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Using packet tracer for ccna study (with sample lab), for new and current ccna candidates, this article works through the use of cisco packet tracer for ccna study - from discovering its features, to how to create and find lab exercises, to using a sample lab to experience packet tracer. oct 19, 2021 • knowledge, information.

You need to practice the commands included in the CCNA certification to be ready on exam day. To practice, you need a lab that lets you practice the commands on routers and switches. That lab can use a router/switch simulator, Cisco operating systems as virtualized devices, or real hardware. Honestly, the number of options can be a little overwhelming when first starting with your CCNA study.

More CCNA candidates use Cisco Packet Tracer than any of the other lab options. The other options all have a purpose, and many CCNA candidates use more than Packet Tracer on their journey to CCNA. Also, the further you move into CCNP and CCIE studies, the more likely you will use other tools, like Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) and real gear. However, Cisco Packet Tracer has some significant advantages for CCNAs:

·       Cost: Free

·       Low CPU & RAM: It should run on the computer you already own as a desktop app.

·       Usefulness for CCNA: Supports 90%+ of the CCNA config/verify topics

·       Quality: Excellent for its intended purpose as a learning tool

Over the years, I've done surveys on what lab tools CCNA candidates used, and Packet Tracer runs ahead of them all. In this article, I'll talk through it with you from these perspectives:

·       What Cisco Packet Tracer (PT) is: What it does, how to get it, and how to learn how to use it.

·       How to best use PT to learn CCNA topics

·       An IPv4 Addressing and Routing Lab Exercise

For those of you just getting started, hopefully, the entire article will be useful. For some of you, you will already be past figuring out how to get PT and how to use it – so feel free to skip ahead. And post any questions or comments you have at the bottom of the article if you want to discuss any details. On to the details!

Cisco Packet Tracer: A Simulator for Learning about Networking

First and most importantly, the Cisco Packet Tracer (PT) software package enables us to learn how networks of routers, switches, computers, and other devices work. To do that, PT simulates entire networks of those devices, letting us configure settings via a GUI while interacting with a simulated Command Line Interface (CLI) of each Cisco device. That sounds like a lot of functions, and it is. PT does a lot, all with an end goal of helping us learn.

PT provides many essential features for CCNA study. You can create topologies of LAN switches and IP routers, which implement most of the CCNA topics requiring configuration and verification. You can create the topology that fits your imagination, course, book, course lab exercise, or lab exercise book – whatever you are using. PT also has many features designed to help you learn, like simulation mode, which shows packets flowing in the network.

PT does not run Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) or any other Cisco OS that you find on Cisco hardware devices – to both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, PT simulates the CLI of the devices in a topology, but it does not have to do all the work the real Cisco OSs have to do. You can create topologies in CPT with tens of nodes and still run the app on the desktop/laptop computer that you already own. So, PT can simulate networks with several devices on your average desktop or laptop computer.

On the negative side, because PT does not run the native Cisco OSs, the folks that write PT write code to support each command and command parameter and each line of command output. PT cannot support all the same commands and keywords as Cisco IOS. Also, the PT output sometimes differs from a real Cisco device. Those facts create a challenge for CCNA study, of course, because a CCNA student may lack the experience to notice differences between PT command behavior and real Cisco devices. So, while useful for CCNA preparation, you do need to take some extra care on some topics.

But do not despair! PT will not get you all the way to a CCNP Enterprise certification, but it supports most CCNA commands. Many CCNA exam topics use the verbs configure and verify, with both verbs referring to CLI commands. PT lets you create topologies with routers and switches, access the devices' consoles, see the CLI, and do all your configuration and verification as if you were at the console of a real Cisco router or switch.

Interestingly, PT – a software package – also helps you learn about Cisco hardware. PT lets you place routers, switches, and other devices into a topology. But you don't place generic routers and switches – PT shows a variety of device models that mimic real Cisco product families. For instance, in LAN switches that have removable power supplies, so in PT, you must add a power supply via the graphical interface before you can power on the switch. The design tool also requires you to choose the correct cable and rejects your choice if incorrect.

