Download-- Eve-ng Images - [patched]
How to Download & Install EVE-NG Images: The Ultimate Guide
One of the first hurdles in building a virtual lab with EVE-NG (Emulated Virtual Environment - Next Generation) is finding and installing the correct images. Unlike some all-in-one solutions, EVE-NG requires you to bring your own operating systems (Cisco, Juniper, Windows, Linux, etc.).
This guide will walk you through exactly where to find these images and how to install them properly.
Step 2: Convert ISO to QCOW2
EVE-NG cannot boot an ISO directly (unless it is a Linux installer). You need to convert the ISO to a hard disk image. Download-- Eve-ng Images
# Convert raw ISO to qcow2 (use zero-copy for speed)
qemu-img convert -O qcow2 /path/to/downloaded/cisco.iso virtioa.qcow2
2. The "Download" Experience (The Pain Point)
The process of acquiring and "fixing" images is often the biggest hurdle for new users.
- No Official Repository: Unlike GNS3 or Packet Tracer, EVE-NG does not provide a public library of vendor images. Their official stance is that you must upload your own legally obtained software.
- The "Underground" Market: Because of the lack of a repository, users often turn to third-party "community" repositories or Google Drive links found on forums.
- Risk: These unofficial downloads are frequently riddled with broken links, outdated software versions, or corrupted files.
- Malware Risk: Downloading
.qcow2or.isofiles from unverified Mega or Mediafire links poses a significant security risk. There is no checksum verification.
- Complex Installation: You cannot simply "download and run." Images must be uploaded via WinSCP, placed in specific directories (usually
/opt/unetlab/addons/), and often require fixing permissions using a specific script (/opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions). For beginners, this Linux command-line work is daunting compared to the "next-next-finish" installation of other simulators.
4. Avoid "All-in-One" Torrents
While torrents claiming "EVE-NG 1000+ images" exist, they are: How to Download & Install EVE-NG Images: The
- Legally risky. You have no proof of license.
- Often malware-infected. Binaries can be backdoored.
- Outdated. A 2019 IOSv image won’t support modern BGP features.
Part 7: Advanced Optimization (Saving Disk Space)
A full EVE-NG lab with 50 routers can consume 100GB+ of disk. Use these tips:
- Use Dirty Cow: QEMU allows copy-on-write. Instead of having 10 copies of
virtioa.qcow2, use a base image and snapshots. - Compress images:
qemu-img convert -c -O qcow2 original.qcow2 compressed.qcow2(Saves 30-50% space but slower IO). - Delete old kernels: Inside the QEMU guest (Linux), run
apt-get autoremove.
Preparing images for EVE-NG
- Download the official ISO or virtual appliance per vendor instructions.
- Convert or prepare the image:
- For ISO installs: create a VM and install OS, then convert the VM disk to QCOW2.
- For vendor virtual appliances (OVA/OVA-like): extract the disk (VMDK) and convert to QCOW2 with qemu-img:
qemu-img convert -f vmdk -O qcow2 source.vmdk destination.qcow2 - For raw QCOW2: ensure correct backing file removal and compatibility with KVM.
- Resize disks or adjust image properties if needed:
qemu-img resize image.qcow2 +2G - Clean up or zero logs if you want smaller baseline images; ensure you don’t remove required license files.
The Ultimate Guide to Downloading and Using EVE-NG Images
EVE-NG (Emulated Virtual Environment - Next Generation) is one of the most popular network emulation tools used by students preparing for certifications (CCNA, CCNP, JNCIA) and network engineers testing designs. No Official Repository: Unlike GNS3 or Packet Tracer,
However, out of the box, EVE-NG is just a platform. To make it useful, you need to populate it with images (iOS, IOS-XE, CSR1000v, Palo Alto, etc.).
This guide covers how to download images, where to find them, and the correct procedures to install them.
6.1 Web UI Enhancements (New Tab)
Add a new tab called "Image Repository" next to "Images" in the EVE-NG Web UI.
Sub-sections:
- QEMU (vSRX, vIOS, CSR1000v, XRv9k, etc.)
- IOL (IOS on Linux – L2/L3 images)
- Docker (Linux hosts, Alpine, FRRouting, etc.)
- Community Uploads (User-contributed, verified)