Build Your 100% Virtual CCIE Enterprise v1.1 Home Lab With Cisco CAT9KV And DNAC 

Just the cost of the server/servers.

Thanks!

From 1 -10 how much would you tecommend it?

I agree completely, I run the images in EVENG at 24GB RAM but its sill a MASSIVE load.

no worries. Use this image: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y3u4ffzv4f302mkjt73c1/cat9kv-universalk9-serial.17.10.01.qcow2?dl=0&rlkey=i3ujfyjo60mo1d5iivftjk1as

Yes I do see the same behaviors. I am working on trying to "fix it". If I can I'll do a video.

256 will be fine for the dnac.

Going to make a video on it for next week. Now that Cisco has released version 2.3.5.3 of the DNAC I don't feel so "secret sauce"

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Hi Terry, any indication when the video will drop?

To help I would need to know more about the image specs you setup and the eveng resources. The c9Kv is a resource hog but so far mine are running nicely I would expect the same for others.

I run a dell630 80vCPU, 512 GB RAM and 6 TB SSD.

I have 1 server that runs ISE, DNAC and EVENG-PRO. It is a Dell 630 80 vCPU and 512GRAM. I am not saying that is the best or recommending, but it is what I have and have been able to make work.

Well if you want a legal copy of the software you need an entitlement which typically requires a smartnet account, however to your point the only thing "required" if you have the images or software to deploy a DNA-Center Appliance is a CCO account for updates and image information. Additionally, DNA Center requirements have no correlation to any version of the CCIE EI exam so v1.0 and v1.1 have nothing to do with DNAC features, licensing or registration.

They are part of the current CML2 Image library.

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Hey Terry thank you for your response. Actually, I have one more question. I am running the DNAC along with EVE-ng-pro on my Dell PowerEdge R630 server. When I add morethan one Cat9kv to my lab, they all come up with the same serial and because of this I am not able to provision more than one Cat9kv to my SDA fabric. Any idea on why it is happening?

@@Habibullahmajidi Yes in the images Cisco Released the SUDI is hardwired. I have tried to modify the configuration xml file but the changes do not take. I would suggest you use this image in your home lab if it is EVENG. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y3u4ffzv4f302mkjt73c1/cat9kv-universalk9-serial.17.10.01.qcow2?dl=0&rlkey=i3ujfyjo60mo1d5iivftjk1as unzip it in the qemu folder and do your fixpermissions. Let me know if this helps. CCIE or BUST!!!!!

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Hey Terry thank you very much. It worked for me.

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Would you please share the version cat9kv-prd-17.12.01prd9.qcow2

Sounds like you are running a version of dnac lower than 2.3.5

I'm encountering the same issue using v2.3.3.7. Did you get this working or did you have to switch to version 2.3.5?

Yeah it’s the version of the dnac. I had to use 2.3.5.0 to get it to work. I was expecting Cisco to release the image by now or at Cisco live.

​@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Thanks for the info..I guess I'll have to wait for the official release to try it again.

I expect that the at or near the time for Cisco LIve Cisco will announce a more stable version of the cat9v for study. I have several iterations of the image that I have worked with since November of Last Year, the get more and more stable. With this image I have an issue of CDP just not working. Show commands indicate that its on and running on interfaces but the devices never see neighbors. I pulled the images from CML2.5 and run them inside EVENG. I run at 24GB and 8 CPUs per instance and they seem pretty stable (not perfect) but usable. Additionally, I have had an issue where the images dumps default routes learned via routing protocols. FYI.

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2by 8 cpus do you 8 vcpu or 8 physical cores per cat9kv?

In eveng the images get different serials my branch 2 works fine with 3 cat9kvs. Plus in CML you can manually assign a different serial to each virtual instance.

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Looks like you are using 17.11. is that an unreleased version or already out?

I would go to 512 GB RAM, and at least 3TB SSD. The DNAC will take 256GB RAM and 62 CPUs if you run a virtual DNAC using the ISO, or 32 and 256GB if you wait for the official Cisco vDNAC. The official vDNAC will make it possible. Tight but possible.

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Thanks a lot for your feedback.

Try this image in EVE: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y3u4ffzv4f302mkjt73c1/cat9kv-universalk9-serial.17.10.01.qcow2?dl=0&rlkey=i3ujfyjo60mo1d5iivftjk1as

Well I have run all versions of DNAC 1.3.x to 2.3.x in virtualization it requires at least 62 vCPU to be stable. I had the same problem using 48 vCPUs where the install would go swimmingly, but 1/2 the docker images would load and the other half would not. In instances running 48 vCPUs i would work great for days but if I reloaded or the power went out it would do the same thing on reload.

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 , appreciate you detailing this information. I remember seeing the 44vcpu min requirement but nothing about the issues you can come into. I'll have to build another (3rd) ESXI server with DUAL Xeon's then. Narbik told he personally that he had heard a rumor Cisco is working on a lite version of DNAC for CCIE students but no time frame on that yet. It would be nice to have the ability to segment the dockers/containers, etc on different ESXI host as VM's. Just some kind of relief for the community; kinda leaves a bad taste in the mouth when you can't realistically sit for the CCIE EI lab without this experience.

@@brandonunger1689 Well you can "turn off" many of the docker containers so I have been experimenting (cause I'm tired of waiting for the "real vDNAC" that I keep getting promised). I am trying to find a way to effectively interact the the container level in a way that will allow me to get creative and run only the services necessary for the CCIE EI v1.0 and v1.1 lab. The issue thus far has been stability. Its a constant effort during my "down time". I agree that its is less than ideal, but I am pleased to to see motion in the direction of being able to virtualize the platforms and devices. I'm trying to look at all options, and determine what can be done in emulation to save guys money and time when it comes to real gear.

Try this image in eveng: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y3u4ffzv4f302mkjt73c1/cat9kv-universalk9-serial.17.10.01.qcow2?dl=0&rlkey=i3ujfyjo60mo1d5iivftjk1as

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 Thank you very much

Thanks Terry!

Cisco says around August last we checked.

www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y3u4ffzv4f302mkjt73c1/cat9kv-universalk9-serial.17.10.01.qcow2?rlkey=i3ujfyjo60mo1d5iivftjk1as&dl=0

I’m @$$umimg Terry’s ISE and DNAC are VMs on hypervisor? You can definitely run ISE in EVE. DNAC is probably a road too far.

It's on a separate server.

No it’s running in VMware with the ISE and eveng image. On the same server.

What’s the compute on the server?

When do u think cisco will release cat9kv ?

The legitimate answer is to get a copy of CML2.5 where the images is incuded as a part of the image library.

@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 thanks Terry, I installed cat9k follow the EVE-NG HOWTO guide, every time I turn it on, it will be turned off in a second, any tips pls?

@@dengtao6117 did you execute a "unl-wrapper -a fixpermissions" after you set up your images?

​@@TerryVinsonCCIEx2 I appreciate your prompt reply, yes I did execute the cli, and I tried on vmware fusion and esxi both. the firmware i am using is "cat9kv-prd-17.10.01prd7.qcow2"

@@dengtao6117 I had the same problem too..make sure your qemu folder is exactly "cat9kv-17.10.01-prd7" and not something else.Fix permissions and wipe the node one more time in EVE-NG and you should be fine.