If you do not have an active enterprise service contract, the most cost-effective legal alternative is purchasing a subscription to . CML includes legally licensed, pre-verified QCOW2 reference platform images for IOS-XR, IOS-XE, and NX-OS that you can use inside CML or export to other lab tools. Initial Boot and Verification

In the rapidly evolving world of network virtualization, the ability to test, validate, and learn on service-provider-grade routing software without昂贵的 (expensive) physical hardware is invaluable. Enter the —a virtual route processor that emulates the massive scale and feature set of its hardware counterpart, the Cisco ASR 9000 series router.

Which are you using? (EVE-NG, GNS3, CML, or standard KVM)

Once the router finishes booting, press Enter to prompt the initial setup dialog. Create your root username and password, then execute the following commands to verify a successful installation:

The router supports activation using Cisco's Smart Licensing model, which uses a software-based licensing scheme that provides a flexible, lightweight, and automated approach to managing licenses. It eliminates the need for Product Activation Keys (PAKs) and enables near real-time reporting of license usage.

When the router boots, it will prompt for an admin user. Set a password and enter configure mode.

Cisco systems software is proprietary intellectual property protected by strict licensing agreements. To acquire the official, untampered Xrv9k-fullk9-x-7.1.1.qcow2 file safely:

Upload the Xrv9k-fullk9-x-7.1.1.qcow2 file to the newly created directory using an SFTP client (like FileZilla or WinSCP).