A Brief Word on Cisco Modeling Labs

I chose to write this article specifically about using Packet Tracer because it is a popular first tool to practice the CLI topics for CCNA. That said, on your journey into learning more and more about Cisco technologies, you will use various tools. For instance, you can search and find other simulators besides PT, some with similar features, some with built-in labs. You can use real gear borrowed from work or purchased in the used market. But Cisco Modeling Labs fills a significant need for exam study between what simulators can provide vs. spending to build a lab with used hardware.

Cisco Modeling Labs (CML), a software package, creates a virtualization platform to run multiple instances of Cisco Operating Systems. To start, you license CML, install it, and then your workflow somewhat like using PT. You design a topology using CML, start the nodes (routers, switches, PCs, and so on.) You see the CLI of the devices and can issue commands.

While at some level, PT and CML seem similar, the specifics differ in important ways. In particular:

·       CML does not simulate the CLI. Instead, it executes IOS and other Cisco Operating Systems.

·       Therefore, CML routers and switches do not have the issues of not supporting all the commands, command parameters, or having command output that differs from genuine Cisco software – it is running genuine Cisco software!

·       On the negative side, running a Cisco OS requires much more CPU and RAM, which may mean you have to buy/upgrade your PC to run CML.

·       It does cost something – check out the web pages for CML Personal Edition (CML-PE) for more detail.

The message here is that you will likely use multiple lab tools and environments as you move deeper and deeper into Cisco technologies. The middle section of this article, with tips about using PT for CCNA study, applies to using any of the tools. Start with PT if you like, and as time goes on, you may get the itch to try other tools and eventually start labbing more with real gear or virtualized devices like you get with CML.

How to Find and Download Packet Tracer Software

Some would argue that the price is Packet Tracer's best feature (it's free!) CPT began life as a tool written for use in the Cisco Networking Academy . Cisco eventually made it free to the world, but with a twist: you join the Cisco Networking Academy (also free), which lets you download Packet Tracer (again, free.) The specifics follow:

Create a (free) Cisco Network Academy login if you don't already have one. No need to create another one if you already have one. But assuming you do not have a Cisco Network Academy login (not the same login as your login to cisco.com ), do this:

1.      Open a browser tab to www.netacad.com

2.      Click login (upper right)

3.      Look for the option to create a new login

4.      Follow the prompts to create the account

Now you should have an Academy account, so you should be able to download Packet Tracer with these steps:

1.      To go directly to the download page, open a browser to this page: https://www.netacad.com/portal/resources/packet-tracer

2.      Alternately, and to learn the most common navigation:

a.      Open a tab to the Cisco Network Academy learning portal: https://www.netacad.com/portal/learning

b.      Look for a link in the "Resources" section titled "Packet Tracer"

3.      Read the instructions, download, and install the Cisco Packet Tracer application like you would any other desktop app.

Later, if you need to upgrade to a more recent version of the software, you can return to the same links above, download, and install the new package.

How to Learn about the Packet Tracer and Get Questions Answered

You can figure out many PT features by just trying things from the user interface. But if you plan to use it for CCNA study, you should take a little time to learn more about it, using a free course and some online help.

The Cisco Network Academy offers a free self-paced course on PT. Just sign up and start learning, using these steps:

1.      If not already there, open a tab to the Cisco Network Academy learning portal: https://www.netacad.com/portal/learning

2.      You should search a search box that allows you to search the course catalog. Just type "packet tracer" and press enter, and the screen should list the "Introduction to Packet Tracer" course.

3.      Click the button to enroll.

4.      After enrolling, click the "launch course" button to open the page that reveals the course content.

5.      Later, use this link to re-connect to the Cisco Network Academy learning portal: https://www.netacad.com/portal/learning . From there, you should see the course – just click to relaunch the course.

The Academy PT course is excellent, but I love the PT help system – it's more product documentation than just a typically sparse set of FAQs. (You can, of course, open new threads here at the Cisco Learning Network to ask questions as well!) But to get to the excellent PT help system:

1.      Start Cisco Packet Tracer

2.      From the top menu, select Help… Contents

3.      You should now see a new browser tab opened to the CPT help/documentation

The following figure shows a screen capture from the help system. Note the table of contents on the left side. Just scroll up/down, find a topic, and click to learn more.

wo-cln-fig-01.png

Figure: The Cisco Packet Tracer Help System

Using packet tracer for ccna study.

