You might be wondering, "Why not run the absolute latest version like 22.x or 23.x?"
There are a few reasons why SR-13.0.r4 remains a staple in many labs:
The Timos-sr-13.0.r4-vm.qcow2 file represents a solid, stable piece of network engineering history. Whether you are studying for your NRS II or just want to lab up some Segment Routing topologies, having a working copy of SR OS 13.0.R4 in your KVM arsenal is invaluable.
Have you migrated to newer versions like SR OS 21 or 23, or do you still stick to 13 for stability? Let me know in the comments!
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes. Ensure you have the proper licenses and permissions to use Nokia software images. Always adhere to vendor EULAs when setting up virtual labs.
Virtualizing the Nokia SR-OS: A Guide to TiMOS-SR-13.0.R4 If you are diving into the world of Nokia (formerly Alcatel-Lucent) Service Routers, the TiMOS-SR-13.0.R4-vm.qcow2
image is a classic starting point for labbing. While newer versions exist, 13.0.R4 remains a popular "legacy" version for those studying for SRC certifications or testing older ISP environments.
Here is how to get this virtual machine (VM) up and running in your lab. What is TiMOS-SR-13.0.R4? file is a virtual disk image of the Nokia 7750 Service Router operating system, known as
. In this case, "SR" stands for Service Router, and "vm" indicates it is the virtualized flavor (vSR) optimized for hypervisors like QEMU and KVM. Setting Up the Environment
To run this image effectively, you typically use network emulation platforms like Hardware Requirements According to the GNS3 appliance registry
, the 13.0.R4 version requires the following resources per node: : 2048 MB (Minimum) Disk Interface : IDE or VirtIO Network Adapters : At least 6 (e1000 type) Quick Deployment Steps (QEMU)
If you are running the image manually via the command line, use a string similar to this: /usr/local/bin/qemu-system-x86_64 -m MB -enable-kvm \ -hda TiMOS-SR-
.R4-vm.qcow2 \ -serial telnet:localhost:3366,server,nowait -smp Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
Once the VM boots, you can access the console by telneting to localhost:3366 Critical Troubleshooting Tips The "60-Minute Reboot"
: Without a valid license file, the virtual SR will automatically reboot every hour. You must place a valid in the virtual drive's root (typically License UUID
: Licenses for Nokia routers are often tied to a specific System UUID. If your license isn't taking, you may need to manually set the UUID in your QEMU advanced settings to match your license file. Default Credentials : The default login is usually with the password Why use 13.0.R4 today?
While Nokia has released versions up to 23.x and beyond, 13.0.R4 is lightweight and compatible with older hardware. It’s perfect for learning the CLI syntax , practicing VPLS/VPRN configurations , and understanding the fundamentals of IS-IS or OSPF
within the Nokia ecosystem without needing a massive server. Need more help with your Nokia lab? Are you having trouble getting the Do you need help mapping the interfaces in EVE-NG or GNS3? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
Alcatel-Lucent Virtualized Simulator on GNS3 - Brezular's Blog
$ unzip TiMOS-SR-13.0.R4-vm.zip. Now a virtual disk sros-vm.qcow2 is extracted. To start Qemu virtual machine use the command: $ / brezular.com alcatel-7750.gns3a - appliances - GitHub
The file Timos-sr-13.0.r4-vm.qcow2 is a virtual machine disk image for the Alcatel-Lucent 7750 Service Router (SR) operating system, known as TiMOS or SR-OS. It is commonly used in network simulation environments like GNS3 to virtualize carrier-grade routing hardware for labs and testing. Key Specifications & Requirements Software Version: SR-OS 13.0.R4.
Virtualization Format: qcow2 (QEMU Copy-On-Write), optimized for KVM-based hypervisors. RAM Requirement: Minimum 2048 MB. Architecture: x86-32 or x86-64 (typically run via Qemu). Default Credentials: Login: admin Password: admin Operational Notes
Licensing: Without a valid license, the VM will automatically reboot every 60 minutes. You can check the remaining time by running the command show system license within the CLI.
GNS3 Integration: To use this in GNS3, you can import the .gns3a appliance file which pre-configures settings like the e1000 adapter type and console access via telnet.
Performance: While qcow2 is flexible and supports features like snapshots and compression, it may have slightly lower performance compared to raw disk formats. Alcatel 7750 - GNS3
Network DevOps teams embed qm create commands for this qcow2 image into their CI pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI). They spin up transient virtual routers, push configuration via NETCONF/RESTCONF, validate changes, and tear them down.