Asav9-12-2-9.qcow2 Download [better]
When booting the virtual firewall for the first time, look for these standard operational behaviors to confirm it is configured properly: CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Cisco ASAv - GNS3
: Without a Smart License , throughput is limited to 100 Kbps , which is sufficient for basic connectivity testing but not for production or heavy traffic simulation. 5. Official Documentation
Pre-download checklist
While 100 Kbps is entirely sufficient for configuring interfaces, testing OSPF/BGP routing protocols, or verifying ACL logic, it is unusable for passing meaningful production traffic or testing large file transfers over VPN. Asav9-12-2-9.qcow2 Download
Which are you using? (EVE-NG, GNS3, KVM, or VMware?)
Unlike .vmdk (VMware) or .ova (Open Virtual Appliance) files, the .qcow2 format is optimized for performance in open-source environments. It supports thin provisioning, meaning the file only takes up as much space on your physical hard drive as is actually written to the virtual disk. Use Cases for ASAv 9.12.2.9
Go to the official Cisco Software Download Center: http://www.cisco.com/go/asa-software . When booting the virtual firewall for the first
While the image will boot without a license, it is typically restricted to very low throughput (usually 100Kbps) until a valid Cisco Smart License is applied. This "lab mode" is sufficient for learning CLI commands but unsuitable for production traffic.
To download and set up the image, follow this guide based on official Cisco documentation and community integration practices for environments like GNS3 or EVE-NG . 1. Download the Image
Stay secure, stay virtualized. Use Cisco ASAv responsibly. It supports thin provisioning, meaning the file only
GNS3 provides a streamlined method via an appliance template:
(Press Enter if prompted for a password, as it is blank by default).
EVE-NG manages virtual nodes via a structured Linux directory layout rather than automated setup packages.
The ASAv is a virtualized network security solution based on Cisco's ASA 5500-X Series firewalls. It provides complete firewall functionality in virtualized environments, ensuring secure data center traffic and multi-tenant environments. This particular build, 9.12(2)-9, includes specific enhancements and stability fixes of its time. Cisco officially notes that from version 9.13(1), any ASAv license can be used on any supported vCPU/memory configuration, but for version 9.12, licensing and resource mapping must be carefully matched.
Once completed, the ASAv node will turn from gray to selectable within your EVE-NG web interface topology builder. Licensing and Smart Licensing Constraints