Run your first lab in Cisco Modeling Labs
Every Goldfish Networks lab is an import-ready package for Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) — built on the free-tier images, so you can practice on your own machine at no cost. Here's everything you need, start to finish.
What you'll need (all free)
Cisco Modeling Labs — the lab engine
CML is a free virtual appliance — a downloadable VM image, not a desktop app — that runs the exact device images our labs use. CML Free covers up to 5 nodes at no cost, enough for most daily labs.
A hypervisor to run it on
Because CML is an appliance, you host it in a hypervisor. VMware Workstation / Fusion is free for personal use and the supported choice for CML; VirtualBox is a fine free option for EVE-NG or GNS3.
On an Apple Silicon Mac the classic x86 Cisco images can't virtualize natively — run CML in the cloud or a Cisco DevNet Sandbox instead (the home-lab hardware guide covers the catch), or grade a config in your browser with no setup.
A guide viewer — optional
Every lab ships a branded PDF you can open anywhere, so no editor is needed. Prefer Markdown? Open the lab folder in Obsidian or VS Code and keep your notes right beside each lab.
Will it run on my machine?
CML boots a small virtual machine for every router and switch, so RAM is the real limit. For the daily labs, plan on about 16 GB of RAM — 8 GB is a workable floor for the smallest topologies. You also want a CPU with a couple of free cores and hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x / AMD-V), plus roughly 20 GB of free disk for the appliance and node images. An SSD keeps boot times sane.
From download to a graded lab, step by step
Follow the trail below — jump straight to any step, or work through it top to bottom.
Deploy Cisco Modeling Labs
CML is a virtual appliance, not a desktop app. Download the CML image from Cisco, then run it: import the
.ovainto a hypervisor like VMware Workstation/Fusion, or install the.isoon a dedicated machine. Boot the appliance and sign in to its web dashboard in your browser.Download a lab from Goldfish Networks
Create a free account, then subscribe to unlock the daily lab and download today's package — use every daily lab you download while you're subscribed. Past labs unlock with a bundle. You'll get a single
.zip.Unzip the package
Extract the
.zip. Inside you'll find the CML import files, the guides, and the topology diagram (layout below).Import the topology into CML
In the CML dashboard choose Import (Dashboard → Import), select
imports/lab-work.yaml, then Start the lab to boot the nodes. The devices come with their starting configuration already applied — your job is to complete the objectives.Work the lab, then grade your work
Open
guides/lab-guide.pdfin any viewer (or the Markdownguides/lab-guide.mdin Obsidian or VS Code) alongsidediagrams/topology.pdf, and configure the devices to meet the objectives. When you're done, export your lab from CML and upload it on the lab page to grade your work — graded labs reveal the node-by-node solution once you submit. (Some labs includeguides/solution-guide.mdandimports/lab-solution.yamlin the download instead.)
What's in the download
Every lab package has the same predictable layout:
imports/lab-work.yamlImport this into CML to start the lab
guides/lab-guide.pdfBranded guide — open in any PDF viewer (Adobe, Preview, browser)lab-guide.mdThe same guide in Markdown — import into Obsidian or VS Code
diagrams/topology.pdfThe network diagram
LICENSE.txtLicense terms for the package
Graded labs reveal the solution after you submit your work; other labs also include imports/lab-solution.yaml and guides/solution-guide.md in the download.
Ready to build something?
Try the free sample lab — download, build, and grade it end to end — then subscribe for a fresh lab every day.
Cisco, Cisco Modeling Labs, and CML are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. Goldfish Networks is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cisco; we publish independent practice labs that import into CML.