The iosxrv-k9-demo-5.2.2.ova image has several limitations and restrictions, including:
This is the most common use case for this image.
Can run in VMware , VirtualBox, and EVE-NG.
IOS XR is very sensitive to clock latency. If you overcommit CPU resources on your hypervisor, you may experience "CPU Hog" messages or control plane instability. Always reserve at least 1 dedicated vCPU core for the XRv control VM.
For building large topologies, extracting the .vmdk file from the .ova package allows integration into QEMU/KVM-based environments like EVE-NG or GNS3. iosxrv-k9-demo-5.2.2.ova
Understanding the naming convention of this specific file reveals exactly what features and constraints to expect:
In the rapidly evolving landscape of network engineering, the ability to test, validate, and learn without physical hardware has transitioned from a luxury to an absolute necessity. For engineers specializing in Cisco’s advanced routing technologies, the file iosxrv-k9-demo-5.2.2.ova represents a powerful gateway into the world of virtualized network infrastructure.
Minimum of 2 (1 for Management, 1 or more for GigabitEthernet data plane interfaces) 3. Step-by-Step Deployment in VMware Workstation / ESXi
Even though it is not a production image, this OVA is a workhorse in the following scenarios: The iosxrv-k9-demo-5
router isis core address-family ipv4 unicast segment-routing mpls sr-prefer segment-routing mpls interface Loopback0 prefix-sid index 100
3 GB to 4 GB (Allocating less than 3 GB can cause the control plane to hang during boot). Storage: ~2 GB to 3 GB of thin-provisioned disk space. Supported Environments
Usually mapped to the Management Ethernet interface.
The OVA format makes this image highly portable across various environments: If you overcommit CPU resources on your hypervisor,
Before powering on the VM, edit the virtual machine settings to map the network adapters properly:
You configure an interface or routing protocol, but after restarting the virtual machine, the configurations are missing.
Once the iosxrv-k9-demo-5.2.2.ova is up and running, what can you actually do with it? Let’s explore a few lab scenarios.
