Iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2 !free! -

Title: Lab Ready: Exploring the Legacy IOS XRv “K9” Demo Image (6.1.3)

Introduction If you have spent any time building a home network lab for Cisco certification or feature testing, you have likely come across the file iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2. Despite being an older release (IOS XR version 6.1.3), this image remains a lightweight, valuable tool for testing MPLS, routing protocols, and basic XR CLI structure.

In this post, I’ll cover what this file actually is, how to use it in QEMU/KVM, and the limitations of the “demo” edition.

What is iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2?

iosxrv – Cisco IOS XRv (Virtual Router).
k9 – Indicates cryptographic (SSH/SSL) support.
demo – A restricted image; typically limited to 2 vCPUs, 4GB RAM, and often lacks sustained throughput licensing.
6.1.3 – IOS XR version (old but stable).
qcow2 – QEMU Copy-On-Write disk format.

This image is designed for proof-of-concept and learning, not production.

Requirements

KVM/QEMU (Linux) or UTM (macOS). Not recommended for VirtualBox due to paravirtualized driver issues.
At least 4GB free RAM for the VM.
qemu-kvm, libvirt, or virsh.

Basic QEMU Command

qemu-system-x86_64 \
  -machine pc \
  -cpu host \
  -smp 2 \
  -m 4096 \
  -drive file=iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2,if=virtio \
  -netdev user,id=net0 \
  -device virtio-net-pci,netdev=net0 \
  -serial mon:stdio \
  -nographic

Note: Adjust network to bridge or macvtap if you need external access.

First Boot & Licensing

The console will output standard IOS XR boot messages.
After booting, you will see:
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#
The image runs in demo mode—no license file is required, but it will reload every 60 minutes (typical demo limitation).
To check status:
show license
show version

Configuration Example

configure terminal
hostname XRv-Demo
interface GigabitEthernet0/0/0/0
 ipv4 address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
 no shutdown
 commit

Run show ipv4 interface brief to verify. Iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2

Key Limitations to Know | Feature | Demo Status | |---------|--------------| | Throughput | Limited to ~100k pps | | Uptime | Resets every 60 minutes | | Interfaces | 2–3 usable virtio interfaces | | Crypto (IPsec) | Present but slow | | XR HA (NSR) | Disabled |

Where to Find This Image This image is no longer on Cisco’s official download portal (CCO) for new users. It exists in older lab archives, VMware OVA conversions, and community backup repositories. Do not download from untrusted torrents. Instead, check:

Old Cisco DevNet Sandbox dumps.
Archived vios-xrv directories from 2016–2018.

Better Alternatives Today

Cisco IOS XRv 9000 – Modern, but requires 16GB+ RAM.
XRv 7.x – Updated virtual router, needs CCO login.
Containerlab + CSR1000v – Easier for containerized labs.

Final Verdict The iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2 is a nostalgic, lightweight teacher. It is perfect for learning IOS XR CLI, playing with OSPF/IS-IS, or testing simple Python automation via NETCONF. However, do not rely on it for performance testing or long-running labs.

Have you used the IOS XRv demo image? Let me know your experience in the comments.

iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2 a virtual disk image for Cisco IOS XRv , a virtualized version of Cisco's high-end IOS-XR software

. It is typically used by network engineers and students to simulate network topologies for testing or learning purposes. Usage and Installation This specific image is designed to run in a

hypervisor environment and is widely used with network emulation platforms: : Users often create a specific directory (e.g., /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/xrv-k9-6.1.3 ) and rename the file to to make it compatible with the GNS3 registry

includes this file in its appliance configuration for easy import into the GNS3 network simulator : It can also be packaged as a "box" for

to spin up quick, single-node virtual instances for development. Key Specifications : 6.1.3 (Demo version). Title: Lab Ready: Exploring the Legacy IOS XRv

(QEMU Copy-On-Write), which is a standard disk image format for virtual machines. MD5 Checksum 1693b5d22a398587dd0fed2877d8dfac Typical Filesize : Approximately 408 MB. step-by-step commands

to set this up in a particular lab environment like EVE-NG or GNS3?

gns3-registry/appliances/cisco-iosxrv.gns3a at master - GitHub

The file iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2 is a virtual disk image for the Cisco IOS XRv platform. It allows network engineers to run a virtualised version of the IOS XR operating system—typically found on high-end service provider routers like the CRS, ASR 9000, and NCS series—on standard x86 hardware for testing and labs. Technical Overview Version: 6.1.3 (Demo/Limited functionality).

