for f in *cow2; do mv "$f" "$f/cow2/qcow2"; done
The cat9kv-prd-17.12.01prd9.qcow2 file is a Cisco Catalyst 9000v virtual switch image running IOS XE 17.12.01, commonly used in Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) and EVE-NG for simulating enterprise switching environments. This QEMU-compatible, resource-intensive image allows for testing advanced features and must be configured with specific file naming conventions for simulation environments. Learn how to set up the Catalyst 9000v in EVE-NG via their official EVE-NG documentation . Catalyst 9000v - - EVE-NG
: Refers to the IOS XE version (in this case, version 17.12.01). cat9kvprd171201prd9qcow2
Historically, validating high-density campus topologies required rooms full of loud, power-hungry Catalyst 9300 or 9400 physical switches. This specialized virtual image brings the control and data plane capabilities of Cisco's flagship Catalyst 9000 family—powered by software-emulated Unified Access Data Plane () and Silicon One architectures—directly to localized x86 virtualization servers.
The file (properly formatted as cat9kv-prd-17.12.01prd9.qcow2 ) is the virtual disk image for the Cisco Catalyst 9000v (Cat9kv) virtual switch running Cisco IOS-XE Release 17.12.01. Designed primarily for x86 hypervisors, this QEMU Copy-on-Write (QCOW2) format allows network engineers to simulate complex Layer 2 and Layer 3 environments without purchasing expensive physical enterprise switches. Whether you are studying for your CCIE or validating infrastructure code for Cisco DNA Center (DNAC), this specific virtual image provides the baseline for advanced enterprise networking simulations. for f in *cow2; do mv "$f" "$f/cow2/qcow2";
: Currently distributed as a Public Beta image. As such, it lacks official Cisco TAC support and may experience instability under high traffic loads. Key Specifications and Requirements
Streaming telemetry has been completely revamped. Instead of old SNMP polls, cat9kvprd171201prd9qcow2 exports real‑time metrics via gRPC to any collector (Prometheus, Splunk, Datadog). The overhead per monitored interface is just 0.3% of CPU—making always‑on observability finally practical for distribution switches. Catalyst 9000v - - EVE-NG : Refers to
When running virtualized network functions (VNFs) like the Catalyst 9000v, proper lifecycle management is essential.
: These are popular open-source alternatives. Network professionals often import this specific image into these simulators to validate configuration changes before pushing them to live production hardware.
sudo mv cat9kvprd171201prd9qcow2 /var/lib/libvirt/images/cat9kv-17.12.1.qcow2 sudo chown libvirt-qemu:kvm /var/lib/libvirt/images/cat9kv-17.12.1.qcow2 Use code with caution. Step 2: Provision the Virtual Machine
Through the GNS3 Marketplace , you can download the . Importing this template automatically flags the correct MD5 checksum, maps the node requirements to 24GB RAM, and links the local QCOW2 file natively into your local or remote server engine. 3. DevOps & Containerlab