For one host running both Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) and EVE-NG, Intel is the lower-risk choice on the official compatibility evidence: Cisco says CML is fully supported only on Intel processors, while EVE-NG documents support for Intel and some AMD configurations. That does not make every Intel CPU suitable. Start with CML’s minimum of 4 or more physical cores, verify virtualization support and host configuration, then size for the lab nodes you will run at the same time.
Which CPU is the best choice for CML and EVE-NG?
There is no official model ranking or comparable CPU benchmark for either product in the cited documentation. Choose by compatibility, available physical cores, virtualization exposure, and the demands of your specific node images—not by a processor’s marketing tier alone.
- For a shared CML and EVE-NG host: favor an Intel processor that supports VT-x/EPT. Cisco’s current requirements say CML is fully supported only on Intel; some bundled reference platform images run only on Intel.
- For an EVE-NG-only host: AMD may be an option if the required nested virtualization is available. EVE-NG names Ryzen 3900 and newer AMD EPYC as expected to work, while advising users to consult support about CPU tuning.
- For either platform: meet the product’s virtualization requirements and size beyond the bare minimum if your intended topology needs it.
These are compatibility and planning recommendations, not claims that one processor is faster than another.
What CPU does CML require?
Cisco’s current system-requirements page, identified as CML v2.10 in search results, specifies an Intel processor supporting VT-x/EPT for the documented minimum VM configuration. That minimum is 4 or more physical CPU cores, 8 GB of memory, one network interface, and at least 32 GB of disk. Cisco warns that a minimum configuration limits node count and performance; it is a starting point, not a guarantee that a particular lab will run well. See Cisco’s CML 2.10 system requirements.
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Cisco distinguishes application operation from full platform support: CML services may run on Intel or AMD, but non-Intel bare-metal installations are best effort, and full bare-metal support is limited to specified Cisco UCS server platforms. The page also notes that some bundled reference platform VM images only run on Intel. For a shared CML/EVE-NG machine, this makes Intel the safer documented choice, but it does not establish that every Intel model or deployment is supported.
Does EVE-NG support AMD Ryzen or EPYC?
EVE-NG’s official supported-hardware page allows either Intel VT-x/EPT or nested AMD EPT, provided the required feature is enabled. It says AMD Ryzen 3900 and newer AMD EPYC processors are expected to work, recommends contacting EVE support for CPU tuning, and warns that older AMD series can have issues. These statements are EVE-NG guidance; they do not establish equivalent CML support. Review the current EVE-NG supported hardware and software systems before choosing an AMD host.
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EVE-NG also lists supported deployment software and environments, including Proxmox, VMware ESXi 6.7 or later, VMware Workstation/Player 16 or later, VMware Fusion 8 or later, and a Google Cloud platform VM. CPU compatibility alone does not confirm that a complete host-and-hypervisor setup meets the platform’s requirements.
How many cores do you need for a network lab?
Use CML’s 4-or-more-physical-core minimum only as the floor for its documented VM configuration. Neither official source provides a universal CPU-to-node ratio or a core-count recommendation that guarantees a given topology will perform well. Node count by itself is not enough: image types and configurations have different resource demands.
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Estimate the simultaneous workload
Cisco advises planning for the maximum number and types of nodes expected to run at once. Add the nominal CPU, memory, and at least minimum disk requirements for each node across the labs you expect to run concurrently. Active lab nodes determine most of the sizing; Cisco says idle CML server services use about 1 GB of memory and very little CPU. Actual use depends on the node type, image, and configuration.
Use per-node figures cautiously
Cisco’s FAQ contains historical CML v2.0 examples: IOSv is listed at 1 vCPU and 512 MB of memory, IOS-XRv 9000 at 2 vCPUs and 12 GB, and NX-OS 9000 at 2 vCPUs and 6 GB. These are examples from the v2.0 FAQ, not current sizing promises for later releases or every image configuration. Cisco also explains that CML over-provisions hardware for virtualization and uses same-page merging to reduce memory use. Consult the CML v2.0 FAQ as historical context, not as a substitute for the requirements of the images you plan to use.
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What to check before buying or configuring a CPU
- Choose the deployment: decide whether CML, EVE-NG, or both will run, and whether the lab platform will be installed on bare metal or inside another VM.
- Check CPU virtualization features: for CML’s documented minimum, verify Intel VT-x/EPT. For EVE-NG, verify Intel VT-x/EPT or nested AMD EPT as appropriate.
- Check firmware and hypervisor settings: enable hardware virtualization in firmware, and confirm the host hypervisor exposes the required features to a guest if CML or EVE-NG runs inside a VM. CML’s general VM requirements also mention VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI flags for nested virtualization; its full-support statement nevertheless favors Intel.
- Count physical cores and size the whole host: meet CML’s minimum where applicable, then account for concurrent nodes, their image-specific CPU and memory needs, and the host platform’s requirements.
- Verify the exact model and platform: check the processor, motherboard or server, firmware, hypervisor, and current product guidance together. A CPU family name alone does not confirm compatibility or support.
What the official documentation does—and does not—establish
The documentation establishes baseline virtualization requirements and some platform guidance, but it does not compare named CPU models, publish current CML/EVE-NG performance benchmarks, or specify a universal core count for a target number of nodes. Treat recommendations such as a particular Core i7, Xeon, Ryzen, or EPYC model as unverified unless you have current model-specific compatibility information and measurements for your workload.
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