Cisco Packet Tracer provides a useful lab environment, but it does not tell you what to do. It's like buying a bunch of tools at the hardware store, getting home, and wondering what you can make with your great new tools. In this case, what routing and switching features should you configure and verify? What topologies make sense? What should the goals be for routing and switching? What specific commands should you use?

To study for CCNA with PT, you need some ideas of what to do to guide your learning. If you feel comfortable just taking PT and making up what to do, great! But for those who want some tips, I'll explore three approaches you can take to figure out how to decide what to do:

·       Create your own activities based on your CCNA course/book

·       Find and use CCNA-level lab exercises that use PT

·       Extend an existing example or lab for additional lab work

Option 1: Create Labs for Yourself

At this point, you should have installed PT, taken the free Cisco Network Academy PT course (at least part of it), and you have likely progressed in your CCNA studies. Clearly, you could practice the commands you learned so far in whatever course or book you are using for CCNA. But that doesn't give you much to go on.

Whatever CCNA course you take (live or video) or book you read, it will show examples with a topology, explain what should happen, and then list the configuration and verification steps and commands. Use those – and then do variations on that theme. I've formalized it a bit to help you along with these major activities:

wo-cln-fig-02.png

Figure: A Progression of Self-Directed CCNA Labs w/ Cisco Packet Tracer

First, you need to pick an example from your course/book. Look back for examples that require configuration and verification, with a figure showing routers and switches, along with text explaining the configuration before the example and the configuration to be added. For example, you might see a figure like the one below that states that the switch needs to be configured with VLANs, and the ports need to be assigned to those VLANs.

wo-cln-fig-03.jpg

Figure: A Figure to Support a Basic VLAN Configuration Example

Once you choose an example, set about to do these major steps:

Step 1: Create the topology for your chosen example. For instance, in the previous figure, you would use the PT design palette to add one LAN switch and six PCs. Can you find a LAN switch that uses the same interface IDs as those shown in the figure? Also, re-creating the example may be easier to match the same interface IDs between the example and PT. Or maybe you would prefer to re-create the example, but instead, use 10/100/1000 (aka Gigabit) interfaces – so look for another switch model to use.

For those of you just getting into networking, creating the topologies can be a great learning experience all by itself. As I noted in the introduction to this article, some of you may not have or have access to any Cisco hardware. Working through the PT design tools to create a supplied topology helps you learn about real Cisco hardware – it's well worth the effort.

Step 2: Predict the initial configuration required by the example – and configure it. Almost every example in a CCNA course or book has a figure that shows the topology, along with some configuration and verification commands that help you learn the topic. But that example may have some initial configuration, either implied or stated. For instance, your course likely has examples about configuring OSPF (a routing protocol). So the examples may begin with the router IP addresses pre-configured to keep the focus on the current topic (OSPF.)

Making yourself think about that initial configuration state of an example helps you review your learning and commands. Then configuring the commands allows you to review the particulars of each command.

Step 3: Configure as shown in the example. Look at the example you chose from your course/book. If it shows configuration commands, then you configure those same commands in PT. Did the commands work? Do you understand what happened? If the commands use interface IDs, compare the interface IDs between PT and the example, and adjust accordingly.

Look again at the example in your course/book. What verification commands did you learn in that part of your course/book? Try those in PT and think about the output. Does it match what you see in your course? If it differs, do some troubleshooting.

Step 4: Create a Similar Example: You do not have to re-create the same examples from a book. Instead, try and create a similar example, just different enough to make you think about how to change the configuration. Take an example from your course/book and imagine a slightly different case. Use different VLAN numbers, different subnets, different interfaces, different topologies, different numbers of switches and routers. Explore and enjoy!

Option 2: Find and Use Pre-Built Lab Exercises

Packet Tracer has several wonderful portability features. For example, when you create a topology and configure devices, PT stores all that content in a single file (filetype .pkt). Then you can share the file with anyone, and they can open it if their version of PT is at least as recent as yours.

