When the VM boots for the first time, you will see the standard Cisco IOS XE boot sequence.
This boots the switch with 4GB RAM, 2 vCPUs, and exposes the console on telnet port 10023. Cat9kv-prd-17.10.01prd7.qcow2 Download
| Issue | Likely Cause | Solution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Incorrect KVM CPU model | Set CPU to host-passthrough or IvyBridge | | Licensing error: "EVAL Mode" | No Smart License registered | Set up a Smart Software Manager (SSM) on-prem or use evaluation license via license smart reservation | | Interface not coming up | VirtIO driver mismatch | Ensure your bridge uses virtio-net-pci (default for KVM) | | High CPU usage idle | Missing kvm kernel module | Run lsmod | grep kvm and ensure virtualization extensions are enabled in BIOS | When the VM boots for the first time,
For any network engineer preparing for CCIE Enterprise certifications, testing SD-Access policies, or validating IOS XE automation scripts, this virtual image is an absolute necessity. : Navigate to the Cisco Software Download portal
: Navigate to the Cisco Software Download portal. Product Search : Search for "Catalyst 9000V" or "C9000V". Version Selection : Select the 17.10.1 release.
: Test complex topologies including BGP , OSPF , and VXLAN without purchasing expensive hardware.