2010 Sixth International Conference on Networking and Services
Visual Learning Tools for Teaching/Learning Computer Networks
Cisco Networking Academy and Packet Tracer
Jozef Janitor, František Jakab
Karol Kniewald
Regional Cisco Networking Academy
Computer Networks Laboratory
Technical University of Košice
Košice, Slovakia
e-mail: {firstname.lastname}@tuke.sk
Cisco Networking Academy
Cisco Systems Czech Republic
Prague, Czech Republic
e-mail: {firstname.lastname}@cisco.com
experience enough time with practical configurations, they
are achieving worst results.
Tools like Packet Tracer provide a solution that addresses
both issues that were introduced in the text. They are very
likely used among students or teachers in Cisco Networking
Academies, as they enable easy, yet powerful simulation of
computer networks. These tools usually enable a direct look
inside of a “wire” that is interconnecting devices between
each other and carries the information flows. Students can
visually see and therefore more easily understand what is
really going on in the network, how are computers and
networking devices exchanging an email message from a
source host towards the destination.
This paper presents how Cisco Networking Academy
instructors and students can use Packet Tracer 5.2 to make
their teaching and learning experience much more productive
and enjoyable.
Abstract—Teaching and learning more abstract subjects, such
as computer networks, where higher level of student’s
imagination is necessary to understand advanced topics can be
positively supported trough a technique called visual learning.
Students can more easily understand and adapt the
information from the subject, when they can visually see how it
really works. Teachers can present the subject using
animations and practical examples, rather than just talking
about theory facts. This paper presents the features of a visual
learning tool called Packet Tracer – a computer networks
simulator, which is freely available for all Cisco Networking
Academy students.
Packet Tracer, Cisco Networking Academy, Visual Learning,
Emerging Teaching Methods, Animation, Simulation, Teaching
I.
INTRODUCTION
Understanding and learning about the functionality of
complex computer networks is generally an advanced task. It
takes lot of time and energy that students have to invest into
their studies.
Computer based animations can help students to much
more quickly understand and memorize the functionality of
different networking protocols and the basic principles of
exchanging, or forwarding information from a source
towards a destination. Even though, there are many powerful
tools like Adobe Flash, etc., that enable quick and easy
creation of computer animations, creating a simple animation
can still takes several hours of work. Therefore, instructors
or teachers usually do not intend to create these animations.
On one side, as it was stated above, it requires time spent
with the animation development; furthermore, it is necessary
to know how to create these animations in different
applications.
Hands on lab experiences with practical configurations
are essential when learning about computer networks. Many
times, students are starting to clearly understand the facts
only when they are faced with real world cases in the lab
environment with networking equipment. While the more
time students spend in the lab, the better understanding of
complex networking knowledge at the end, with big groups
of students, it is often challenging to find a free timeslot in
the already tight lab schedules. When students do not
978-0-7695-3969-0/10 $26.00 © 2010 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/ICNS.2010.55
II.
VISUAL LEARNING
As in [1] “Visual Learning is the use of graphics, images
and animations to enable and enhance learning in science
and engineering”. Visual learning is a proven method in
which ideas, concepts, data and other information are
associated with images and animations, while the subject is
represented graphically. As an example, techniques and tools
such as webs, mind maps and animations are used in visual
learning to enhance thinking and learning skills. Students can
understand subjects much more easily if they can see, or
even touch them in real. Visual learning uses methods that
help students to open their minds and think graphically.
Associations between images and some sort of information
can help to better memorize and use the learned knowledge
or information.
III.
CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY
We live in an increasingly connected world, creating a
global economy and a growing need for technical skills.
