Introduction to Packet Tracer

INTRODUCTION :

PACKET TRACER :

Packet Tracer is a cross-platform visual simulation tool designed by Cisco Systems that allows users to create network topologies and imitate modern computer networks.You can enroll at netcad.com and  downloaded it

INTERFACE OVERVIEW:
The layout of Packet Tracer is divided into several components similar to a photo editor.

The components of the Packet Tracer interface are as follows:

• Area 1: Menu bar – This is a common menu found in all software applications; it is used to open, save, print, change preferences, and so on. 

•  Area 2: Main toolbar – This bar provides shortcut icons to menu options that are commonly accessed, such as open, save, zoom, undo, and redo, and on the right-hand side is an icon for entering network information for the current network.

•  Area 3: Logical/Physical workspace tabs – These tabs allow you to toggle between the Logical and Physical work areas.

•  Area 4: Workspace – This is the area where topologies are created and simulations are displayed.

•  Area 5: Common tools bar – This toolbar provides controls for manipulating topologies, such as select, move layout, place note, delete, inspect, resize shape, and add simple/complex PDU.

• Area 6: Realtime /Simulation tabs – These tabs are used to toggle between the real and simulation modes. Buttons are also provided to control the time, and to capture the packets. 

• Area 7: Network component box – This component contains all of the network and end devices available with Packet Tracer, and is further divided into two areas:

          Area 7a: Device-type selection box – This area contains device categories .

          Area 7b: Device-specific selection box – When a device category is selected, this selection

          box displays the different device models within that category .    

•  Area 8: User-created packet box – Users can create highly-customized packets to test their topology from this area, and the results are displayed as a list.