Iso Download Work New: Cisco Cml Refplat
To download the latest Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) Reference Platform (Refplat) ISO, you must access it through your official license portal rather than a general support page. 📥 How to Download the Latest Refplat ISO
Log in: Access the Cisco Learning Network Store using your CCO (Cisco Connect Online) ID.
Locate Your Purchase: Navigate to My Account > My Orders and find your active CML subscription (Personal, Personal Plus, or Free).
Access Software Downloads: Click the Download button next to your order. This redirects you to the specific software portal.
Select the File: Look for the latest release (e.g., CML 2.9) and find the Reference Platform .iso file (e.g., refplat-20241016-fcs.iso).
Note: New CML versions do not always require a new Refplat ISO; always check the release notes to see if a newer image set is available. 🛠️ Key Files for New Installations For a fresh deployment, you typically need two main files: Controller OVA: The base server virtual machine.
Refplat ISO: Contains the virtual OS images (IOSv, NX-OS, etc.) required to run lab nodes. 🔄 Post-Download: Copying ISO to Disk
Once you have the ISO, you must "register" the images within CML to use them in labs: Copy Refplat ISO to Disk - Cisco Modeling Labs v2.9
The latest version of Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is , released in mid-2025. To get your lab environment running, you must download two separate components: the CML Controller (OVA) Reference Platforms (refplat ISO) Cisco DevNet Where to Download the Latest Files cisco cml refplat iso download new
Depending on your license type, the download location varies: Cisco Modeling Labs - Free - Cisco DevNet
Download the files for CML-Free from Cisco's Software Central (SWC) site. You do not need to download all of the files from a CML- Cisco DevNet How to Install the Cisco CML FREE Tier (Step-by-Step)
The latest Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) 2.9.1 (as of April 2026) continues to use a multi-ISO structure for its reference platforms (refplat)
. Key updates for the newest "refplat" downloads include the following: New Supplemental ISO Images Starting with release 2.9, Cisco transitioned to offering three separate refplat ISO files
for paid versions to manage large image sizes and specialized deployments: Cisco Learning Network Standard Refplat ISO : Includes core routing and switching images like IOSv, IOSv-L2, ASAv , and standard Linux host images. Supplemental Refplat ISO : Now includes images for Catalyst 9800-CL (Wireless Controller), Identity Services Engine (ISE) Splunk Enterprise Catalyst SD-WAN (formerly Viptela). Specialized ISE ISO : A dedicated ISO specifically for larger Cisco DevNet Key Platform Enhancements Docker Container Support
: CML 2.9 introduced native support for Docker container nodes, allowing users to run lightweight containerized applications alongside virtual network devices. IOL Node Support : Newer refplat images include IOL (IOS on Linux)
node types, which are significantly more resource-efficient than traditional VM-based images. Node Disk Image Cloning
: A new feature that allows administrators to clone existing node disk images for faster lab setup. OS Upgrade To download the latest Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)
: In-place upgrades for recent versions now migrate the underlying host OS to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat). Cisco DevNet Download and Installation : Files are available via the Cisco Software Central
portal. CML-Personal users can access their specific downloads through the Cisco Learning Network Store under "My Account". Application
: Once downloaded, the ISO must be mounted to the CML VM and then copied to the local disk using the "Copy Refplat ISO"
tool in the System Administration Cockpit to ensure images are available for lab nodes. Cisco DevNet mount and copy these new ISO files to your existing CML instance? Cisco Modeling Labs - Free - Cisco DevNet
What is Cisco CML RefPlat ISO?
Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is a network simulation platform that allows you to design, configure, and test network topologies. The RefPlat ISO is a reference platform image used in CML to simulate various network devices.
Prerequisites
- You have a valid Cisco account (or create one if you don't have one).
- You have access to the Cisco website and can navigate to the CML software download page.
Downloading the Cisco CML RefPlat ISO
- Go to the Cisco CML software download page:
- Navigate to the Cisco website: www.cisco.com.
- Click on "Support" > "Software Download".
- Search for "Cisco Modeling Labs" or "CML" in the search bar.
- Click on the "Cisco Modeling Labs" result.
