• Explore Packet Tracer Real-time mode
• Explore the Logical Workspace
• Explore Packet Tracer operation
• Connect devices
• Examine a device configuration
• Review the standard lab setup
• Overview of the devices
Background
Throughout the course you will be using a standard lab setup created from actual PCs, servers, routers, and switches to learn networking concepts. This method provides widest range of features and the most realistic experience. Since equipment and time are limited, this experience can be supplemented by a simulated environment. The simulator that is used in this course is Packet Tracer. Packet Tracer provides a rich set of protocols, equipment, and features but only a fraction of what is possible with real equipment. Packet Tracer is a supplement to not a
replacement for experience with real equipment. You are encouraged to compare the results obtained from Packet Tracer network models with the behavior of real equipment. You are also encouraged to examine the Help files built into Packet Tracer, which include an extensive "My First PT Lab", tutorials, and information on the strengths and limitations of using Packet Tracer to model networks.
This activity will provide an opportunity to explore the standard lab setup using Packet Tracer simulator. Packet Tracer has two file formats it can create: .pkt files (network simulation model files) and .pka files (activity files for practice). When you create your own networks in Packet Tracer, or modify existing files from your instructor or your peers, you will often use the .pkt file format. When you launched this activity from the curriculum, these instructions appeared. They are the result of the .pka, Packet Tracer activity file format. At the bottom of these instructions are two buttons: Check Results (which gives you feedback on how much of the activity you have completed) and Reset Activity (which starts the activity over, if you want to clear your work or gain more practice).
Task 1: Explore the PT Interface.
Step 1: Examine the Logical Workplace.
When Packet Tracer starts it presents a logical view of the network in real-time mode. The main part of the PT interface is the Logical Workplace. This is the large area where devices are placed and connected.
Step 2: Symbols Navigation.
The lower left portion of the PT interface, below the yellow bar, is the portion of the interface that you use to select and place devices into the logical workplace. The first box in the lower left contains symbols that represent groups of devices. As you move the mouse pointer over these symbols the name of the group appears in the text box in the center. When you click on one of these symbols the specific devices in the group appear in the box to the right. As you point to the specific devices, a description of the device appears in the text box below the specific devices.
Click on each of the groups and study the various devices that are available and their symbols.
Network Fundamentals:
Living in a Network-Centric World 1.7.1: Skills Integration Challenge-Introduction to Packet Tracer
Task 2: Explore PT operations
Step 1: Connect the devices using auto connect.
Click on the connections group symbol. The specific connection symbols provide different cable types that can be used to connect devices. The first specific type, the gold lightning bolt, will automatically select the connection type based on the interfaces available on the devices. When you click on this symbol the pointer resembles a cable connector.
To connect two devices click the auto connection symbol, click the first device, and then click the second device. Using the auto connection symbol, make the following connection:
• Connect the Eagle Server to the R1-ISP router.
• Connect PC-PT 1A to the S1-Central switch.
Step 2: Examine device configuration with a mouse over.
Move your mouse over the devices found in the logical workplace. As you move the mouse pointer over these symbols the device configurations appears in a text box.
• A router will display port configuration information including IP address, port status, and MAC address.
• A server will display IP address, MAC address, and Gateway information
• A switch will display port configuration information including IP address, MAC address, port status, and VLAN membership.
• A PC will display IP address, MAC address, and Gateway information.
Step 3: Examine device configuration.
Left mouse click on each device type found in the logical workplace to view the device configuration.
• Router and Switch devices contain three tabs. These tabs are Physical, Config, and CLI (Command Line Interface).
o The Physical tab displays the physical components of the device such as modules. New modules can also be added using this tab.
o The Config tab displays the general configuration information such as device name.
o The CLI tab allows the user to configure the device using the command line interface.
• Server and Hub devices contain two tabs. These tabs are Physical and Config.
o The Physical tab displays components of the device such as ports. New modules can also be added using this tab.
o The Config tab displays the general information such as device name.
• PC devices contain three tabs. These tabs are Physical, Config, and Desktop.
o The Physical tab displays components of the device. New modules can also be added using this tab.
o The Config tab displays the device name, IP address, subnet mask, DNS, and gateway information.
o The Desktop tab allows the user to configure, IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS server, dial-up, and wireless. A terminal emulator, the command prompt and a simulated web browser can also be accessed using the Desktop tab.
CCNA Exploration Network Fundamentals:
Living in a Network-Centric World 1.7.1: Skills Integration Challenge-Introduction to Packet Tracer
Task 3: Review the Standard Lab Setup.
Step 1: Overview of the devices
.
The standard lab setup will consist of two routers, one switch, one server, and two PCs. Each of these devices will be pre-configured with such information as device names, IP addresses, gateways, and connections.
