Lab 1: Network Device Simulation with GNS3

Rich Macfarlane 2013

1.1 Details
Aim: The aim of this lab is to begin using the GNS3 network simulator and configure Cisco
virtual routers. Cisco Routers will be added to a virtual network, and basic networking and
security configurations will be performed on the devices.

This will give a foundation to investigate practical network security using virtual network
devices within a virtual lab environment in the weeks to come.

1.2 Activities

1.2.1 (Optional) Install the GNS3 Network Simulator

GNS3 is a graphical network simulator which can provide simulation/emulation of entire networks,
containing many network devices as well as host machines.
To allow realistic Cisco network simulations, GNS3 uses Dynamips; software which enables Cisco
device emulation using actual Cisco Operating Systems (OS). This means the virtual devices are
running the real Cisco OSs with the full functionality.
GNS can also interface directly with network applications such as Wireshark, as shown in the screen
shot below.

The GNS home page can be found at:

http://www.gns3.net/

Figure 1 - GNS Graphical Network Simulator

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If the GNS3 is not installed on your machine, go to the GNS3 web page and click the download tab,
as shown in the figure below.

Figure 2 - GNS3 Website

Download GNS3 latest version all-in-one (includes Dynamips, Qemu/Pemu, Putty and WinPCAP)
for Windows. GNS3 also runs very well on a Linux system.

Run the Setup executable, and install any of the components which are not already installed.

1.2.2 Run and Configure GNS3

To run GNS3, from the Windows Start menu type GNS3, or navigate to the executable in Program
Files (x86)>GNS3. The first time GNS3 is run, the setup wizard shown below will be displayed. This
can be used to perform initial configuration of the simulator.

Figure 3 - GNS3 Setup Wizard

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1.2.3 Step 1 – Setup Dynamips
To configure Dynamips we use the Preferences Dialog>Dynamips Page, shown below. This can also
be reached via Edit>Preferences>Dynamips.

Figure 4 - GNS3 Preferences Configuration

Change the Working directory for Dynamips to somewhere on a local drive, which you have
permissions to write to, such as C:\temp.
Click the Test Button (and wait), to check the underlying Dynamips engine is working correctly.
You may need to Allow GNS3 access through the host firewall, as shown below.

The Dynamips test should be successful, as shown below.

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Click the OK Button to save the changes.

1.2.4 Step 2 – Setup Paths to Cisco IOS and Project Directories

To configure paths to IOS files (called Images in GNS3), virtual network tolopogy files (called Projects
in GNS3), and other general settings, use the Preferences Dialog>General Page, shown below. This
can also be reached via Edit>Preferences>General.

We need to set up the Paths, both for GNS Projects (we will create a new project for each lab), and
for the Cisco Device OS Images.

Click the Project directory button , and create a new folder Projects, to save your simulated
network topologies in - as shown below. This would typically be under the GNS directory but in the
lab use the c:\temp\GNS locations.

Figure 5 - Projects Directory Creation

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Similarly set up the folder Images for the Cisco Network Device OS images we will use for Dynamips
device emulation.
Now we have an Images directory we can add a Cisco Router OS to it.

1.2.5 Download a Cisco Router Operating System.

We now need to setup a Virtual Router. We need to add a Cisco router Operating System for GNS3
to emulate as a guest OS.
Details of Cisco Networking Devices supported by GNS3 can be found at:
http://www.gns3.net/hardware-emulated/
If network device OSs are not already installed on your system, they can be downloaded to the GNS3
Images directory. Start with a Cisco Router OS from the link below.
The Cisco 7200 Router OS can be downloaded from:
http://www.dcs.napier.ac.uk/~cs342/CSN11111/c7200-advipservicesk9-mz.124-24.T1.bin

Figure 6 - Download the Cisco Router OS

Save the file in the GNS Images directory you created earlier, such as shown below.

Figure 7 - Cisco Router OS to GNS Images Directory

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1.2.6 Step 3 - Configure a new Router Type using the Cisco OS
We now need to setup a Virtual Router. We need to add a Cisco router Operating System for GNS3
to emulate as a guest OS.
Go to the IOS Images Dialog, as shown below. This can be reached via Edit>IOS Images and
Hypervisors.

In Settings>Platform, Select the c7200 Router Platform. We now need to tell GNS3 to use the
downloaded OS to emulate this Router. Click the Image File button , and select the downloaded
Cisco OS from the Images directory, as shown below.

Figure 8 - Select an OS for the 7200 Router Device

Remove the Base Config (blank it out), and

Save the settings, and Close the dialog.
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1.2.7 Using GNS3 to Configure a Virtual Router
Add a virtual 7200 Router to the network, by dragging from the Node Types panel to the network
topology panel, as shown belowFigure 9.

Figure 9 - Adding a Router to the network

Configure Virtual Router

To configure the virtual router, on the router icon use Right Click>Configure, or double click the
Router we want to configure. This shows the Node configuration dialog shown below.

