REPOST

We have all experienced a time when working in GNS3 and we _think_ we saved the the topology and router configurations. So you open GNS3 and load that config, start them routers, watch them boot all the way to the painful prompt

Would you like to enter the initial configuration dialog? [yes/no]:

And your hard work is GONE!

Have you wanted to contribute your labs, but don’t know how to package it all up?

Well my buddy Josh blogged about the 1st thing we should all do when starting a new lab.

Follow these steps to save your project. When the project is re-opened, router configurations will be in tact.

1. Open GNS3
2. Start a lab with objects (routers, pix, switches, etc)
3. Click ‘File > New Project’ instead of ‘File > Save’.
4. Make sure ‘Export Router Configuration Files’ and ‘Keep working directory files’ are checked.
5. Click ‘Yes’ to Apply project settings to the current topology.

GNS3 – How to save labs with router configs

After following Josh’s steps you will then ZIP up all the folders EXCEPT the Working Directory. Send everything else to me and I can take it from there posting your lab.

Be sure to take a screenshot of your lab with the proper credits to you before you ZIP your lab.

You can do this by going to

1. File
2. Export
3. Give the file a name
4. Save it to the same directory you created earlier for the lab/project

Using this method helps you keep your labs nice and organized and save you a lot of frustration!

- Lenny

Tags: BlindHog, Exporting and Saving GNS3 Router Configs, GNS3, GNS3 Tips