: For production lab or CCIE SP studies, start with 7.2.2. Upgrade only if you need SRv6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q1: Is the Xrv9k-fullk9-7.2.2 image free? A : No. The software requires a valid Cisco contract. However, you can use it for 90 days in evaluation mode without a license key. Q2: Can I run this on VMware ESXi instead of KVM? A : Yes. Convert the ISO to a VMDK and create an ESXi VM with E1000e interfaces. Note: Performance will be lower than KVM due to virtio vs. e1000. Q3: How do I verify it is the "fullk9" version and not "base"? A : After booting, run:
virt-install --name xrv9k-7.2.2 \ --vcpus 4 --ram 8192 \ --disk path=/var/lib/libvirt/images/xrv9k-disk1.qcow2,format=qcow2 \ --network bridge=br0,model=virtio \ --graphics vnc \ --console pty,target_type=serial Boot the VM. The console will output the boot sequence. After 3–4 minutes, you’ll see the iosxr login prompt. Once logged in (default credentials: root /no password, then sysadmin-vm user), configure the management interface: Xrv9k-fullk9-7.2.2 Download
In the rapidly evolving world of network virtualisation, the ability to test large-scale service provider features on commodity hardware is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. At the heart of this capability sits the Cisco IOS XRv 9000 , a virtual route processor that emulates the industry-leading Cisco ASR 9000 series routers. : For production lab or CCIE SP studies, start with 7
| Feature | Xrv9k-fullk9-7.2.2 | Newer (7.10+) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | SRv6 | Partial (Experimental) | Full Support | | Stability | Very high (mature) | Medium (new bugs) | | Memory Footprint | ~6 GB | ~9 GB | | CML Compatibility | CML 2.0+ | CML 2.5+ | | Documentation | Mature | Chasing updates | A : No
qemu-img convert -O qcow2 xrv9k-disk1.vmdk xrv9k-disk1.qcow2 The XRv 9000 requires multiple interfaces (management, data plane). Create a bridge on your host:
sudo brctl addbr br0 sudo ip link set br0 up Using virt-install :
configure interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0/0 ipv4 address 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 no shutdown commit Why specifically 7.2.2? This release exists in a "sweet spot" of stability and modern features. 1. Segment Routing (SR-MPLS) Maturity Older versions (6.x) had buggy SR implementations. Version 7.2.2 brings stable TI-LFA (Topology Independent Loop-Free Alternate) and SR-PCE (Path Computation Element). You can build a full MPLS-free core using SR policies. 2. EVPN with VXLAN While earlier versions supported EVPN, the 7.2.2 fullk9 image resolves critical memory leaks in the L2RIB process. It allows up to 16k EVPN routes in a virtual instance. 3. IOS XR Maturity The CLI is fully aligned with physical ASR 9000 hardware. Configuration commits are atomic, and the sysadmin VM allows for bash scripting and direct hardware stats. 4. Telemetry and gRPC This version introduces stable model-driven telemetry using gRPC dial-out, perfect for integrating with tools like Telegraf or Prometheus in a CI/CD lab. Troubleshooting Common Download and Boot Issues Even with the correct xrv9k-fullk9-7.2.2 download , users face issues. Here are solutions: Issue 1: "Login loop" – VM reboots after booting Cause : Insufficient RAM allocated. Fix : Allocate at least 6 GB, but 8 GB is the safe minimum for the fullk9 image. Issue 2: SSH hangs after generation of keys Cause : Lack of entropy in a virtual environment. Fix : Access via console and run: crypto key generate rsa 2048 manually. Install haveged service on the host. Issue 3: No data-plane interfaces Cause : The XRv 9000 expects virtio drivers. Fix : In your VM XML config, ensure <model type='virtio'/> . e1000 drivers are unsupported for data plane. Issue 4: Smart Licensing failure in offline lab Cause : Version 7.2.2 defaults to call-home licensing. Fix (for offline labs):