HP VSR1001 Virtual Services Router on GNS3

HP VSR  is a Comware 7 router software application for a server which provides the same functionality as a physical router. Installed on either VMware or KVM virtual machine it offers routing, Firewall, IPSec, and MPLS VPN security services.

The tutorial gives you some ideas how to install HP VSR1000 (Virtual Service Router) running Comware 7 OS on Qemu disk and connects Qemu appliance  to GNS3.

They are HP VSR1001, VSR1004 and VSR1008 models available for download. Differences between models are explained here. As the VSR1001 model has the lowest RAM requirements comparing to other models and we do not have to concern the forwarding performance,  VSR 1001 demo ISO image is our choice. The demo is  full featured, performance limited and requiring no license and with no expiration date.

HP VSR1001 Minimum Hardware Requirements

  • CPU: 2.0 GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB
  • Disk space: 8 GB
  • Network interfaces: 2 virtual NICs, E1000 and VirtIO virtual NICs are recommended, maximum 16 NICs supported

1. Download HP VSR1001 Virtual Services Router

Navigate to the Download page here

Picture1-Download_VSR100_7.10.R0202

Picture 1 - HP VSR1001 Virtual Services Router Download Page

Click on the button >> on he right, beside the padlock icon. Either sign in with your HP Passport account or create a new account. After registration navigate back to the Download software page. Once you are signed in, you are  allowed to download the HP VSR1001 archive file. Click Download button and accept License Agreement.

Picture2-Download_VSR100_7.10.R0203-unlocked

Picture 2 - Unlocked Download HP VSR1001 Virtual Services Router

2. Install HP VSR 1001 on Qemu Disk

2.1. Unzip Archive

$ unzip -e VSR1000_7.10.R0202.zip

2.2. Create Qemu Disk

$ /usr/local/bin/qemu-img create -f qcow2 vsr1000-hp.img 8G

2.3. Start Qemu Disk with Attached ISO image

$ /usr/local/bin/qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm vsr1000-hp.img -cdrom VSR1000_HP-CMW710-R0202-X64.iso -m 2G

Press button 1 - Fresh Install. Type yes to continue VSR1000 installation. Once installation process finishes, type yes to reboot and close Qemu window.

Picture3-HP_VSR_Install_Menu

Picture 3 - HP VSR Install Menu

3. Configure GNS3

Start GNS3 0.8.7 and create a new project.

Picture4-Creating_New_Project

Picture 4 - New GNS3 Project

Navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Qemu -> General Settings. Configure path to Qemu binaries and qemuwrapper. Once you finished, click the Test Settings button.

Picture5-Qemu_General_Settings

Picture 5 - Qemu General Settings

Navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Qemu -> Qemu Guest and configure HP VSR 1001 virtual machine settings according to the picture below.

Picture6-Qemu_Guest_Settings

Picture 6 - Qemu Guest Settings

Drag and drop Qemu device to GNS3 dektop. Power on the Qemu appliance.  Press Ctrl-D to break automatic configuration.

4. Configure HP VSR Routers and Test Connectivity Between Routers

Picture7-Topology

Picture 7 - GNS3 Topology

4.1. Configure HP VSR routers

To be able to log in using GNS3 console we have to configure following commands on both routers.

<HP>system-view
[HP]user-interface aux 0
[HP-line-aux0]authentication-mode none
[HP-line-aux0]user-role network-admin
[HP-line-aux0]quit

Now we are allowed to log in to VSR appliance aux port. Right click on the router icon and select option Console. Configure the hostname and assign IP address for the interface GigabitEthernet 1/0.

VSR-I
[HP]sysname vsr-I
[vsr-I]interface GigabitEthernet 1/0
[vsr-I-GigabitEthernet1/0]ip address 192.168.1.1 24
[vsr-I-GigabitEthernet1/0]quit
[vsr-I]save

VSR-II
[HP]sysname vsr-II
[vsr-II]interface GigabitEthernet 1/0
[vsr-II-GigabitEthernet1/0]ip address 192.168.1.2 24
[vsr-II-GigabitEthernet1/0]quit
[vsr-II]save

4.2.  Test Connectivity between Routers

To test connectivity between routers, ping IP address 192.168.1.2  from VSR-I router.

Picture8-Succesfull_Ping

Picture 8 - Successful Ping

10 thoughts on “HP VSR1001 Virtual Services Router on GNS3

  1. Have you tried installing in Virtual Box? I tried both the OVA and install from ISO and both have kernel panic once about to boot.

  2. Hi

    I have been trying to integrate this image in the new GNS VM. I was able to integrate the image successfully. But when I start the image, I am able to start. But I am not able to get the console. In my earlier GNS3 Local Server what i used to do was, When I start the VSR, I used to get a Terminal window, where I was able to see the VSR booting screen etc etc. When the auto configuration starts, I use to press Ctrl-D and then configure linux aux with authentication none and then Right click on the VSR Icon and Click on Console. I will be able to get the console.

    But here in the new GNS VM (ver 1.4.5), I have just added a new qemu host and added my existing VSR-qemu image. I was able to add it. But When I start, I am not getting terminal window nor I am not able to see the booting sequence. Hence I am not able to press CTRL-D and configure the aux with authentication none and take a console.

    Can you please help me in getting the console.

    Thank You

    Can you please help in getting the same

  3. Hello,

    Im working with Unetlab, and I have an issue when I connect via VNC, I cant put the (/) slash, can someone help?

    thanks.

  4. I have a similar problem with no login to the GNS3-console. I have imported the OVA in VMware Workstation, bootet up, configured the AUX0 and CONSOLE0, saved it and shutdown. Then i convert it from vmdk to qcow and import it to GNS3. Now it works.

  5. Hello!

    Does anyone know how to get a vsr image? Nowadays to download directly from HP you need to be a partner and I just want the vsr for studying the Comware on my EVE-NG.

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