To obtain this image legally, use the following official channels:
| Attribute | Detail | | :--- | :--- | | | Cisco Catalyst 9000v (Virtual Switch) | | OS Version | IOS-XE 17.12.01 (Gibraltar) | | Format | QCOW2 (QEMU Virtual Disk) | | License Tier | Production (Full Feature Set) | | Primary Application | Network Simulation, Lab Testing, Automation Validation | download cat9kv-prd-17.12.01prd9.qcow2
Users with a valid Cisco support contract (CCO) can often access virtual images under the Software Downloads section. Look for "Catalyst 9000V" or "IOS XE" versions matching 17.12.1. To obtain this image legally, use the following
Network engineers use this image in emulators (like GNS3 or EVE-NG) to study for Cisco certifications (CCNP/CCIE). It provides a realistic CLI (Command Line Interface) experience identical to physical hardware, unlike older switching images (like IOU/IOL) which often had feature gaps. It provides a realistic CLI (Command Line Interface)
To legally acquire this image, you must have a valid Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) subscription. It is typically included in the CML reference platform ISO.