This is my experiment in minimizing the CPU usage when working on GNS3/Dynamips. On this experiment I have use the Internetwork Expert Topology (INE) Version 5 which has 13 routers and uses 3725 IOS images.
If you need the topology just visit INE Website.
For this experiment I already obtain the ideal idlepc of the IOS version the topology uses.
This is the what inside the .NET file.
| autostart = False [localhost:7202] workingdir = C:\Gns3\workingDIR udp = 12000 [[3725]] image = C:\Gns3\IOS\c3725-adventerprisek9-mz.124-15.T5.bin ram = 128 ghostios = True idlepc = 0x60bed2e0 |
On the above .NET file I'm only using the idlepc to minimize the CPU usage. If you check the Task Manager we are using about 30% Utilization of the CPU for only the initial configuration of the INE Topology.
Now this is the .NET file which the idlepc+idlemax are use.
| autostart = False [localhost:7202] workingdir = C:\Gns3\workingDIR udp = 12000 [[3725]] image = C:\Gns3\IOS\c3725-adventerprisek9-mz.124-15.T5.bin ram = 128 ghostios = True idlepc = 0x60bed2e0 idlemax = 100 |
Wow.... The CPU utilization is only 3% which is 1/10th when using only the idlepc setting for the .NET file.
This just show that the combination of idlepc+idlemax is very useful when using GNS3/Dynamips.
PC Spec:
- Core i5-650
- 4GB Mem
- WinXP SP3
It's very usefull, this should be in doc in GNS3. I was close to buy new laptop, but idlemax helped me. Thank you.
ReplyDeletehey Brother could u pls tell me how to set idlemax
ReplyDeletein Gns3 i search but didn't get any option pls let me know
Hey Praveen,
ReplyDeleteJust look at the .net file created by the GNS3 and add the idlemax line.
Hi..
ReplyDeletei have just installed the gns3 and when i started a router my cpu usage reached to 100%, as above mentioned comments we need to change ildemax in .net file but where i can find this file.??
Can some one help me out? i tried to follow this yet my CPU spiked 100%. below is the idlemax value i added yet no difference.
ReplyDeleteautostart = False
[127.0.0.1:7200]
workingdir = C:\DOCUME~1\Karmesh\LOCALS~1\Temp
udp = 10000
[[3640]]
image = G:\LABS\IOS\c3640-ik9s-mz.124-25b.bin
idlepc = 0x60696f6c
idlemax = 100
sparsemem = True
@saha,
ReplyDeleteidlepc is IOS specific.. to get the proper idlepc 1.)Load a single router on the GNS3
2.)Power it up
3.)Console to the router
4.)get into privilege mode
5.)right click into the router and select idlepc calculation
6.)choose the value with *.
i hope this could help..
Thanks for this. Dropped my CPU 70%!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Worked on Ubuntu 10.10 by the way
ReplyDeleteYour welcome matt.. ^_^
ReplyDeleteThanks man. I was almost going to buy a new labtop too. Idlemax makes perfect. you're genious
ReplyDeleteGlad to have help....
ReplyDeletegood one
ReplyDelete....people like you save the world
There is now a much better that the Dynamips that the IOU but the only problem it is only for Cisco internal use.. hopefully they could provide one for FREE....
Deletesome say you could run the whole INE topology on an ATOM machine..