Install and Configure GNS3 with VirtualBox on macOS Catalina | IT DeepDive 23/01/2024 18:33

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Install and Configure GNS3 with

VirtualBox on macOS Catalina
Feb 13, 2021 NETWORKING LINUX MAC VIRTUALBOX

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In this article, I'll show you how to install and configure GNS3 on a Mac Catalina.
We will focus on these specific version, GAs at the time of writing but hopefully
the same instructions might be applicable for slightly different versions:

GNS3 version 2.2.18

macOS Catalina 10.15.7

Step 1 - Download GNS3 and GNS3 VM

Head over to GNS3 software page and download macOS version 2.2.18. If you
don't have an account, you will have to create one! For optimal performance,
also download the GNS3 VM. In this article I will be using VirtualBox, so fell free
to download and install it as well if you'd like to follow along.

Step 2 - Installation
The installation is pretty straightforward. Just drag GNS3 into your application
folder and it's done:

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Figure 1: GNS3 Installation

Now it's time to extract the GNS3 VM and import it into VirtualBox. For mac
users, just double clic GNS3.VM.VirtualBox.2.2.18.zip you just downloaded and
a new folder GNS3 VM will be automatically created for you containing the
extracted files. From VirtualBox UI select Import and browse for the file GNS VM.
ovf inside the GNS3 VM folder.

Figure 2: Importing GNS3 VM

. On the next screen click on import and you should be good to go. macOS
might warn you about permission to monitor files and control the system from
your terminal. These permissions are needed from the GNS3 application to
control the GNS3 VM (start, stop, configure interfaces, cpu, ram, etc.)

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Figure 3: GNS3 VM ready

Step 3 - Initial configuration

Start the GNS3 VM and wait for the boot process to complete. You should see a
screen like this:

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Figure 4: GNS3 VM started

Make sure KVM support available is set to True and take note of the IP; in this
case 192.168.56.104. Try and ping the GNS3 VM IP from macOS terminal. If
ping does not work check if the vboxnet0 has been assigned the correct
network, from the VirtualBox menu -> File -> Host Network Manager...:

Figure 5: Host Network Manager

. When you are able to ping the GNS3 VM it's time to open GNS3 and check its

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Preferences. At first execution, allow root permissions for uBridge to interact

with network interfaces:

Figure 6: uBridge root permissions

In General you can set your own preferences for where to store your projects
etc. In order to be sure networking is going to work properly, select Server from
the left menu and verify Enable local server is flagged and Host binding:
matches your GNS3 VM subnet. You can leave the other settings as default
unless you have a specific reason to customise them:

Figure 7: GNS3 Server preferences

In GNS3 VM preferences make sure Enable the GNS3 VM is enabled and the

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Install and Configure GNS3 with VirtualBox on macOS Catalina | IT DeepDive 23/01/2024 18:33

correct Virtualization engine is selected. If you can't see the correct VM name
try refershing the settings. You should see something like this:

Figure 8: GNS3 VM preferences

Step 4 - Testing your first project

Okay, now let's have some fun!

1. Create a new project and from the left pane Browse all devices icon drag
the NAT Cloud, a switch and 2 VPCS.
2. Connect the NAT cloud and the 2 VPCS to the Switch.
3. Open a console for both VPCS and obtain an IP from the DHCP with the
command ip dhcp

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Install and Configure GNS3 with VirtualBox on macOS Catalina | IT DeepDive 23/01/2024 18:33

4. After obtaining the IP, from PCI try pinging PC2 and from PC2 try pinging an
external DNS, like 1.1.1.1.

Figure 9: Testing connectivity

See Also
NSX-T Packet Capture: East - West Traffic on Overlay Segment
My CCNA 200-301 Exam Experience

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Momo Kaku − ⚑
2 years ago

Thanks for the article but i found out there are issues connect with localhost and vm.
So currently the vm still greyed out instead of green.
I've searched a lot of infos and all indicated to have to set vm port and localhost the
same,
but if I set localhost port to 80, GNS3 will show a warning that 80 is in use.

Would like to know if you could help me on the issue?

Thank you ~~~

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Nicola Ruggiero
IT Cloud Architect @Qualcomm | CCNA | CKA | MCSA | VCIX

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