Cloud Services Router 1000V (CSR1000V) is a virtualized router running Cisco IOS XE
3. Licensing
Step-by-Step Deployment Guide:
When to choose CSR1000V vs alternatives
OVA (.ova):
A pre-packaged template containing the virtual machine configuration (CPU, RAM, disk) and the software image. It simplifies deployment by allowing users to import a ready-made configuration rather than manually setting up a VM.
Licensing:
For lab and educational use, it is free to download but limited to a restricted bandwidth (typically 100kbps). Production use requires a paid license to unlock higher throughput. 2. System Requirements
- Catalyst 8000V: The successor to CSR1000v. Supports higher scale, better SD-WAN integration, and advanced security. Also distributed as an OVA.
- CSR1000v on AWS/Azure: Cisco provides AMI (for AWS) and VHD (for Azure) instead of OVA. The cloud marketplace handles licensing differently.
- vEdge Cloud Router: If you are strictly using Viptela SD-WAN, the vEdge Cloud (also OVA) is an alternative.