Can I run a Cisco virtual lab in the cloud?

Yes. NetPilot runs Cisco IOL devices on cloud-hosted ContainerLab. You access real Cisco IOS CLIs from any browser — no local VM or server needed. CloudMyLab offers hosted EVE-NG starting at $23/week. You can also self-host GNS3 or CML on cloud VMs (GCP, AWS), but you manage the infrastructure yourself.

Cloud-Hosted Cisco Lab

Cisco Virtual Lab

Real Cisco IOL routers and switches in the cloud. AI generates your topology and configs — no VM, no server, no image sourcing. Free to start.

Real Cisco IOS CLIs

No server required

AI-powered configuration

Free tier available

See It in Action

Describe a Cisco lab, deploy to the cloud, SSH into real devices — all from your browser.

Why Cloud-Hosted Cisco Labs?

Traditional virtual labs need VMs, servers, and hours of setup. Cloud labs eliminate all of that.

No Server, No VM

CML needs a VM. GNS3 needs 32GB RAM. EVE-NG needs a dedicated server. NetPilot runs in the cloud — open your browser and go.

Real Cisco IOL CLIs

SSH into real Cisco IOL routers and L2/L3 switches. Run show commands, configure OSPF, troubleshoot ACLs — real IOS, not a simulation.

AI Builds Everything

Describe your lab in plain English. AI generates the topology, assigns IPs, writes Cisco IOS configs, and deploys — in minutes.

What You Can Build

From CCNA practice to enterprise topologies — describe any Cisco lab and deploy with real CLIs.

OSPF & EIGRP Labs

BGP Configurations

VLAN & Trunking

ACLs & NAT

MPLS Networks

STP / RSTP Labs

DHCP & DNS

CCNA / CCNP Prep

Inter-VLAN Routing

EtherChannel / LACP

Port Security

Multi-Vendor Labs

How It Works

Open Your Browser

No VM to download, no server to configure, no Cisco images to source. Just app.netpilot.io.

Describe Your Lab

“Build a 4-router OSPF lab with VLANs” — the AI generates topology, IPs, and Cisco IOS configs.

SSH Into Real CLIs

Your lab deploys to cloud ContainerLab. SSH into real Cisco IOL devices from your browser — real IOS, real behavior.

Cisco Virtual Lab Options Compared

Every way to run a Cisco virtual lab in 2026.

Feature	NetPilot	Cisco CML	GNS3	EVE-NG
Cloud-Hosted	Yes — nothing to installYes	No — self-hosted VM	No — self-hosted	No — self-hosted (or CloudMyLab $23/week)
Real Cisco IOS	Yes — Cisco IOL routers & switchesYes	Yes — official IOS images	Yes — BYO images	Yes — BYO images
Setup Time	None (browser)None (browser)	2-4 hours (VM + license)	4-8 hours (VM + images)	1-2 days (server + images)
Node Limits	No limit for typical labsNo limit for typical labs	5 (free) / 20 ($199/yr)	Hardware-limited	63 (free) / 1024 (150 EUR Pro)
AI Configuration	Yes — from plain EnglishYes	No — manual CLI	No — manual CLI	No — manual CLI
Multi-Vendor	9 vendors (3 built-in + 6 upload)9 vendors (3 built-in + 6 upload)	Cisco only	Yes (BYO images)	Yes (BYO images)
Cost	Free tier availableFree tier available	Free (5 nodes) / $199/yr	Free (server not included)	Free (63 nodes) / 150 EUR Pro
Server Required	NoNo	Yes (VM)	Yes (32GB RAM recommended)	Yes (16GB RAM minimum)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cisco virtual labs

A Cisco virtual lab is a software environment that runs real or simulated Cisco devices — routers, switches, firewalls — without physical hardware. Options include Cisco CML ($199/year for 20 nodes), GNS3 (free, requires 32GB RAM server), EVE-NG (free community / 150 EUR Pro), and NetPilot (free tier, cloud-hosted with AI). NetPilot runs real Cisco IOL devices in the cloud with AI-powered configuration — no VM, no server, no image sourcing.

Yes. GNS3 is free but requires your own hardware (32GB RAM recommended) and Cisco IOS images. Cisco CML Free is limited to 5 nodes. NetPilot offers a free tier with cloud-hosted Cisco IOL devices and AI-powered lab generation — no hardware, no image sourcing, no server.

Yes. NetPilot runs Cisco IOL devices on cloud-hosted ContainerLab — access real CLIs from any browser. CloudMyLab offers hosted EVE-NG from $23/week. You can also self-host GNS3 or CML on cloud VMs, but you manage the infrastructure yourself.

CML is self-hosted — you download a VM, install it, manage it locally. CML Free is limited to 5 nodes; Personal costs $199/year for 20 nodes. Cisco only. NetPilot is cloud-hosted with an AI agent that generates topologies from plain English. No VM, no installation. Supports 9 vendors.

GNS3 needs 32GB RAM recommended. EVE-NG requires a dedicated server (16GB RAM minimum). CML requires a VM with nested virtualization. NetPilot requires nothing — runs on cloud infrastructure, accessible from any browser.

Yes. Virtual labs running real Cisco IOS (GNS3, CML, NetPilot) give you full CLI access — show ip route, show ip ospf neighbor, configure terminal, and every other IOS command. The behavior is identical to physical hardware.

Start with Cisco Packet Tracer for basics (free, simple). For real IOS practice, use GNS3 (free, requires setup) or NetPilot (free tier, cloud-hosted, AI-generated labs). CML Free works but the 5-node limit blocks most useful CCNA labs.

Explore More

Network Lab Online

Run multi-vendor network labs in your browser — Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Nokia, and more.

CCNA Practice Lab

AI-powered CCNA labs with real Cisco CLIs — OSPF, VLANs, ACLs, NAT, and more.

Your Cisco Lab Is Ready

No VM to install. No server to maintain. Describe your lab and start practicing on real Cisco CLIs — free.