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Building Network Topologies in Packet Tracer

The document discusses building network topologies using Cisco Packet Tracer. It describes the tool's features and provides steps to create simple networks using PCs, hubs, and switches. Connections were successfully tested between devices using ping commands. The discussion section compares how hubs and switches transmit data and manage MAC addresses.

Uploaded by

Mansoor Azam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Packet Tracer Features,
  • Network Management,
  • Network Communication,
  • Network Layers,
  • Switches,
  • Connection Types,
  • Network Configuration Steps,
  • Hubs,
  • Ping Test,
  • Learning Switch
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
38 views5 pages

Building Network Topologies in Packet Tracer

The document discusses building network topologies using Cisco Packet Tracer. It describes the tool's features and provides steps to create simple networks using PCs, hubs, and switches. Connections were successfully tested between devices using ping commands. The discussion section compares how hubs and switches transmit data and manage MAC addresses.

Uploaded by

Mansoor Azam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topics covered

  • Packet Tracer Features,
  • Network Management,
  • Network Communication,
  • Network Layers,
  • Switches,
  • Connection Types,
  • Network Configuration Steps,
  • Hubs,
  • Ping Test,
  • Learning Switch

Networks Lab

Experiment Name: Building a


Network Topologies with
Cisco Packet Tracer
Program.

Experiment No.: 2
Introduction:
Packet Tracer is a proprietary tool of Cisco. It is used to create & simulate network virtually. It
gives same environment virtually as it exists physically. So what you do need to do and work same
on all virtually provided devices as you are working with them physically. This is the beauty of this
tool. This tool is widely used in CCNA training.
This tool gives all type of network devices require to create one real time working network and
also provide same interface as if you are working on real device.

Packet Tracer has two different views


 Logical Workspace 
 Physical Workspace 
Packet Tracer also has two modes of operation
 Real-time Mode 
 Simulation Mode 

At startup, you are in the Logical Workspace in Real-time Mode, and you can build your
network and see it run in real time in this configuration, also you can switch to Simulation Mode to
run controlled networking scenarios.

Several types of devices and network connections can be used. For this experiment we will
keep it simple by using End Devices, Switches, Hubs, and Connections.

Objective:
 To learn about configure a different networks in cisco packet tracer. 

Equipment used:
Cisco Packet Tracer Student 6.2 program.

Experiment procedure:

 Using above tools in the program we can put devices, routers, switches, hubs, cables, …etc. 

 First, we built a simple network topology with just two PCs by Selecting “End Devices” and
then click at “Generic” and click on the main area. Repeat it to the second device. 
 Select “Connections” from Power Cycle Devices and click on “Copper Cross-Over”, - two
end devices needs a cross-over connection in-between - , then draw connections from the
first NIC (Ethrnet0)of PC0 to the second NIC (Ethrnet0) PC1. 






 Double click on a PC, a box will appear. Click on the “Desktop” tab, then select “IP
configuration” , Write the IP address of your network and click at the Subnet mask filed.
 Subnet Mask will appear automatically. Repeat it to set the IPs for all the PCs. 
 By using "Place Note" Tool, write the IP address for each device under it. 







 Double click on a PC0, a box will appear. Click on the “Desktop” tab, then select 
“Command Prompt” , write "PC>ping [Link]" , if there is a reply then the connection is
successful. 

 We can do the previous step by these steps: 


1. Select “Add simple PDU”.

2. Drag and Drop the message to the source device and then to the Destination device.
In this case my source device is PC0 and destination device is PC1.
3. Select the Simulation Mode at the bottom right corner.

4. Click at “Auto Capture / Play”.


5. Observe the path of the Message from source to destination, and back from the
destination to the source.
6. Finally observe the marks. If the source PC is marked correct it means you
have successfully established the connection.

 After these steps, we repeat them with Hub and another with Switch. 

Discussion:

When we use Hub and try to send a simple PDU from a source device to a destination device,
the path of the Message was from source to Hub, then to all devices. And then from Destination to
Hub then back to the source with the same procedure.
The Switch was the same at the first, but it has a learning attribute that let it build a table
contains of MAC address and IP address for each end device that connect to it, so after the first
message between two devices, it doesn't send the message to all devices, but to the destination
device directly. And this was the result for our test for the Hub: (from PC4 to PC1)
At the first the Switch behave the same, then it send the message directly to the destination,
This was our test for Switch: (from PC7 to PC4)

Switch Hub
Data Link Layer. Network switches Physical layer. Hubs are classified
operate at Layer 2 of the OSI as Layer 1 devices per the OSI Layer
model. model.
Hubs always perform frame
First broadcast; then unicast &
flooding; may be unicast, multicast Transmission Type
multicast as needed.
or broadcast
Switches use content accessible
memory CAM table which is
A network hub cannot learn or store
typically accessed by ASIC Table
MAC address.
(Application Specific integrated
chips).
Full Duplex Half Duplex Transmission Type
No collisions occur in a full- Collisions occur commonly in
Collisions
duplex switch. setups using hubs.

Conclusion:
Connection established successfully between Source and Destination.

Common questions

Powered by AI

When setting up a simple PDU transmission with a hub, the message is broadcasted to all connected devices, resulting in data packets returning from the hub to the source . With a switch, the message initially broadcasts to all but soon switches to direct the message to the intended destination using a learned MAC address table, making the process more efficient .

Collisions in networks using hubs occur because hubs send data to all connected devices, leading to data packets interfering with each other . Switches mitigate this issue by learning the MAC addresses of connected devices and only sending data to the specific destination device, eliminating unnecessary broadcast and collision .

Testing network connectivity using the ping command in Packet Tracer is important because it confirms successful communication between devices by validating the presence of replies. This diagnostic step is crucial for verifying correct IP configurations and network setup before further testing or implementation .

Annotating IP addresses for each device in a network simulation helps users track and manage network configurations easily, ensuring clearer understanding and reducing errors during setup and testing .

A Copper Cross-Over cable is significant in direct PC-to-PC network setups because it allows for the correct transmission and reception of signals between the two devices, which is crucial when no intermediary switch or hub is present to manage signal crossover .

Real-time mode in Cisco Packet Tracer allows users to see the network operate as if in a live environment, providing instant feedback on configurations and operations . Simulation mode, however, lets users control the timing of data flow and monitor each step of packet transmission, which benefits detailed analysis and troubleshooting by observing the path and behavior of packets in a controlled setup .

The Logical Workspace in Cisco Packet Tracer is used for building and viewing the network in terms of logical connections and configurations, focusing on the interactions and data paths between devices . The Physical Workspace provides a visual representation that mimics the physical placement and connectivity of devices, offering a more tangible understanding of network layouts .

Hubs broadcast data to all connected devices, regardless of the destination, leading to collisions and inefficient use of bandwidth . Switches, however, initially broadcast but then learn the MAC addresses of devices to direct data only to the intended recipient, reducing unnecessary traffic and eliminating collisions . This makes switches more efficient for handling network traffic compared to hubs.

Cisco Packet Tracer allows users to create and simulate networks virtually with the same environment as physical ones. Users can select and configure devices such as PCs, switches, and hubs, and visualize their interactions in real-time or simulation mode, providing a comprehensive platform for training and testing network setups .

The CAM (Content Addressable Memory) table in switches holds the MAC addresses and corresponding ports of connected devices, allowing switches to intelligently forward data packets directly to the destination device. This improves network performance by reducing unnecessary data broadcasts and avoiding collisions, ensuring efficient use of bandwidth .

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