Best Packet Tracer Resources

Introduction

If you are preparing for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam or have been involved with Cisco networking, then you have probably heard about Cisco Packet Tracer. In this article, we will discuss what Packet Tracer is and how to get it, highlight some useful Packet Tracer resources and look at how it compares to other tools.

What Is Cisco Packet Tracer?

One of the regrets early on in my career was not taking enough time to build the right foundation for my understanding of networking. I paid the price for this as I moved on from CCNA to CCSP (now known as CCNP Security), because I had to go back and learn a lot of things that I should have been better grounded in. This is one of the reasons I am a firm believer in practical skills versus just plain theoretical knowledge. Cisco Packet Tracer is one of those tools that can help build practical skills in the networking and security field.

Cisco Packet Tracer is a simulation tool for network, security and other related technologies. Basically, it provides a platform for students to build, configure, troubleshoot and experiment with network topologies using simulated devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, access points and laptops.

While Cisco does not intend for Packet Tracer to be a replacement for real devices, this tool, even when used alone, can actually give you enough hands-on experience to prepare for certification exams such as CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Security and — if used properly  — CompTIA Network+.

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How to Get Packet Tracer

In the past, you as someone preparing for the CCNA exam had limited options for getting practical networking skills. You either used real hardware, which could be very expensive, or you used simulation tools like Boson NetSim. Then (Read more...)