While studying for the CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE, selecting the correct network simulator or emulator could be challenging. And there’s no best way to go about making your choice. Realistically, it isn’t feasible to test each program individually. After all, you have got an exam coming up. So, you would probably rely on commendations, and everyone has an estimation.
Whether you have been advised by a supervisor, coworker, or a thread on Reddit, everyone has their favorite emulator or simulator. Someone who primarily utilizes GNS3 would always claim that it would be superior to VIRL, as well as vice-versa.
Similarly, there would be camps staked out on the simulator side, too. That doesn’t go to make the decision any easier. Objectively, each piece of software has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. That would be precisely what we are going to look at. Let’s take a step back and look at the software itself as well as dropping the horse race.
Our analysis focuses on three emulators and two simulators:
· Cisco Packet Tracer
· Boson NetSim
· GNS3
· VIRL
· EVE-NG
These are considered the most popular software for gaining hands-on Cisco lab experience to track routing and switching certifications. Many of these tools could also be utilized for testing networking technologies for deployment in the real world. However, we would be focusing as much as possible on the certification exam use case.
What is Network Simulators?
A simulator is considered to be a piece of software that, as the name would be able to imply, simulate a network topology composed of one or more network devices. The network devices being simulated aren’t the real network devices and aren’t capable of clearing live network traffic the same way that an actual network device could. Instead, each network device is considered a piece of software pretending to be a real network device to the best of its ability.
As a result, network devices within a simulator are believed to be limited to the commands and features programmed into the simulation. For this reason, many advanced features like DMVPN, Policy Based Routing, and so on that real network devices would be capable of aren’t present in simulated counterparts.
The key benefit of simulators is that they would be tending to be extremely lightweight. Simulator software could run on just about any modern computer without worrying about memory, processor, or storage requirements.
What is Packet Tracer?
Packet Tracer is considered to be Cisco’s visual simulation tool that simulates network topologies, which would be comprised of Cisco routers, firewalls, switches, and more. Packet Tracer would be originally designed as an educational aid for Cisco’s Networking Academy, better known as NetAcad but is considered to be an excellent simulator for anyone who would be pursuing an entry-level Cisco certification, like the CCENT or CCNA R&S.
This article would evaluate the 64-bit option of Packet Tracer version 7.2.1.0218 on the Windows 10 operating system.
The benefits of Packet Tracer Network Simulator
Packet Tracer has several benefits as a free Cisco network simulator, which would be including:
• Connection Variety
• Cost
• Cross-Platform Compatibility
• Custom Exercise Creation
• Device Variety
• Making the Lab Realistic
• Realistic Terminal
• Simulation Mode
If you are looking forward to obtaining success in your IT Certification, you must also receive the SPOTO Cisco Exam Dumps along with these simulators.
SPOTO Cisco Exam Dumps is considered the best way to obtain the Cisco certifications and that too in a single attempt.
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