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Free Cisco SD-Access Virtual Lab PDF: Build a Self-Practice Fabric on EVE-NG

Reviewed 2026-07-09

NetworkingFREE
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It walks you through building a full Cisco SD-Access virtual lab for self-practice: Catalyst Center, ISE, and Catalyst 9000v switches running on EVE-NG and ESXi. You get the resource sizing, the topology, the connectivity map, and working config for the fusion router, NAT router, and border node. Built for CCNP Enterprise and CCIE candidates who want hands-on fabric practice without buying hardware.

Yes, this SD-Access lab guide is a free download. Drop your email below and the 24-slide PDF lands in your inbox. No payment.

It walks you through building a full Cisco SD-Access virtual lab for self-practice: Catalyst Center, ISE, and Catalyst 9000v switches running on EVE-NG and ESXi. You get the resource sizing, the topology, the connectivity map, and working config for the fusion router, NAT router, and border node. Built for CCNP Enterprise and CCIE candidates who want hands-on fabric practice without buying hardware.

SD-Access is hard to practise. The gear is expensive, and most people never touch a real fabric before the exam. This guide fixes that with a virtual build you can run on one workstation.

It’s a slide deck, not a novel. Screens, tables, and config you can copy. Follow it top to bottom and you’ll have a working Catalyst Center fabric with an employee, contractor, and printer VN segmented by SGT.

What’s inside

  • Catalyst 9000v positioning – where the C9Kv sits in the Catalyst 9000 family, and why it’s its own PID and SKU
  • UADP vs Silicon One variants – memory needs (18GB vs 12GB), feature differences, and the board_id values to set the data plane (20612 vs 20613)
  • What actually gets tested – interfaces, management, overlay control and data plane (BGP EVPN VXLAN), and underlay routing (eBGP, ECMP, route-maps)
  • Lab resource sizing – a clear table: Catalyst Center 2.3.7.x (32 vCPU / 256GB / 500GB), ISE 3.4+ (4 / 16 / 120GB), Catalyst 9000v 17.15 (4 vCPU / 18GB / 20GB per node)
  • Lab connectivity map – how ESXi and EVE-NG tie together through a physical switch, VLAN 11, OOB management, and NAT to the internet
  • Install Catalyst Center on ESXi – OVA deployment, storage, and the Maglev config wizard step by step (network adapters, cluster IP, NTP, passwords)
  • Prepare EVE-NG Community – install notes and where to get the C9000v image
  • Example topology – fabric underlay loopbacks, L3 handoff, and a CAMPUS virtual network with Employee, Contractor, and Printer SGTs
  • Working config – fusion switch, NAT router, border node (BNCP), plus license activation on the C9000v (network-advantage + dna-advantage)

Who it’s for

  • CCNP Enterprise (ENCOR / ENARSI) students who need real SD-Access reps
  • CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure candidates building fabric muscle memory
  • Network engineers moving from traditional campus to SD-Access
  • Lab builders who want a proven EVE-NG plus ESXi topology instead of guessing at resource sizing

This is advanced. If you’re still on CCNA routing basics, start with our EIGRP and BGP guides first.

Frequently asked questions

Is this SD-Access lab PDF really free?
Yes. Free download. Enter your email and we send the link. No card, no paywall.
What's in the file and how long is it?
It's a 24-slide PDF. It covers Catalyst 9000v basics, lab resource sizing, connectivity, Catalyst Center install on ESXi, EVE-NG prep, an example fabric topology, and working config for the fusion, NAT, and border devices.
What do I need to run this lab?
A workstation with enough resources for Catalyst Center (32 vCPU, 256GB RAM recommended per the guide), plus EVE-NG for the Catalyst 9000v nodes. The guide lists exact sizing.
Do I need real Cisco hardware?
No. That's the point. The whole fabric runs virtually on EVE-NG and ESXi with the Catalyst 9000v image.
Which Catalyst Center version does it use?
The guide is built around Catalyst Center 2.3.7.x with ISE 3.4+ and Catalyst 9000v 17.15. Check Cisco's site for the current release before you download images.

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02026-07-09

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How to cite this resource

SMEnode Labs (2026). Free Cisco SD-Access Virtual Lab PDF: Build a Self-Practice Fabric on EVE-NG. SMEnode Labs. https://smenode-labs.com/free-pdf/networking/cisco-sd-access-virtual-lab-pdf/

APA

SMEnode Labs. (2026). Free Cisco SD-Access Virtual Lab PDF: Build a Self-Practice Fabric on EVE-NG. SMEnode Labs. https://smenode-labs.com/free-pdf/networking/cisco-sd-access-virtual-lab-pdf/

BibTeX

@misc{smenodelabs2026,
  title = {Free Cisco SD-Access Virtual Lab PDF: Build a Self-Practice Fabric on EVE-NG},
  author = {{SMEnode Labs}},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://smenode-labs.com/free-pdf/networking/cisco-sd-access-virtual-lab-pdf/},
  note = {SMEnode Labs}
}