: On the first boot, abort "Auto Provisioning" and choose "no" for the basic configuration dialog to manually set up your switch. Key Features of NX-OSv 9000
( nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 ) is a widely used virtual machine image designed to simulate the control plane of Cisco Nexus 9000 series switches running NX-OS. It is a vital tool for network engineers, architects, and developers who need to simulate datacenter environments, test configurations, or develop automation scripts without needing physical hardware.
For the latest features and improved modular support, consider exploring the newer Cisco Nexus 9300v or 9500v platforms .
: The most straightforward and legal way to obtain Cisco software images is directly from Cisco's official website. You will need a Cisco account to download software.
: Be patient; the Nexus 9000v can take 5–10 minutes to fully boot and reach a login prompt. nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 free download
Full support for modern protocols like BGP, OSPF, and Spanning Tree. Virtualization Friendly: Optimized to run within a Linux-based KVM environment. Where to Download
2. Obtaining the Image: nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 Free Download
: A minimum of 8 GB is recommended for stable performance, though it may boot with as little as 4–6 GB with frequent memory warnings.
Legitimate copies (from Cisco CML) typically have a hash beginning with f8a34b... (exact hash changes per build, but verify on Cisco’s download page). : On the first boot, abort "Auto Provisioning"
The nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 is a QEMU Copy-On-Write (qcow2) virtual machine disk image that runs Cisco's .
sudo virsh define nxosv9k.xml sudo virsh start nxosv9k sudo virsh console nxosv9k
Once you have your nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2 (or nxosv-final.7.0.3.I7.4.qcow2 ) file, the next step is to deploy it. The qcow2 format is designed specifically for KVM/QEMU-based virtualization, so it can be deployed on various platforms.
Access the EVE-NG CLI via SSH and create a specific folder matching EVE-NG naming conventions: mkdir -p /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/nxosv9k-7.0.3.I7.4/ Use code with caution. For the latest features and improved modular support,
Using an FTP client like or WinSCP , upload the nxosv-final.7.0.3.I7.4.qcow2 file into this newly created directory.
While community-driven platforms like EVE-NG provide the ideal environment to run it, the source of the software must be a valid Cisco account. By following the documented setup procedures from these communities, you can build everything from simple switch configurations to complex, automated, multi-vendor data center fabrics. This approach allows you to bridge the gap between theory and practice, fully preparing you for real-world network engineering, administration, and automation challenges.
The Nexus 9000v is a virtual switch that allows you to run a Nexus 9000 series switch in a virtual environment. It's commonly used for testing, validation, and demo purposes.
/opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions