NETWORKING: PACKET TRACER

INTRODUCTION TO PACKET TRACER

The Packet tracer is a networking tool that helps you learn networking through hands on.  This tool  is able to help you master the networking skills on the desktop.

You can use the packet tracer to:

• Sharpen your skills for a job interview
• Prepare for a certification exam
• Practice networking while learning

  

  
  

Introduction to Packet Tracer

Packet tracer is a tool that simulates real networks.  It provides three main menus:

• Add devices and connect them via cables and wireless
• Select, Delete, Inspect, Label and Group components within your network
• Manage your network

Getting Started with Packet Tracer

As the packet tracer simulates networks and network traffic,  the physical aspects of these networks also needs to be simulated.

Finding a device to deploy requires looking into the Device-Type Selection Box

Packet Tracer Deploying Services

Packet Tracer Deploying Devices Packet Tracer File - email to me @ packet tracer resource

Packet Tracer Deploying and Cabling Devices

Device Configuration Video

Packet Tracer - GUI & CLI CONFIGURATION

For intermediate devices such as routers and switches, there are two methods of configuration available. Devices can be configured or investigated via a Config tab (a GUI interface) or a command line interface (CLI) (Figure 1). The Config tab does not exist in most physical equipment. This tab is a learning tab in Packet Tracer. If you don’t know how to use the command line interface, this tab provides a way to “fill in the blank” to do basic configurations. It will show the equivalent CLI commands that would do the same thing if using the Command Line Interface. The CLI interface requires knowledge of device configuration.

For some of the end devices, such as PCs and laptops, Packet Tracer provides a desktop interface that gives you access to IP configuration, wireless configuration, a command prompt, a Web browser, and much more (Figure 2).

If you are configuring a server, the server has all of the functions of the Host with the addition of one more tab, the services tab (Figure 3). This tab allows a server to be configured as a web server, a DHCP server, a DNS server, or various other servers visible in the graphic. credits to CISCO

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

TASK 1

Students are required to click on this given file and complete TASK 1.   All instructions can be found on the file. The tutor will guide you through.

Student support and resources:

Students are given support on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Students can also follow this link to get a copy of the Packet Tracer.

HOW TO USE PACKET TRACER SIMULATION MODE

This mode allows you to verify device connectivity and to study how the various types of data traverse your network.

Packet Tracer provides a Simulation mode that allows you to create and capture PDUs to check several functions within your network, such as:

• Basic Connectivity – Can all devices communicate with each other?

• Security – Are access lists functioning as designed?

• Applications and Services – Are applications and services such as DNS, HTTP, and FTP functioning as designed?

The default mode for Packet Tracer is Realtime mode. In Realtime mode the time is continuously running as indicated by the clock in the lower right hand corner of the worksheet. In Simulation mode, time can be stopped or slowed to allow users to view data traffic one packet at a time. Simulation mode is used to observe network traffic in detail with time controlled directly by the user.

Click Play in the video to see how to use Simulation mode to create simple PDUs to replicate ICMP and ARP functionality and how to create more complex PDUs from a list of protocols such as DNS, HTTP, Telnet, SSH, FTP, and many more.

VIEWING THE CONTENT OF PDUs

Once the PDUs have been captured, you have several ways to view their contents. Viewing the contents of the PDUs can be used to verify connectivity, verify functionality, and troubleshoot issues. It is also a great tool for studying or reviewing the contents of the OSI model layers and the mechanisms of communication.

If viewed in OSI Model mode, you see a summary of the addresses and contents of the headers at each layer. If you select Inbound or Outbound PDU Details, the exact format of the appropriate headers is displayed.

Click Play in the video to see how to view PDUs.

PACKET TRACER - EXPLORE NETWORK FUNCTIONALITY USING PDUs

The PACKET TRACER PHYSICAL VIEW VIDEO

Now that you know the purpose and the use of the menus in the logical workspace, we will move on to learn about the physical workspace in Packet Tracer. The default view for Packet Tracer is Logical, which is equivalent to creating a logical diagram for the network. The other type of diagram used in networking is the physical diagram which not only shows the relationships of the network devices but also applies building and distance factors in making the design.

Packet Tracer has the physical workspace that allows you to make your network more realistic by adding backgrounds, buildings, and wiring closets. These features are important for documentation, design, and visualization. You can see the actual layout of the network within a room or a building. This provides valuable information into the flow of traffic and the suitability and placement of equipment. The Physical view also has a great feature that shows the wireless coverage areas based on your equipment placement within buildings.

In this section, you will learn to:

• Navigate the physical workspace.

• Add cities, corporate offices, and branch offices.

• Add backgrounds into the cities and offices.

• Add wiring closets to the offices.

• Place networking devices into racks within the closets.

When the Physical view is shown, the basic organizational scheme is the following:

a.    intercity
b.    city
c.    building
d.    wiring closet

A user is able to add as many cities, buildings, and wiring closets as they need; however, there can only be one intercity. Containers of smaller sizes can be added at any level but larger containers cannot be added into smaller containers. For example, a building can be added to the intercity, but a city cannot be added to a building, and a building cannot be added to a wiring closet.

Click Play in the video to learn how to use the features of the physical workspace.

Complete task 2. 

PACKET TRACER FILE TYPE

Packet Tracer has the ability to create three different types of files. These file types are used for different purposes and include: .pkt, .pkz, and .pka.

The .pkt file type is used when a simulated network is built in Packet Tracer and saved. The .pkt file can also have backgrounds embedded within it.

The .pkz file type is not used very often. It is a compressed file that allows the inclusion of other files, such as .pdf files, along with the Packet Tracer files.

The .pka file type is a Packet Tracer Activity file. This file type contains a Packet Tracer activity plus an instruction window. The instructions provide a walkthrough of the necessary processes required to complete the activity, assignment, or assessment. The instruction window also contains a completion percentage to track how much of the activity has been successfully completed. There is also a Check Results feature that can be configured to provide feedback.

Click Play in the video to see the differences and uses of each of the three file types.

PACKET TRACER ASSESSMENT TYPE

Packet Tracer is used in the Networking Academy to assist in the design, creation and testing of networks and network applications. Packet Tracer is also used for purposes of self-evaluation, practice, and formal assessment. This section will display and discuss PTSAs and PTMOs.

A PTMO (Packet Tracer as a Media Object) is an assessment item where a Packet Tracer Activity is part of the assessment item. Once the .pka is loaded, the student is provided with a small set of instructions to be completed. Once completed, they are able to return to the item to answer the question based on their work. PTMOs can be used by themselves or as an item on a quiz or final exam.

A PTSA (Packet Tracer Skills Assessment) is used as a standalone skills-based assessment complete with a full set of instructions. Students are required to build, modify, and/or troubleshoot a network. PTSAs are often done in a timed environment. Once the student has completed the activity, they submit their work to netacad.com. Some PTSAs are configured to allow students to save their work and continue at a later time.

Once a PTSA has been completed, the student will receive their score plus item level feedback. They also see a list of objectives of the PTSA along with information about what they did right and what they did wrong. All forms of feedback are intended to assist the student to improve their skills.

Click Play in the video to see examples of the different assessment uses of Packet Tracer.