Cisco Networking Academy [4] delivers information
technology skills to over 600,000 students a year in more
than 165 countries worldwide. Networking Academy
students have the opportunity to participate in a powerful and
consistent learning experience that is supported by high
quality, online curricula and assessments, instructor training,
351
Global event list (packet sniffer)
LAN, switching, TCP/IP, routing, and WAN
protocols
• Activity Wizard, Lab grading
• Multiple language support
• Integrated Help and Tutorials
• Multiuser Capability
• Application Programming Interface
Packet Tracer in version 5.2 supports the following
networking protocols:
• New security protocols: IPSec and GRE VPNs, IPS
and Zone-based policy firewalls on ISRs, AAA,
wireless security, SNMP, syslog, NTP
• New Quality of service (L2 and L3)
• L7: HTTP, DNS, TFTP, DHCP, Telnet, SSH
• L4: TCP and UDP
• L3: IPv4, IPv6, ICMPv4, ICMPv6, ARP, static
routing, RIPv1/v2, EIGRP, OSPF
• L2/L1: Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n, HDLC, PPP, Frame
Relay, SLARP, CDP, STP, RSTP, VTP, DTP,
LACP, PAgP
Packet Tracer in version 5.2 is available for the following
platforms and operating systems:
• Windows (2000, XP, Vista, 7)
• Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora)
hands-on labs, and classroom interaction. This experience
ensures the same level of qualifications and skills regardless
of where in the world a student is located. Networking
Academy students will become the architects of the
networked economy; enabling everyday experiences on the
global human network. With the ever-increasing demand for
their skills, Networking Academy students have the chance
to dream about business-critical positions never before
imagined, in industries ranging from medicine and finance to
entertainment and aerospace. Networking Academy opens
doors to rewarding careers and opportunities for economic
advancement and local community development. Students
only need to be ‘Mind Wide Open’ to possibilities [2].
Cisco Networking Academy courses [8] consist of
theoretical online learning materials, practical hands on
experiences in labs and skills exams. As hands on
experiences and lab activities are very important part of
networking education, students are requested to spend in the
lab environment as much time, as it is possible.
Unfortunately, the price of the lab equipments is usually very
high [7]. Smaller academies may have lower resources and
cannot afford to buy a single device per student. Students
have to share access to devices among themselves, or they
are using older and slower devices with fewer features
available. In addition, access to labs is usually permitted only
during official class hours [9].
To overcome these issues, and to provide better teaching
and learning experiences with interactivity and animations,
the Cisco Networking Academy developed a tool called
Packet Tracer.
IV.
•
•
A. Logical and Physical Workspaces
The Logical and Physical Workspaces feature displays
various networking equipment and devices (fig. 1,2) and
interconnections between them. Students can either see how
networking devices are distributed throughout various
physical locations (geographical areas, cities, buildings,
rooms, etc.), or how are they logically connected in the
logical topology view (fig. 3). Students can understand
differences between physical and logical topologies when
they are moving devices between different physical or
logical locations. A good example of using the physical
workspace view is Wireless Networks. Wireless Access
Points cover with wireless radio signal only a small circle
like area (few meters) around them. Students learn that if a
computer with wireless network cards are not placed in the
physical region with wireless radio signal coverage, the
computer will not get network access.
PACKET TRACER
Packet Tracer is a self-paced, visual, interactive teaching
and learning tool implemented in a form of computer
networks simulation software [5]. It is designed to increase
interaction between students and instructors, promote student
learning, and enhance instructor presentations. It offers a
unique combination of realistic simulation and visualization
experiences, complex assessment and activity authoring
capabilities, and opportunities for multiuser collaboration
and competition.
Packet Tracer can be used to teach and learn complex
networking concepts and to supplement lab equipments.
Packet Tracer provides a simulated environment where
processes between various networking devices, such as
routers, switches, wireless access points, computers, links
and applications are visible with animations and easy
explanatory descriptions. Students can more easily
understand the functionality of different networking devices
and networking protocols, when they see the “big screen”
with every event that occurs in real networks.
