Cisco MDS Switch Simulator: A Step-by-Step Guide on Installation, Configuration, and Usage
Cisco MDS Switch Simulator: What Is It and How to Use It?
If you are working with or learning about Cisco MDS switches, you might have wondered if there is a way to simulate them without having to buy or rent physical devices. The answer is yes: you can use Cisco MDS switch simulator, an on-premises network simulation tool that runs on workstations and servers, using real Cisco images. In this article, we will explain what Cisco MDS switch simulator is, why it is useful, and what are the benefits of using it. We will also provide a step-by-step guide on how to install, configure, and run Cisco MDS switch simulator.
Cisco Mds Switch Simulator
What Is Cisco MDS Switch Simulator?
Cisco MDS switch simulator is part of the Cisco Modeling Labs product family, which is Cisco's premier platform for network simulation. With Cisco Modeling Labs, you can quickly and easily simulate Cisco and non-Cisco networks, using real images from various devices and platforms. This gives you highly reliable models for designing, testing, troubleshooting, and learning.
Cisco Modeling Labs offers different versions for different needs and budgets: Personal (for single users), Personal Plus (for single users with more nodes), Enterprise (for organizations with many users), and Higher Education (for educational organizations). Each version comes with a set of preloaded nodes that you can use in your simulations.
One of these nodes is the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Multilayer Switches, which are high-performance SAN switches that provide flexibility, scalability, security, and unified management for storage environments. With Cisco MDS switch simulator, you can create virtual instances of these switches and configure them as you would in a real-world scenario.
Why Use Cisco MDS Switch Simulator?
Cisco MDS switch simulator can help you in many ways:
Design: You can create and test different network designs before deploying them in production. You can experiment with various features and settings without affecting your live environment.
Test: You can verify the functionality and performance of your network solutions and configurations before implementing them in production. You can simulate different scenarios and conditions to see how your network behaves.
Troubleshoot: You can replicate and isolate network issues and find the root causes and solutions. You can also test patches and updates before applying them to your live environment.
Learn: You can improve your skills and knowledge on Cisco MDS switches and prepare for certification exams. You can also use Cisco MDS switch simulator as a teaching tool for students and trainees.
Certify: You can practice and validate your skills on Cisco MDS switches and get ready for the Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center SAN Implementation certification exam.
What Are the Benefits of Cisco MDS Switch Simulator?
Cisco MDS switch simulator has many benefits over real-world labs, such as:
Lower cost: You don't need to buy or rent physical devices, cables, racks, power supplies, or cooling systems. You can save money on hardware, maintenance, and electricity.
Faster results: You don't need to wait for delivery, installation, or setup of physical devices. You can create and run simulations in minutes, not hours or days.
Easier setup: You don't need to deal with complex wiring, cabling, or connectivity issues. You can create and modify topologies with a few clicks, drag-and-drop, and copy-and-paste.
More flexibility: You don't need to be limited by the availability, capacity, or location of physical devices. You can create and run as many simulations as you want, with as many nodes as you need, on any device that meets the system requirements.
How to Get Started with Cisco MDS Switch Simulator?
Now that you know what Cisco MDS switch simulator is and why it is useful, let's see how to get started with it. In this section, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to install, configure, and run Cisco MDS switch simulator.
How to Install Cisco MDS Switch Simulator?
The first step is to install Cisco MDS switch simulator on your workstation or server. Here are the system requirements, the licensing options, and the installation process for Cisco MDS switch simulator:
System Requirements
To run Cisco MDS switch simulator, you need a workstation or server that meets the following minimum requirements:
Operating system: Windows 10 (64-bit) or Linux (64-bit)
CPU: Intel Core i5 or equivalent
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Disk space: 100 GB free
Network: Gigabit Ethernet
You also need a web browser that supports HTML5, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Licensing Options
To use Cisco MDS switch simulator, you need a valid license from Cisco Modeling Labs. Depending on the version you choose (Personal, Personal Plus, Enterprise, or Higher Education), you will have access to different numbers of nodes and features. For example, with Cisco Modeling Labs Personal Plus, you can use up to 20 nodes per simulation, including one Cisco MDS 9000 Series node.
You can purchase a license from the Cisco Modeling Labs Store, where you can also find more information about the pricing and the features of each version. Alternatively, you can request a free trial license from the Cisco Modeling Labs Trial Page, which will give you access to all the features of Cisco Modeling Labs Enterprise for 90 days.
Installation Process
The installation process for Cisco MDS switch simulator is simple and straightforward. Here are the steps:
Download the Cisco Modeling Labs installer from the Cisco Modeling Labs Download Page. You will need a Cisco account to access this page.
Run the installer and follow the instructions on the screen. You will need to accept the terms and conditions, choose the installation directory, and enter your license key.
