Cisco IT Essentials v8 Pod Install Guide

This document provides detailed guidance on performing the installation and configuration of the Cisco IT Essentials v8 pod on the NETLAB+ system.

This single pod design supports the individual Cisco IT Essentials - v8 lab-series.

The Cisco IT Essentials v8 pod is a 100% virtual‑machine pod consisting of 2 virtual machines. Linked together through virtual networking, these 2 virtual machines provide the environment for a student or a team to perform the Cisco IT Essentials v8 labs.

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Table of Contents

• Cisco IT Essentials v8 Topology
• Planning
  • Pod Creation Workflow
  • Pod Resource Requirements
  • Proxmox VE Host Requirements
  • NETLAB+ Requirements
  • NETLAB+ Virtual Machine Infrastructure Setup
  • Networking Requirements
• Software and Licenses
  • Obtaining Windows Software Licenses
  • Setup NDG VM Distribution System
• Master Pod Configuration
  • NDG VMDIST Storage Connections
  • Deploying from NDG VMDIST
    • Modify Virtual Machines
    • Create a Snapshot
  • NETLAB+ Virtual Machine Inventory Setup
  • Building the Master Cisco IT Essentials v8 Pod
    • Enabling Labs in Course Manager
    • Create the Master Pod
    • Attach Virtual Machines to the Master Pod
    • Set the Revert to Snapshot
  • Make changes to the Master Pod
    • Virtual Machine Credentials
    • Bring the Master Pod online
    • Create Class and Schedule the Master Pod
    • Provide Temporary Internet Access to Windows10-OS and Windows11-OS
    • License and Activate Windows10-OS and Windows11-OS
    • Shut Down Windows10-OS and Windows11-OS
    • Reset the NIC to SAFETY_NET
    • Take New Snapshots for the Changed Master Virtual Machines
    • End Reservation
• Pod Cloning
  • Pod Categories
  • Linked Clones vs Full Clones Virtual Machines
  • Creating Template Pods
  • Creating User Pods
  • Assigning Pods to Students, Teams, or Classes