The most important attribute, from the learning and
teaching point of view are the various supported features [5]:
• Many networking protocols
• Multiple platform support
• Logical and Physical Workspaces
• Real-Time and Simulation Modes
• User friendly CLI
Figure 1. Physical Topology View – Intercity View
352
C. User friendly CLI
The User friendly CLI is one of the greatest features of
Packet Tracer. Networking devices from the enterprise world
are usually managed and configured through a command line
interface (CLI). When learning how to manage and configure
networking devices, students have to learn and get familiar
with many different CLI commands, each with list of valid
parameters. Packet Tracer provides a CLI “wizard mode”
(fig. 4), where students can configure a device in a more
first-time-user-friendly, graphical intuitive interface, simply
by clicking on different settings in the wizard mode. When a
new setting is applied by the wizard, a list of commands that
were used to configure the new setting it is displayed in the
commands window. In this way, students can learn new
command line commands and parameters, even if they are
using the wizard mode, while at the same time they are not
getting disappointed when they just cannot recall some
command. When configuring directly in CLI mode, Packet
Tracer simulates a CLI of real devices with more or less the
same functionality.
Figure 2. Physical Topology View – Wiring Closet View
B. Real-Time or Simulation Mode
The Real-Time or Simulation Mode is used to create
network topologies and to simulate processes inside the
created topology. The real-time mode simulates a real
environment, with the same speed of simulated networks and
protocols as in real situations. If some operation for a
simulated protocol in Packet Tracer in the real world takes
30 seconds, it takes a similar time also in the Packet Tracer
simulation . New devices can be easily added to the real-time
topology just by dragging them from a devices toolbar and
dropping them to the real-time logical topology view. The
device toolbar contains various devices divided into groups
of routers, switches, end devices, etc. Connectivity tests
based on simple “ping” PDU tests, or more advanced
application specific PDU tests are available to check whether
the connectivity between two or more end devices is working
properly. When switching into the simulation mode
(fig.
3), Packet Tracer displays the actual data exchange between
devices. Each packet, or frame, that carries some data is
displayed as a small envelop moving on a link between
devices. Step by step packet or frame tracing is supported,
while in each step, students can see explanations of what is
happening with the carried data on different layers of the ISO
OSI model. It is also possible to define filters, so only
protocols that are interested for a simulation will be
displayed in the topology.
Figure 4. CLI Wizard
D. Global event list
The Global event list (packet sniffer) is a feature of
Packet Tracer that is part of the simulation mode. The global
event list displays each exchanged data between two or more
devices. When using the packet sniffer feature, after clicking
on an data exchange event represented by an envelope in the
logical topology or on the event itself in the event list
window, the data PDU (Protocol Data Unit) that was being
exchanged between devices is displayed in a new window.
Students can review the processes that are happening with
the PDU at each ISO OSI layer. For each layer, Packet
Tracer contains a clear text explanation of the layer
functionality, while describing the details of a PDU
forwarding processes towards its destination. The packet
sniffer feature can also display the PDU’s contents in their
graphical representation.
E. Protocols
Several LAN, switching, TCP/IP, routing, and WAN
protocols are simulated by Packet Tracer. Although the
simulated protocols list is quite huge, and with every new
major release of Packet Tracer new protocols are added,
Figure 3. Logical Topology View – Simulation Mode
353
there are still some protocols or features that are not yet
supported by Packet Tracer. On the other hand, already in its
version 5.2, Packet Tracer can be used for almost every lab
task required to cover the CCNA level, CCNA Security
level, and even some parts that are required on the CCNP
level.
computer networks. With the multiuser capability of Packet
Tracer, students can cross-connect their Packet Tracer
applications and create one big topology. Each student is
then responsible for its own part of the topology, while they
are together trying to achieve a goal – a working big
simulated network. This feature brings a creative and
collaborative work method and builds a team play-work
between students. Multiuser competition makes the whole
process of learning more enjoyable and exciting.
F. Activity Wizard
The Activity Wizard is a feature that enables teachers to
create assignments, or even practical exams for students [8].
Teacher can enable the activity wizard mode from the top
menu of Packet Tracer. After starting the activity wizard, it is
necessary to define an initial starting and a final topology.
