Cisco Modeling Labs Version 2.8 is out with several exciting updates like smart annotations and custom MAC addresses. But one of the most exciting features is a limitedfree version of Cisco Modeling Labsfor single users. This means that you can download the free version of CML without a license, and you can use up to five nodes at one time. (A node can be a virtual router, switch, firewall, or one of the Linux host nodes.)

The Cisco Modeling Labs Free version lets you turn on reference platforms, including IOLv, IOLvL2, ASAv, and host options like Ubuntu, Server, Desktop, and Alpine. But remember; these options count toward your five-node limit. However, the unmanaged switch and externally connected devices do not affect this limit.

One of the coolest new features in CML v2.8 that comes with the free version is the ability to set smart annotations. This means you can tag nodes. So if you have, say, an OSPF topology with an area 0 and area 1, it will automatically draw annotations around them. With these smart annotations, you can see your area 0 and area 1 graphically, with color. As you tag and untag nodes, the annotations will change. As you move the nodes around, the annotations will grow and shrink to match what you have on your topology.

Cisco Modeling Labs Free is great for students and certification candidates

This free version is also a great tool for students and networking engineers who just starting out to practice and build their skills.

If you're prepping for your CCNA or DevNet Associate certification exam, this free version is a great chance for you to test-drive Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) Free and familiarize yourself with key components and features. You can gain hands-on experience in designing, testing, and troubleshooting network setups while you study. Not only do you get CML for free, with the ability to run up to five devices, but you'll be practicing on the actual devices you would be using in your exam.

So, if you're a student, you can download and start studying for free right out of the box. It's all ready to go when you download it. You also get access to the images and full entitlement from Cisco to use them inside Cisco Modeling Labs Free.

Our goal here is to reach people who thought CML might be too much money to actually subscribe. With this free version, we don't want users to just kick the tires-we want them to have something useful to study with. And even instructors who are teaching a class with CML can send students home to practice on the topology and get comfortable with networking. We want to lower the barrier to entry for CML so that it's the tool you use to learn networking.

If you do decide to upgrade from Cisco Modeling Labs Free to the paid version of CML-Personal or -Personal Plus, you can simply buy a license and input that into the same software to unlock new features with the license.

How does the free version of CML work?|?YouTube

You'll use two files to get CML up and running: the open virtual appliance (OVA) file, which contains CML itself, and the ISO file, which contains the reference platforms-virtual representations of physical devices like a router, firewall, or switch. So you'll be able to build quite a few topologies for free-within the five-device limit.

The best part about this free version is the experience students and networking engineers can get for free. So you don't have to wait and worry about the cost of a subscription. You can get started right away-studying and using the actual devices you'll use in the exam. There's no time like the present to start prepping with Cisco Modeling Labs. And now, it's free!

For more information on the new free CML version, check out the latest Snack Minute, where I break down the details:

We are excited to provide this opportunity and really want to get everyone's feedback on the new free version: Download Cisco Modeling Lab Free today and share your feedback with the Cisco Modeling Labs-Personal Community on the Cisco Learning Network. More tutorials are also coming, so stay tuned!

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