Nexus 9000v images are Cisco proprietary software. Access to them requires an active Cisco account with valid support contracts. You can download the images from the official portal.
If you encounter any issues during your setup, the most effective way to get help is to post your question along with your hardware specifications (RAM, CPU) and the exact error message to the support forums of the platform you are using, such as the EVE-NG or GNS3 community.
When deploying multiple nodes, storage speed and CPU core count become as important as RAM. A fast NVMe SSD is essential for reducing boot and reload times.
The nxosv9k images do require a PAK or smart license for lab use. They boot in evaluation mode with a 60-day grace period. After 60 days, the switch continues to work but disables certain crypto features (SSHv2, MACsec). To reset:
| Image Name | Platform | ACI support | Best for | |------------|----------|------------|----------| | nxosv9k-7.0.3.I7.4.qcow2 | Nexus 9000v | No (standalone) | VXLAN EVPN, routing labs | | nxosv-final.7.0.3.I7.4.qcow2 | older alias | No | Legacy labs (avoid) | | aci-simulator-dk9.4.2.3b.qcow2 | APIC simulator | Yes (controller) | ACI policy testing | | titanium images | Nexus 1000v | No | Discontinued |
If you encounter issues with the NXOSv9K-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2, you can access Cisco's support resources, including:
Nexus 9Kv requires an initial admin password injected via .
<domain type='kvm'> <name>n9k-lab</name> <memory unit='GB'>16</memory> <vcpu>4</vcpu> <os> <type arch='x86_64'>hvm</type> <boot dev='hd'/> </os> <devices> <disk type='file' device='disk'> <source file='/var/lib/libvirt/images/nxosv9k-7.0.3.i7.4.qcow2'/> <target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/> </disk> <interface type='bridge'> <source bridge='br0'/> <model type='virtio'/> </interface> <serial type='pty'> <target port='0'/> </serial> <console type='pty'> <target type='serial' port='0'/> </console> </devices> </domain>
Before diving into technical deployment, let’s deconstruct the filename.
Missed the deal?
Don’t forget to select
your free product!
The free product is included with
your purchase.
Your cart is empty.