How to run SDM without connecting to a router?

If you do not want to connect to actual hardware try using a virtual router. GNS3 is an excellent tool for this. You can set up multiple virtual routers on a single windows or linux box and configure SDM to connect to them. The only thing is you need your own IOS

www.gns3.net

here is a tutorial for connecting ADSM to a pix running on GNS3. SDM should be similar but when it comes connecting the devices.

http://www.brainbump.net/2008/07/how-to-install-and-enable-asdm-pix-firewall-using-gns3/

"The only thing is you need your own IOS"
What do you mean by "your own IOS"? Thx

GNS3 requires a cisco IOS for the model you are going to use. The IOS for the router is not provided by GNS3. you have to provide your own.

So you install the IOS on the virtual Cisco router software. Correct?

GNS3 loads just like any other application. When it starts you can build a topology with any number of routers. IOS bin files must be stored on the computer so GNS3 can use them to load the router. Its the same as dynamips but with a simpler GUI.

Here is a quick tutorial on strarting out with GNS3.  Also BlindHog is a GREAT source on GNS3 and Dynamips tutorials.

http://www.blindhog.net/cisco-gns3-graphical-router-emulation-software/

Also here is a link to several other more advanced setups.
http://www.gns3.net/documentation

that1guy15,

This is great. I will try this tonight. Thank you very much.

No problem.

I could not download and read the documentation at http://www.gns3.net/documentation
Accept Multiple Solutions Accept as Solution. I tried adobe reader 9 but it did notn work. Thx

All the links at the bottom of the page are to videos. Click on the link then find the button that says "play video".

Is the pdf file the same thing as video? The reason I want to get the documentation was ebcause I could not get dynamips to work. I went to Preferences and click onthe test button and it said failed. Thx

I dont think any of the links have a pdf just a video tutorial.

Are you running vista, XP or linux

XP.

http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=gns-3&filename=GNS3-0.5-tutorial.pdf&use_mirror=internap is supposed to link to a pdf file and I could not download and view the pdf file.

The error that I have is "cannot start dynamips on port 7200". i tried to change the port but it still does not work.

Did you move any of the files after installing GNS3? Are you running as an administrator?

Do you still have dynamips installed from before?


Here is a screenshot of my current (default) settings


preferences.jpg

I fixed the issue. I installed GNS3 in folder A and dynamips in folder B. GNS3 is looking for dynamips to be in the same directory. So I installed both in Program Files folder and it is working now. I am ready to build the lab. Thank you very much for your help.

No problem.Check out those tutorials that i linked above they show some good labs you can utilize for the CCNP.

Good luck on the ISCW. How many more test until you get the paper?

This is the last test. The next move will be either a CCIE or an MBA.
The funny thing is most of the Network Engineers I talked to do not like SDM and they stay away from it. But there is an emphasis of SDM in this test. Thanks again

Ah im just finishing up my MBA at the end of the year.  Im then moving on to the CCSP. Yeah most people i talk to do not like the SDM either. It will take a little time for it to become more widley accepted. I personally dont use it much though.

That's a tough one. There are more than 4 tests for the CCSP. Good luck to you.