Security Lab — Cisco download checklist

Cisco virtual appliance download checklist for the EVE-NG and CCIE-style BFSI lab.

This checklist records the Cisco images to download for the lab and the official Cisco download landing URLs. These are not private signed file URLs. Cisco may require login, entitlement checks, export/compliance prompts, and EULA acceptance before downloads appear.

Rules

  • Use an entitled Cisco account.
  • Prefer qcow2 for KVM, libvirt, and EVE-NG.
  • Prefer ova for VMware.
  • Prefer full images over lite images for advanced feature testing.
  • Do not download EPLD images or physical switch .bin images for EVE-NG node boot unless the task is explicitly software-upgrade planning.
  • Store downloaded files outside Git.

Suggested local location:

/home/ze/Softwares/cisco-images/

Download Now

PurposePreferred artifactDownload URL
Nexus leaf/spine EVPN/VXLANnexus9300v64.10.3.9.M.qcow2https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286312239/type/282088129/release/10.3(9)
Optional chassis-style Nexus testingnexus9500v64.10.3.9.M.qcow2https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286312239/type/282088129/release/10.3(9)
Nexus Dashboard standalone VMnd-dk9.4.2.1.10.qcow2https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286327743/type/286328258/release/4.2.1
Nexus Dashboard upgrade/lifecycle testingnd-dk9.4.2.1.10.isohttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286327743/type/286328258/release/4.2.1

Current status:

ImageStatus
nexus9300v64.10.3.9.M.qcow2Downloaded and imported into EVE-NG
nd-dk9.4.2.1.10.qcow2Downloaded; standalone libvirt deployment pending

Download Next

PurposePreferred artifactDownload URL
NAC, TACACS+, 802.1X, TrustSecCisco ISE base ISO or OVAhttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/283801620/type/283802505/release/3.4.0
ISE patching after base installCisco ISE 3.4 cumulative patch bundlehttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/283801620/type/283802505/release/3.4%20Patch%205
Firewall managementSecure Firewall Management Center Virtualhttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286259687/type/286271056
Firewall data planeSecure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual QCOW2/OVAhttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286306503/type
Classic ASA/VPN practiceASAv QCOW2https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286119613/type/280775065 or https://www.cisco.com/go/asa-software
WAN edge and IOS XE routingCatalyst 8000V QCOW2https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286327102/type/282046477
Optional Catalyst 8000V UTDUTD engine TAR matching IOS XE versionhttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286327102/type/286285284
Service provider routingIOS XRv 9000 QCOW2https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286288939/type/280805694
Secure Client endpoint testingCisco Secure Client installerhttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286330811/type/282364313

Download Later

PurposePreferred artifactDownload URL
Official Cisco simulation platformCisco Modeling Labs controller ISO/OVAhttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286290254/type/286290305
Official CML reference imagesCML reference platform ISO/ZIPhttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286193282/type/286326381
ACI/APIC practiceACI Simulator / APIC Simulator imagehttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286283149/type/286283168/release
SD-WAN control planeCatalyst SD-WAN Manager / Controller / Validator software update imageshttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286320995/type/286321394
IOS XR container optionXRd imageshttps://software.cisco.com/download/home/286329236

First Batch

Download these first for the lab roadmap:

  1. nexus9300v64.10.3.9.M.qcow2
  2. nd-dk9.4.2.1.10.qcow2
  3. Cisco ISE base ISO or OVA, then the latest cumulative patch bundle for that same release
  4. Secure Firewall Management Center Virtual image
  5. Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual image
  6. ASAv QCOW2 image
  7. Catalyst 8000V QCOW2 image
  8. IOS XRv 9000 QCOW2 image
  9. Cisco Modeling Labs controller and reference platform ISO, only if running CML alongside EVE-NG

Source Notes

The private lab repository keeps the full checklist at:

/home/ze/codex-security-lab-agent/docs/CISCO_SOFTWARE_ROADMAP.md

Last reviewed: 2026-05-13