Packet Tracer - Network Representation
Topology
Objectives
Part 1: Overview of the Packet Tracer
Program
Part 2: Exploring LANs, WANs, and
Internets
Background
Packet Tracer is a fun, take-home, flexible
software program which will help you with your Cisco Certified Network
Associate (CCNA) studies. Packet Tracer allows you to experiment with network
behavior, build network models, and ask "what if" questions. In this
activity, you will explore a relatively complex network that highlights a few
of Packet Tracer’s features. While doing so, you will learn how to access Help
and the tutorials. You will also learn how to switch between various modes and
workspaces. Finally, you will explore how Packet Tracer serves as a modeling
tool for network representations.
Note: It is not important that you understand everything you see and do
in this activity. Feel free to explore the network on your own. If you wish to
proceed more systematically, follow the steps below. Answer the questions to
the best of your ability.
Part 1:
Overview of the Packet Tracer
Program
The network size is larger than most of
the networks you will experience in this course (although you will see this
topology often in your Networking Academy studies). You may need to adjust the
window size of Packet Tracer to see the full network. If necessary, you can use
the zoom in and out tools to adjust the size of the Packet Tracer window.
Step 1:
Access the Packet Tracer Help pages,
tutorial videos, and online resources
a.
Access the Packet Tracer Help pages
in two ways:
1)
Click the question mark icon in
the top, right-hand corner of the menu toolbar.
2)
Click the Help menu, and then choose Contents.
b.
Access the Packet Tracer tutorial
videos by clicking Help > Tutorials. These videos are a visual demonstration
of the information found in the Help
pages and various aspects of the Packet Tracer software program. Before
proceeding with this activity, you should gain some familiarity with the Packet
Tracer interface and Simulation mode.
1)
View the Interface Overview video in the Getting Started section of Tutorials.
2)
View the Simulation Environment video in the Realtime and Simulation Modes section of Tutorials.
c.
Find the “Configuring Devices
Using the Desktop Tab” tutorial. Watch the first part to answer the following
question: What information can you
configure in the IP Configuration window?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Step 2: Toggle between Realtime and Simulation modes.
a.
Find the Realtime word in the bottom right corner of the Packet Tracer
interface. In Realtime mode, your network is always running like a real
network, whether you are working on the network or not. Your configurations are
done in real time, and the network responds in near real time.
b.
Click the tab directly behind
the Realtime tab to switch to Simulation mode. In Simulation mode,
you can watch your network run at a slower pace, observing the paths that data
takes and inspecting the data packets in detail.
c.
In the Simulation Panel, click Auto Capture / Play. You should now see
data packets, represented as envelopes of various colors, traveling between the
devices.
d.
Click Auto Capture / Play again to pause the simulation.
e.
Click Capture / Forward to step through the simulation. Click the button
a few more times to see the effect.
f.
In the network topology on the
left, click one of the envelopes on an intermediate device and investigate what
is inside. Over the course of your CCNA studies, you will learn the meaning of most
everything inside these envelopes. For now, see if you can answer the following
questions:
-
Under the OSI Model tab, how many In
Layers and Out Layers have
information?
________________________________________________________________________________
-
Under the Inbound PDU Details and Outbound
PDU Details tabs, what are the headings of the major sections?
________________________________________________________________________________
-
Click back and forth between
the Inbound PDU Details and Outbound PDU Details tabs. Do you see
information changing? If so, what?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
g.
Click the toggle button above Simulation in the bottom right corner
to return to Realtime mode.
Step 3:
Toggle between Logical and
Physical views.
a.
Find the Logical word in the top left corner of the Packet Tracer interface.
You are currently in the Logical
workspace where you will spend the majority of your time building, configuring,
investigating, and troubleshooting networks.
Note: Although you can add a geographical map as the background image for
the Logical workspace, it does not usually
have any relationship to the actual physical location of devices.
b.
Click the tab below Logical to switch to the Physical workspace. The purpose of the Physical workspace is to give a
physical dimension to your Logical network topology. It gives you a sense of
scale and placement (how your network might look in a real environment).
c.
During your CCNA studies, you
will use this workspace on occasion. For now, just know that it is here and
available for you to use. To learn more about the Physical workspace, refer to
the Help files and tutorial videos.
d.
