CCNA Network Simulator

Cert-Ex CCNA Network Simulator: A Powerful Tool for Network Professionals

Introduction

The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification is a highly sought-after credential for networking professionals. To effectively prepare for this rigorous exam, having access to a robust network simulator is crucial. Cert-Ex CCNA Network Simulator is one such tool that has gained significant popularity among aspiring network engineers.

What is Cert-Ex CCNA Network Simulator?

Cert-Ex CCNA Network Simulator is a comprehensive software application designed to provide hands-on experience with Cisco networking technologies. It offers a virtualized environment where users can configure, troubleshoot, and manage various network devices, including routers and switches. By simulating real-world network scenarios, this tool empowers learners to develop practical skills and solidify their understanding of networking concepts.

Key Features and Benefits:

1. Realistic Network Environments:
   
   

   • Create and customize virtual networks with multiple devices.

   • Simulate various network topologies, such as LANs, WANs, and VLANs.

   • Configure devices with real-world Cisco IOS commands.

2. Hands-On Labs:
   
   

   • Access a wide range of pre-configured labs to practice specific skills.

   • Work through step-by-step instructions to complete tasks.

   • Gain hands-on experience with troubleshooting common network issues.

3. Exam Preparation:
   
   

   • Aligned with the latest CCNA exam objectives.

   • Practice exam questions and simulations to assess knowledge.

   • Identify areas of weakness and focus on targeted study.

4. Flexible Learning:
   
   

   • Self-paced learning at your own convenience.

   • Access the simulator from any device with an internet connection.

   • Learn at your own pace and revisit topics as needed.

5. Cost-Effective Solution:
   
   

   • Affordable compared to physical lab equipment.

   • No need for expensive hardware or software licenses.

How to Use Cert-Ex CCNA Network Simulator

1. Installation:
   
   

   • Download the simulator from the Cert-Ex website.

   • Follow the installation instructions to set up the software.

2. Creating a Network:
   
   

   • Launch the simulator and create a new network.

   • Add devices (routers and switches) to the network topology.

   • Configure device interfaces with IP addresses and other settings.

3. Configuring Devices:
   
   

   • Use Cisco IOS commands to configure device settings, such as routing protocols, VLANs, and access control lists.

   • Practice troubleshooting techniques to diagnose and resolve network issues.

4. Verifying Network Functionality:
   
   

   • Use various tools, such as ping, traceroute, and Telnet, to verify network connectivity and performance.

   • Analyze network traffic using packet capture tools.

Checkout the available CCNA Labs:

The router labs made available in the Router Simulator are given below. The labs are intended to provide some hands-on practice to beginners. It is encouraged that you write your own labs and practice after going through the labs provided here. Please note that we add and/modify the labs from time to time.

Labs

1. Basic Exercises

   1. Entering user EXEC prompt on a Router and Exit

   2. Introduction to Basic User Interface

   3. Basic Show commands

   4. Short Form Commands

2. Routing IOS Fundamental Exercises

   1. Banner MOTD : Setting Message of the Day

   2. Setting Host Name

   3. Router Interface Configuration

   4. Setting Bandwidth on an Interface

   5. Setting Console Password

   6. Setting Telnet Password

   7. Setting Auxiliary Password to Router

   8. Configuring Minimum password length

   9. Implementing exec-timeout command

   10. Copy Running Configuration to Startup Configuration

   11. Router CDP Configuration

   12. Show CDP Configuration

   13. Show CDP neighbors

   14. Bringing up a Router Interface

   15. Set Keepalive Timers

   16. Set Hostname and MOTD Banner

   17. Console and Line Passwords

   18. Host Table

   19. Viewing ARP Entries

   20. Telnet

   21. TFTP

   22. Configuring Cisco Routers for Syslog

   23. Configure and Verify NTP

   24. Configuring the network devices for remote access using SSH.

3. 
   

