Compatibility
Where VEX-NX runs, how big to make it, and which network images work.
Checked against docs.vex-nx.com on 2026-11-15.
Hypervisors and hosts
Other hypervisors are not supported today. If you need one, tell us.
| Platform | Versions | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| VMware Workstation | 14 or later | OVA | |
| VMware ESXi / vSphere | 6.5 or later (7 and 8 supported); 6.0 not supported | OVA | |
| Bare-metal server (amd64) | VT-x or AMD-V enabled, UEFI preferred | ISO via USB | |
| VMware Workstation / ESXi booting the ISO | UEFI, 16 MB+ video memory | ISO | Secondary path; the docs recommend the OVA on VMware. |
Sizing
The OVA ships at the absolute minimum. Raise CPU and memory before heavy QEMU labs such as vJunos.
| Tier | CPU | RAM | Disk 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute minimum (OVA default) | 4 vCPU | 8 GB | 40+ GB |
| Recommended | 8–16 vCPU | 16–32 GB | 200–250 GB |
| Advanced | 16–32+ vCPU | 64–128+ GB | 500 GB–1 TB |
- Virtualization
- VT-x or AMD-V. For QEMU labs inside the OVA, expose hardware-assisted virtualization to the guest (nested virtualization).
- OVA disks
- Disk 1 (OS, about 40 GB, grow it for images) and Disk 2 (install payload, about 53 GB, keep it). The OVA file is tens of GB.
- OVA networks
- Three adapters in order: Management, Internet (lab egress), Lab (isolated L2).
- Bare-metal install
- 8 GB+ USB stick, a target disk that will be erased (80 GB+ recommended), and a local or IPMI console.
- Browser
- Current Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
System requirements and sizing and upgrades in the docs.
Network OS images
| Image | Type | Status | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRRouting 10.2.1 | Container | Included | Seeded offline on current OVA and ISO builds (quay.io/frrouting/frr:10.2.1). |
| Alpine 3.20 | Container | Included | Seeded offline on current OVA and ISO builds (alpine:3.20). |
| Juniper vJunos and other QEMU images | VM | Bring your own | Import your own vendor image. Bare metal with KVM is recommended for nested QEMU. |
| Cisco images | VM | Bring your own | Import your own. Images that come with CML are licensed for use only inside CML. |
| Arista images | Container / VM | Bring your own | Import your own under Arista’s terms. |
Supported images and importing images in the docs.
Image acquisition and licensing
VEX-NX ships FRRouting and Alpine so your first lab needs no vendor download. Every other network OS image comes from its vendor, under that vendor’s licence.
Download images only from the vendor or a source the vendor authorizes, and check that the licence allows lab use on your own hardware. Some images are tied to a specific product: Cisco states that the images included with Cisco Modeling Labs are licensed only for use inside CML.
VEX-NX does not grant rights to third-party images.