Supports IPsec, DMVPN, FlexVPN, and Firewall capabilities.
The Cisco CSR 1000V operates on a freemium or evaluation model upon initial boot, restricting throughput to a default evaluation rate (typically 100 Kbps). To unlock full throughput capacities, you must implement Cisco Smart Licensing. Activating a Throughput License
is a virtual router that runs the same Cisco IOS XE Software as the physical ASR 1000 series. It is optimized for virtual data centers, serving as a high-performance WAN gateway for both single-tenant and multitenant environments. Why Choose the OVA Format?
If managing through vSphere directly, configure the serial port connection backing as a type using the URI telnet:// : , or use vSphere’s built-in Web Console by altering the IOS boot parameters to output to the video console. Initial Console Access cisco csr1000v ova
1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB Disk space (Supports up to 250 Mbps).
Choose , browse to select your downloaded CSR 1000V OVA file, and click Next .
Provide a name for your new virtual router. Then, select the downloaded .ova file from your local drive or a network share. Supports IPsec, DMVPN, FlexVPN, and Firewall capabilities
Once the VM boots, you can access it via the console or a web browser.
Cisco distributes the CSR 1000v in two primary formats:
vCenter Server (optional, but recommended for centralized management). Resource Allocation Matrices Activating a Throughput License is a virtual router
Right-click on your Host, Cluster, or Resource Pool and select .
Follow these steps to deploy the Cisco CSR 1000V OVA using the vSphere Client. Step 1: Download the Correct OVA Image
Once powered on, the CSR 1000V unpacks its IOS-XE kernel. You can access the console to complete the basic configuration. Accessing the Console
As technology marched toward "Cloud Native" architectures, the CSR1000v reached its peak. While it remains a staple in many networks, Cisco eventually introduced its successor: the Catalyst 8000V
Cisco now requires a Smart License for production use, but the OVA can run in evaluation mode for 90 days.