NetPilot
Multi-Vendor Network Labs

Cisco CML AlternativeMulti-Vendor Labs Without the License

No 5-node limit. No $199/year license. No Cisco-only lock-in. NetPilot gives you AI-powered multi-vendor labs with real CLIs — cloud-hosted and free to start.

No node limits
Multi-vendor — not Cisco only
AI generates configs
Free tier available

See the Difference

Watch how NetPilot builds a multi-vendor lab that would take hours in CML.

CML Limitations NetPilot Solves

CML is a solid tool — but the node limits, licensing, and Cisco-only lock-in hold you back.

5-Node Limit on Free Tier

CML Free caps you at 5 simultaneous nodes. A basic OSPF lab with 3 routers, 2 switches, and hosts already exceeds it. NetPilot has no node limits on any tier.

$199/Year License

CML Personal costs $199/year for 20 nodes. Enterprise pricing goes higher. NetPilot offers a free tier and Pro at $25/month — with multi-vendor support included.

Cisco Devices Only

CML only supports Cisco IOS, NX-OS, and ASAv. No Juniper, no Arista, no Nokia, no Palo Alto. NetPilot supports 9 vendors for real multi-vendor lab scenarios.

VM + Nested Virtualization Required

CML requires a VM with nested virtualization support — not available on all hardware or cloud providers. NetPilot is fully cloud-hosted, accessible from any browser.

NetPilot vs Cisco CML Comparison

Multi-vendor, AI-powered, and cloud-hosted — without the licensing overhead.

FeatureNetPilotCisco CML
Node LimitNo limit5 nodes (free) / 20 nodes ($199/yr)
Vendor Support9 vendors (3 built-in + 6 upload)Cisco only
AI AssistanceFull — topology, configs, troubleshootingNone
SetupNone — cloud-hostedVM + nested virtualization (2-4 hours)
Cloud AccessBuilt-in — any browserSelf-hosted only
Config GenerationAI generates vendor-specific configsNone — manual CLI on each device
CostFree tier / Pro $25/moFree (5 nodes) / $199/yr (20 nodes)
MaintenanceZero — fully managedVM updates, license renewal, image management

How NetPilot Works

No VM, no license, no Cisco-only limitation. Just describe and practice.

1

Describe Your Lab

"Build a 4-router OSPF lab with multi-area and redistribution" or "Create a multi-vendor BGP lab with Cisco and Juniper" — just describe it.

2

AI Builds Multi-Vendor Topology

NetPilot's AI generates the topology, assigns IPs, and writes vendor-specific configs — Cisco IOS, Nokia SR Linux, Arista EOS, and more. No manual config needed.

3

Practice on Real CLIs

SSH into real devices from your browser. Run show commands, troubleshoot routing, practice for certifications — with AI assistance when you get stuck.

Everything You Did in CML — And More

All the Cisco labs you built in CML, plus multi-vendor scenarios CML can't do.

CCNA/CCNP/CCIE Labs
Multi-Vendor Topologies
BGP & MPLS Labs
Firewall & Security
OSPF Multi-Area
Network Automation
Pre-Sales POC Demos
Change Validation

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about switching from Cisco CML to NetPilot

NetPilot is the best Cisco CML alternative for engineers who need multi-vendor support and AI-powered lab generation. Unlike CML, NetPilot has no node limits, supports 9 network vendors (not just Cisco), and uses AI to generate complete topologies from plain English descriptions. Free tier available with no license required.
Yes. CML Free limits you to 5 simultaneous nodes, which is not enough for most meaningful labs. NetPilot has no node limits on any tier — build labs with 10, 15, or more devices. The free tier includes AI-powered lab design and configuration generation with no node cap.
Yes. NetPilot supports Cisco IOL routers and L2/L3 switches via one-click image upload. You download the Cisco IOL image and upload it to NetPilot — the platform automatically builds and verifies the Docker container. Unlike CML, NetPilot also supports Nokia SR Linux, Arista cEOS, Juniper cRPD, Palo Alto, Fortinet, and FRRouting.
Yes. NetPilot offers a free tier with AI-powered multi-vendor lab generation. Three vendors are built-in (Nokia SR Linux, FRRouting, Linux clients) and six more are available via one-click upload (Cisco IOL, Arista cEOS, Juniper cRPD, Palo Alto, Fortinet). No license fees for any vendor.
CML is Cisco-only with licensing requirements and node limits. NetPilot is AI-powered, multi-vendor, and cloud-hosted. With CML, you manually build topologies and configure devices. With NetPilot, you describe what you need in plain English and the AI generates everything — topology, IP addressing, and vendor-specific configs for Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Nokia, and more.
Yes. NetPilot covers all CCNA and CCNP lab scenarios — OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, VLANs, STP, ACLs, NAT, and more. Describe any lab and practice on real Cisco IOL CLIs. You can also export topologies as Cisco Packet Tracer .pkt files for offline practice.
Cisco VIRL was replaced by Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) in 2020. CML continues the same approach — Cisco-only devices with licensing. NetPilot is a modern alternative that adds AI-powered lab generation, multi-vendor support, and cloud hosting with no license fees.

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No Limits. No License. Just Labs.

Multi-vendor labs with AI-powered configuration, real CLIs, and no node limits — free to start.