[wid4008]

Just wondering which network simulator is the most popular among people who are studying for the CCNA exam. I started with the inexpensive SemSim Router Simulator but find that it is really a very rudimental application which can perform very limited task. I am seriously considering to get the Sybex Titanium Virtual Lab from Amazon.com which is actually RouterSim Network Visualizer as it is still barely within my budget. I find that the documentations are very well structured and the content goes hand in hand with Todd Lammle's CCNA Study Guide (which I owned).

Packet Tracer is only good if you have activities labs ready. Only students who enrolled in Cisco Networking Academy can enjoy the full benefit of Packet Tracer.

GNS3 is free but it is resource hogging and required real version of IOS.

Anyway, there are seven simulators I know of.
Please feel free to share any other simulators you know of.

1) GNS3 (Free): GNS3 | Graphical Network Simulator
2) SemSim Router Simulator (USD$39): http://www.semsim.com/ccna-router-si...-features.html
3) RouterSim's CCNA™ Network Visualizer (USD$149 ENG version/USD$349 JPN version): CCNA Router and Network Simulator
4) CiscoPress CCNA Network Simulator (USD$$149.99): http://www.ciscopress.com/bookstore/...sbn=1587202166
5) Boson NetSim for CCNA (USD$249): Boson NetSim for CCNA 7.0 - Cisco Network Simulator
6) TestOut CCNA Suite (USD$695): CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) Certification Training
7) Packet Tracer 5 (Price Unknown): http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/ne...ketTracer.html

[wid4008]

I am using the Japanese Version of RouterSim Network Simulator.

[wid4008]

Below are some screenshots taken from Network Visualizer running on my HP netbook.

This is the practice on SDM access configuration


This is the lab grading screen


Useful error messages from Net Detective to help discover what went wrong

[DragonFire]

Nothing beats having real Cisco boxes to play with. Is nice having a spare pair of Cisco7609s heheheh. Can play with BGP and OSPF for real, something afaik most sim programs cannot handle.

I used routersim when I did a CCNA module 5 years ago in uni.

DF

[wid4008]

I fnd buying routers and setting up at home very 'din teh' leh.
So I am sticking to simulator for now.

If I ever get to CCIE one day (which will never happen), I might consider setting up a full blown lab at home like Jeremy Cioara.

By the way, CCNP version of RouterSim allows OSPF v3, multi-area OSPF as well as BGP.

[A Friend]

SemSim Router Simulator is very basic , good for the beginners who's new to cisco command. But, you will grown out of it very fast.

RouterSim Network Simulator is useful , only if you know what you're doing & know how to go about it.
If you're not sure of your theory & just do the practises ...
You may not understand why it works that way.

Testout provides video teaching, short exams on each topic & simulator . Good for beginners to understand & learn.

[wid4008]

Originally Posted by A Friend

SemSim Router Simulator is very basic , good for the beginners who's new to cisco command. But, you will grown out of it very fast.

RouterSim Network Simulator is useful , only if you know what you're doing & know how to go about it.
If you're not sure of your theory & just do the practises ...
You may not understand why it works that way.

Testout provides video teaching, short exams on each topic & simulator . Good for beginners to understand & learn.

What you said for RouterSim is true. The labs will provide yu with instruction of how to go about getting things done but you really have to know your stuff well first by reading the corresponding chapters in Todd's guide book befoe starting the lab to get the most out of the practice.

As for TestOut, I actually had the chance to try the program out but was very disappointed with the lab as it takes an extremely long time to launch all labs. The CBT is also done by two different person.

[A Friend]

The Testout program , I tried both 801 & 802 version..

simulators , didn't take so much time to start..
& I'm not using a fast computer , just a Pentium M notebook.

[[v]SIN]

if your computer is fast enough , better use GNS3 (where you can play with real IOS), just remember to optimize idle CPU for better cpu usage

Packet Tracer is easier to use and less cpu consumption, but it got limited amount of commands

[Kisuke]

i use packet tracer...

[Cytoplasm]

Originally Posted by DragonFire

Nothing beats having real Cisco boxes to play with. Is nice having a spare pair of Cisco7609s heheheh. Can play with BGP and OSPF for real, something afaik most sim programs cannot handle.

I used routersim when I did a CCNA module 5 years ago in uni.

DF

Yupz, With Cisco Boxes is . But of course investing a lab must really go for CCIE.
I'm considering to get some setup soon with Juniper Routers/Switch

[Cytoplasm]

Originally Posted by Kisuke

i use packet tracer...

Packet Tracer 5.1 (LATEST) has some "limitations" even for CCNA Level. So recently im using GNS3 to do BGP quite intensive program.