Cisco has transitioned from the older "VIRL" style images to modern, 64-bit virtual platforms. The newest downloads typically feature: Stable images for R&S labs. CML-IOS-XRv 9000: For service provider simulations.
Low-resource nodes for simple connectivity. Troubleshooting Common Download Issues
Navigate to the Cisco Software Download portal. Search for "Cisco Modeling Labs" and look for the "Reference Platforms" section. cisco cml refplat iso download new
Pre-configured Linux nodes for testing automation scripts (Python, Ansible) within the topology.
Once you have downloaded the large .iso file (often exceeding 30GB), you need to mount it to your CML virtual machine. For VMware ESXi/Workstation: Upload the ISO to your datastore or local folder. Edit the CML VM settings. Select the CD/DVD drive and "Connect at Power On." Path the drive to your new RefPlat ISO. For Bare Metal: Cisco has transitioned from the older "VIRL" style
By keeping your CML Reference Platform ISO updated, you ensure that your lab environment mirrors the latest features and command syntax found in modern production data centers and enterprise networks.
Use the CML system administration cockpit (port 9090) to mount the file permanently to the /var/local/virl2/refplat directory. What’s New in Recent RefPlat Releases? Low-resource nodes for simple connectivity
Copy the ISO to the /var/local/virl2/dropfolder directory via SCP.