Those same sharing features allow anyone to create lab exercises that include .pkt files and share those, as many content creators do. Just do a quick search of the Internet and see what you can find for "Packet Tracer Lab Exercises CCNA" or any similar search string. Feel free to comment here about labs you’ve found that you like. For instance, I’ve posted a pretty good set of CCNA labs on my blog site , all free – check it out as an example of what you’ll find online with a little searching.

In particular, note that the Cisco Network Academy CCNA course makes great use of labs using PT. So, if you have registered for any CCNA course that uses the Cisco Network Academy curriculum, ask your instructor about PT. You will likely soon be getting many opportunities to download files, open them in PT, and follow scripted lab exercises that happen to use PT.

For those not in a Cisco Network Academy course, you can search for PT labs and find some. Once you've found a source of some labs, the overall flow will be:

1.      Download one or more .pkt files (or similar)

2.      For a single lab, open the specified .pkt file, so you begin in the same topology and configuration state as the lab exercise

3.      Follow the lab exercise steps. The lab may integrate the steps into the PT user interface or supply the steps as a separate document.

Option 3: Extend Your Examples and Labs

For this next option, start with some scenario and PT file that you understand well. You could start with an example you re-created from your CCNA course/book, or it may be from a lab exercise book. Then think: What else can I practice using that topology and configuration? You can practice something related to the original example or lab or do something unrelated – just anything that the lab topology and existing configuration creates a good environment from which to try a new experiment.

Let me give you a few concrete examples. Say you just did a lab that used a topology like this following figure. By the end of the lab, you had configured VLANs on both switches and the switch-switch link configured to use VLAN trunking.

wo-cln-fig-04.png

Figure: Small Switched Network with VLAN Trunk

To extend this lab, ask yourself these questions: What did you just configure in the example or lab that you could configure slightly differently? Here are some ideas of related topics related to this example figure w/ VLANs and a trunk:

·       Cisco switches allow several working combinations of configuration that result in a VLAN trunk using the switchport mode command. Try reconfiguring the VLAN trunk for all those combinations.

·       What native VLAN did the trunk use in the lab? What would happen if you changed the native VLAN to be some other VLAN other than those shown in the figure? What if you used a native VLAN of one of those shown in the figure, like 100 or 200?

·       Replace VLANs 100 and 200 with 101 and 201. What configuration steps did you need to add the VLANs and assign them to ports? What commands did you need to remove the old VLANs? If the PCs could ping before the change, can they still ping after the change?

You can also extend any lab topology into other topics – just pick some that work well based on the topology and the current configuration. For instance, in this case:

·       Configure the switches with IP addresses in a management VLAN (other than VLAN 100 and 200.) Add Telnet and SSH configuration as well. Then try and Telnet and SSH from the CLI or one switch to the other.

·       Configure all the administrative settings you can think of that do not impact switch frame forwarding. For instance, configure the console, vty, and enable passwords, enable SSH, create login banners, and add interface descriptions to the ports in use.

·       Predict the STP topology – which switch is the root switch, which is not, which ports are root ports, designated ports, backup ports, and so on. Then reconfigure to make another switch the root switch, for instance, by using the spanning-tree vlan x root primary command. Then predict and then verify the details of the new spanning tree topology.

·       Plan and configure IP addresses on the PCs so that the PCs can ping each other. Or, if they already have IP addresses and related settings based on the original example or lab, pick new subnets/addresses and implement those.

·       Configure port security. If you configure so that the PCs can ping each other, use those pings to test. Configure port security to shut down a port connected to one of the PCs when that PC sends a frame. Then test by pinging from that PC, confirming that pings that formerly worked no longer work.

In short, think about any topics you already know for which you can practice in that topology – and practice!

A Sample IPv4 Addressing and Static Routing Lab

To complete this article, let's do a simple lab – something reasonable for anyone who has learned the basics of IP addressing, router IP address configuration, and IP static route configuration. (This lab is derived from a couple of the labs at my blog , by the way.)

