This page covers common configuration steps for GNS3 deployments.
Configure the GNS3 server to listen on the correct interface:
- Edit the server configuration file (typically
~/.config/GNS3/gns3.conf)
- Set the local host binding:
[Server]
local_host = 0.0.0.0 # Listen on all interfaces
port = 3080
For remote compute servers:
- Open GNS3 GUI
- Go to Edit → Preferences → Servers
- Add your remote server:
- Host: Server IP address
- Port: 3080
- Username/Password: If authentication is enabled
- Go to Edit → Preferences → QEMU → QEMU VMs
- Click New to add a VM
- Configure:
- Name: VM identifier
- QEMU binary: Select appropriate binary
- RAM: Memory allocation
- Disk: Virtual disk image
- Network adapters: Number and type
- Go to Edit → Preferences → Docker → Docker containers
- Click New and select from available images
- Configure network interfaces and port mappings
- Enable auto-save for topologies
- Set save interval (recommended: 5-10 minutes)
- Create project snapshots before major changes
- Store snapshots in version control for recovery
- Test connectivity to all configured servers
- Launch a simple topology to verify emulation works
- Check server logs at
~/.config/GNS3/gns3_server.log