Introduction
Are you looking to explore the world of Cisco SD-WAN and create a comprehensive lab setup? Look no further! In this blog, we provide a concise and practical guide to Cisco SD WAN lab setup.
PyNet Labs has been delivering Cisco SD-WAN Training for more than 4 years now and the most frequently asked question among candidates is “How to Setup Cisco SD WAN Lab Locally”. The wait is finally over, as in this article, we will discuss a step-by-step approach to set up your personal SD WAN Lab on your local machine.
Whether you’re an IT professional, network engineer, or an aspiring networking enthusiast, this guide will help you understand the essentials of building a functional SD-WAN lab using Cisco technologies.
Before getting into more details, let us first understand what exactly Cisco SD-WAN is.
What is Cisco SD-WAN?
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is Cisco’s software-defined wide area networking solution for connecting branches, data centers, cloud environments, and remote sites through a centralized platform.
It separates control from hardware-focused WAN management and makes policy, onboarding, security, and transport handling easier to manage.
In simple terms, it helps build a smarter WAN that is more automated, flexible, and easier to operate.
Benefits of setting up a local SD-WAN Lab
Some of the benefits of setting up a local SD-WAN Lab are:
- Helps test Cisco SD-WAN features in a safe environment
- Makes controller deployment and edge onboarding easier to understand
- Gives hands-on practice with ZTP, certificates, and policy flow
- Helps verify topology, transports, and overlay behavior before production use
- Makes troubleshooting easier because issues can be tested locally step by step
- Saves time by allowing repeated practice without affecting a live network
- Improves understanding of how Manager, Controller, Validator, and WAN Edge devices work together
- Gives a practical way to learn configuration, validation, and issue isolation in one setup
Main Components for Cisco SD-WAN Lab Setup
The main components for Cisco SD-WAN Lab setup are:
Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (vManage)
SD-WAN Manager is the central management component in the Cisco SD-WAN fabric. It is used to configure devices, apply policies, monitor the overlay, and verify overall network health.
Catalyst SD-WAN Controller (vSmart)
SD-WAN Controller handles the control plane for the SD-WAN environment. It helps distribute routing and policy information between WAN Edge routers across the overlay.
Catalyst SD-WAN Validator (vBond)
SD-WAN Validator supports secure onboarding and initial device authentication in the SD-WAN fabric. It plays an important role during ZTP by helping WAN Edge routers discover and join the overlay correctly.
WAN Edge routers
WAN Edge routers are the branch or remote-site devices that carry user traffic across the SD-WAN fabric. They build secure tunnels over available transports and apply the policies received from the control components.
Before getting into the details of SD-WAN lab setup locally, let’s look at the prerequisites.
Prerequisites for Cisco SD-WAN Lab Setup
For Cisco SD-WAN lab, you usually need:
- Cisco Modeling Labs
- Catalyst SD-WAN node images
- Enough compute resources
- Linux or macOS for the lab deployment tool
- Python 3.9.2 or newer if using the tool
- Access to licensing steps for some edge images.
For Resources, it is highly recommended to have:
- RAM: 32GB DDR3 / DDR4 (Physically Installed on the Machine)
- CPU: 9 – 12 Core Processor
- Storage: 100GB HDD/SSD (Only for the Lab Purpose)
Note: Deployment tool is designed for Linux or macOS, and Windows users should use a Linux VM, container, or WSL.
Also, when it comes to Network Simulations, GNS3 and EVE-NG have been competing a lot together for who works the best for simulating Network Infrastructure labs, and EVE-NG wins over GNS3 in various factors.
You can download these tools from below:
How to setup Cisco SD WAN Lab?
Below, we have discussed a step-by-step approach.
Step 1: Prepare CML and images
Start by making sure CML is working correctly. Then confirm that the required SD-WAN node images are available in the lab environment.
It is important to note that the supplemental ISO provides the images needed for Manager, Controller, Validator, and supported edge nodes. This step matters because SD-WAN labs are more image-dependent than basic router labs. If the images are missing or mismatched, the lab setup breaks early.
Step 2: Plan addressing and transports
Before deploying anything, decide how the lab will be structured. Keep the design simple. Use one central site, then add two or more branches. Use separate transport links to represent internet and MPLS-style connectivity.
This planning step saves time later because onboarding and troubleshooting depend on clear topology.
Step 3: Deploy the controllers
Next, bring up the control components:
- SD-WAN Manager
- SD-WAN Controller
- SD-WAN Validator
The Manager starts first, followed by the Validator, and then the Controller components are added into the overlay. Controllers and validators receive their configuration from the Manager during the bring-up sequence. This sequence matters because a clean bring-up depends on the Manager already being available.
