Activity 1.

Due March 17, 2025

How to Create a Simple Network in Cisco Packet Tracer

Hello, this blog is primarily for people a the start of the Cisco Certified Network Associate
Certification, commonly known as the CCNA exam, or anyone generally interested in learning
about Networking in the realm of Information and Technology.

My journey to get certified in CCNA started with joining “The Complete Networking
Fundamentals Course,” taught by instructor David Bombal, on the online learning and teaching
website Udemy.com. The first section of the course requires you to download the “Cisco Packet
Tracer” software, which allows you to simulate and practice your network configuration and
troubleshooting skills on your laptop without having access to the necessary physical equipment
to do so. In downloading the Cisco Packet Tracer software, one of the first modules that came
with learning how to use the software is how to “Create a Simple Network.” Today, I will take
you through that module.

Packet Tracer — Create a Simple Network

Objectives

In this activity, you will build a simple network in Packet Tracer in the Logical Workspace.

Part 1: Build a Simple Network

Part 2: Configure the End Devices and Verify Connectivity

Instructions

Part 1: Build a Simple Network

In this part, you will build a simple network by deploying and connecting the network devices in
the Logical Workspace.
The module starts with a Logical Workspace. In it, you have a wireless router on the left and a
server connected to the internet cloud on the right.

Step 1: Add network devices to the workspace.

In this step, you will add a PC, laptop, and a cable modem to the Logical Workspace.

A cable modem is a hardware device that allows communications with an Internet Service
Provider (ISP). The coaxial cable from the ISP is connected to the cable modem, and an Ethernet
cable from the local network is also connected. The cable modem converts the coaxial
connection to an Ethernet connection.
Using the Device-Type Selection Box, add the following devices to the workspace. The category
and sub-category associated with the device are listed below:

 PC: End Devices > End Devices > PC

 Laptop: End Devices > End Devices > Laptop

 Cable Modem: Network Devices > WAN Emulation > Cable Modem

Step 2: Change display names of the network devices.

a) To change the display names of the network devices, click the device icon in the Logical
Workspace.
b) Click the Config tab in the device configuration window.
c) Enter the new name of the newly added device into the Display Name field: PC, Laptop, and
Cable Modem.
Changed the Display Name to “CJ PC”
Changed the Display Names of the Laptop and Cable modem to “CJ Laptop” and “CJ Cable
Modem”

Step 3: Add the physical cabling between devices on the workspace.

Using the Device-Type Selection Box, add the physical cabling between devices on the
workspace.

a) The PC will need a copper straight-through cable to connect to the wireless router. Using the
Device-Type Selection Box, click Connections (lightning bolt icon). Select the copper straight-
through cable in the Device-Specific Selection Box and attach it to the FastEthernet0 interface of
the PC and the Ethernet 1 interface of the wireless router.
Copper Straight-Through is the solid black line, highlighted by a blue boarder.

CJ PC > FastEthernet0
Wireless route > Ethernet 1
Green triangles signal Connection has been made.

b) The wireless router will need a copper straight-through cable to connect to the cable modem.
Select the copper straight-through cable in the Device-Specific Selection Box and attach it to the
internet interface of the wireless router and the Port 1 interface of the cable modem.
Wireless Router > Internet
CJ Cable Modem > Port 1
Green triangles signal Connection has been made.

c) The cable modem will need a Coaxial cable to connect to the internet cloud. Select the
Coaxial cable in the Device-Specific Selection Box and attach it to the Port 0 interface of the
cable modem and the Coaxial 7 interface of the internet cloud.
Coaxial Cable is the blue zig-zag, highlighted by a blue boarder.

CJ Cable Modem > Port 0

Internet Cloud > Coaxail 7
Green triangles signal Connection has been made.

Part 2: Configure the End Devices and Verify Connectivity

In this part, you will connect a PC and a laptop to the Wireless router. The PC will be connected
to the network using an Ethernet cable. For the Laptop, you will replace the wired Ethernet
network interface card (NIC) with a wireless NIC and connect the Laptop to the router
wirelessly.

After both end devices are connected to the network, you will verify connectivity to cisco.srv.
The PC and the Laptop will each be assigned an IP (Internet Protocol) address. Internet Protocol
is a set of rules for routing and addressing data on the internet. The IP addresses are used to
identify the devices on a network and allow the devices to connect and transfer data on a
network.

Step 1: Configure the PC.

You will configure the PC for the wired network in this step.

a) Click the PC. In the Desktop tab, navigate to IP Configuration to verify that DHCP is enabled
and the PC has received an IP address.

CJ PC > Desktop > IP Configuration

Select DHCP

Select DHCP for the IP Configuration heading if you do not see an IP address for the IPv4
Address field. Observe the process as the PC is receiving an IP address from the DHCP server.

DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol. This protocol assigns IP addresses to
devices dynamically. In this simple network, the Wireless Router is configured to assign IP
addresses to devices that request IP addresses. If DHCP is disabled, you will need to assign an IP
address and configure all the necessary information to communicate with other devices on the
network and the internet.

b) Close IP Configuration. In the Desktop tab, click Command Prompt.

c) At the prompt, enter ipconfig /all to review the IPv4 addressing information from the DHCP
server. The PC should have received an IPv4 address in the 192.168.0.x range.
Note: There are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. An IPv4 (internet protocol version 4)
address is a string of numbers in the form of x.x.x.x as you have been using in this lab. As the
internet grew, the need for more IP addresses became necessary. So IPv6 (internet protocol
version 6) was introduced in the late 1990s to address the limitations of IPv4. The details of IPv6
addressing are beyond the scope of this activity.

d) Test connectivity to the cisco.srv from the PC. From the command prompt, issue the
command ping cisco.srv. It may take a few seconds for the ping to return. Four replies should be
received.
Step 2: Configure the Laptop.

In this step, you will configure the Laptop to access the wireless network.

a) Click Laptop, and select the Physical tab.

b) In the Physical tab, you will need to remove the Ethernet copper module and replace it with
the Wireless WPC300N module.

1. Power off Laptop by clicking the power button on the side of the laptop.
Zoom In > Power Button (Notice power light is off)

2. Remove the currently installed Ethernet copper module by clicking on the module on the side
of the laptop and dragging it to the MODULES pane on the left of the laptop window.
3. Install the wireless WPC300N module by clicking it in the MODULES pane and dragging it to
the empty module port on the side of the Laptop.
4. Power on the Laptop by clicking the Laptop power button again.
Notice Power light is On

c) With the wireless module installed, connect the Laptop to the wireless network. Click the
Desktop tab and select the PC Wireless.
d) Select the Connect tab. After a slight delay, the wireless network HomeNetwork will be visible
in the list of wireless networks. Click Refresh if necessary to see the list of available networks.
Select the HomeNetwork. Click Connect.
e) Close PC Wireless. Select Web Browser in the Desktop tab.
f) In the Web Browser, navigate to cisco.srv.
This concludes “How to Create a Simple Network in Cisco Packet Tracer.”