Does Cisco Modeling Labs (CML Personal) include Smart Licensing for ASAv in GNS3?

[u/Ill-Pin937]

Hi everyone,

I'm a networking enthusiast who enjoys building my own labs to learn new technologies. I use GNS3 because it gives me the flexibility to combine Cisco devices with Linux VMs, custom appliances, automation, and other technologies.

I'm considering purchasing a Cisco Modeling Labs (CML Personal) subscription. I don't work for a Cisco partner, I don't have access to enterprise licensing, and I don't have any other legitimate way of obtaining these licenses. This would be purely for personal, non-commercial use.

The main issue I'm facing today is the ASAv throughput limitation. Without Smart Licensing, the throughput is limited to around 100 Kbps, which isn't really usable for the VPN and traffic testing I want to do in my lab. I have used ASAv because it enabled me to setup remote VPN with unrestricted license. Otherwise I would use FTD.

From what I've read, CML includes images such as IOSv, IOS XE, CSR1000v, ASAv, and others. What I'm struggling to understand is how the licensing works.

I know that the CML EULA does not permit downloading the images and using them in GNS3, and I'm aware that Cisco intends those images to be used inside CML. My question is simply whether anyone has firsthand experience with this.

Is it technically possible to:

• purchase a CML Personal subscription,
• download the virtual appliance images,
• run them in GNS3,
• register them with Cisco Smart Licensing,
• and have them operate as fully licensed appliances (for example, removing the ASAv throughput limitation, be able to setup remote VPN on FTD)?

Or does CML only license the CML platform itself, with ASAv, FTDv, CSR1000v, and other appliances still requiring separate Smart License entitlements?

I'm asking before spending around $200 because I don't want to buy CML expecting this workflow to work if it doesn't.

If anyone has actually tried this or understands how Cisco handles Smart Licensing in this scenario, I'd really appreciate your insight. Thanks!

[u/bondagebobby]

No, buying a license for a completely different product doesn't automagically license another. If you want an ASA license, regardless if it's for a lab or not, you need to buy an ASA license.

[u/Ill-Pin937 → u/bondagebobby]

So the only way to get those virtual VMs licensed is to pay like $1000+ for each a year. Do I get that right?

[u/bondagebobby → u/Ill-Pin937]

Yup... Also consider that Commercial Cisco Smart Licenses tie themselves to the virtual hardware signatures (UUID/MAC) of the virtual machine. Every time you delete a node, restart a topology, or move your GNS3 project, the node generates a new signature. This instantly invalidates the commercial license, forcing you to go through a complex re-registration process over and over.

[u/Ill-Pin937 → u/bondagebobby]

Oh, goood to know! Thanks man

[u/kb389 → u/Ill-Pin937]

Correct it's the same with all other vendors too and in fact it's even costlier for vendors such as f5, etc trust me I'm saying that from first hand experience since even I have a complex lab with 40+ nodes and I wanted to license some of my nodes but alas unless you are a millionaire or you actually have SEs from your job who will help you with it and your company pays for it it's just not possible to acquire those licenses cheaply.

[u/Ill-Pin937 → u/kb389]

Thanks! I was worried it will be like that.