Lab Instructions

You can choose to start in PT for this lab but build your own topology, using the figure as your guide. If you decide to create the topology for yourself, note that the figure shows a router connected directly to a PC in a few cases. You can do that in PT, but if you like, you can add a LAN switch between the router and PC as well. A switch with all default configuration would work fine.

You can also choose to begin lab with the supplied .pkt file linked just below the figure. That .pkt file includes the topology, pre-configures hostnames, and pre-configures PC IP address/mask and gateway settings.

wo-cln-fig-05.jpg

Figure: Topology, Interfaces, Addresses for an IPv4 Lab

Initial .pkt file for this lab – click to download: https://www.certskills.com/blogfigs/wo-cln-lab01.pkt

Note: The .pkt file supplied with this lab uses Packet Tracer version 8.0. To use the file, you need to use that version or later.

For this lab exercise, assuming you begin with the supplied .pkt file, follow these steps:

1.      Configure IP addresses on each router, as shown in the figure. The figure shows the subnets beside each link, with the last octet of each interface IP address directly adjacent to each interface.

2.      Verify that all router interfaces in the figure are up and working.

3.      Verify each router has added a connected IP route associated with each interface shown in the figure.

4.      Review the design and note the six different IP subnets shown in the figure.

5.      Create static IP routes on each router for the subnets not connected to that router. For example, router Branch1 directly connects to two subnets, configuring static routes for the other subnets.

6.      Verify that all routers have routes to all six subnets shown in the figure.

7.      Confirm that the PCs in the figure can ping each other, proving that your static routes work. If not, troubleshoot until the PCs successfully ping.

Tips for Extending This Lab (before Revealing Answers)

Go ahead and do the lab now if you like. Before you look to the bottom of this article for the answers, take a moment to think about how you might extend this lab. Let me give a few examples, first for topics related to this lab:

·       OSPF : Remove the static routes and configure OSPF to have routes to all subnets again.

·       OSPF and administrative distance : Keep the static routes as is, but add OSPF configuration. What routes are in the routing table? Why? What role does administrative distance play?

·       WAN Static Routes : Remove static routes related to the three WAN subnets (the subnets between the routers). Then test the PC-PC pings and think about how routing works in this lab.

Or, for unrelated topics, consider these potential tasks you can practice in this same topology:

·       IP ACLs : Any topology with routers and IP routes can be used to imagine and test IP ACLs. Note the PT supports Telnet, SSH, web, and a few other applications, which you can then use for ideas of what to match in an ACL. Imagine an ACL that matches single IP addresses, subnets, and different application port numbers. Create the ACL, enable, and then test using the PCs to generate traffic. You might also first test those applications before adding the ACLs to see them work, and then after again to test after enabling the ACL.

·       Loopback interfaces : Create loopback interfaces on one or more routers, plan subnets and specific IP addresses/masks to use on those subnets, and implement the addresses. Then add additional static routes for those subnets.

·       Ping and extended ping, trace and extended trace : Use the ping and traceroute commands on the routers. Experiment with the extended options by typing these commands (with no parameters) and pressing enter. The commands then prompt you for extended options.

Lab Answers (Configuration)

The lab asks you to do both configuration and verification. I'll leave the verification to you, but feel free to ask questions. The text below lists the configuration for the four routers that you should add at some point in the lab exercise.