Reflection:
You are encouraged to obtain Packet Tracer from your instructor and complete My First PT Lab.
Activity 2.2.5: Using NeoTrace™ to View Internetworks (Instructor Version)
Learning Objectives
• Explain the use of route tracing programs, such as tracert and NeoTrace.
• Use tracert and NeoTrace to trace a route from its PC to a distant server.
• Describe the interconnected and global nature of the Internet with respect to data flow.
Background
Route tracing computer software is a utility that lists the networks data has to traverse from the user's originating end device to a distant destination network.
This network tool is typically executed at the command line as:
traceroute <destination network name or end device address>
(Unix and similar systems) or
tracert <destination network name or end device address>
(MS Windows systems)
and determines the route taken by packets across an IP network.
The traceroute (or tracert) tool is often used for network troubleshooting. By showing a list of routers traversed, it allows the user to identify the path taken to reach a particular destination on the network or across internetworks. Each router represents a point where one network connects to another network and the packet was forwarded through. The number of routers is known as the number of "hops"
the data traveled from source to destination.
The displayed list can help identify data flow problems when trying to access a service such as a website.
It can also be useful when performing tasks such as downloading data. If there are multiple websites (mirrors) available for the same file of data, one can trace each mirror to get a good idea of which mirror would be the fastest to use.
However, it should be noted that because of the "meshed" nature of the interconnected networks that make up the Internet and the Internet Protocol's ability to select different pathways over which to send packets, two trace routes between the same source and destination conducted some time apart may produce different results.
Tools such as these are usually embedded with the operating system of the end device.
Others such as NeoTrace™ are proprietary programs that provide extra information. NeoTrace uses available online information to display graphically the route traced on a global map, for example.
Scenario
Using an Internet connection, you will use two routing tracing programs to examine the Internet pathway to destination networks.
This activity should be preformed on a computer that has Internet access and access to a command line.
First, you will use the Windows embedded tracert utility and then the more enhanced NeoTrace program.
This lab assumes the installation of NeoTrace.
CCNA Exploration Network Fundamentals:
Communicating over the Network Activity 2.2.5: Using NeoTrace™ to View Internetworks
Task 1: Trace Route to Remote Server.
Step 1: Trace the route to a distant network.
To trace the route to a distant network, the PC being used must have a working connection to the class/lab network.
1. At the command line prompt, type: tracert www.cisco.com
The first output line should show the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) followed by the IP address. The Lab Domain Name Service (DNS) server was able to resolve the name to an IP address. Without this name resolution, the tracert would have failed, because this tool operates at the TCP/IP layers that only understand valid IP addresses.
If DNS is not available, the IP address of the destination device has to be entered after the tracert command instead of the server name.
2. Examine the output displayed.
How many hops between the source and destination? ________
Figure 1. tracert Command Figure 1 shows the successful result when running:
tracert www.cisco.com from a location in Bavaria, Germany.
The first output line shows the FQDN, followed by the IP address. Therefore, a DNS server was able to resolve the name to an IP address. Then there are listings of all routers through which the tracert requests had to pass to get to the destination.
3. Try the same trace route on a PC connected to the Internet, and examine your output.
Number of hops to www.cisco.com: ___________ answer varies based on location Step 2: Try another trace route on the same PC, and examine your output.
Destination URL: __________________________________________ answer varies based on URL
Network Fundamentals:
Communicating over the Network Activity 2.2.5: Using NeoTrace™ to View Internetworks
Task 2: Trace Route using NeoTrace.
1. Launch the NeoTrace program.
2. On the View menu, choose Options. Click the Map tab and in the Home Location section click the Set Home Location button.
3. Follow the instructions to select your country and location in your country.
Alternatively, you can click the Advanced button, which enables you to enter the precise latitude and longitude of your location. See the Challenge section of Activity 1.2.5(1).
4. Enter “www.cisco.com” in the Target field and click Go.
5. From the View menu, List View displays the list of routers similar to tracert.
Node View from the View menu displays the connections graphically with symbols.
Map View on the View menu displays the links and routers in their geographic location on a global map.
6. Select each view in turn and note the differences and similarities.
7. Try a number of different URLs and view the routes to those destinations.
Task 3: Reflection
Review the purpose and usefulness of trace route programs.
Relate the displays of the output of NeoTrace to the concept of interconnected networks and the global nature of the Internet.
Task 4: Challenge
Consider and discuss possible network security issues that could arise from the use of programs like traceroute and NeoTrace. Consider what technical details are revealed and how perhaps this information could be misused.
Task 5: Clean Up
Exit the NeoTrace program.
Unless instructed otherwise by your instructor, properly shut down the computer.