Ova — Cisco Csr1000v

The Isnad of the Famous Mufassir al-Tha`labi
October 1, 2015
Ma`ajim al-Tabarani
October 1, 2015

Ova — Cisco Csr1000v

Title: A Step-by-Step Guide to Deploying Cisco CSR1000V OVA

Introduction:

The Cisco CSR1000V is a virtual router that provides a wide range of routing and security features, making it an ideal solution for virtualized environments. In this post, we will walk through the process of deploying a Cisco CSR1000V OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) file.

What is an OVA file?

An OVA file is a single archive file that contains a virtual appliance, including the virtual machine (VM) configuration, operating system, and applications. In the case of the Cisco CSR1000V, the OVA file contains the virtual router image, which can be easily imported and deployed on a virtualization platform. cisco csr1000v ova

Prerequisites:

Before deploying the Cisco CSR1000V OVA, ensure you have the following:

  • A virtualization platform (e.g., VMware ESXi, KVM, or Hyper-V)
  • A valid Cisco CSR1000V OVA file (downloadable from the Cisco website)
  • A valid license for the Cisco CSR1000V

Step-by-Step Deployment Guide:

  1. Import the OVA file: Log in to your virtualization platform and import the Cisco CSR1000V OVA file. The process may vary depending on your platform. For example, in VMware ESXi, go to File > Deploy OVF Template and select the OVA file.
  2. Configure the VM: Once the OVA file is imported, configure the VM settings:
    • Set the number of vCPUs and memory allocation according to your requirements.
    • Configure the network settings, including the number of network interfaces and their respective settings (e.g., IP address, subnet mask, gateway).
  3. Power on the VM: Power on the Cisco CSR1000V VM.
  4. Initial Configuration: Connect to the VM using a console or SSH and perform the initial configuration:
    • Set the admin password and configure the basic settings (e.g., hostname, IP address, subnet mask).
    • Configure the licensing and activate the Cisco CSR1000V.

Post-Deployment Configuration:

After deploying the Cisco CSR1000V, you can configure it to meet your specific routing and security requirements. Some common configuration tasks include:

  • Configuring interfaces and IP addresses
  • Setting up routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP)
  • Configuring security features (e.g., firewall, VPN)

Conclusion:

Deploying a Cisco CSR1000V OVA is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. By following this guide, you can quickly and easily deploy a virtual router that meets your routing and security needs.

Additional Resources:

  • Cisco CSR1000V datasheet: [link]
  • Cisco CSR1000V documentation: [link]
  • VMware ESXi deployment guide: [link]

Basic CLI example (very brief)

  • Set an interface IP and enable OSPF on it:
configure terminal
interface GigabitEthernet1
 ip address 192.0.2.1 255.255.255.0
 no shutdown
router ospf 1
 network 192.0.2.0 0.0.0.255 area 0
end
write memory

Step 5: Basic Configuration Example

Enter global configuration mode:

enable
configure terminal

Set hostname:

hostname CSR-Router1

Configure management interface (Gig1):

interface GigabitEthernet1
 ip address 192.168.1.10 255.255.255.0
 no shutdown
!
ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1

Enable SSH:

crypto key generate rsa modulus 2048
ip domain-name csr.local
username admin privilege 15 secret cisco123
line vty 0 4
 transport input ssh
 login local
exit

Save config:

write memory

Step 9: Power On and Console Access

  1. Power on the VM.
  2. Open the Console.
  3. You will see the standard IOS XE boot sequence.
  4. Upon completion, you are dropped into the CLI in ROMMON or user EXEC mode. The initial configuration prompt appears if no startup config exists.

Step 2: Select Name and Folder

  • Give the VM a meaningful name (e.g., CSR1000v-Branch-HQ).