This version (9.12.2.9) supports up to with 4 vCPUs.

You may need to download Asav9-12-2-9.qcow2 for several reasons:

: Use a Telnet console. The default baud rate for ASA hardware is 9600, though virtual appliances typically use standard Telnet parameters.

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.

GNS3 provides a streamlined method via an appliance template: