# Start netlab Tools without Changing Topology File

DevFeed: [Start netlab Tools without Changing Topology File](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/start-netlab-tools-without-changing-topology-file-11204.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2025/06/netlab-start-tools/>)

Published: 2025-06-30T07:14:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [IS-IS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/is-is.md>), [Network](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/network.md>), [Cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cisco.md>), [Tool](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tool.md>), [P2P](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/p2p.md>)

Tags: [cisco](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cisco.md>), [ietf](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ietf.md>), [is-is](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/is-is.md>), [netlab](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/netlab.md>), [network](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/network.md>), [p2p](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/p2p.md>), [tools](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tools.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains how to enable the Edgeshark tool in netlab without modifying individual lab topology files. It uses an environment-variable default and a reproduced IS-IS integration test to investigate interoperability with older IOSv images. The investigation finds that FRRouting and Arista EOS accept Cisco routers sending pre-standard P2P IS-IS hello messages with missing sub-TLVs.

## Source excerpt

Dan Partelly figured out that we have to configure the standard (IETF) 3-way IS-IS handshake on old IOSv images. On the other hand, all IS-IS integration tests pass for IOSv and IOSvL2. I wondered what was going on. Fortunately, a few months ago, I spent some time installing the client-side Edgeshark components on my laptop. All I needed to do was enable the edgeshark tool in my lab topology and restart the lab. Read more ...