Click the toggle button below Physical in the top right corner to
return to the Logical workspace.
Part 2:
Exploring LANs, WANs, and
Internets
The network model in this activity incorporates
many of the technologies that you will master in your CCNA studies. It
represents a simplified version of how a small to medium-sized business network
might look. Feel free to explore the network on your own. When ready, proceed
through the following steps and answer the questions.
Step 1: Identify common components of a network as represented in Packet
Tracer.
a.
The Icon toolbar has various
categories of networking components. You should see categories that correspond
to intermediate devices, end devices, and media. The Connections category (with the lightning bolt icon) represents the
networking media supported by Packet Tracer. There is also an End Devices category and two categories
specific to Packet Tracer: Custom Made
Devices and Multiuser Connection.
b.
List the intermediate device
categories. ____________________________________________________
c.
Without entering into the
Internet cloud or Intranet cloud, how many icons in the topology represent
endpoint devices (only one connection leading to them)? _______
d.
Without counting the two
clouds, how many icons in the topology represent intermediate devices (multiple
connections leading to them)? _______
e.
How many intermediate devices are
routers? Note: The Linksys device is a router. _______
f.
How many end devices are not desktop computers? _______
g.
How many different types of media
connections are used in this network topology? _______
h.
Why isn’t there a connection
icon for wireless in the Connections category?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Step 2: Explain the purpose of the devices.
a.
In Packet Tracer, the Server-PT
device can act as a server. The desktop and laptop PCs cannot act as a server.
Is that true in the real world? _______
Based on your studies so far, explain the client-server model.
Based on your studies so far, explain the client-server model.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
b.
List at least two functions of
intermediary devices.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
c.
List at least two criteria for
choosing a network media type.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Step 3: Compare and contrast LANs and WANs.
a.
Explain the difference between
a LAN and a WAN. Give examples of each.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
b.
In the Packet Tracer network,
how many WANs do you see? _______
c.
How many LANs do you see? _______
d.
The Internet in this Packet
Tracer network is overly simplified and does not represent the structure and
form of the real Internet. Briefly describe the Internet.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
e.
What are some of the common
ways a home user connects to the Internet?
____________________________________________________________________________________
f.
What are some common methods
that businesses use to connect to the Internet in your area?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Challenge
Now that you have had an opportunity to
explore the network represented in this Packet Tracer activity, you may have
picked up a few skills that you would like to try out. Or maybe you would like
the opportunity to explore this network in more detail. Realizing that most of
what you see and experience in Packet Tracer is currently beyond your skill
level, here are some challenges you might want to attempt. Do not worry if you
cannot do them all. You will be a Packet Tracer master user and network
designer soon enough.
·
Add an end device to the
topology and connect it to one of the LANs with a media connection. What else
does this device need to send data to other end users? Can you provide the
information? Is there a way to verify that you correctly connected the device?
·
Add a new intermediary device
to one of the networks and connect it to one of the LANs or WANs with a media
connection. What else does this device need to serve as an intermediary to
other devices in the network?
·
Open a new instance of Packet
Tracer. Create a new network with at least two LANs connected by a WAN. Connect
all the devices. Investigate the original Packet Tracer activity to see what
else you might need to do to make your new network functional. Record your
thoughts and save your Packet Tracer file. You may want to revisit your network
later after you have mastered a few more skills.
Suggested Scoring Rubric
Activity
Section
|
Question
Location
|
Possible Points
|
Earned Points
|
Part 1: Overview of the Packet Tracer
Program
|
Step
1c
|
4
|
|
Step
2f
|
6
|
||
Part 1 Total
|
10
|
||
Part 2: Exploring LANs, WANs, and
Internets
|
Step
1b
|
5
|
|
Step
1c
|
5
|
||
Step
1d
|
5
|
||
Step
1e
|
5
|
||
Step
1f
|
5
|
||
Step
1g
|
5
|
||
Step
1h
|
6
|
||
Step
2a
|
6
|
||
Step
2b
|
6
|
||
Step
2c
|
6
|
||
Step
3a
|
6
|
||
Step
3b
|
6
|
||
Step
3c
|
6
|
||
Step
3d
|
6
|
||
Step
3e
|
6
|
||
Step
3f
|
6
|
||
Part 2 Total
|
90
|
||
Total Score
|
100
|
||
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