Get started
Menus and toolbars
Know every major control in the VEX-NX UI before you dig into Labs or Images.
Goal
Know every major control in the VEX-NX UI before you dig into Labs or Images.
How the product is laid out
| Area | Job |
|---|---|
| Home | Dashboard - what should I do next? |
| Labs | Create and open topologies |
| Lab workspace | Inside one lab: Design, Operate, Visualize (plus Classroom / Preview on the bar) |
| Images / Containers | Disks, templates, and Docker/OCI inventory |
| Guided Labs / Lab Hub | Packaged scenarios and curated packages |
| Config / Automation Studio | Multi-node config and playbooks |
| Assist / Traffic / Capture | LLM help, utilization paint, PCAP center |
| Infrastructure / Cluster / Reports | Host health, agents, operational reports |
| Documentation | Opens docs.vex-nx.com in a new tab |
| Administration | Users, licence, Assist LLM, Security (mostly admins) |
Suggested first week: Home checks -> Guided Lab -> Design lightly -> Operate Start -> Terminal. Use Images when you need vendor disks. Use Infrastructure only if networking or KVM looks wrong. Full capability list: Features.
Top bar (every page)
| Control | Why it exists | Beginner tip |
|---|---|---|
| Menu (hamburger) | Collapse the sidebar for more canvas space | Collapse when working in the lab workspace |
| Brand + subtitle | Shows where you are (Home, Labs, Lab workspace, ...) | Orient yourself after deep links |
| Search / Ctrl+K | Jump to pages and commands without hunting the sidebar | Type labs, import, or catalog |
| Save chip (on a lab) | Confirms topology saves are happening | Brief flicker is normal |
| Local / Simulator | Real appliance vs fabric simulation | Production OVA should say Local |
| Health pill | API / platform status | Red or offline -> refresh or check the appliance |
| Theme select + sun/moon | Comfort for long sessions | Pick once; it sticks |
| User chip | Change password / sign out | Change the default password on day 1 |
Example: You forgot where Import lives. Press Ctrl+K, type import, open Images Import.
Left sidebar
The live OS app launcher lists the full surface (Dashboard, Labs, Nodes, Networks, Templates/Images, Containers, Automation, Guided Labs, Classroom, Lab Hub, Topology Designer, Configuration Studio, Assist, Traffic Lens, System Monitor, Packet Capture, Reports, Cluster, Administration). Older "Build / Operate / Learn / Admin" groupings may still appear in some chrome - use Ctrl+K search if an app is not pinned.
| Section | Item | Why it is there |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Home | Resume work and check capacity before heavy Starts |
| Labs | All create / open paths for topologies | |
| Images | Without disks (or Docker seeds), many nodes cannot Start | |
| Operate | Infrastructure | Fix KVM / Docker signals and cloud NIC mapping |
| Cluster | Agents and image sync for distributed labs | |
| Learn | Documentation | Long guides stay outside the appliance UI |
| Admin | Administration | Multi-user classroom, licence, Assist key |
Which page for which problem?
| Problem | Go to |
|---|---|
| "I want my first working lab" | Labs -> Guided Labs (Bronze / Foundations) |
"I have show run text" | Labs -> Generate Lab |
"I have a .unl ZIP from another tool" | Labs -> Migrate Lab |
| "Someone sent a VEX-NX zip" | Labs -> Import Lab |
| "I have Containerlab YAML" | Labs -> Import Containerlab (Containerlab Passport) |
| "Edit many device configs" | Configuration Studio |
| "Run a playbook" | Automation Studio |
| "Cisco / Arista disk missing" | Images -> Import |
| "KVM red / no nested virt" | Home Host checks, then Infrastructure |
| "Stable management IP" | Infrastructure -> Management network (admin) |
| "Assist chips disabled" | Administration -> Assist LLM + licence |