Cisco CML on ESXi-Arm Fling via Raspberry Pi - Will it work? Is there any way to cluster multiple?

[grayb]

Question about Cisco CML -->  Will it run.  I am running it on my MacAir, but it is painfully slow and can't really run more than 2 or 3 devices at a time.  Wondering if there is a way to cluster 3 or 4 of them to run CML more efficiently?  Don't really want to spend the money on bare metal if I don't have to and I have a bunch of SATA drives I can use as storage.  If anyone has insight on how this can be achieved, it would be appreciated.  Thank you.

Brett

[vFouad · Accepted solution]

Hi Brett,

As far as I know CISCO CML makes x86 images... Unless they (or you) plan on rebuilding each image and the control software to run on an ARM processor.. that is never going to happen...

It's kind of analogous to trying to put petrol in a diesel engine... it looks like it should fit and work.. but it really doesn't....

I hope this helps, and good luck on a lo powered solution, I would recommend looking at Intel NUCs...

https://www.reddit.com/r/homelab/comments/qpakxz/network_simulation_intel_nuc_for_cisco_cml/

Best,

Fouad

[grayb]

Thanks Fouad,

I was not sure, but wanted to ask.  I may go with a Dell Optiplex Micro with 64 GB of RAM for CML labs.  Thanks for your input.  I appreciate it. 

[Mr_Poo_Butthole]

The correct question is not CAN its SHOULD and the answer above still applies. Sure you can but should you?

Thanks for asking as it should assist others considering the same activity to which returns limited or no value. Spend that time learning more about VMware products, study for a VCP, or simply play in their online labs; all of which return far more value than converting a Complex (and very bloated IMHO) Instruction Set x86 image to run on a Reduced Instruction Set (RISC)- based ARM cpu.

Now thats out of the way, much of Cisco's hardware is also RISC! MIPS is purpose-built for networking and routing. You can find a MIPs cpu under the hood of most of your run of the mill consumer routers and switches as well as feature-rich commercial offerings.

Warmest Regards,

Chris

[schroeder0]

Thanks for posting this link!!