Step 01

Download the .ova file and deploy on virtualization platforms such as VirtualBox, VMWare,...

Enable virtualization on Vmware

Enable virtualization on ESXI

Note

• You must enable Virtualization to run Qemu Node.  
• You have to make sure Virtualization is enabled in your BIOS
• If Virtualization is not enabled you will meet this warning on the console screen: WARNING: neither Intel VT-x or AMD-V found

 Step 02: Register and Login

• Access to your box by a browser (through IP address in your PNETLab box - in my case, the IP address is: 192.168.17.135)
• Login by default account: root/pnet then complete the initial setup process. If you don't have any idea about any field just leave it default
• After finish the initial setup, If you want to use Online Mode you need to check the connection to internet.

• To check internet connection run commands: ping pnetlab.com; ping user.pnetlab.com, ping uploader.pnetlab.com, ping docker.io
• In case you can not ping to internet, please try:
  • Reset network adapter of virtualization platform (Vmware: Edit > Virtual network Editor > Restore Default)
  • Disable then enable virtual network card on your window (Vmware: vmnet 1 and vmnet 8)
  • Use only one virtualization platform (Vmware: uninstall virtualbox or hyper-v)

• You'll be linked to the Login form.

Note: 

There are two options, you can log in: Online and Offline mode (for more detail you can check this link: https://pnetlab.com/pages/documentation?slug=system-mode-in-pnetlab)

Offline Mode: 

• Don't need internet to work
• Don't need to register. Login by default account: admin/pnet
• Support full functions of PNETLab
• You can only download and use Open Labs (The Labs with "Open" in the top) on the Store
• You can not share or sell lab to the Store
• Limit 10 accounts (Can be upgraded but require internet)

Online Mode

• Need internet to work
• Need to register.
• Support full functions of PNETLab
• You can download and use all Labs on the Store
• You can share or sell lab to the Store
• Limit 10 accounts (Can be upgraded)

• If you select OFFLINE MODE: Just login by default account: admin/pnet then go to next steps.

• If Select Online Mode: You need to create an account. Make sure your PNETLab can connect to internet.

• If you still not have an account click on Sign Up.

• Fill in the Sign In form and click Register. A confirmation email will be sent to your email address in 2-3 minutes. Click the Verify button to complete your registration.

• After that, you can log into the PNETLab box and you can use hundreds of free labs

 Step 03: Go to Store

• After login to PNETLab Box from Vmware (with your IP address), Click to logo PNETLab then you will go to PNETLab Store

Note: There are a lot of Labs from Store, and All labs are free, when you download a lab, you will get Lab file, workbook and IOS (Go to Step 4 for more detail).

 Step 04: Get Lab and Learn

• From PNETLab Store, choose a lab as you want to practice (Example: Save Backups with Ansible)

• Click to Get Lab button

• Then click to Download button (Lab is included: lab file (unl),  and workbook)
• Note: PNETLab does not provide IOS anymore so you can not see any Dependency packages. All nodes in the lab will not be able to start, to fix please refer: LINK

• After completes download LAB (Lab file, IOS, and Workbook), click to Go to Lab button, then Lab will download to the folder: Your labs from PNETLab Store

• Practice your lab: Open lab then Start all nodes

• Open Workbook (Lab task)
• Console (There are two type of console: HTML Console and Native Console)
  • HTML Console: Turn on HTML console by click on button  HTML Console at the left sidebar menu.
  • Native Console: You need to install client packages. Refer: https://pnetlab.com/pages/documentation?slug=how-to-console-to-devices