Skip to main content

How to Properly Clone an EVE-NG Lab with Configurations

Cloning labs in EVE-NG is a great way to duplicate setups and expand or experiment on a new copy without affecting the original lab. However, if not done correctly, the cloned lab may only copy the topology without configurations. In this guide, I’ll show you how to properly clone a lab in EVE-NG with all configurations using the EVE-NG GUI.

Follow these steps to ensure that both the topology and router configurations are retained when cloning your lab.


Steps to Clone an EVE-NG Lab with Configurations

  1. Save Running Configuration on All Devices
    In your original lab, make sure all devices have their configurations saved to NVRAM. Go into the CLI of each router and run the command:
    copy running-config startup-config

  2. Export All Configurations (CFGs)
    On the left sidebar in the EVE-NG Web UI, click on the "More Actions" option. Then select "Export all CFGs". This step exports the configurations of all devices in the lab.

  3. Shutdown All Devices
    After exporting the configurations, shut down all the devices in the lab. This step is important because cloning a lab while devices are running may not correctly retain configurations.

  4. Close the Lab
    Once all devices are shut down, close the lab from the EVE-NG Web UI.

  5. Clone the Lab
    Go to the EVE-NG dashboard, where all your labs are listed. Click on the lab you want to clone and select “Clone” from the options in the left sidebar. The cloned lab will now appear in your lab list.

  6. Open the Cloned Lab (Do NOT Start Devices Yet)
    Open the newly cloned lab, but do not start any devices yet. This ensures that you can apply the saved configurations first.

  7. Activate Start-up Configs
    On the left sidebar, click on “Start-up Configs”. Turn the Start-up Configs ON for all devices. This will load the configurations from the original lab into the cloned devices.

  8. Start All Devices
    Now, you can start all devices in the cloned lab. The configurations from the original lab should automatically load.

  9. Save the Configurations
    After the devices are up and running, save the configurations to NVRAM by running the command:
    copy running-config startup-config

  10. Turn Off All Devices
    Once configurations are saved, shut down all devices again.

  11. Disable Start-up Configs
    Go back to “Start-up Configs” in the left sidebar and switch the button to OFF for all devices. This ensures future configurations are saved directly on the devices.

  12. Restart All Devices
    Restart the devices, and the cloned lab will now have both the topology and all configurations from the original lab.

Conclusion

By following this method, you can easily clone an EVE-NG lab with both the topology and the configurations intact. This is particularly useful when you want to experiment with a lab setup or add more devices without affecting your original configurations.

Feel free to try this out in your own lab and let me know how it goes!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Basic MPLS BGP and L3VPN Lab Setup

In this lab, we’ve set up a basic MPLS, BGP, and L3VPN environment, which is a great foundation for understanding how service providers build scalable networks. The lab uses the EVE-NG simulator along with Router IOS C7200-ADVENTERPRISEK9-M, Version 15.2(4)M8 to emulate a realistic MPLS environment. Below is a summary of the key components and roles of each router in the lab. MPLS Core Routers : The MPLS core consists of the routers responsible for label switching and forwarding customer traffic through the network: PE1 (Provider Edge 1) : Connects customer networks to the MPLS core and handles both MPLS and BGP routing. It also hosts VRF (Virtual Routing and Forwarding) instances for customers. PE2 (Provider Edge 2) : Functions similarly to PE1, connecting another customer network to the MPLS core. P1 (Core Router 1) and P2 (Core Router 2) : These routers serve as MPLS core routers and handle label switching but do not store or process customer routes directly. They simply f
Post a Comment
Read more

OSPF Adjacency Stuck in EXSTART on Cisco IOS XR – Issue and Solution

In a recent lab setup using Cisco IOS XR on EVE-NG, I faced a common but frustrating issue with OSPF adjacencies getting stuck in the EXSTART state. After spending considerable time troubleshooting interface MTUs and configurations, I discovered that the root cause was related to the virtual network interface type being used. This post outlines the issue, troubleshooting steps, and the eventual solution that got everything working. Issue: While configuring OSPF between two routers running Cisco IOS XR in my lab, OSPF adjacencies were getting stuck in the EXSTART state. I verified that interface configurations, MTU settings, and OSPF parameters were correct, but the problem persisted. I tried adjusting the MTU size, using the mtu-ignore command, and even checked for ACLs, but nothing seemed to resolve the issue. Troubleshooting Steps: MTU Settings: I started by verifying that both sides of the OSPF adjacency had matching MTUs. I used the default MTU and even tried different values wit
Post a Comment
Read more