Building a Home SASE Lab with EVE-NG

 Step 1: Installing EVE-NG on VMware

• Installed EVE-NG Community Edition using ISO on VMware

• Configured hostname and root password

• Ensured VM network adapter was set to NAT

• Verified IP address assigned to the VM

Step 2: Accessing EVE-NG Web Interface

• Accessed EVE via browser using:

  http://<EVE-IP>

• Encountered login issues → resolved by resetting admin credentials in database

• Successfully logged in with:

  username: admin

• password: ...

Step 3: Adding First Node (VPCS)

• Downloaded VPCS image on Windows

• Uploaded it to:

  /opt/unetlab/addons/qemu/vpcs/

• Fixed permissions:

  /opt/unetlab/wrappers/unl_wrapper -a fixpermissions

• Added VPCS node via:

  Add Object → Node

Step 4: Connecting and Testing Nodes

• Added two VPCS nodes

• Connected them using network links

• Assigned IP addresses:

  ip 192.168.1.2/24 ip 192.168.1.3/24

• Verified connectivity using:

  ping

Step 5: Adding a Cisco Router

• Uploaded Cisco router image to:

  /opt/unetlab/addons/dynamips/c3725/

• Fixed permissions

• Added router node to lab

• Accessed CLI and configured basic settings

Final Result

• Fully working EVE-NG lab environment

• Successfully deployed:

  • Virtual PCs (VPCS)

  • Cisco Router

• Verified network connectivity

Conclusion

This setup provides a powerful and flexible environment for hands-on practice in networking and cybersecurity. By combining virtualization and real network images, EVE-NG enables building enterprise-level labs directly on a personal machine.