EXPERIMENT 1

Demonstration of packet tracer installation and packet tracer interface

Step 1: Download Packet Tracer

1. Sign up for Cisco's NetAcad:

o Visit the Cisco Networking Academy website.
o Sign up for a free account if don’t have one.
o Enroll in a course that offers Packet Tracer (e.g., "Introduction to Packet
Tracer").
2. Download Packet Tracer:
o After enrolling, navigate to the Packet Tracer download page.
o Choose the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows, macOS,
or Linux).
o Download the installer file.

Step 2: Install Packet Tracer

1. Run the Installer:

o Locate the downloaded installer file and run it.
o Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
2. Launch Packet Tracer:
o After installation, launch Packet Tracer from your desktop or start menu.

Step 3: Packet Tracer Interface Overview

1. Main Interface Components:

o Menu Bar: Located at the top, it provides access to various options like File,
Edit, Options, and Help.
o Tool Bar: Below the Menu Bar, it includes quick access tools like New, Open,
Save, Zoom, and Network Simulation Mode.
o Logical Workspace: The central area where network devices are placed and
connections are made.
o Physical Workspace: Switch between Logical and Physical views using tabs
at the bottom.
o Device-Type Selection Box: Located on the left side, it lets you choose
different types of devices like routers, switches, end devices, etc.
o Device-Specific Selection Box: Below the Device-Type Selection Box, it
shows specific devices under the selected category.
o Workspace Toolbar: Below the Logical Workspace, it provides tools like
Select, Move, Place Note, and Inspect Tool.
2. Creating a Simple Network:
o Add Devices:
 From the Device-Type Selection Box, select the desired device
category (e.g., End Devices).
 Drag and drop devices (e.g., PCs) onto the Logical Workspace.
o Connect Devices:
  Click on the Connections category (lightning bolt icon) in the Device-
Type Selection Box.
 Choose the appropriate cable (e.g., Copper Straight-Through).
 Click on a device, select the interface, then click on another device to
connect.
o Configure Devices:
 Click on a device in the Logical Workspace to open its configuration
window.
 Configure settings like IP addresses under the Config tab.
3. Simulation Mode:
o Switch to Simulation Mode: Use the buttons on the right side of the toolbar
to switch from Realtime to Simulation mode.
o Add Events: Generate network traffic by using tools like Simple PDU.
o View Events: Observe the packets moving through the network and analyze
them.

Step 4: Saving and Exporting

1. Save the Project:

o Click on File > Save or Save As to save the Packet Tracer project.
o Provide a name and location for the file.
2. Exporting:
o Packet Tracer does not support direct export to PDF or image formats, but can
take screenshots or use third-party tools for documentation purposes.
Experiment 2: Designing a Peer-to-Peer Network in Packet Tracer

1. Setup and Configuration in Packet Tracer

o Open Packet Tracer: Launch Cisco Packet Tracer from your desktop or start
menu.
o New Project: Start a new project by clicking on File > New.
2. Adding Devices
o Add End Devices:
 From the Device-Type Selection Box on the left, click on the End
Devices icon (the PC icon).
 Drag two PCs (PC0 and PC1) into the Logical Workspace.
o Connect Devices:
 Click on the Connections icon (the lightning bolt).
 Select Copper Cross-Over cable.
 Click on PC0, select FastEthernet0 interface, then click on PC1, and
select FastEthernet0.
3. Configure IP Addresses
o PC0 Configuration:
 Click on PC0 to open its configuration window.
 Go to the Desktop tab and click on IP Configuration.
 Set the IP address to 192.168.1.1 and the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.
o PC1 Configuration:
 Click on PC1 to open its configuration window.
 Go to the Desktop tab and click on IP Configuration.
 Set the IP address to 192.168.1.2 and the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.
4. Testing Connectivity with Ping Command
o Ping from PC0 to PC1:
 Open the Command Prompt on PC0 (Desktop > Command Prompt).
 Type ping 192.168.1.2 and press Enter.
 Observe the reply messages indicating successful communication.
o Ping from PC1 to PC0:
 Open the Command Prompt on PC1 (Desktop > Command Prompt).
 Type ping 192.168.1.1 and press Enter.
 Observe the reply messages indicating successful communication.
5. Sending PDU in Real-Time Mode
o Create a Simple PDU:
 In the bottom toolbar, click on the Add Simple PDU icon (the closed
envelope with a plus sign).
 Click on PC0, then click on PC1.
 Observe the instant packet delivery in the event list at the bottom.
6. Simulation Mode
o Switch to Simulation Mode:
 Click on the Simulation button in the bottom-right corner.
o Send PDU in Simulation Mode:
 Create another Simple PDU by clicking on the Add Simple PDU icon.
 Click on PC0, then on PC1.
o View Packet Flow:
  Click on the Play button (right arrow) to start the simulation.
 Observe the packet moving between the devices in slow motion.
 Use the Capture/Forward button to step through the simulation process.
7. Analyzing Results
o Inspect Packets:
 Click on the packet icons in the event list to inspect their details.
 Analyze the headers and payloads to understand the packet structure
and flow.