Getting Started with Cisco Modeling Labs (CML 2 / VIRL 2)

Virtualize real Cisco gear before you touch a lab rack

Cisco Modeling Labs (CML 2, the successor to VIRL) lets you build and run virtual Cisco network topologies instead of relying on the more limited Packet Tracer. This course walks through getting the platform running and using it to practice the protocols and configurations that show up on Cisco certification exams.

The library covers a wide spread of device images — IOSv, IOSvL2, NX-OSv, ASAv, and more — so you can mix routers, switches, and security appliances in the same topology.

Who it's for

Anyone studying toward CCNA 200-301, CCNP, or Cisco DevNet, plus network engineers who want to script and automate configurations with Python or Ansible rather than clicking through a CLI by hand.

Key takeaways

• Setting up CML 2 and building multi-device topologies
• Practicing core routing and switching protocols: Spanning-Tree, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and EtherChannel
• Automating network configuration with Python and Ansible