Cisco Modeling Labs Free

What CML Free is

Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is Cisco's platform for building network labs with real Cisco software. CML-Free is its no-cost, single-user tier. Cisco's documentation says there is nothing to buy, no licence to apply and no Smart Licensing account needed; the status bar simply shows it as the free tier.

What you get

• Up to five nodes running at once. Unmanaged switches and external connectors do not count towards the limit. You can build or import bigger labs, but only five nodes can run at the same time.
• Official images included. The reference platform ISO for CML-Free includes images for IOL and IOL-L2 (Cisco IOS on Linux, for routers and switches) and ASAv (Cisco's virtual firewall), plus Ubuntu, Alpine Linux and a desktop Linux image with a graphical interface.
• The same product as paid CML. Installation and use follow the same documentation as the other CML editions. Paid tiers add more images and a higher node limit.

Why it matters for learners

Packet Tracer simulates Cisco devices, so some commands are missing and behaviour can differ. General emulators such as GNS3 run real images, but you must supply images you are allowed to use. CML-Free solves that for small labs: real Cisco software, legally, at no cost. Five nodes is enough for most focused labs, such as two routers running OSPF and BGP with a switch and two hosts, a firewall with inside and outside networks, or an automation target for your scripts.

What you need

You need an active Cisco.com account with a complete profile to download the files from Cisco's Software Central site. CML runs as a virtual machine on VMware hypervisors or on bare metal. Because it runs real images, give it a reasonable amount of memory and CPU, and check the installation guide for the version you download before you start.

Is it worth it?

Yes, once you have outgrown Packet Tracer and want real IOS behaviour without buying anything. Plan labs in small pieces to fit the node limit, and save your lab topologies so you can rebuild them quickly. Support is community-based through the Cisco Learning Network forums.

Common questions

Is it really free? Yes. CML-Free is described by Cisco as a no-cost offering with no licence required.

Five nodes is not enough for my lab. What now? Split the lab into parts, use unmanaged switches (which do not count), or consider a paid tier or GNS3 with other images.

Can I use it for automation practice? Yes. Real IOS devices with SSH and APIs are exactly what scripts and Ansible playbooks need to be tested against.