If you want, I can:
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The file vmx-bundle-17.1R1.8.tgz is a software package for the Juniper vMX (Virtual MX), a carrier-grade virtual router. This specific bundle contains the images needed to run the virtual Control Plane (VCP) and the virtual Forwarding Plane (VFP).
Below is a guide on how to handle and deploy this bundle, specifically for lab environments like EVE-NG. 1. Understanding the Components
The vMX architecture splits the router into two distinct virtual machines:
Virtual Control Plane (VCP): Runs Junos OS and handles routing protocols.
Virtual Forwarding Plane (VFP): Handles packet processing and forwarding using Juniper’s Trio microcode optimized for x86. 2. Extracting the Bundle Vmx-bundle-17.1r1.8.tgz
Once you have the .tgz file on your Linux host (or EVE-NG node), uncompress it to access the internal image files: tar xvf vmx-bundle-17.1R1.8.tgz cd vmx-17.1R1.8/images/ Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 3. Deployment Steps (EVE-NG Example)
In a lab environment, you must convert the extracted images into a format the hypervisor (QEMU) can use. According to the EVE-NG Documentation, follow these naming conventions: A. Prepare the VCP (Control Plane)
Create the directory: mkdir -p /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/vmxvcp-17.1R1.8-VCP Copy and rename images: junos-vmx-x86-64-17.1R1.8.qcow2 →right arrow virtioa.qcow2 vmxhdd.img →right arrow virtiob.qcow2 metadata-usb-re.img →right arrow virtioc.qcow2 B. Prepare the VFP (Forwarding Plane)
Create the directory: mkdir -p /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/vmxvfp-17.1R1.8-VFP Copy and rename images: vFPC-20170216.img →right arrow
virtioa.qcow2 (Note: The VFP filename may vary slightly by build date). 4. Verification & Permissions
If you are using EVE-NG, you must fix permissions after moving files for the nodes to start correctly: /opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Technical Specifications Release: 17.1R1.8 Platform: x86_64 If you want, I can:
Hypervisor Support: KVM (Ubuntu/CentOS), VMware ESXi, or EVE-NG/GNS3 for labs.
Minimum Requirements: Typically 2 vCPUs / 2GB RAM for VCP and 3 vCPUs / 4GB RAM for VFP (performance varies by traffic load).
Are you planning to deploy this on ESXi, standard KVM, or a lab simulation tool like GNS3? Juniper vMX 16.X, 17.X - - EVE-NG
Junos version 17.1R1.8 represents a specific milestone in the Junos evolution. While newer versions exist (like 21.x or 22.x), specific releases often remain popular for stability or feature-specific testing.
Here is why you might specifically need the 17.1R1.8 bundle:
cd vmx-bundle-17.1r1.8 sudo ./install_vmx.sh Networking not coming up:
If you are working in an environment that runs 17.x code in production, you want your lab to match exactly. Testing configurations on a version mismatch (e.g., testing on 20.x for a 17.x production network) can yield false positives regarding syntax compatibility or feature behavior.
When extracted, the .tgz archive typically includes:
| File/Component | Description |
|----------------|-------------|
| vmx-boot-*.img | Bootable disk image for the VCP (Virtual Control Plane) |
| vmx-data-plane-*.img | Disk image for the VFP (Virtual Forwarding Plane) |
| vmbring-graph-*.xml | Topology/bridge mapping for libvirt/KVM |
| vmx.conf | Example configuration for virtual interfaces |
| README / release-notes.txt | Specifics for this build (license requirements, known issues) |
Note: Exact filenames vary by hypervisor target.
Applying the bundle to an ESXi host can be done through several methods:
When you extract vmx-bundle-17.1R1.8.tgz, you will typically find the following components:
vFPC-... or junos-vmhost-install-...):