They can be imported from previously saved files, or created
from the scratch. When both the initial starting and the final
topology are ready, a teacher can start working on an
evaluation process. Differences between the initial starting
and the final topology are displayed in a window, where the
teacher can select which parts should be evaluated at the
final grading. The assignment can be divided into several
levels, while each level can contain instructions that explain
the task of the level and lead students to the solution. To
make sure that students will not get the correct answers just
by looking at the final topology, the complete assignment,
that was created in the activity wizard can be password
protected before it is distributed to students. When a student
opens the Packet Tracer Activity file on his computer, a list
of instructions and the starting topology is displayed.
Assignments can be also limited to a predefined time. After a
student has completed all levels and tasks, or the exam’s
time has expired, he can click on the Grade button and his
work will be evaluated and points for each successfully
completed task will be added to his score.
Figure 5. Activity Wizard
G. Multiple languages
The Multiple language support enables to create your
own localized version of Packet Tracer. Every text part of
the Packet Tracer GUI can be easily translated with a tool
that is distributed together with Packet Tracer. By default,
only the English localization is available after a clean
installation. New languages can be installed simply by
copying a language definition file to a directory where the
Packet Tracer was installed.
H. Integrated Help and Tutorials
The Integrated Help and Tutorials provide step-by-step
guides for new users of Packet Tracer. For more advanced
features, like the activity wizard, these tutorials are very
handy. The integrated help files also contain a small
explanation of several networking protocols and their
functionality.
Figure 6. Multiuser running on 3 computers
J.
Application Programming Interface
The Application Programming Interface and External
Applications (API and ExApps) is more or less a new new
feature that was introduced already in Packet Tracer 5.0. The
open Packet Tracer API interface enables developers to can
create their own addons to Packet Tracer. The API provides
access to almost every function of Packet Tracer, so skilful
developers can create very creative applications that can
interact with Packet Tracer in any way. For example, while
the whole simulated environment in Packet Tracer is only
virtual, now it might be possible to create an external
application that will integrate the simulated topology built in
I.
Multiuser Capability
The Multiuser Capability was introduced with the release
of Packet Tracer in version 5.0. People around the World that
are connected to the Internet, or generally to any IP data
network, used to play together online games for ages [3].
Packet Tracer brings the same kind of challenging multiuser
gaming environment into the process of learning about
354
Packet Tracer, with real devices and real topologies in the
lab. Team work of students can be also extended by
integrating Packet Tracer with general instant messaging
(IM) applications, or with integrating IM directly to Packet
Tracer.
V.
VI.
CONCLUSION
Packet Tracer is comprehensive networking technology
teaching and learning software with innovative features that
help students and teachers collaborate, solve problems, and
learn concepts in an engaging and dynamic social
environment. It makes teaching and learning networking
technology easier and more enjoyable with a multiuser
network simulation environment. It extends the learning
experience with a realistic simulation and visualization
environment that is used for exploration, experimentation
and explanation. Instructors and students can create their
own virtual “networking islands” for teaching and learning
networking concepts and technologies.
Packet Tracer solves also situations when the lab
environment does not contain enough equipment for the
students. Students can use Packet Tracer even on their home
computers and do practical homework and gain hands on
experiences without even visiting the lab. Anytime,
anywhere with Packet Tracer.
With Packet Tracer students can more easily understand
complex computer network topics in visual representation of
processes that are going on in the network. Visualization of
these processes makes it easier to understand their roles in
the environment of computer networks.
Packet Tracer is available for all Cisco Networking
Academy students and instructors for free.
PRACTICAL RESULTS
A. From Technical University of Košice
Packet Tracer has already been used for many years
between the teachers and the students of the Regional Cisco
Networking Academy at Technical University of Košice [2].
With the previous releases prior the 4.0 version, Packet
Tracer was used more or less only by teachers during the
lectures. Primarily, it was used to explain some networking
concepts in an animated and visual form.
