Cisco IOS-XR(ASR-9k) Router emulation in VirtualBox and Integration with GNS

Recently, I needed to use some advanced features of the Cisco IOS-XR router within the GNS topology. However, GNS doesn't have any ASR 9k series router and also, getting the IOS-XR iso/bin image is very difficult. I decided to use IOS-XRv software to emulate the VM in Oracle virtual box. However, the implementation drove me nuts. It ain't so easy as it looks.

Here are the proper steps which ensure IOS-XR router emulation without any issues.  

To emulate cisco asr9k router in VirtualBox for GNS, follow these steps:

1. Download  asr9k ova image from the link: https://upload.cisco.com/cgi-bin/swc/fileexg/main.cgi?CONTYPES=Cisco-IOS-XRv. You need to provide Cisco credentials (or register if not present)
2. Install & configure VirtualBox, follow the link: http://www.if-not-true-then-false.com/2010/install-virtualbox-with-yum-on-fedora-centos-red-hat-rhel/comment-page-3/
   Alternatively, follow these two steps:
1. Download VirtualBox rpm:  wget http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.3.20/VirtualBox-4.3-4.3.20_96996_el6-1.x86_64.rpm
2.    Install VirtualBox rpm:     rpm -Uvh VirtualBox-4.3-4.3.20_96996_el6-1.x86_64.rpm
3. Launch VirtualBox & import the asr9k ova image downloaded in step1. Follow the steps in link: http://www.noshutdown.ma/ios-xrv-step-step-install-gns3-integration/

Few Important Points to be noted during IOS XR emulation via ova image in VirtualBox & integration with GNS:

1. Launch GNS & Virtual Box as ROOT.
2. Use Network adaptor as host-only-adaptor in VM.( U need to first add host-only-adaptor from preferences-> network)
3. Provide all the available Graphics memory for each VM.
4. Use OS as Type=Linux & Version=Other Linux(64bit)
5. Enable Serial Port=Com1, mode=host pipe
6. In GNS, from preferences-> VirtualBox-> VirtualBoxGuest subtab, add the VM with following options:
1. Enable Console Support
2. Start in headless mode(Without GUI)  
7. Add the VirtualGuest in GNS, start & console to it from GNS. Then it will prompt from root-system username & password. Enter any arbitrary username (For e.g. you own name )
8. Enter password as [hit delete button] [any_arbitrary_password]
9. After Configuring the IPs/Interfaces in IOS XR, Delete & re-create links to make the connectivity working.
10. To Increase the no of Interfaces in IOS XR, click on Router-> Configuration, Change the NICs. After this stop the IOS XR router & start.

That's all you need to do to leverage IOS-XR functionality in GNS.