Restarting the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator...

Restarting the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Last night, I re-acquainted myself with the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator.

Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

When I started studying for the CCNA certification a couple of years ago, I went ahead and bought a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator. The CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide from Cisco Press came with a demonstration copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator on an included DVD. The author of the Official Cert Guide, Wendell Odom, recommended trying out the Network Simulator.

After trying out the sample exercises on my Dell laptop, I was impressed enough with the product to download my own copy from Pearson's website.

Creating Your Own Computer Networks

As you study for the CCNA certification, you will eventually want to try to make your own computer network diagram, also called a logical topology diagram, consisting of switches, routers, desktop computers, laptop computers, cell phones, printers, and so on. In addition, you will also want to try using Cisco's command line interface (CLI) program, known as the Cisco IOS, to configure all of those switches, routers, desktop and laptop computers, cell phones, and printers for your computer network. The Cisco IOS looks and feels quite similar to the Command Prompt for Windows. Creating your own logical topology diagram and then properly configuring every device on the diagram are both very important skills to know how to do.

Fortunately, there are several computer programs available that will assist you with both tasks. Just know that there are things to know about each program.

CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

The CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator from Pearson Vue, the program that I recently re-started using, is probably the program to get if you want experience with using the Cisco IOS. Beginning with Chapter 4 of the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, you get several exercises per chapter that focus on using the Cisco IOS to accomplish various tasks. For the most part, the exercises guide you step-by-step until completion. The idea is to get the user comfortable using the Cisco IOS. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of commands for the Cisco IOS, so you might as well just jump in headfirst. With each succeeding chapter from the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, the exercises get a little longer and a little more complex. One thing that the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator does not do is let you create your own logical topology diagrams. The program does have logical topology diagrams; however, the diagrams are to illustrate what the network looks like. You cannot make any changes to the diagram. The main focus of the Network Simulator, based on my experience, is getting comfortable using the Cisco IOS. I highly recommend buying a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, which will cost you approximately $100 to download from Pearson Vue.

Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Cisco Packet Tracer

You can also use Cisco's Packet Tracer program. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you create your own logical topology diagrams with Cisco-approved icons. With Cisco Packet Tracer, you don't have to use the Cisco IOS to configure devices. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you click on radio buttons and/or manually enter items like IPv4 or IPv6 addresses or default gateways without entering into the Cisco IOS. You can pick and choose what icons you want to have on your diagram and then choose how to connect the devices with the click of a mouse. However, if you want to manually configure a device in the Cisco IOS, you can do that to. In fact, if you configure a device without using the Cisco IOS, Cisco Packet Tracer will automatically generate the appropriate commands in the Cisco IOS. I kid you not. The idea of Cisco Packet Tracer is to replicate the experience of having phyiscal networking equipment on a computer without having to buy networking equipment. Cisco Packet Tracer was designed for users with ZERO netowrking experience. In case you didn't know, many of those home networking kits that you can buy on the internet from vendors can be quite expensive depending on the equipment and the options you want. Best of all, Cisco Packet Tracer is F-R-E-E from Cisco. Yes, Cisco doesn't charge a penny for Cisco Packet Tracer. However, you do have to register with Cisco Networking Academy to download the program. With all of the great things that Cisco Packet Tracer does, do you need to buy your own home networking equipment to experiment with? No, you don't. I have a friend who passed the CCNA certification exam by only using Cisco Packet Tracer. On the other hand, if you can afford to buy a home networking kit, then more power to you. Buying a home networking kit consisting of a router, a couple of switches, and so on is an interesting idea. Perhaps I will write about this topic in another post. Another possible downside to Cisco Packet Tracer could be that if you already have networking experience, you might find Cisco Packet Tracer to be on the simple side of things.

Cisco Packet Tracer Screenshot

Cisco Modeling Labs

In addition to Cisco Packet Tracer, Cisco also offers Cisco Modeling Labs. From what I can tell, Cisco Modeling Labs is a more advanced version of Cisco Packet Tracer. Cisco Modeling Labs apparently gives the user more options and greater flexibility in creating networks than what is offered by Cisco Packet Tracer. I have got to admit, the user interface for Cisco Modeling Labs looks pretty slick. There is a downside to Cisco Modeling Labs, however. The downside is that Cisco Modeling Labs is not free. A one-year license for personal use will cost you around $199. Still, that's cheaper than buying your own networking equipment. I have never met anyone who has used Cisco Modeling Labs, so I don't know if the application is worth the money. When the time comes to kick Cisco Packet Tracer to the curb, I might give Cisco Modeling Labs a try.

Cisco Modeling Labs Screenshot

The GNS3 Option

Don't want to use the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, Cisco Packet Tracer, or Cisco Modeling Labs? Well, GNS3 just might be the networking application you have been looking for. From what I can tell, GNS3 will let you create complex networking topologies with the best of them. It also helps that the graphics definitely catch the eye in a way that Cisco Packet Tracer doesn't. According to the documentation, GNS3 is free and open source. Not only that, GNS3 will provide you with all kinds of options that are not provided by Cisco Packet Tracer. There is an important caveat to mention about GNS3 before you might consider using it. GNS3 does not use the Cisco IOS. If you want to use the Cisco IOS, or any other vendor's CLI, with GNS3, you will have to install Cisco IOS into GNS3. That means either getting a license to use Cisco IOS or copying it from another device. On their website, there is a proclamation that GNS3 is "by network pros for network pros". That statement is a good indicator that GNS3 might not be the best program to use if you are brand new to networking. I see that GNS3 is used by at least 20 high profile organizations for network planning and testing. As a result, you might want to wait until you get some networking experience under your belt before downloading GNS3 onto your laptop. Did I write that GNS3 looks really cool?

GNS3 Networking Diagram

In Conclusion

For now, I will be using both Cisco Packet Tracer and Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator for studying for CCNA. At some point, I would like to try out Cisco Modeling Labs.