Task 1 - Installing the GNS3 Webclient Launcher

Before you get started with GNS3, install the GNS3 WebLauncher. This programme allows you to open virtual devices from the GNS3 platform directly with a mouse click. These instructions describe how to install the WebLauncher under Windows and Linux.

Install GNS3 WebClient Launcher under Windows

Install the required additional programmes

Please install the latest version of the following programmes before you start installing the WebLauncher:

• Putty¹⁾
• Wireshark²⁾
• Cygwin³⁾

Installation of the WebLauncher

Go to : „https://www.gns3.com/software/download“ and then download the relevant Windows package. You will need a GNS account for the download. Log in with your account or create a new one if necessary. The download of GNS 3 will now start. the installer. You may need to enter the user name and password of an administrator during the installation. The installer will now start.

You must make a few important changes in the following selection. Please only select the GNS3 WebClient:

The following tools should be deselected, as they are obtained and installed from the original sources:

• Wireshark
• Solar PuTTY

The following should also be selected VirtViewer 11:

Next, the installation routine suggests installing WinPcap and NPcap. Accept these suggestions and install the two programmes.

When the installation is finished it should look like this:

Now click on „Start GNS3“ and then on „Finish“. A configuration window will open immediately afterwards. To link the helper programmes, please make the following entries (adjust the paths if necessary if you have installed other versions of the helper programmes):

Install GNS3 with Weblauncher under Linux

To install GNS3 under Linux with the package manager apt (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.) to install GNS3 with Weblauncher, enter the following commands in the console ein⁴⁾:

sudo su - #root werden
add-apt-repository ppa:gns3/ppa
apt update
apt install gns3-webclient-pack
apt install tigervnc-viewer
dpkg-reconfigure wireshark-common (dann yes) #Wireshark darf dadurch unter der Gruppe 'wireshark' ausgeführt werden
usermod -a -G wireshark $USER #Der User $USER wird der Gruppe 'wireshark' hinzugefügt
init 6

Test WebLauncher

Now that you have installed the WebLauncher, you will test whether it works properly.

Creating the test environment

Open a web browser of your choice and enter the address: „http://gns3.rafisa.org/static/web-ui/server/1/projects“ . You will land on the following website.

Click on „Add blank project“ in the top right-hand corner and give the project the name „Test“.

Now you are here:

Now click on the plus symbol at the top. The following menu will now appear.

Scroll down and drag a VPCS, a Firefox device and an Ethernet switch onto the workspace. Connect the devices with the connector element to the right of the plus sign.

Your desktop should then look like this:

Now start both Firefox and PC1 by right-clicking on the respective icon. Then select Start from the menu.

Testing the consoles

Test Telnet

Now test whether the main thing, the WebLauncher works. To do this, right-click on one of the VPCS and click on „Start“ in the menu. Repeat this process and click on „Console click on „Console“ this time. You may be asked to open the WebClient.

Now click on „Open GNS3 WebClient launcher“. The following window should now open.

If this is the case, then the WebLauncher objection for Telnet is working properly.

Test VNC console

To test the VNC console, it must first be activated in the Firefox system. To do this, right-click on the Firefox system. Then select Configure and scroll under General Settings all the way down. In the Console type select vnc and confirm with Apply:

Then right-click on the Firefox system again and select Consolewhereupon a connection via VNC should be established.

Test Spice console

To test the VNC console, it must first be activated in the Firefox system. To do this, right-click on the Firefox system. Then select Configure and scroll under General Settings all the way down. In the Console type select spice and confirm with Apply:

Then right-click on the Firefox system again and select Consolewhereupon a connection should be created via SPICE.

Test Packet Capture

Right-click on the black line between the switch and PC1.

Now click on „Start Capture“ in the drop-down menu. A new window opens. Now click on „Link type“ and select „Ethernet“ from the list. Also click on „Start the capture visualisation program“ so that a tick appears to the left of it. Now click on „OK“.

When the following message appears, click on „Open GNS3 WebClient Launcher“

The following window should now open.

The entire data history between PC1 and the switch is now displayed here.

☛ Do not forget to stop the packet capture in the GNS3 environment as well, otherwise recording will continue.