This repository outlines the steps needed to create a virtual network with Arista cEOS container image running on a Virtual Instance in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) utilizing ContainerLab.

NOTE: It is not a requirement to run a VM in GCP. You may use a VM of your choice that supports Docker and ContainerLab and skip steps 1 & 2.

You need a Gmail account and then you can activate your GCP account. Details on how to create your GCP Free Account can be found here. Free $300 Credit to use for 90 days. No autocharge after free trial ends.

Typical VM Usage Fee is: $0.25/hr (8 vCPUs 32GM RAM)

Disk and Public Static IP Address - additional cost (but minimal)

From GCP Console, go to the Compute Engine section. If this is your first time creating a VM instance in GCP, you will need to enable Compute Engine API. This takes a few seconds to complete.

Once complete, you will be able to add a new VM Instance by clicking CREATE INSTANCE. Use the follow instance attributes to create a VM capable of sufficiently running several cEOS instances for your ContainerLab environiment. Detailed instructions to create a VM Instance can be found here.

Now click CREATE at the bottom.

After Instance boots, add your Public SSH Key to the VM Instance. In GCP, edit your VM instance and scroll down to the Security and Access section. Click ADD ITEM to add your ssh key. Then click SAVE at the bottom.

• Mac:

  • Use existing keys or generate a new key pair with ssh-keygen
  • ssh-keygen -t rsa
  • Detailed instructions can be found here
  • Add Public Key to Host
  • Connect to Host using favorite SSH client

• Windows:

  • Various methods to generate ssh keys can be found here
  • Add Public Key to the Host
  • Connect to Host using Private Key

Now SSH to VM instance using the assigned public IP address. Note you can make this a static address if desired.

Below is a simplified one liner bash script that will install docker to your Linux VM.

bash -c "$(curl http://www.packetanglers.com/installdocker.sh)"

NOTE: Logout and log back in to enable sudo permissions to Docker.

The following 2 commands will download an Arista cEOS Container image file and then import it into Docker.

curl http://www.packetanglers.com/images/cEOS-lab-4.29.1F.tar.xz -o cEOS-lab-4.29.1F.tar.xz

Now import this image into Docker - takes approximately 30 secs. Be patient.

docker import cEOS-lab-4.29.1F.tar.xz ceos:4.29.1F

This is a one line install script. It will detect the OS

bash -c "$(curl -sL https://get.containerlab.dev)"

git clone https://github.com/PacketAnglers/containerlab.git

Below is a simple L2LS Topology that is part of the repo you just cloned.

sudo clab deploy -t containerlab/topologies/L2LS/L2LS.yaml --reconfigure

Point your browser to the the public IP of your VM at this URL:

http://< VM public ip >/graphite

Click on SPINE1 to connect via a web/ssh session (IPv4/SSH) link.

Login with credentials:

• username: admin
• password: admin

Connect to HostA and try pinging HostB.

admin@HOSTA:~$ ping 10.20.20.100

When you are done using your lab, run the destroy command to shutdown the lab clean up docker containers.

sudo clab destroy -t containerlab/topologies/L2LS/L2LS.yaml

From GCP Console, make sure you shutdown your VM when you are not using it. You also can create Instance Schedules to ensure VMs are shutdown at a certain time of day.

NOTE: This works as well. sudo shutdown -h now

• Try modifying the topology file to add more nodes and connections.
• You can save/update startup configs to match your environment.