MicroNugget: What are Virtual PC Simulators & GNS3?

In this video, Keith Barker covers setting up a virtual PC simulator integration with GNS3. By placing a VPCS in a GNS3 topology, then implementing and verifying the VPCS host, we can ensure our clouds are always communicating with local hosts on the right ports.

Say you've set up a handful of virtual PCs on a local host with VPCS and want to ensure their communications with a cloud of devices. In GNS3, we know the UDP ports a cloud will be listening to by default and which it'll try to talk to. Call it ingress and egress, in door and out door, or the input and output — a GNS3 cloud will listen on UDP port 30,000 and broadcast on 20,000.

Boot up GNS3's VPCS executable and you can configure an IP address inside the virtual PC, then give it a default gateway to use. Once that subnet mask is in place you can view the relevant information like its logical address and which UDP port it's sending to and listening to.

Start learning with CBT Nuggets:

[KeithBarker]

Hello Sayed-

You are very welcome.

Thanks for the feedback.

Best wishes,

Keith Barker

[KeithBarker]

Hello Guellord-

Glad you can use the videos. Thank you for your feedback!

Keith

[KeithBarker]

Great question.

In VBOX, create a second host adapter. You may have to reboot for it to show up in your host computer. Then assign one PC to the first host adapter, and the second PC to the second host adapter. Connect the router, with two interfaces to a gns3 switch, and then to one of the clouds representing the host adapter. (1 switch and 1 cloud for each host adapter). Tell your PCs to use the router IP as their default gateway. No EIGRP required for a single router.

[KeithBarker]

Hi Sean-

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it.

Keith

[KeithBarker]

Hi Simone-

Thanks for the question. On a Cisco IOS router, the command is:

ip name-server 8.8.8.8

(or whatever dns server you want to use)
In addition, to make sure the router will try to use it, use the command:

ip domain lookup (it is on by default in most versions of IOS)

Hope that helps,

Keith

[KeithBarker]

On VPCS the command is: ip dhcp

On a windows or other virtual machine, configure the interface to use dhcp, which is the default for windows. It depends on which client OS you choose to use.


Keith.

[KeithBarker]

The font I use is named: Barkerific. I made it myself from my own handwriting.

[KeithBarker]

Just to be clear, what differences do you think should be included in a MicroNugget?

[ardiyantoa.w]

nice and your voice so clearly when explaining. thanks

[sonarsan]

What a wonderful explanation! Keith, there is the question not quite related to a topic. What font do you use for your tutorials? Is it from Microsoft or some other vendors? Thanks

[guellordnzaou]

thx a lot Mr. Keith, this video helping me so much!

[karimhamamo]

Thank you man, that was helpful and short enough.

[atexnik]

I'd like to clarify the details on how the VPCS actually sends traffic to port 30000. Let's say you ping 10.0.0.1 from VPCS. What happens next, is that VPCS takes the whole frame, encapsulates it as payload into a new frame with IP address 127.0.0.1 and udp port 30000, and sends it out. When Cloud receives this frame, it strips off the header, and forwards the original frame, which was encapsulated as a payload. I have captured both the 127.0.0.1 loopback interface and the link between cloud and router. The raw payload data on loopback interface matches exactly with frame raw data on the link between cloud and router.

[omarefren]

Hello Keith...excellent video.
One question: Which program do U use to record your training sessions?
Thanks in advance!

[daDfarSpanTaistheKin]

part2:

third when configuring the vpcs in gns3 one doesn't needs cloud and its just installed by picking a PC but it ALREADY has a lot of mappings under NIO Ethernet tab. which needs clarification.
since most people will have two interface cards or some will have some vmware/hyperv/vbox elemnts there it also needs to be taken into consideration.. to use the proper ethernet card .. (i think chosing ethernet card is like binding a virtual card to physical card in vmware/hyper-v)

[SimmsLive]

Hi Keith,

What's the correct syntax for adding a DNS server address?
I seem to be getting error messages when I attempt it

Thanks
Simone.

[praveenmarian]

Hi Keith
I have some question about virtual box. I had two virtual box running windows xp. I connected to my two pcs to one router with different network( PC.192.168.10.1 and PC2 192.168.11.2). I enabled eigrp routing and trying to ping its not pinging.
What i have to do for ping two different network PCS . When i create two virtual pc only one Vitual adaptor is there. Can you explain me how to do

[nelsonodo]

#Need Help

I have a network problem like this to be achieved using a network simulator

Build a networking system that will have a server where users can be registered and categorized into staff and students profiles. They are authenticated using AAA and max of two login are allowed per user. Also, each users are given 4GB of data.
Given two access point (say access point A & access point B). Access point A should give staff 1Mbps and students 512Kbps from 8am - 4pm & at the same time, access point B will be given staff 512Kbps & students 256Kbps. From 4pm - 8am, the reverse is the case, ie access point A will give staff 512Kbps and students 256Kbps while access point B will give staff 1Mbps and students 512Kbps


Which network simulator can do this.

I need help.

[daDfarSpanTaistheKin]

part3:
fourth there are already a lot of mapings under NIO UDP ..
jeremy always doesnt likes anything that is auto .. and this auto creates some problems .

these exact same mappings are there there for each pc .. so if one has 4 pcs all will have same mappings .. and one will out of laziness choose the first available maping on each pc . but if one maping is used it should not be reused .

these are few points which i have observed ..

thanks a lot

[daDfarSpanTaistheKin]

now that the latest gns3 i.e. .8.4 has integrated the vpcs function .. could you please do an update to that .. there is sligt difference and can cause confusion to newbies ..

thanks for this excellant video