Wait for the installation to complete. This may take several minutes depending on your system speed and network bandwidth.
Launch Cisco Modeling Labs from your desktop shortcut or start menu. You will see the login screen where you need to enter your username and password. The default username is admin and the default password is admin123.
Change your password after logging in for security reasons. You can do this by clicking on your username at the top right corner of the screen and subnet mask, and cluster NTP server IP address. You will also need to add each reference platform to your cluster by entering its hostname, IP address, and password.
How to Create and Manage Simulations?
A simulation is a virtual network that consists of nodes and links. A node is a virtual device that runs a Cisco or non-Cisco image. A link is a virtual connection between two nodes. You can create and manage simulations from the HTML5 UI by using the Simulations tab on the sidebar.
To create a simulation, you need to do the following steps:
Click on the + icon on the Simulations tab to open the Create Simulation dialog box.
Enter a name and a description for your simulation.
Select a reference platform or a cluster to run your simulation on.
Select a topology template or a custom topology file to use for your simulation. A topology template is a predefined network design that you can modify as needed. A custom topology file is a JSON file that you can create or import to define your own network design.
Click on Create to create your simulation.
To manage a simulation, you need to do the following steps:
Select a simulation from the Simulations tab to open its details page.
From the details page, you can perform various actions, such as:
Edit: You can edit the name, description, reference platform, cluster, and topology of your simulation.
Launch: You can start your simulation and make it ready for use.
Stop: You can stop your simulation and free up the resources it uses.
Delete: You can delete your simulation and remove it from the list.
Export: You can export your simulation as a JSON file that you can import later or share with others.
Import: You can import a simulation from a JSON file that you have created or received from others.
How to Create and Manage Nodes?
A node is a virtual device that runs a Cisco or non-Cisco image. You can create and manage nodes from the HTML5 UI by using the Nodes tab on the sidebar.
To create a node, you need to do the following steps:
Click on the + icon on the Nodes tab to open the Create Node dialog box.
Select an image from the list of available images. You can filter the list by platform, vendor, model, version, etc.
Enter a name and a description for your node.
Select a reference platform or a cluster to run your node on.
Select an interface type and an interface count for your node. The interface type determines the speed and the protocol of the network connections. The interface count determines how many network connections your node can have.
Click on Create to create your node.
To manage a node, you need to do the following steps:
Select a node from the Nodes tab to open its details page.
From the details page, you can perform various actions, such as:
Edit: You can edit the name, description, reference platform, cluster, image, interface type, and interface count of your node.
Delete: You can delete your node and remove it from the list.
Add to Simulation: You can add your node to an existing simulation or create a new one with it.
Remove from Simulation: You can remove your node from a simulation that it belongs to.
How to Create and Manage Links?
A link is a virtual connection between two nodes. You can create and manage links from the HTML5 UI by using the Links tab on the sidebar.To create a link, you need to do the following steps:Click on the + icon on the Links tab to open the Create Link dialog box.
Select two nodes from the list of available nodes. You can filter the list by name, image, reference platform, cluster, etc.
Select an interface for each node. The interface must be compatible with the interface type of the other node.
Enter a name and a description for your link.
Select an MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) size for your link. The MTU size determines how much data can be sent in one packet over your link.
Select an attenuation level for your link. The attenuation level determines how much signal loss occurs over your link due to distance or interference.
Select an error rate for your link. The error rate determines how much data corruption occurs over your link due to noise or interference.
Click on Create to create your link.
To manage a link, you need to do the following steps:
Select a link from the Links tab to open its details page.
From the details page, you can perform various actions, such as:
Edit: You can edit the name, description, nodes, interfaces, MTU size, attenuation level, and error rate of your link.
Delete: You can delete your link and remove it from the list.
Add to Simulation: You can add your link to an existing simulation or create a new one with it.
Remove from Simulation: You can remove your link from a simulation that it belongs to.
How to Create and Manage Topologies?
A topology is a network design that consists of nodes and links. You can create and manage topologies from the HTML5 UI by using the Topologies tab on the sidebar.
To create a topology, you need to do the following steps:
Click on the + icon on the Topologies tab to open the Create Topology dialog box.
Enter a name and a description for your topology.
Select a reference platform or a cluster to run your topology on.
Select a topology template or a custom topology file to use for your topology. A topology template is a predefined network design that you can modify as needed. A custom topology file is a JSON file that you can create or import to define your own network design.
Click on Create to create your topology.
To manage a topology, you need to do the following steps:
Select a topology from the Topologies tab to open its details page.
From the details page, you can perform various actions, such as:
Edit: You can edit the name, description, reference platform, cluster, and nodes and links of your topology.
