hardware.
: Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol supporting metric tuning and stub routing. Click to upload the image into your designated
Unlike lower-tier feature sets, the adventerprisek9 license enables complete Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) frameworks. This allows engineers to build virtualized ISP environments containing: Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) MPLS Layer 3 VPNs (L3VPN) Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) Traffic Engineering (MPLS-TE) Network Automation and Programmability
qemu-img convert -f vmdk -O qcow2 vios-adventerprisek9-m.vmdk.spa.157-3.m3 vios-adventerprisek9-m.spa.157-3.m3.qcow2 Use code with caution. Step 2: Provisioning for EVE-NG Layouts
The vios-adventerprisek9-m.vmdk.spa.157-3.m3 image is a versatile and powerful tool for any network engineer. Whether you are prepping for a CCIE lab or designing a complex enterprise network, its comprehensive feature set, combined with the convenience of a virtualized format, makes it an essential component of a modern network lab. Always ensure you are using legally obtained Cisco software. Unlike the older Dynamips-based images that required high
The 157-3.m3 image sits comfortably between IOL (lightweight but limited interface types) and CSR1000v (heavy, resource-intensive).
Have you deployed this image in a unique lab scenario? Share your experience in the comments below.
