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Iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2 May 2026

The iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2 is a virtual disk image used for emulating the Cisco IOS XR operating system in network simulation environments. This specific 6.1.3 version of the IOS XRv platform is a lightweight, 32-bit virtual machine (VM) designed for students, engineers, and architects to practice with Service Provider-grade networking without the need for expensive physical hardware. Core Capabilities

The IOS XRv series is a virtualized platform that runs the same IOS XR software found on high-end routers like the Cisco ASR 9000 and CRS series. The "demo" designation indicates it is intended for educational and testing purposes rather than production deployments.

Unified Control Plane: Combines Route-Processor (RP) and Line-Card (LC) functionality into a single image.

Feature Support: Supports major control-plane protocols including BGP, OSPF, ISIS, and MPLS.

Lightweight Footprint: Compared to the more resource-intensive XRv 9000, this classic 32-bit version requires significantly less RAM and CPU. System Requirements

To run the 6.1.3 demo image smoothly in a virtual lab, your host machine should meet these minimum specifications: RAM: 3072 MB (3GB) minimum per instance. CPU: 1–2 vCPUs. Hypervisor: Requires KVM support.

Disk Format: Provided as a .qcow2 file, which is native to QEMU/KVM. How to Use the Image in Labs

This image is a staple for popular network emulation tools like GNS3 and EVE-NG. Using with GNS3

Import Appliance: Download the official .gns3a appliance file from the GNS3 Marketplace.

Upload Image: When prompted, point the wizard to your iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2 file.

Deployment: Ensure you are using the GNS3 VM to take advantage of KVM acceleration. Using with EVE-NG Cisco IOS XRv - GNS3

Understanding the IOS-XR and the QCOW2 Image

IOS-XR is a train of Cisco software that provides a next-generation network operating system designed for high availability, network scalability, and reliability. It's utilized in various Cisco networking devices, offering a robust platform for service providers and large enterprises to build complex, scalable networks. Iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2

The QCOW2 format, on the other hand, is a virtual disk image format used by QEMU, an open-source emulator and virtualizer. QCOW2 allows for efficient virtual disk images that support advanced features such as copy-on-write, encryption, and compression.

The Role of iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2

The file "iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2" likely represents a demo image of Cisco IOS-XR, version 6.1.3, for evaluation and testing purposes. This image allows network engineers, administrators, and students to experiment with IOS-XR features without the need for physical hardware. It can be run on a virtual machine using a hypervisor that supports QEMU images, such as KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) on Linux systems or through the use of QEMU directly on various operating systems.

Advantages of Using Demo Images

  1. Cost-Effective: Demo images like "iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2" are cost-effective for learning and testing. They eliminate the need for purchasing physical hardware for evaluation purposes.

  2. Flexibility and Portability: Being virtual, these images are highly portable across different virtualization environments. This makes it easy to share, distribute, or move the image across different systems.

  3. Risk-Free Testing: They provide a safe environment for testing configurations and features without risking the integrity of production systems.

  4. Learning and Education: For educational purposes, demo images are invaluable. They allow students to gain practical experience with real software in a controlled environment.

Considerations and Usage

In conclusion, "iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3.qcow2" represents a valuable resource for those looking to explore the features of Cisco IOS-XR in a virtual setting. When utilized properly, such demo images offer a practical pathway to learning, evaluation, and testing without the need for physical hardware.

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?

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

Requirements

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

  1. The console will output standard IOS XR boot messages.
  2. After booting, you will see:
    RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#
  3. The image runs in demo mode—no license file is required, but it will reload every 60 minutes (typical demo limitation).
  4. 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. Cost-Effective: Demo images like "iosxrv-k9-demo-6

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:

Better Alternatives Today

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.

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

The filename itself is a treasure trove of metadata. Let’s break it down:

In summary, this file is a virtual hard disk for a Cisco IOS XRv router, version 6.1.3, with full encryption, a demo license, packaged for the QEMU/KVM hypervisor.

Method 1: Deploying on EVE-NG (Easiest for Topologies)

  1. Upload: Transfer the .qcow2 file to your EVE-NG server via SCP to the path: /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/iosxrv-k9-demo-6.1.3/
  2. Rename: Inside that directory, rename the image to virtioa.qcow2. (EVE-NG expects this specific naming convention for the first disk).
  3. Permissions: Run the fix permissions script: 
    /opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions
  4. Create Node: In the EVE-NG web interface, add a new node. Select "Cisco IOS-XRv 9000" (or generic QEMU). Set RAM to 4096 MB and CPU to 1 or 2 cores.
  5. Console: Start the node. After boot, the console will show the familiar ios prompt, eventually landing at sysadmin-vm:0_RP0# and then RP/0/RP0/CPU0:router#.

Key Limitations of the Demo Version

Unlike the full IOS XRv image (iosxrv-full-*.qcow2), the demo version has significant restrictions:

| Feature | Demo Version Status | |---------|---------------------| | Control Plane | Works (routing protocols like OSPF, BGP, ISIS) | | Data Plane | Does not forward traffic (no ping through, no IP forwarding) | | Interface Count | Typically limited to 2-3 interfaces | | License | No license required, but expires after 60 days of uptime | | VRF | Limited or non-functional | | MPLS/LDP | Basic control plane only, no forwarding |

Important: This image is useful only for control-plane testing (show commands, routing table exchanges, config parsing). It cannot act as a real router forwarding packets between networks.

Where Did This Image Come From?

This file was originally distributed by Cisco as part of the IOS XRv Demo Package for educational purposes. It is now considered obsolete (6.1.3 is end-of-life) and is not supported by Cisco TAC.

You may find it on third-party websites, but note that redistributing Cisco images without a service contract is against Cisco's licensing terms.

Security considerations