Figure 10 - Configure the Routers Interfaces

Configure Network Interfaces

The Cisco 7200 router, by default has empty network interface slots, and we need to add some
adapters to the slots before we can use the routers networking capabilities. Images below show a
router, and some of the empty slots which can be filled with network interface cards, and a “FE
Interface Adapter.
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Select the Slots tab and a double Fast Ethernet 2FE Interface Adapter to the virtual router as shown
below. This has 2 Fast Ethernet interfaces as shown above on the right.

This window simulates the adding/removal of network interface modules on a physical router.
Compare the available modules, with the modules on the physical Cisco routers in the labs if you
have access, or google for router/interface adapter details.

1.2.8 Boot the Virtual Router

Boot the Router, with Right Click>Start. Open a console Window with Right Click>Console, and
watch the router boot up, as shown below. Press the Enter key until there is a response from the
router.

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Figure 11 - Console Window - Router Booting

This console window simulates an administrator physically connecting to the router with a laptop,
via the routers console port, and using a command line to configure, as illustrated below. This
Command Line Interface (CLI) allows the configuration of the router using the Cisco IOS Command
language.

Router

System
Administrator

Router Console
Interface

If the router terminal is in the configuration mode, as shown below, exit by typing no
Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]: no
Press RETURN to get started!
Router>

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1.2.9 Host System Performance Monitoring
Before doing any configuration it is extremely important to monitor the performance of the host
system running the GNS3, and configure the resource use of virtual devices. This is done by
configuring the idlepc value for the device type being used. It prevents the Cisco OSs consuming all
of the host machines resources.
Run the Windows Task Manager using CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to monitor the hosts resource usage.
Configure the idelpc for the virtual router by Right click on the Router>Idle PC. Select a preferred
value which should be highlighted with an *, as shown below.

You should notice a drop in CPU usage immediately. If not try another idelpc value.
Note: Setting the idlepc value for the IOS we are using is a very important step. When a Cisco
IOS is running, it can consume up to 100% of the CPU. This will cause the system to become
sluggish and will prevent building more complex topologies. However, if an idlepc value is set CPU
usage is reduced dramatically. The IOS is put into a sleep state when it is not in use and is woken
only when it is necessary.

1.2.10 Basic Cisco Router Configuration

The router can now be configured using the console, the Command Line Interface (CLI). Its important
to gain a good understanding of the basics of Cisco device configuration via the CLI, as this will be
the foundation for most of the labs in the module.

To assist with the cisco router configuration commands the following can be used:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/preface/usingios.html

Cisco router CLI has many different Command Modes, each giving access to a range of commands.
When the router boots, the command line is in User Exec Command Mode, with the Router>
prompt.

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If the router prompt is Router# and not Router>, use the disable command until the prompt is
Router>.
Only a limited set of commands are available in this mode. Type ? to see the available commands for
the current command mode. The figure below shows the commands being listed for user exec
mode.

Figure 12 - User Exec Mode Commands

Try the show running-config command. An error should be generated, as this mode does not
have permissions for the command.

Privileged Exec Command Mode

From the user exec mode, enter Enable Command Mode, more commonly known as Privileged
Exec Command Mode using the enable command as shown below. A Router# prompt is now
shown, and more privileged commands are now available.

Router> enable
Router#

View the available commands using ? and scroll back up the console window to compare the
command sets.

Questions

Q: Are there more or less commands available in Privileged Exec Command Mode?

View the routers configuration file with the command show running-config. It should be similar to
the figure below with no IP Addresses or Passwords set up. <SPACE> and <RETURN> can be used
to scroll page or line at a time. A full default configuration for a Cisco router is shown in Appendix 1.
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The following shows Router Command modes with the commands to navigate between them. The
associated prompts are shown on the bottom right.

Router>

Router#

Router(config)

Figure 13 - Router IOS Command Modes

Completing Partial Commands Parts of commands can be completed, as in Linux, using

the TAB key with a unique partial command. Try the command show run <TAB>. The
command should be automatically completed.

Global Configuration Command Mode

From the privileged exec mode, enter Global Configuration Mode:

Router# configure terminal

Router(config)#

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From this command mode, Router configuration changes can be made. Change the device hostname
to Router1:

Router(config)# hostname Router17

Router17(config)#

Note the prompt has now changed to show the new router name.

Questions

Q: Does the Routers name in GNS change when we change the hostname?

If you want to remove a configuration command from the router, simply negate the command by
using the no command in from of any command. For example:
Router17(config)# no hostname Router17
Router(config)#

To move from a higher command mode to a lower mode, use the exit command or CTRL+C, and to
move from Priv Exec to User Exec use disable:

Router# config terminal

Router(config)# exit
Router# disable
Router>

1.2.11 Basic Router Security/Device Hardening

Configure a Password for access to Privileged Exec Command Mode
Cisco IOS supports two commands that set access to the privileged exec mode. The historical
command, enable password, uses weak cryptography to secure the password, and should never
be used if a more secure method is available.
The enable secret command uses a one way MD5 cryptographic hash algorithm to store the
password. Hash algorithms will be discussed in more detail in a later Cryptography unit.

Password security relies not only on the cryptographic algorithm used, but also the password
selected. Weak, easy to remember password will be used in the labs, but longer, more complex
passwords should always be used in production environments.

Set the privileged exec password to cisco.