The real tipping point was reached with the release of
Packet Tracer in version 4.0. In the 4.0 version, the whole
Packet Tracer was rewritten from the scratch by the Cisco
Networking Academy PT developers’ team, and new
features, new user interface and a whole new working
concept was introduced. The adoption phase of the new
Packet Tracer release was very quick. It has started to be
used by the students as a replacement or as an add-on to the
real devices.
The Regional Cisco Networking Academy at Technical
University of Košice hosted and has been involved in the
preparation of several international competitions in the field
of computer networks (e.g. Cisco Olymp, Networking
Academy Games). Packet Tracer was used within these
competitions as a competing platform in at least one of the
categories.
Currently, Packet Tracer is used at almost every lecture
or exercise. Students are using Packet Tracer on their own
home computers to practice network configurations and to
gain hands-on skills, while teachers are using Packet Tracer
to prepare skills exams and assignments for students. Many
final skills exams are currently made in the classroom only
with Packet Tracer. The evaluation process with Packet
Tracer’s built in Activity Wizard became much easier and
faster so students get their pass/fail results immediately.
In a survey that was completed by students studying
computer networks in the winter semester of year 2009, 95%
of students said that they have installed Packet Tracer on
their home computer or laptop, while 75% of them were
using Packet Tracer at least once per week. When asked
about functionality differences between real devices and
Packet Tracer, 90% of students said Packet Tracer was
sufficient enough for their needs. This lowered also the
pressure on the lab schedule, as only students with advanced
topics visited the lab in free timeslots to get hands on
experiences with real devices. On the other hand,
surprisingly, during compulsory exercises in labs, when
students had a chance to use real devices, only 5% of them
wanted to use Packet Tracer instead of real devices.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
355
Visual
Learning
in
Science and
Engineering,
ACM
SIGGRAPH/Eurographics Workshop on Computer Graphics
Education held June 2-5, 2004, in Hangzhou, China.
Jakab František, Janitor Jozef: Visual Learning: Case Study of Cisco
Networking Academy's PACKET TRACER 5.0 Application, Proc. of
6th International Conference on Emerging eLearning Technologies
and Applications, ICETA 2008, Stara Lesna, 11.-13.10.2008, Kosice,
elfa, s.r.o., 2008, ICETA, pp. 407-410, ISBN 978-80-8086-089-9
Janitor Jozef, Jakab František, Kleinová Katarína, Biňas Miroslav,
Révés Martin, Jakab Michal: Communication Challenges in
eLearning solutions, 5th Int. Conference on Emerging e-learning
Technologies and Applications, Stará Lesná, Slovakia, 6 - 8
September, 2007, Košice, elfa, s.r.o, 2007, I., 5, pp. 141-146, ISBN
978-80-8086-061-5
Cisco
Networking
Academy,
web
page:
http://www.cisco.com/go/netacad
Packet Tracer 5.0 Datasheet, available at: http://tinyurl.com/yjc46k6
Genči Ján: Knowledge Assessment – Practical Example in Testing,
Journal of Communication and Computer, Vol. 6, 8, 2009, pp. 65-69,
ISSN 1548-7709
Implementation of standardized educational courses at the Faculty of
management science and informatics, University of Žilina:
Implementation of the NetAcad program / Pavel Segeč, Tatiana
Kováčiková, Milan Kubina, 2007, Virtual University VU´07 - P. 137140, Bratislava
ČIČÁK, P. – KOTOČOVÁ, M. – GRELLNETH, I. – MESJAR, P.:
Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) – 4 steps to
advanced networking skills, In: ICETA 2005, 4nd Int.Conference on
Emerging Telecommunications Technologies and Applications and
the 4th Conference on Virtual University, Košice, 13.-14.9.2005.
Košice, Elfa 2005, pp. 453-455.
P. Paluch, M. Kubina, P. Segec: NetAcad, Nine Years of Experience.,
ICETA 2009, 387-392pp, ISBN 978-80-8086-127-8, S. Lesna, 19.20.11.2009