Packet
Tracer Introduction
Packet Tracer is a
simulator provided by CISCO’S learning academy Netacad. Packet Tracer is a program used to
illustrate at a basic level how networks work.
It shows that how devices talk with
each other through packets and how devices behave in a network. It is helpful
software a candidate who wants is going to take CCNA (CISCO CERTIFIED NETWORK
ASSOCIATE) Exam.
We will see how it looks and what
it can perform. Let’s have a look after successfully installed on any machine.
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| Packet Tracer |
This is the first screen which you will see after
installation. It has many sections as you can see. I will describe only few
sections because explaining all sections will cause a very long tutorial and
less interesting tutorial.
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| Packet Tracer |
1. This is said to be device type selection box which is shaded
with red color. Now as you can see that there are two circles inside the main
circle which is shaded with black color. On the left side circle, there is a
box which contains different types of devices like Pc’s, laptops, switches, routers
and many other devices. On the right circle you will see different types of
particular device models like here you can see that Routers is showing on the
left side and at the right side you can see different models of routers.
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| Packet Tracer |
2. This is the vertical tool bar. This bar provides
access to these commonly used workspace tools like
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Select
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Move Layout
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Place Note
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Delete
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Inspect
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Add Simple PDU
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Add Complex PDU
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| Packet Tracer |
3. Real time or simulation bar. This is the bar which tells
you that either you are performing simulation like real world. In real time you
will not see any packets flowing. You can always toggle to simulation in which
you can see PDU’s flowing and you can view colorful packets moving around the
network.
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| Packet Tracer |
4. Workspace: This is the main area where you perform all
your work like putting devices, creating networks.
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| Packet Tracer |
5. Workspace type bar: This bar also has two modes
1.
Logical workspace
2.
Physical workspace
You will be performing 95% of simulation
in logical workspace but it does not mean that physical workspace has nothing
to do. Physical workspace is the place where you can inspect the length
criteria of devices and cables. It really helps when you want to know about
specific cable maximum range or wireless router range.
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| Packet Tracer |
6. This section manages the PDU’s you put in the network
during simulation scenarios. You can see that whether your PDU has successfully
reached to destination or not.
Packet Tracer is a simulator so it
has so many things which cannot be written in a short tutorial. You can render
your network or device, you can set background image in Packet Tracer. It also
provide clustering the devices in which you hide your infrastructure from
current viewing (don’t worry you can click at clustered area and you can access
your things which you hide). We will use this technique it is quite easy but it has a very nice impact on others.
This is the just introduction of
Packet Tracer that how does Packet Tracer look like and some information
relating to Packet Tracer, hope you will like it.