Step 4: Prepare onboarding files and certificates
This is one of the most important parts of the lab. SD-WAN edge nodes cannot just use a full day-zero configurations by default. Before bootstrapping edge nodes, certificates must be generated and loaded into the Manager.
It is important to create and upload the serialFile.viptela provisioning file for supported vEdge onboarding. This file is tied to Smart Licensing and device onboarding flow.
This is where many first-time lab setups fail. The topology may be correct, but onboarding breaks because the file or certificate process was skipped.
Step 5: Onboard WAN Edge routers with ZTP
After the control components are ready, bring up the branch edges. Hardware routers can receive configuration automatically through zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) after authentication. Validator plays a key role in this sequence.
In simple words, the edge routers:
- Get initial connectivity
- Authenticate through the onboarding process
- Learn the control component information
- And then receive configuration from the Manager.
Step 6: Verify the overlay
Once onboarding finishes, verify that the fabric is working. Check whether the edges appear in the Manager. Check control connections, certificate status, and transport state.
You can verify certificate installation and control-component onboarding through the Manager interface.
Do not jump into advanced policy too early. First, make sure the basic overlay is healthy.
Manual Setup or Automated Setup: Which One Should You Choose?
Manual setup
Manual setup means deploying controllers and edge nodes one by one. This gives deeper visibility into the process, but it takes more time. This used to be the normal approach before the lab deployment tool simplified the workflow.
Automated setup
Automated setup is the better option for many readers. Cisco’s SD-WAN Lab Deployment Tool automates controller creation, edge deployment, certificate installation, and onboarding tasks inside CML. The tool can add multiple branches in one task and supports internet and MPLS transports.
Cisco SD WAN Lab Setup Service by PyNet Labs
This service can be opted by Individual Learners, Corporates for doing Proof of Concepts, or even Training Companies who are looking forward to training individuals on technologies like SD-WAN and many others…
We have three paid consulting models:
SD-WAN Lab EVE-NG setup for Individuals
We provide SD-WAN lab EVE-NG set up for individuals who want to practice SD-WAN labs at home. We have already fulfilled the needs of several of our past SD-WAN students who wished to have a personal SD-WAN lab set up on their systems.
We have now started the Cisco SD WAN lab set up as a service for our non-students who want to build their own labs. All you need is a good system as per the above requirements. We will also provide you additional 2 hours of the lab setup help above the lab setup time.
For prices and procedures, you can fill out the form below or get in touch via WhatsApp/Call/Telegram.
SD-WAN Lab setup for Corporates for doing Proof of Concepts
PyNet Labs have supported various system integrators, solution providers, and consultants in doing their POC of SD-WAN for their clients. We also help them set up labs for simulating the environment to create their case studies before meeting their clients. If you want to get that done for your company, we are happy to do it at a consultation fee.
For prices and procedures, you can fill out the form below or get in touch via WhatsApp/Call/Telegram.
SD WAN Lab setup for Training companies
Training companies looking for personal Lab setups to sell it further to individuals can also contact us.
We are also helping training companies to set up their SD WAN labs on-premises or on the cloud, which can be accessed by their students and can be further shared with their students and learners.
In the past 18 months, we have helped over 200+ clients in setting up their labs.
We are offering the industry’s most competitive pricing. Get in touch for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How to configure SD-WAN?
To configure SD-WAN, you need to prepare the environment, configure network interfaces, establish control plane connectivity, define the overlay network, create policies for traffic steering and security, implement security measures, and monitor and optimize the deployment.
Q2. What are the lab requirements for vManage?
The lab requirements for vManage include a server or virtual machine with suitable hardware specifications, a Linux-based operating system, network connectivity to SD-WAN devices, assigned IP addresses, compatibility with other components, and the necessary licensing.
Q3. What is main components of Cisco SD-WAN?
The main components of Cisco SD-WAN include vEdge routers, vSmart controllers, vBond orchestrator, vManage, transport network, and the connectivity between controllers and orchestrator.
Q4. What is Cisco SD-WAN software?
Cisco SD-WAN software is a comprehensive solution that provides software-defined networking capabilities for wide area networks (WANs). It includes a suite of software components, such as vEdge routers, vSmart controllers, vBond orchestrator, and vManage, that work together to enable centralized management, intelligent traffic routing, and secure connectivity across distributed locations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, setting up a Cisco SD-WAN lab environment can be an exciting and rewarding experience for IT professionals, network enthusiasts, and organizations looking to explore the possibilities of modern networking. Throughout this blog, we have explored the essential steps and considerations involved in creating a comprehensive SD-WAN lab using Cisco technologies.
