Installation of GNS3 v2.2 on Windows

Overview

GNS3 consists of two main components:
- Windows Client: An executable to run locally on Windows.
- GNS3 VM: An Ubuntu virtual machine (VM) that runs on a hypervisor (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware).

GNS3 GUI Application: Used to control the GNS3 VM and build network topologies.
Hypervisor Options:
- VirtualBox
- VMware Workstation Pro
- VMware Workstation Player
- Hyper-V
- ESXi

Visit GNS3 Website: Go to gns3.com and click on "Free Download."
Sign Up/Login: Create an account or log in with existing credentials.
Download GNS3 GUI for Windows:
- Choose the Windows GUI download option.
Download GNS3 VM (optional):
- Recommended for optimal performance.
Installation of GNS3:
- Double-click the downloaded executable.
- Follow the setup wizard, agreeing to the GNU General Public License.
- Choose installation defaults for simplicity; you can customize options later.
Install Additional Components:
- WinPCAP, Wireshark, Dynamips, QEMU, etc.
- Recommended to install all default applications for new users.
Complete Installation:
- Finish setup and start GNS3.

If GNS3 does not connect successfully:
- Close and restart GNS3.
- Reboot the entire laptop if issues persist.
- Check firewall/antivirus settings to ensure GNS3 server is permitted.

Create a New Project:
- Name your project (e.g., "My First GNS3 Project").
Add Devices:
- Drag a switch and two VPCS devices into the topology.
Add Links:
- Connect PCs to the switch using the add link feature.
Customize Symbols:
- Right-click devices to change their symbols (e.g., blue circles for PCs).
Setup Console Access:
- Install Solar Putty for console access.
- Adjust font settings in Solar Putty for better visibility.
Configure IP Addresses:
- Assign IPs to PCs (e.g., PC1: 10.1.1.1/24, PC2: 10.1.1.2/24).
Test Connectivity:
- Ping between PC1 and PC2 to verify network functionality.
Save Configuration:
- Manually save configurations as GNS3 does not auto-save.