Cisco Csr1000v Ova 2021 🔥

The CSR 1000v (Cloud Services Router 1000v) is a virtual router that runs the same IOS XE code as physical Cisco routers. The OVA package simplifies deployment on VMware vSphere (ESXi).

What is the Cisco CSR 1000v?

The Cisco CSR 1000v is a virtualized router that runs the same Cisco IOS-XE software found on physical hardware like the Cisco ASR 1000 series. It provides critical network services—including routing, VPN, and firewalling—in a virtual form factor.

1. The Problem It Solves

Currently, deploying the CSR 1000v OVA involves a "blind" deployment followed by a manual setup: cisco csr1000v ova

Admins deploy the OVA via vCenter/ESXi/Fusion.
They power on the VM.
They must access the Serial Console or SSH immediately to configure management IP, default gateway, and enable the Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.
If a mistake is made in the initial networking, the VM is unreachable, requiring a reboot into ROMMON mode to reset.

1. Deploy OVF/OVA Template

In vSphere Client: Right-click your cluster/host → Deploy OVF Template.
Select Local File → Upload the .ova file.

Part 5: Initial Configuration via Day 0 (User Data)

One powerful feature of the CSR1000v OVA is Day 0 Configuration using Guest Info or vSphere’s "vApp Options" or OVF Properties.

During OVA deployment, you can inject a configuration file. Under the Customize Template section (or after deployment via "Edit Settings" > "vApp Options"), you can paste a base config. The CSR 1000v (Cloud Services Router 1000v) is

Example Day 0 Config snippet:

hostname CSR1000v-Denver
!
interface GigabitEthernet1
 ip address dhcp
 no shutdown
!
username admin privilege 15 secret Cisco123
!
line vty 0 4
 transport input ssh
 login local
!
crypto key generate rsa modulus 2048
!
end

This configuration is applied on first boot, making the router reachable via SSH immediately. What is the Cisco CSR 1000v

Licensing Levels (Cisco Smart Licensing)