OML Labs is a browser-native, multi-vendor network simulator with the same canvas EVE-NG offers — minus the KVM permission rituals, FTP-only image upload, and dated jQuery UI. Plus an AI assistant that explains stuck protocols and one-clicks fixes.
EVE-NG ships an FTP server with default creds for image upload. On a shared lab network or a corporate VPN, that's a real audit finding. OML uses encrypted browser drag-and-drop — your image and credentials never traverse the wire in plaintext.
OSPF stuck in EXSTART? OML's NETO assistant reads the running config, finds the MTU mismatch, and offers a one-click fix. Runs on a local Ollama LLM — your configs never leave the appliance. EVE-NG has nothing like this.
EVE-NG asks you to install Ubuntu, configure KVM, set up bridged networking, fix permission errors, then prep images. OML is a single OVA that boots on ESXi/Workstation/VirtualBox/Proxmox/KVM. First topology drawn within 10 minutes flat.
OML labs can carry instructor-defined objectives that auto-grade student attempts. Export to CSV, drop into your LMS. EVE-NG is a sandbox; OML is a sandbox plus a study tool.
For SD-WAN and large topologies, the 2D canvas turns into spaghetti. OML offers an isometric 3D mode and a geographic map mode (pin sites to coordinates, watch tunnels). EVE-NG is 2D-only.
Browse and one-click-import 60+ ready-to-run labs (CCNA → CCIE) without leaving the canvas. EVE-NG forces you to forum-shop for .unl files and import them manually.
Not selling snake oil. EVE-NG has been around since 2015. Real strengths:
A decade of forum threads, blog walkthroughs and YouTube videos. If you Google "how to do X in EVE-NG", something exists. We're newer; tutorials are thinner.
A10, Citrix, F5, Aruba — if it has a virtual image, EVE-NG forum has a known-working procedure. We're closing the gap monthly but EVE-NG's catalog is wider right now.
Bottom line: if you've already invested days getting EVE-NG working and your topology library is mature, staying makes sense. If you're starting fresh — or you've spent your nth Saturday debugging KVM nested-virtualization permissions — OML will get you to "lab is running" today.
Free 5-node tier, full feature access (AI, snapshots, hot-plug, community labs). No credit card. Boots on every major hypervisor.