Delete: You can delete your topology and remove it from the list.
Add to Simulation: You can add your topology to an existing simulation or create a new one with it.
Remove from Simulation: You can remove your topology from a simulation that it belongs to.
Export: You can export your topology as a JSON file that you can import later or share with others.
Import: You can import a topology from a JSON file that you have created or received from others.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what Cisco MDS switch simulator is, why it is useful, and what are the benefits of using it. We have also provided a step-by-step guide on how to install, configure, and run Cisco MDS switch simulator. We hope that this article has helped you understand and appreciate this powerful and versatile tool for network simulation.
If you want to learn more about Cisco MDS switch simulator, you can visit the Cisco Modeling Labs Website, where you can find more information, documentation, videos, tutorials, forums, and support. You can also download a free trial license and try Cisco MDS switch simulator for yourself.
Thank you for reading this article. We hope that you have enjoyed it and found it useful. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Cisco MDS switch simulator and their answers:
Q: What are the differences between Cisco MDS switch simulator and Cisco MDS emulator?
A: Cisco MDS switch simulator and Cisco MDS emulator are both network simulation tools that allow you to create virtual instances of Cisco MDS switches. However, they have some differences in terms of features and functionality. Cisco MDS switch simulator is part of Cisco Modeling Labs, which is Cisco's premier platform for network simulation. It runs on workstations and servers using real Cisco images. It supports various platforms, vendors, models, versions, features, and settings. It also has an HTML5 UI, an API, a reference platform, and a clustering capability. Cisco MDS emulator is part of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), which is Cisco's management software for data center networks. It runs on virtual machines using emulated images. It supports only Cisco MDS 9000 Series switches with limited features and settings. It also has a Java-based UI and no API, reference platform, or clustering capability.
Q: How can I connect Cisco MDS switch simulator to external networks and devices?
A: You can connect Cisco MDS switch simulator to external networks and devices by using the External Connection feature. This feature allows you to create virtual interfaces on your reference platform or cluster that can communicate with physical interfaces on your workstation or server. You can then assign these virtual interfaces to your nodes and links in your simulation. This way, you can create hybrid networks that combine virtual and physical devices.
To use the External Connection feature, you need to do the following steps:
Click on Tools > External Connection to open the External Connection dialog box.
Select a reference platform or a cluster from the list.
Select an interface type and an interface count for your external connection. The interface type determines the speed and the protocol of the network connections. The interface count determines how many network connections you can have.
Select a physical interface on your workstation or server that you want to connect to your external connection. The physical interface must be compatible with the interface type of your external connection.
Click on Create to create your external connection.
Add your external connection to your simulation by dragging and dropping it from the Nodes tab to the canvas.
Connect your external connection to other nodes and links in your simulation by dragging and dropping them from the Nodes tab or the Links tab to the canvas.
Q: How can I access node consoles and CLI in Cisco MDS switch simulator?
A: You can access node consoles and CLI in Cisco MDS switch simulator by using the Console feature. This feature allows you to open a terminal window that connects to the console port of a node in your simulation. You can then interact with the node using its CLI commands.
To use the Console feature, you need to do the following steps:
Select a node from the Nodes tab or the canvas to open its details page.
Click on the Console icon on the toolbar to open a terminal window that connects to the console port of the node.
Enter your username and password to log in to the node. The default username is admin and the default password is admin123.
Use the CLI commands of the node to configure and control it as you would in a real-world scenario.
Q: How can I monitor simulation performance and status in Cisco MDS switch simulator?
A: You can monitor simulation performance and status in Cisco MDS switch simulator by using the Dashboard feature. This feature allows you to view various metrics and indicators that show how your simulation is running. You can also customize your dashboard by adding, removing, resizing, and rearranging widgets.
To use the Dashboard feature, you need to do the following steps:
Select a simulation from the Simulations tab or the canvas to open its details page.
Click on the Dashboard icon on the toolbar to open a new tab that displays your dashboard.
From your dashboard, you can view various widgets, such as:
CPU Usage: Shows how much CPU resources are being used by your simulation.
Memory Usage: Shows how much memory resources are being used by your simulation.
Disk Usage: Shows how much disk space is being used by your simulation.
Network Usage: Shows how much network bandwidth is being used by your simulation.
Simulation State: Shows whether your simulation is running, stopped, or paused.
Simulation Duration: Shows how long your simulation has been running.
Node Count: Shows how many nodes are in your simulation.
Link Count: Shows how many links are in your simulation.
Q: How can I get help and support for Cisco MDS switch simulator?
A: You can get help and support for Cisco MDS switch simulator by using various resources, such as:Help: You can access online help from the HTML5 UI by clicking on Help > Online Help. You can also access