GNS3 Windows Appliance

The GNS3 appliance template file may not match the filename downloaded and will complain about the MD5 checksum not matching. Make a note of the MD5 checksum for the new filename as you will need this when you edit the appliance .GNS3a file.

For example, the downloadable filename for Windows 7 with IE11 changed from “IE11_-_Win7-disk1.vmdk” to “IE11-Win7-VMWare-disk1.vmdk”.

Find the places where the old filename are mentioned and change the filename to the new filename and alter the md5sum, and no need to alter the filesize.

Before

{
“filename”: “IE11_-_Win7-disk1.vmdk”,
“version”: “7 w/ IE11”,
“md5sum”: “5733cc93a6ed756c2358f0a383b411a8”,
“filesize”: 4101495296,
“download_url”: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/

},

{
“name”: “7 w/ IE11”,
“images”: {
“hda_disk_image”: “IE11_-_Win7-disk1.vmdk”
}
},

After

{
“filename”: “IE11-Win7-VMWare-disk1.vmdk”,
“version”: “7 w/ IE11”,
“md5sum”: “d682fde5fc4d8fd4374fdeca70fd2011”,
“filesize”: 4101495296,
“download_url”: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/

},

{
“name”: “7 w/ IE11”,
“images”: {
“hda_disk_image”: “IE11-Win7-VMWare-disk1.vmdk”
}
},

Testing Video Streams

Troubleshooting Video Traffic

Check for pause frames:

https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/Solution/Pixelated-Jittery-or-Shuttering-Video-Streams-due-to-Flow-Control/?q=video+latency+EXOS&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

IGMP Snooping:

https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/Q_A/Which-command-is-used-to-enable-igmp-snooping/?q=igmp+snooping+exos&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/How_To/How-to-enable-and-disable-IGMP-snooping-fast-leave-in-EXOS/?q=igmp+snooping+exos&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/How_To/How-to-configure-switch-as-IGMP-querier/?q=igmp+snooping+exos&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

https://gtacknowledge.extremenetworks.com/articles/How_To/How-to-configure-Static-IGMP/?q=igmp+snooping+exos&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1

Lab:

Simulate video by streaming a short .mp4 video sample using VLC and a virtual switch in GNS3.

cars

Sending PC sending stream using destination RTP/MPEG Transport Stream to address 224.0.0.1 port 5004.

Receiving PC play URL rtp://@224.0.0.1:5004.

Tip: On sending PC select Properties>Show Settings ALL and under Input / Codecs, Video codecs, FFmpeg enable Allow speed tricks and set Skip the loop filter for H.264 decoding to ALL. Save. This stops the sluggish behaviour on the playback from the sending PC. Even sluggish when plays back locally.

Transcoding options:

Select Activate Transcoding. Profile Video – H.264 + MP3 (MP4).

Miscellaneous Options:

Select Stream all elementary streams.

 

Windows VM Mouse Pointer

To stabilize the two mouse pointers inside the Windows VM console add -usbdevice tablet in the options box in the Advanced settings>Additional settings screen.

Tip: Enable remote access so that can setup RDC to Windows VM.

Tip: EULA is for 90 days. User = IEUser and Passowrd = Passw0rd!

Tip: Temporarily disable FW to prove ping test works.