- Select the correct software version:
- Choose the version of CML you want to download (e.g., CML 2.2).
- Click on the "Download" button next to "CML 2.2 RefPlat ISO".
- Authenticate with your Cisco account:
- Enter your Cisco account credentials (username and password).
- If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, follow the prompts to complete the authentication process.
- Download the RefPlat ISO:
- Once authenticated, you'll be redirected to the download page.
- Click on the "Download" button to start downloading the RefPlat ISO file (e.g.,
cml-refplat-2.2.0.0.iso).
Post-download steps
- Verify the ISO file:
- Check the integrity of the downloaded ISO file by verifying its MD5 or SHA-256 checksum (provided on the download page).
- Use the ISO file in CML:
- Follow the CML user guide to create a new node using the RefPlat ISO.
Additional resources
- Cisco CML documentation: https://docs.cisco.com/en_US/docs/netacad/cml/user_guide/index.html
- Cisco CML software download page: https://software.cisco.com/download/home (may require login)
3. Prerequisites
| Requirement | Detail | |-------------|--------| | Valid Cisco Smart Account | Entitlement: CML-Personal or CML-Enterprise subscription | | Contract / Subscription active | Must show “CML (Cisco Modeling Labs)” under Smart Software Licensing | | Access level | Download privileges for “Modeling Labs” software category |
Cisco CML Reference Platform (RefPlat) ISO — Monograph
Final Verdict: Why the New Cisco CML REFPLAT ISO is Worth the Download
The cisco cml refplat iso download new process is straightforward if you have a valid Cisco account, but it demands patience (the file is large) and adequate hardware. Once you have it installed, you unlock an enterprise-grade network simulation environment that scales from a student’s laptop to a data center server.
Key takeaways:
- Always download from Cisco Software Central – never third-party sites.
- Ensure your hypervisor supports nested virtualization.
- Allocate at least 8 vCPUs and 32 GB RAM for a decent experience.
- After the ISO is installed, don't forget to import your device images (IOSv, etc.) separately.
The new REFPLAT ISO is more than just an update; it is the foundation for modern network automation learning, CCIE lab preparation, and SD-WAN/SDA prototyping. Get the download started today, and take your networking skills to the next level.
Scenario B: Bare Metal (Libvirt/KVM on Ubuntu)
- Install the CML packaging using the
.runinstaller script provided by Cisco. - Mount the ISO: You can often simply mount the ISO to the host system and run a script to copy the images to the CML library, or use the Web UI method described above.
- Command Line Example:
sudo mount -o loop refplat-xxx.iso /mnt sudo /opt/cml/scripts/import_refplat.sh /mnt
- Command Line Example:
Scenario A: VMware ESXi / Workstation / Fusion
- Deploy the CML OVA: Download and deploy the main CML OVA template to your hypervisor.
- Power On: Boot the VM.
- Upload ISO: Once the CML VM is running, access the CML Web UI (usually
https://<IP-Address>). - Import Refplat:
- Navigate to Tools > Node & Image Definitions.
- Click Import Reference Platform.
- Select the downloaded
.isofile from your local computer. - Wait for the upload and validation process to complete.
Cisco CML Refplat ISO: Download Guide, Installation, and Best Practices
The term "Cisco CML Refplat ISO" refers to the Reference Platform disk image required to run Cisco Modeling Labs (CML). Without this ISO, CML is essentially an empty orchestration engine; the ISO contains the definitions and bootloader images for the various network nodes (IOSv, IOS-XRv, CSR1000v, Nexus 9000v, etc.).
Below is a complete guide on how to securely download, verify, and install the Refplat ISO for a "new" CML deployment. You have a valid Cisco account (or create
Title: Acquisition and Deployment of Cisco CML REFPLAT ISO: A Technical and Compliance Framework
Best practices
- Use a dedicated physical or virtual host for RefPlat to avoid interference from unrelated workloads.
- Provision sufficient RAM and CPU headroom for expected lab complexity.
- Snapshot or backup critical host configurations prior to major upgrades.
- Test upgrades in a non-production environment first.
- Keep an inventory of RefPlat versions matching CML controller versions to avoid compatibility issues.