Dynamips is a Cisco router emulator written by Christophe Fillot. It emulates 1700, 2600, 3600, 3700, and 7200 hardware platforms, and runs standard IOS images.

  • A tool to real labs for administrators of Cisco networks
  • Help to pass their CCNA/CCNP/CCIE exams.

Note:Dynamips provides a simple virtual switch, it does not emulate Catalyst switches (although it does emulate the NM-16ESW).

Dynagen is a text-based front end for Dynamips. Dynagen simplifies building and working with virtual networks:

  • Uses a simple, easy to understand configuration file for specifying virtual router hardware configurations
  • Simple syntax for interconnecting routers, bridges, frame-relay and ATM, and Ethernet switches. No need to deal with NetIOs
  • Can work in a client / server mode, with Dynagen running on your workstation communicating with Dynamips running on a back-end server. Dynagen can also control multiple Dynamips servers simultaneously for distributing large virtual networks across several machines. Or you can run Dynamips and Dyngen on the same system
  • Provides a management CLI for listing devices, starting, stopping, reloading, suspending, resuming, and connecting to the consoles of virtual routers.