4. Exercises on Routing Fundamentals

   1. Introduction to IP

   2. Configuring Static routes

   3. Implement and Verify Static Routes

   4. Configuring Default route

   5. Implement and Verify Default Routes

   6. Configuring Loopback Interface

   7. Connectivity Tests with Traceroute

   8. Configuring RIP

   9. Basic EIGRP Routing

5. Exercises on RIP/EIGRP Routing Scenarios

   1. RIP Routing Configuration Scenario

   2. Viewing IP RIP Information

   3. Configuring RIPv2

   4. RIP2 Routes

   5. EIGRP Routing Configuration Scenario

   6. EIGRP Troubleshooting Lab Scenario

   7. EIGRP Show Commands

6. Exercises on OSPF

   1. OSPF Configuration in Single Area

   2. OSPF Troubleshooting Lab Scenario-1

   3. OSPF Troubleshooting Lab Scenario-2

   4. OSPF Troubleshooting Lab Scenario- 3

   5. OSPF Routing Configuration Scenario

7. Exercises on Access-Lists

   1. Creating a Standard Access List

   2. Applying an Access List to an Interface

   3. View Access List Entries

   4. Standard Access List Scenario Lab 1

   5. Standard Access List Scenario Lab 2

   6. Router Access List Configuration

   7. Configuring and Verifying Standard Access List

   8. Configuring and Verifying Extended Access List

   9. Configuring and Implementing Extended Access List

   10. Verifying Extended Access-Lists

   11. Named Access-Lists

8. Exercises on Network Address Translation

   1. NAT Scenario 1

   2. NAT Scenario 2

   3. NAT Scenario 3

   4. Dynamic NAT Scenario-1

   5. NAT Troubleshooting Scenario-1

   6. NAT and PAT

9. Exercises on HSRP

   1. To enable HSRP on a Router

   2. To disable HSRP on a Router

   3. Configuring HSRP Priority , Delay and Preempt

   4. Load Sharing with Multigroup HSRP (MHSRP)

10. Exercises on VPN(Virtual Private Network)

    1. Configuring site-to-site IPSEC VPN tunnel between routers

    2. Configure and verify a site-to-site IPSEC VPN

11. Exercises on DHCP

    1. Configuring cisco router as a DHCP Server

    2. DHCP client configuration

    3. Configuring two DHCP clients and DHCP verification commands

    4. Configuring IP DHCP Helper Address

12. Exercises on PPP and ISDN

    1. PPP Configuration

    2. Configuring ISDN using BRI

    3. Configuring ISDN using BRI-Routing

13. Exercises on Frame-Relay

    1. Configuring Frame-Relay without sub-interfaces

    2. Configuring Frame-Relay with point-to-point sub-interfaces

    3. Frame-Relay with sub-interfaces-Routing

    4. Frame-Relay Show Commands

    5. Frame-Relay Full Mesh Topology

14. Exercises on Ipv6

    1. Enabling IPv6 on a cisco router

    2. Enabling IPv6 on a cisco router interface

    3. Configuring IPv6 on a cisco router interface with IPv6 address in EUI format

    4. Configuring IPv6 on a cisco router interface with IPv6 address in general form

    5. Configuring loopback interface with IPv6 address

    6. Configuring IPv6 on two router interfaces connected directly and pinging the distant interface using console

    7. Configuring IPv6 static route

    8. Configuring IPv6 static default route

    9. Implement and verify IPv6 static route

15. Exercises on IPv6 Routing Protocols

    1. Enabling RIPng on a cisco router interface

    2. Enabling RIPng on two routers and pinging between them

    3. Entering RIPng router configuration mode and setting global parameters on a cisco router

    4. Traceroute lab

    5. Configuring EIGRPv6 on a router interface

    6. Configuring EIGRPv6 on two routers and pinging between them

    7. Enabling OSPF for IPv6 on a cisco router interface

    8. Configuring OSPF on two router interfaces

    9. General IPv6 configuration on 2621XM series router

16. Exercises on BGP

    1. Basic BGP Configuration

    2. Setting BGP attributes

    3. Setting the BGP neighbor password

    4. To disable the peer

    5. Basic Configuration of a Peer Group

    6. Configuring Multi Exit Discriminator Metric

17. Exercises on Route Redistribution

    1. Route Redistribution for RIP

    2. Route Redistribution for EIGRP

    3. Route Redistribution for OSPF

    4. Redistribution between EIGRP and OSPF

    5. Redistribution between RIP and EIGRP

18. Exercises on MPLS

    1. Configuring a Router for MPLS Forwarding and verifying the configuration of MPLS forwarding.

    2. Enabling MPLS

    3. Configuring MPLS LDP

    4. Configuring MPLS using EIGRP

    5. Configuring MPLS using OSPF

    6. Configuring MPLS using RIP

    7. MPLS show commands

19. Cisco Switch IOS

    1. Introduction to Switch

    2. Switch 2960S Console Password Assignment

    3. Switch 2960S VTY Password Assignment

    4. Switch 2960S – Setting Privileged password

    5. Enable Fast Ethernet Interface on a 2960S Switch

    6. Initial Switch Configuration

    7. Basic Switch Interface Configuration

    8. Catalyst 2960S Switch Configuration

20. Exercises on Spanning Tree Protocol

    1. Enabling STP

    2. Configuring Root Switch

    3. Configuring Port-Priority

    4. Configuring Switch Priority of a VLAN

    5. Configuring STP Timers

    6. Verifying STP

21. Exercises on Switch Configuration and VLAN

    1. Basic Switch IP Configuration

    2. Configuring 2960S Switch vlan

    3. Troubleshooting 2960S Switch

    4. 2960S Trunking Configuration

    5. Creating and Deleting 2960S VLAN's

    6. Configuring VTP on 2960S Switch

    7. Configuring VTP with a VTP Client

    8. Troubleshooting lab with non matching domains

    9. Troubleshooting lab with trunk functionality

    10. VLANs Scenario

    11. VTP Scenario

    12. VLANs and Trunking

    13. Routing between VLANs

    14. Configuring DHCP snooping

    15. Configuring Dynamic ARP Inspection(DAI)

    16. Configuring voice VLAN

22. Exercises on Wireless Controller

    1. Creating new WLAN

    2. Creating and Removing WLAN

    3. Enabling/Disabling WLAN

    4. Configuring WLC WPA2 PSK

    5. Configuring WLC for an external RADIUS server

    6. Configuring QoS Profile

    7. Configuring Dynamic Interface

    8. Configuring RADIUS Accounting

    9. Configuring WLC for no authentication

    10. Configuring the Client Count per WLAN

    11. Configuring Telnet and SSH Sessions (GUI)

23. Exercises on JSON 

    1. IP address configuration of a router using JSON

    2. Setting bandwidth and clock rate of a router using JSON

    3. Enabling router interface using JSON

    4. Setting username,password and privilege level on a router using JSON

    5. Basic OSPF configuration using JSON

    6. Configuring Access Control List using JSON

Conclusion

Cert-Ex CCNA Network Simulator is an invaluable tool for anyone aspiring to become a CCNA certified network engineer. By providing a realistic and flexible learning environment, it empowers learners to develop the practical skills and knowledge required to excel in the field of networking. If you're serious about your CCNA certification, consider incorporating Cert-Ex CCNA Network Simulator into your study plan.