Router1#config t
Router1(config)# enable secret cisco

The enable password is now set to cisco. The result of this can be seen by doing the following:
Router1(config)# exit
Router1# disable

Router1> enable
Password: cisco
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 Router1#

Questions

Q: Why would setting a password on the privileged mode be a good idea?

View the routers configuration file again, using the show run command, from the appropriate
command mode.

Questions

Q: What are the last 5 characters of the privileged command mode password?

Try setting the privileged exec password a second time to the same value: cisco.
Router1# config t
Router1(config)# enable secret cisco

View the routers configuration file again, using the show run command, from the appropriate
command mode.

Questions

Q: What security are the last 5 characters of the privileged command mode password?

Q: Is this the same encrypted password?

The encrypted password is shown in the configuration details for the router which can be a problem
if configurations are printed. The secret 5 shows it is a MD5 hash of the plaintext password.

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To make things more secure the MD5 hash is salted. This means the same password gives a different
hash output every time, and is harder to crack. The salt value is shown between the 2nd and 3rd
$ character.

1.2.12 Configure Banner Message

Banners can be displayed to users trying to gain administrative access to a network device. The Cisco
Message of the Day (MOTD) banner, which is displayed at login, is commonly used to greet the user.
This can have legal and security implications for an organisation. For example, a welcome message
should never be displayed, as this could be seen as an invitation to unauthorised users to try access
the device.
A banner should include information about authorization, penalties for unauthorized access,
connection logging, and applicable local laws. An organisations security policy should provide policy
on banner messages.
To configure a banner use the following command in Global Configuration Mode:
Router(config)# banner motd [delimited char] <message> [delimited char]

Try something similar to the following:

Router> enable
Router# config t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Router(config)#
Router(config)# banner motd #
Enter TEXT message. End with the character '#'
******************************************************
* *
* WARNING *
* YOU HAVE ACCESSED A RESTRICTED DEVICE *
* USE OF THIS DEVICE WHITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORISATION *
* IS PROHIBITED, AND WILL BE PROSECUTED *
* ALL CONNECTIONS ARE LOGGED *
* *
******************************************************
#
Router1(config)# exit
Router1#

Questions

Q: Why would details about the organisation, the network, or the device being logged into be a bad
idea in a banner message?

Q: What would be the global configuration command to remove the MOTD banner?

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1.2.13 Router Network Interface Configuration

Configure the Routers Fast Ethernet Network Adapter

To view the routers network interfaces and their current states, use the show ip interface
command, from Priv Exec command mode, as shown below.
R1# show ip interface brief

Questions

Q: What are the routers interface names?

Q: What are the assigned IP Address?

Q: What is its current status of the interfaces?

The network adapter, we added to the router earlier has to be assigned a network layer address, or
IP Address, to be able to communicate with other devices.
Router1(config)# interface fa0/0
Router1(config-if)# description TO THE LAN 192.168.100.x NETWORK
Router1(config-if)# ip address 192.168.100.1 255.255.255.0

The no shutdown command, is needed to enable the interface for communication

Router1(config-if)# no shutdown
Router1(config-if)# exit
Router1#

Watch as the interface becomes active:

*Sep 14 10:41:13.843: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface FastEthernet0/0,

changed state to up

Check the devices network interfaces and their current states again.

Questions

Q: Does the interface have an IP Address, and what is the current state now?

Q: Why did we configure the administration security before the interfaces?

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1.2.14 Optional Challenge – Extend Topology
Add and Configure a 2nd Router
Add another router to the topology, and add a 2FE network interface adaptor.
Start the router, and start a CLI terminal. Check the host machine resource usage and set idelpc is
necessary.

Set the hostname Router2. Assign its interface the IP Address 192.168.100.2

Router2(config)# interface fa0/0

Router2(config-if)# description LAN TO THE 192.168.100.x NETWORK
Router2(config-if)# ip address 192.168.100.2 255.255.255.0

Cable a link between the 2 network interfaces, using the button, selecting manual

Test Connectivity
From the first Router use the ping command to test connectivity between the interfaces. The ping
command uses ICMP packets and can be used to check if a device/interface exists, and is responding.

Router1(config)# ping 192.168.100.2

Router2 should be able to ping Router1s interface

Questions

Q: How might the ping command be misused?

Q: Try to ping google.com, and them amazon.com

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1.3 Appendix 1 - default Cisco IOS router
configuration
Current configuration : 824 bytes
!
version 12.4
service timestamps debug datetime msec
service timestamps log datetime msec
no service password-encryption
!
hostname Router
!
boot-start-marker
boot-end-marker
!
no aaa new-model
ip cef
!
interface FastEthernet0/0
no ip address
shutdown
duplex auto
speed auto
!
interface FastEthernet0/1
no ip address
shutdown
duplex auto
speed auto
!
interface Serial0/1/0
no ip address
shutdown
no fair-queue
!
interface Serial0/1/1
no ip address
shutdown
clock rate 2000000
!
interface Vlan1
no ip address
!
ip http server
no ip http secure-server
!
control-plane
!
line con 0
line aux 0
line vty 0 4
login
!
scheduler allocate 20000 1000
end

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