Versa Networks solutions can be emulated in a lab environment using PnetLab, a powerful platform for network simulation and training. This guide outlines the process for installing and running Versa Nodes—including Director, Analytics, and VNF Edge—on PnetLab, specifically for bare metal or hosts running Ubuntu 20.04.
Note for EVE-NG Users: Since PNETLab is built on the EVE-NG platform, the steps outlined in this article are applicable to EVE-NG deployments as well. However, EVE-NG users must ensure they run the Fix Permissions command (/opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions) via CLI after uploading any images to ensure the nodes boot correctly. For a dedicated EVE-NG guide, you may also refer to the - Official EVE-NG Versa Documentation

Prerequisites

  • Host machine running Ubuntu 20.04 (bare metal or virtualized)

  • Root access to the host

  • Versa Networks QCOW2 images (Director, Analytics, VNF Edge)

  • File transfer tool (e.g., FileZilla, WinSCP)

    • 1. Installing PnetLab on Ubuntu 20.04

    Begin by installing PnetLab using the provided installation script.

    https://drive.labhub.eu.org/0:/upgrades_pnetlab/Focal/install_pnetlab_v6.sh
    Save the bash file & execute on the baremetal.

    Note: You can replace the QCOW2 image with any valid official image as needed during the installation process.

    2. Versa Networks Image Installation

    A. Versa Director Image

    1. SSH into your KVM/host as root.

    2. Create the image directory:mkdir /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/versadir-16.1R2S

    3. Upload the Director image (versa-director-a454c1d-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2) to the directory using FileZilla or WinSCP.

    4. Navigate to the directory
      cd /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/versadir-16.1R2S9

    5. Extract the image:tar xvfj versa-director-a454c1d-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2

    6. Rename the QCOW2 file:mv versa-director-a454c1d-16.1R2S9.qcow2 virtioa.qcow2

    7. Remove the original tar file:rm versa-director-a454c1d-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2

    8. Fix permissions:/opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions

    B. Versa Analytics Image

    1. Create the image directory:mkdir /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/versaana-16.1R2S9

    2. Upload the Analytics image (versa-analytics-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2) to the directory.

    3. Navigate to the directory:cd /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/versaana-16.1R2S9/

    4. Extract the image:tar xvfj versa-analytics-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2

    5. Rename the QCOW2 file:mv versa-analytics-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2 virtioa.qcow2

    6. Remove the original tar file:rm versa-analytics-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2

    7. Fix permissions:/opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions

    C. Versa VNF Edge Image

    1. Create the image directory:mkdir /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/versafvnf-16.1R2S9

    2. Upload the VNF Edge image (versa-flexvnf-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2) to the directory.

    3. Navigate to the directory:cd /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/versafvnf-16.1R2S9/

    4. Extract the image:tar xvfj versa-flexvnf-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2

    5. Rename the QCOW2 file:mv versa-flexvnf-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2 virtioa.qcow2

    6. Remove the original tar file:rm versa-flexvnf-80561de-16.1R2S9.qcow2.tbz2

    7. Fix permissions:/opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions

    3. Accessing PnetLab and Versa Nodes

  • Once all images are installed and permissions are set, access the PnetLab GUI via your server’s management IP:
    http://<PNET-IP>
  • Default login credentials:
  • Username: admin
  • Password: pnet

    • Key Points and Tips

  • Flexibility: You can use any valid official Versa QCOW2 image in place of the ones listed above.
  • File Transfer: Use reliable tools like FileZilla or WinSCP for uploading images to ensure file integrity.
  • Permissions: Always run the fixpermissions script after adding or modifying images to avoid permission-related issues in PnetLab.
  • Lab Expansion: PnetLab supports multi-vendor environments, making it ideal for complex network simulations and SD-WAN training.

    • Why Use PnetLab for Versa Labs?

  • Cost-effective: No need for expensive hardware; run full-featured Versa SD-WAN labs virtually.
  • Scalable: Easily add more nodes or new images as your lab requirements grow.
  • Educational: Perfect for hands-on training, certification prep, and proof-of-concept testing.

    • By following these steps, you can quickly set up a robust Versa Networks lab environment on PnetLab, enabling in-depth exploration and testing of SD-WAN solutions in a flexible, virtualized setting.