Forty-seven minutes later, CML was alive. The interface was dated, but it worked . He dragged a virtual ASR-1000 router onto the canvas. Then another. He rebuilt the fractured topology—node by node, link by link, using the exact firmware versions of the real-world devices.

To get these working in your CML environment, you generally need to download two things:

Cisco has moved away from a single monolithic "Refplat ISO" download for some platforms. You often need to download the "Reference Platform" specific to the CML version you are running.

If you are running CML on a physical server, you may need to copy the ISO to the local disk via SCP or use a bootable USB drive, though virtual mounting via CIMC/iDRAC is preferred. Post-Download: Copying to Disk (Recommended)

No license check. No phone-home. Just a raw, 14-gigabyte time machine.

But he had a memory.

In the search bar, type "Cisco Modeling Labs." You will usually see options for different versions (e.g., 2.x). Select the version that matches your installed CML controller. 3. Select the "RefPlat" File

By carefully following these steps and guidelines, you should be able to successfully download and set up a Cisco CML reference platform ISO for your network simulation needs.

mount the ISO within your specific CML environment (e.g., VMware or Bare Metal)? AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses Copy Creating a public link... You can now share this thread with others Good response Bad response 4 sites Cisco Modeling Labs - Free The CML-Free is a no-cost, single-user offering of Cisco Modeling Labs. With CML-Free, you get the latest CML product features for... Cisco DevNet System Requirements - Cisco Modeling Labs v2.9 Installing CML on ESXI Processor must support VTx and EPT virtualization technologies. While the CML application services run equa... Cisco DevNet Preparing a Custom Image - Cisco Modeling Labs v2.9 In the Upload New Image File page, click the choose a file field and select the VM image . qcow2 file that you want to upload from... Cisco DevNet How to Install Cisco Modeling Labs (Free) - CISCONET Training Solutions Feb 15, 2026 —