Format: .qcow2 (QEMU Copy-On-Write), natively supported by KVM and QEMU. Size: Approximately 429 MB. MD5 Hash: 1693b5d22a398587dd0fed2877d8dfac. System Requirements

To run this image smoothly in a virtual environment like GNS3, EVE-NG, or Cisco Modeling Labs (CML), you need: RAM: Minimum 3 GB (3072 MB) per instance.

CPU: x86_64 architecture with VT-x/AMD-V virtualization extensions enabled.

Network: Supports up to 8-12 interfaces (GigabitEthernet) depending on the hypervisor config. Key Usage Notes

Two-Stage Configuration: Unlike standard IOS, you must use the commit command for changes to take effect.

Demo Limitations: This is a "demo" image. It has throughput capping (usually limited to 2 Mbps or less) and is not intended for production traffic. iosxrv – Cisco IOS XRv (Virtual Router)

Default Credentials: Typically requires you to set a root username and password on the first boot.

Management: The first interface (MgmtEth0/0/CPU0/0) is reserved for out-of-band management. Common Use Cases

Learning: Practicing the IOS XR CLI without expensive hardware.

Lab Simulation: Building complex topologies (BGP, OSPF, MPLS) in GNS3 or EVE-NG.

Automation Testing: Testing Python or Ansible scripts against the XR API.

💡 Note: Newer features like Segment Routing Policies or Flex Algo may require later versions (e.g., 6.3.1+ or the IOS XRv 9000 variant), as the standard XRv demo images are now considered legacy by Cisco.

This article explains what this file is, where it comes from, its limitations, and how to use it effectively for Cisco learning and labbing.

Prerequisites:

CPU: Intel VT-x or AMD-V support (required for KVM acceleration).
Hypervisor: KVM (Linux), Proxmox VE, EVE-NG Professional/Community, or GNS3 (using the QEMU integration). Note: This image does not work well with VirtualBox’s raw QEMU wrapper due to NIC driver issues.
RAM per node: Minimum 3GB, Recommended 4GB.

a. CCIE Service Provider Lab Preparation

Many CCIE SP v4/v5 candidates used this image to practice BGP/MPLS VPNs, Inter-AS options, and multicast routing. While CCIE SP v6 focuses on XR 7.x, the CLI and configuration hierarchy remain 95% compatible.

What Is This File?

iosxrv : Cisco IOS XR Virtual – a virtualized version of Cisco's carrier-grade operating system used on ASR 9000 and NCS 5500 routers.
k9 : Indicates the image includes encryption capabilities (k9 = cryptographic software).
demo : This is the critical part. It is a demo/evaluation version, not a full production image.
6.1.3 : The IOS XR software version (older, from circa 2016–2017).
.qcow2 : The QEMU Copy-On-Write disk format, used by QEMU, KVM, and platforms like GNS3, EVE-NG, and PnetLab.

This file is a disk image (hard drive) for a virtual router, not an ISO installer.

3. Use with Pure QEMU/KVM

qemu-system-x86_64 \
  -machine pc \
  -cpu host \
  -smp 2 \
  -m 4096 \
  -drive file=iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2,if=virtio \
  -netdev user,id=net0 -device virtio-net-pci,netdev=net0 \
  -serial mon:stdio \
  -nographic

Common configuration notes

Use XR operational and configuration modes (e.g., admin/exec config hierarchy).
Interfaces are typically named GigabitEthernet0/0/0/0 or TenGigE etc.; numbering may vary depending on virtual platform mapping.
Persisting configuration requires committing and writing to disk using standard IOS XR commands.
For automation, enable and test NETCONF/RESTCONF and ensure proper licensing for programmatic features if required.