xxjjxCisco ASA 8.

4 on GNS3
ASA, GNS3, Security
by malikyounas
I struggled quite a lot of get ASA 8.4 working on GNS3. I had 8.0(2) working and was helping to test the
configurations and VPNs but now wanted to get 8.4 running such that I can prepare myself for new NAT
statements and migration from 8.0(2) to 8.4(2).
Here are the steps to get it working. All links to any images or keys are removed for legal reasons. Once its gone
its gone.
1. Download the ASA 8.4 files for GNS3 from the following address
I am afraid you will have to search google for reputable sources to get firewall ASA842 image. Please dont ask
here for the image.
2. Configure GNS3 as following. ( I am using Ver 0.8.2 Beta 2, Also Tested 8.3 with Windows 7 64 bit which
worked without any issues). Type the code below into relevant fields

Qemu Options: -vnc none -vga none -m 1024 -icount auto -hdachs 980,16,32
Kernel cmd line: -append ide_generic.probe_mask=0x01 ide_core.chs=0.0:980,16,32
auto nousb console=ttyS0,9600 bigphysarea=65536

Configure the paths for Initrd and Kernel to where you have extracted the files.



























3. Once the firewall is up and running use following activation keys
Again the activation keys are in public domain so get it using your search capabilities.

It will take a while (10-15 min) to accept the second activation key and will take the same time at first reboot.
That's all done and we have a working firewall to play with.


Now if you want to run two ASAs, you will have to change the Qemu options on the second firewall as below
Qemu Options: -vnc :2 none -vga none -m 1024 -icount auto -hdachs 980,16,32

Troubleshooting:
Please check the comments at the end of post where you will find different ways to resolve issues if you face any.
Specially very helpfull comments from GD and are detailed below

Download and install the latest version of GNS3 0.8.2 after that download the Qemu 0.13.0 patched 32 bits
binary for Windows from

http://www.gns3.net/download/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gns-3/files/Qemu/qemu-0.13.0.patched.win32.zip/download

Copy and replace all downloaded qemu files and folders with existing qemu files and folders under GNS3 folder.

After you have ASA running in GNS and want to play with ASDM, here is the guide to follow
http://www.xerunetworks.com/2012/03/asa-84-asdm-on-gns3-step-by-step-guide/

and if you want to connect two GNS3 networks running on two different PCs, use following
http://www.xerunetworks.com/2012/03/connect-gns3-network-to-real-networks-other-gns3-network/
I have posted a LAB Guide for migrating NAT from 8.2 to 8.3/8.4 Version, which is still work in progress but has a
lot of stuff already added into it
http://www.xerunetworks.com/2012/03/asa-8384-nat-migration-lab-guide/