How to Download IOL Images
If you are a network engineer, a student, or a hobbyist who wants to practice Cisco networking skills, you might have heard of iol images. IOL stands for IOS on Linux, and it is a type of image that simulates Cisco routers and switches on a Linux platform. IOL images are widely used for lab testing, training, and certification purposes, as they offer many features and functions that are similar to real Cisco devices.
In this article, you will learn how to download iol images from various sources, how to use them in Eve-ng, which is a popular network emulator, and how to troubleshoot common issues with them. By the end of this article, you will be able to set up your own virtual network lab with iol images and practice your skills without spending a fortune on physical equipment.
download iol images
How to Download IOL Images from Cisco Website
The official source of iol images is the Cisco website. However, there is a catch: you need to be a Cisco employee or an authorized customer to access them. IOL images are not publicly available, as they are considered internal IOS versions that are meant for testing and development purposes only. Therefore, if you want to download iol images from Cisco website, you need to have a valid Cisco account and login credentials.
If you have a Cisco account, you can follow these steps to download iol images from Cisco website:
Go to and scroll down to the section "Recommended IOL image versions". There you will find a table with the names and versions of different types of iol images, such as L2/L3 switch, L3 router, etc.
Choose the type of image that you want to download and copy its name. For example, if you want to download an L2/L3 switch image, copy the name "i86bi_linux_l2-adventerprisek9-ms.SSA.high_iron_20190423.bin".
Go to and login with your Cisco account.
In the search box, paste the name of the image that you copied in step 2 and click "Search".
You will see a list of results that match your search query. Click on the one that corresponds to the image that you want to download.
You will be taken to a page where you can see the details and specifications of the image. Click on "Download" button and agree to the terms and conditions.
The download will start automatically. Save the file on your computer in a location that you can remember.
How to Download IOL Images from Other Websites
If you don't have a Cisco account or access to iol images from Cisco website, don't worry. There are other websites that offer iol images for free or for a small fee. However, you need to be careful when downloading iol images from other websites, as they might not be reliable, secure, or updated. Here are some tips and precautions that you should follow when downloading iol images from other websites:
Do some research before downloading any file from an unknown website. Check the reviews, ratings, comments, feedbacks, switch image, choose "IOL" and then "L2-ADVENTERPRISEK9-M-15.2-IRON-20190423.bin". Give your node a name and an ID.
Connect your nodes by clicking on "Add a network" and then choosing the type of network that you want to use. For example, if you want to use an Ethernet network, choose "Ethernet". Give your network a name and an ID.
Start your nodes by clicking on "Start all nodes" or by right-clicking on each node and choosing "Start".
Configure your nodes by clicking on "Console" and then choosing the node that you want to configure. You will see a terminal window where you can enter IOS commands to configure your node.
Test your nodes by using ping, traceroute, show, or other commands to verify the connectivity and functionality of your nodes.
Conclusion
IOL images are a great way to practice Cisco networking skills without investing in expensive hardware. They are easy to download, install, and use in Eve-ng, which is a powerful network emulator that supports various types of images. By using iol images in Eve-ng, you can create and run virtual network labs on your computer or on a cloud server, and test different scenarios and configurations.
If you found this article helpful, please share it with your friends and colleagues who might be interested in learning how to download iol images. Also, feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or feedback about this topic. I would love to hear from you and help you with any issues that you might encounter with iol images.
FAQs
What are the advantages of using iol images over other types of images?
Some of the advantages of using iol images over other types of images are:
They are lightweight and fast, as they run on a Linux platform and do not require a hypervisor or a virtual machine.
They offer many features and functions that are similar to real Cisco devices, such as routing protocols, switching protocols, security features, etc.
They are compatible with most of the Cisco platforms and models, such as ISR, ASR, Catalyst, Nexus, etc.
They are easy to license and update, as they use a single license key and a single image file for each type of image.
What are the limitations or drawbacks of using iol images?
Some of the limitations or drawbacks of using iol images are:
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They are not publicly available, as they are considered internal IOS versions that are meant for testing and development purposes only. You need to have a Cisco account or access to iol images from other sources to use them.
They are not officially supported or endorsed by Cisco, as they are not intended for production or commercial use. You might encounter bugs, errors, or inconsistencies with iol images that are not present in real Cisco devices.
They might not support some of the advanced features or functions that are available in real Cisco devices, such as hardware acceleration, encryption, QoS, etc.
They might not match the exact specifications or performance of real Cisco devices, such as memory size, CPU speed, interface speed, etc.
How can I troubleshoot common issues with iol images?
Some of the common issues that you might encounter with iol images are:
The image does not start or crashes. This might be due to a corrupted or incompatible image file, a wrong license key, or insufficient resources on your Eve-ng server. To fix this issue, you can try to download the image again from a reliable source, generate a new license key, or increase the resources on your Eve-ng server.
The image does not connect or communicate with other nodes. This might be due to a wrong network configuration, a faulty network connection, or a firewall issue. To fix this issue, you can try to check the network configuration on each node, test the network connection on each node, or disable the firewall on your Eve-ng server or your computer.
The image does not support or perform some of the features or functions that are expected. This might be due to a missing or outdated image file, a wrong license key, or a configuration error. To fix this issue, you can try to download the latest image file from Cisco website or other sources, generate a new license key, or check the configuration on each node.
If you still have issues with iol images, you can refer to the official documentation of Eve-ng, which provides detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips for using iol images in Eve-ng. You can also visit the Eve-ng forum, where you can find answers and solutions from other users who have experienced similar issues with iol images.
How can I update or upgrade my iol images?
To update or upgrade your iol images, you need to download the latest image file from Cisco website or other sources, and replace the old image file with the new one in your Eve-ng server. You also need to generate a new license key for the new image file and update the iourc.txt file with the new license key. Then, you need to restart your Eve-ng server and your nodes to apply the changes.
Where can I find more resources or tutorials on iol images?
Some of the resources or tutorials that you can find on iol images are:
The official documentation of Eve-ng, which provides comprehensive guides and manuals on how to use iol images in Eve-ng. You can access it here: .
The official website of Cisco, which provides information and specifications on iol images and other types of IOS versions. You can access it here: .
The official blog of Cisco, which provides news and updates on iol images and other types of IOS versions. You can access it here: .
The official YouTube channel of Cisco, which provides videos and tutorials on iol images and other types of IOS versions. You can access it here: .
The official forum of Eve-ng, which provides a platform for users to ask questions, share experiences, and find solutions on iol images and other types of images. You can access it here: .
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