Computer Network Internal Assessment

Implementation of ARP Protocol using Cisco Packet Tracer

ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a protocol used to map a known IP address to a MAC
address in a local network. It is essential for communication in IPv4 networks, as devices
communicate using MAC addresses on the Data Link layer, while IP addresses are used on
the Network layer.

Functionality of ARP:

 ARP allows a device to discover the MAC address corresponding to an IP address

 When a device needs to send data to an IP address, it uses ARP to resolve the
corresponding MAC address. If it doesn't have the MAC address in its ARP cache, it
sends an ARP request to the network.

2. ARP Protocol Overview

 ARP Request: Sent by a device when it wants to find the MAC address for a specific
IP address. It is broadcasted to all devices on the local network.

 ARP Reply: The device with the requested IP address responds with its MAC address.

 ARP Cache: A table maintained by devices (routers, switches, and hosts) that stores
IP-MAC mappings for a certain amount of time.

3. ARP Process

1. Request: When Device A wants to communicate with Device B (using IP address), it

2. Cache Miss: If Device A doesn’t find the MAC address, it sends an ARP request,
broadcasting the request to the local network.

3. Reply: The device with the matching IP address (Device B) responds with its MAC
address.

4. Caching: Device A stores this information in its ARP cache for future communication.

4. Cisco Packet Tracer ARP Implementation

Cisco Packet Tracer allows simulation of network devices and protocols. Implementing ARP
in Packet Tracer helps to visualize and understand the functioning of ARP in real-world
network devices.

5. Objective of the Lab

 To observe the process of ARP Request and Reply.

 To show how devices update and maintain their ARP cache.

6. Lab Setup

Hardware Requirements:

 Cisco Routers: Use two routers to represent different networks.

 Switches: To interconnect devices within the same network.

 PCs: To represent end-user devices that will communicate using ARP.

 Cabling: Ethernet cables to interconnect devices.

Software Requirements:

 Cisco Packet Tracer: Latest version installed to create and simulate the network.

Network Design:

1. Two PCs: PC1 with IP 192.168.1.10 and PC2 with IP 192.168.2.10.

2. Two Routers: Router1 (connecting to PC1) and Router2 (connecting to PC2).

3. Switches: Switch1 connected to Router1 and PC1, Switch2 connected to Router2 and
PC2.

4. Cabling: Ethernet cables to interconnect the PCs to switches and routers.

Steps for Configuration:

7. Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Create the Network Topology:

o Place two routers, two switches, and two PCs in Cisco Packet Tracer.

o Connect Router1 and Router2 using a serial cable (use router interfaces like
Serial0/0).

o Connect PC1 and Router1 via Switch1 using straight-through cables (for
Ethernet ports).

o Connect PC2 and Router2 via Switch2 similarly.

2. Assign IP Addresses:

o PC1: 192.168.1.10 (Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0).

o Assign appropriate IP addresses to the router interfaces:

 Router1: 192.168.1.1 on the interface connecting to Switch1 (PC1).

 Router2: 192.168.2.1 on the interface connecting to Switch2 (PC2).

3. Configure Routing (Static Routing or Routing Protocol):

o Configure static routes on each router:

 On Router1:

 ip route 192.168.2.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.2

 On Router2:

 ip route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 192.168.2.2

4. Testing Connectivity Using Ping:

o Step 1: From PC1, ping PC2 (ping 192.168.2.10).

o Step 2: Check the ARP request and reply process using the simulation mode
in Packet Tracer:

 Before sending the ping, PC1 will check its ARP cache and realize it
doesn't have the MAC address for 192.168.2.10.

 It will send an ARP request.

 PC2 will reply with its MAC address, and PC1 will update its ARP cache.

o Step 3: Once the ARP reply is received, the ping will be successful.

5. Monitor ARP in Cisco Packet Tracer:

o Switch to Simulation Mode and observe ARP packets as they are transmitted
on the network.

o You will see ARP Request packets being broadcasted and ARP Reply packets
being sent by the destination PC.

o After successful communication, the ARP cache in both PCs will contain the
IP-to-MAC mapping.

6. View ARP Cache:

o On each PC, use the following command to view the ARP cache:

o arp -a
 o You should see an entry for the other device with its corresponding IP and
MAC address.

7. Clearing the ARP Cache:

o You can also test the behavior of ARP when the cache is cleared.

o Clear the ARP cache on PC1 using the command:

o arp -d

o After clearing the cache, send another ping to PC2, and observe the ARP
process happening again.

8. Observations and Analysis:

 ARP Request: When PC1 pings PC2, it sends a broadcast ARP Request. This packet
contains the target IP address (192.168.2.10) and asks for the corresponding MAC
address.

 ARP Reply: PC2 responds with an ARP Reply containing its MAC address. The reply is
sent directly to PC1.

 Caching Mechanism: Once the ARP reply is received, PC1 caches the IP-to-MAC
mapping for future communication.

9.Working:

10. Conclusion:
The ARP protocol is fundamental for network communication in IPv4 networks. In this lab,
we successfully demonstrated the ARP process in Cisco Packet Tracer by setting up a basic
network and observing the ARP request and reply between two PCs. By simulating this
process, we have gained a deeper understanding of how devices on a network resolve IP
addresses to MAC addresses for communication. This hands-on experience highlights the
importance of ARP in day-to-day network operations and helps in troubleshooting network
issues related to address resolution.