Nearly 10,000 people have used the labs in this book, and the authors have received quite a bit of feedback about software and hardware versions. In the second edition, we are using the following versions of the GNS3 environment. This combination has provided the most success across many student and school hardware platforms. Before we get to the list, we want to answer some frequently asked questions (FAQ).

1. Why did you select the Windows platform for GNS3 when GNS3 is designed for Linux?
   We agree that Linux is a far superior operating system for such experimental operations. A Layer 1 Hypervisor is native to Linux, and the GNS3 environment works very well with Linux KVM and Qemu. However, according to Statista (accessed on 16 Feb 2025), Windows OS is used by 73% of all PC and Laptop users. Asking students to switch to Linux as a daily driver when Windows is king is unrealistic.
2. Does GNS3 work with Mac OS?
   Nope. Apple’s switch to Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, and M3) significantly improved performance (they really are smoking fast!) for 14% of the world’s computer users while nerfing Apple products’ ability to be used in ways that the other 86% of the users enjoy. There are still GNS3 setups for the older Intel-based processors.
3. Do you need expensive gear to run GNS3?
   The book’s first edition was developed and tested with a WalMart laptop with 8GB of RAM, running Windows 10, and cost about $600. However, since Windows 11 can chew up that much RAM without doing anything, we recommend you have a PC-based laptop with at least 16GB of RAM or a Linux daily driver with at least 8 GB of RAM. The developers have used a wide variety of hardware platforms, and other factors do not seem to significantly affect the performance of GNS3 as much as the amount of RAM. Students have reported success with 8GB of RAM if they run scripts disabling the ‘bloatware’ included in Windows 11.
4. Are there any other materials recommended for the labs in this book?
   – A USB monitor (about $100) so they can view the textbook and the GNS3 environment simultaneously.
   – A genuine 3.0 USB drive sized at 256 GB+. Many manufacturers advertise 3.0 speeds, but very few reach those speeds when tested. However, we have found some name-brand USBs that cost less than $20. The USB will allow you to keep and run your GNS3 environment on the stick at hard drive speeds, making it portable to any PC or laptop that has GNS3 environment installed
5. Why don’t you build a cloud environment so anyone can use it?
   In our experience, cloud architecture is still too expensive for students to use effectively. However, it might be a good solution for Mac users since the M-chips can’t be used.
6. Why not use Cisco’s Packet Tracer instead of GNS3?
   We love Packet Tracer! However, it is a simulator, not an emulator. Students do not learn from their failures in building, attacking, and defending enterprise networks. Trying new things is where students learn to troubleshoot, overcome obstacles, and develop novel solutions—the exact same things interviewers ask students looking for their first job. Furthermore, real-world tools such as Wireshark are not usable in Packet Tracer. Students need as much experience as possible when entering the job market.
7. Why is there an emphasis on using VirtualBox instead of VMware?
   The easy answer is that when we started this effort, VMware for the desktop (with nested virtualization) was not free. We feel that cyber can be learned by anyone, and other than a modest desktop or laptop, learners should not have to purchase anything unless it is for their preferences. Broadcom purchased VMware, removed the nested virtualization limitation from the desktop version, and made the desktop version free. However, we were already authoring the second edition of the textbook using VirtualBox. We will stick with VirtualBox for the second edition and revisit the issue for the 3rd edition.
8. What versions are you using for the labs in the book?
   We are update the book annually. However, software changes more frequently than that.  Generally, it is safe to use the most current version of software. However, for this book you MUST use the following versions for your environment.

Versions

GNS3 Environment – Version 2.2.53

Downloaded from https://gns3.com/software/download (Last accessed on 16 Feb 2025). If this changes after this date, GNS3 will offer access to the legacy versions of their software on their GitHub and SourceForge pages. Furthermore, many colleges and developer websites maintain a catalog of legacy versions.

GNS3 VM – Version 2.2.53

Downloaded from https://gns3.com/software/download-vm (Last accessed on 16 Feb 2025). Remember, the GNS3 environment and the VM versions must match!

Oracle VirtualBox – Version 7.0.24

Downloaded from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Download_Old_Builds_7_0 (Last accessed on 16 Feb 2025). Yes, VirtualBox is up to version 7.1, but it does not work well with GNS3 version 2.X.  Since GNS3 version 3.x is still having problems at the time of writing, we are staying with version 2.x of GNS3.