Virtualization

Introduction

Learning IT usually requires working with a wide range of software, services, and network devices. A proper training path often requires access to real hardware, such as routers, switches, firewalls, and servers. However, this equipment can be expensive, difficult to maintain, and unsuitable for beginners who are still learning the fundamentals.

To solve this problem, we can use virtualization and network simulation technologies. These technologies allow us to create virtual lab environments on a computer and run operating systems, firmware, or simulated network devices without requiring the corresponding physical hardware.

Below are some of the most useful virtualization and simulation platforms for different IT training courses.

VMware Workstation Pro

VMware Workstation Pro is a desktop hypervisor that allows you to create and run virtual machines on a Windows or Linux computer. You can use it to build isolated lab environments and run operating systems such as Windows and Linux, as well as other virtualized software and appliances such as RouterOS.

I use VMware Workstation extensively to virtualize servers and client systems for my lab environment. One of its useful features is nested virtualization, which allows you to run virtualization platforms or network labs inside a virtual machine. For example, PNETLab, which is discussed in the next section, can be installed as a virtual machine in VMware. It provides a virtualized network environment where you can run network devices and work with real Cisco IOS images.

I already have several virtual machines and virtualized platforms running in my VMware lab, including:

• • Debian-based Core Linux

  • Windows Server

  • Lightweight Windows clients

  • PNETLab

  • Kerio Control

  • MikroTik RouterOS CHR

  • Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)

Download links of the last version of VMWare Workstation Pro is provided in download section in this page. Go to Downloads

PNETLab

PNETLab is a free network emulation and lab platform designed for creating realistic network topologies and practicing with virtual network devices. It can run different device images and supports platforms from vendors such as Cisco, MikroTik, Juniper, and Arista, depending on the available and compatible image.

PNETLab is especially useful for networking courses because it allows you to build multi-device labs and practice configuration, troubleshooting, and network design without needing a large collection of physical equipment by having their real operating system simulated on your computer.

PNETLab is distributed as a base OVA file, which can be imported into VMware Workstation or VMware ESXi. After importing the OVA, you need to complete the required configuration and updates according to the PNETLab documentation. You can then import the required device images into the PNETLab environment.

I personally use PNETLab to work with real Cisco IOS images and build network labs that simulate real-world devices. For this reason, I have added Cisco images for both switch and router devices to my PNETLab environment. Because configuring PNETLab, applying updates, and importing device images can be time-consuming, I have exported my configured and ready-to-use PNETLab environment and shared it here. This allows you to import the OVA file and start using the environment with minimal additional configuration.

You can find the ready-to-use OVA file in the Downloads section below. Go to Downloads

Cisco Packet Tracer 9

Cisco Packet Tracer is a network simulation tool developed by Cisco for learning and practicing networking concepts. It allows you to create network topologies, configure simulated Cisco devices, troubleshoot connections, and practice many of the skills required for entry-level networking studies.

For current training, use the latest available Packet Tracer  9.0.1 release.

To download the latest version, you need a Cisco account and access to the official Cisco download page. Alternatively, you can download the version provided in the Downloads section of this page. Go to Downloads

Cisco Modeling Lab (CML)

Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is Cisco's network simulation platform for designing, configuring, testing, and troubleshooting virtual network environments. Instead of requiring physical Cisco equipment, CML runs virtual versions of selected Cisco network operating systems, allowing you to build and operate realistic network topologies on a computer or server. This patform can be deployed as a virtual machine, through an OVA package.

One of the main advantages of CML is that you work with virtual network devices running actual Cisco operating system images rather than a simplified simulation of device behavior. This makes CML particularly useful when preparing for advanced certifications, experimenting with network designs, and developing practical troubleshooting skills.

To download the latest version, you need a Cisco account and access to the official Cisco download page. Alternatively, you can download the version provided in the Downloads section of this page. Go to Downloads

To get to know more with CML, here is an interview with one of core developers of CML, hosted by David Bombal:

Windows 10 Lite

When creating virtual machines in VMware Workstation, you may need one or more client machines to connect to your servers and test your network and server configurations. For example, you may need a Windows client to test traffic rules in Kerio Control or apply and verify Group Policy settings.

A standard Windows client can require around 20 GB of storage and runs many applications and background services, consuming significant amounts of RAM, CPU, and storage. This can become inefficient when you are running multiple virtual machines in a network lab.

To address this, I provided a lightweight version of Windows 10 specifically for testing and lab environments. Many unnecessary features have been removed, unnecessary services have been disabled, and several customizations have been applied to improve its appearance and reduce resource usage.

The only thing you need to do is import the OVA file into VMware Workstation and use the VM for your tests. This saves installation and configuration time while leaving more system resources available for other lab experiments.

If you need to run multiple instances of this VM in the same environment, use Sysprep to generalize the Windows installation and generate unique system identifiers. This helps prevent conflicts between cloned instances.

Please note that this VM is intended strictly for testing and home lab environments. You are responsible for ensuring that your use of Windows complies with Microsoft's licensing requirements. This VM is not intended to be installed directly on bare-metal hardware, VMware ESXi, or other server environments. It is designed specifically for use in personal and home lab environments.

You can find the download link for this VM in the Download section below. Go to Downloads

Download

You can find general information about the software and platforms mentioned above throughout the internet, so there is no need to repeat it here. However, finding the correct software versions, virtual appliances, and device images from official sources or other reliable websites can sometimes be difficult and time-consuming.

To make the setup process easier, I provide direct download links for each software platform, along with selected virtual appliances and lab files in formats such as .ova, where applicable. The files provided here have been checked and tested to help ensure that they work properly with the recommended training environments.

These resources are provided to save you time and make the installation and lab setup process as straightforward as possible.

Below you can download each file by clicking on it:

Download links will be available soon.