hostname Core

interface GigabitEthernet0/1

 ip address 10.100.200.1 255.255.255.252

 no shutdown

interface GigabitEthernet0/2

 ip address 10.100.200.5 255.255.255.252

interface GigabitEthernet0/3

 ip address 10.100.200.9 255.255.255.252

ip route 192.168.50.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.2

ip route 192.168.51.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.6

ip route 192.168.52.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.10

Config: Router Core

hostname Branch1

 ip address 10.100.200.2 255.255.255.252

 ip address 192.168.50.1 255.255.255.0

ip route 10.100.200.4 255.255.255.252 10.100.200.1

ip route 10.100.200.8 255.255.255.252 10.100.200.1

ip route 192.168.51.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.1

ip route 192.168.52.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.1

Config: Router Branch1

hostname Branch2

 ip address 10.100.200.6 255.255.255.252

 ip address 192.168.51.1 255.255.255.0

ip route 10.100.200.0 255.255.255.252 10.100.200.5

ip route 10.100.200.8 255.255.255.252 10.100.200.5

ip route 192.168.50.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.5

ip route 192.168.52.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.5

Config: Router Branch2

hostname Branch3

 ip address 10.100.200.10 255.255.255.252

 ip address 192.168.52.1 255.255.255.0

ip route 10.100.200.0 255.255.255.252 10.100.200.9

ip route 10.100.200.4 255.255.255.252 10.100.200.9

ip route 192.168.50.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.9

ip route 192.168.51.0 255.255.255.0 10.100.200.9

Config: Router Branch3

Just a few notes in anticipation of any questions:

·       The answers list the hostname command just for clarity. The lab doesn't ask you to reconfigure the hostname.

·       The lab does not specify whether you need to configure the no shutdown commands or not, but I kept the commands in the answer just to make sure that anyone who may have an administratively down interface doesn't get stuck in lab.

Article Details

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dominiquebastien

I would like to know what tools you use to draw network images like: "Figure: A Figure to Support a Basic VLAN Configuration Example"

cisco device assignment tool download

Great way to start networking

cisco device assignment tool download

Great information on Packet Tracer and its use in preparing for the CCNA Exam.

Great post, I remember using it for my CCNA, great experience to start learning

cisco device assignment tool download

Extremely helpful blog on " Using Packet Tracer for CCNA Study (with Sample Lab) " by Wendell Odom .

Thank you @Wendell Odom ​ for sharing your knowledge and always helping all of us within the Cisco Learning Network community!

cisco device assignment tool download

Wendell Odom

FYI, here's a related CLN post about lab resources from around the same date as we posted this article. If you made it far enough to read article comments, you might be interested in this post as well.

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/question/0D76e0000088ldO/detail?s1oid=00D3i000000udDn

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Cisco Blogs / Networking / Introducing Cisco Active Advisor – A Free Cisco Tool For Your Network

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Introducing Cisco Active Advisor – A Free Cisco Tool For Your Network

Pradeep parmar.

Dimension Data recently came out with their 2014 Network Barometer Report. The report has business and technology insights based on data gathered from 74,000 network devices in 32 countries. Some of the findings are counter-intuitive, like failure rates and mean-time-repair (MTTR) are lower for obsolete equipment. See press release here , and download the full report here (requires registration). Also, check out their Google+ hangout on Wednesday July 9 th.

DiData NBR Facebook-Timeline-v2

Based on this exhaustive report, Dimension Data’s top recommendation is:

“Have an accurate inventory of your network estate.”

The very fact that this is a top recommendation shows that creating accurate network inventory is hard. Otherwise, customers would already be doing this, and Dimension Data wouldn’t need to make it their top recommendation.

CAA

We are doing our part to make it easy for customers to create an accurate inventory of their network devices. Cisco Active Advisor is a free cloud-based service that can scan your network for Cisco enterprise and small business products such as Catalyst switches, routers, wireless access points, wireless controllers, and more . It provides valuable information on these products such as security vulnerabilities (PSIRTs), product lifecycle (End of Sale, End of Support), service contract status, warranty status, and more. You can view the report in an elegant web-based interface, and setup alerts. Cisco Active Advisor is ideal for small and mid-size networks. Cisco Active Advisor already supports more than 500 part numbers across Cisco Catalyst switches, routers, wireless controllers, wireless access points, SMB products, with more coming soon. It supports the following Java-enabled web browsers: Internet Explorer and Firefox on Windows, and Safari on Apple OSX.

For more information, please visit the  Cisco Active Advisor  or check out this how-to video:

You can also review a list of parts support by Cisco Active Advisor (Downloadable Excel spreadsheet): https://ciscoactiveadvisor.com/ux/app/resources/images/CAA_Supported%20Device%20list.xlsx

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Senior Marketing Manager

Enterprise networks.

This sounds like a great tool since it’s “FREE”. I did not play with this yet. So, I do not have any comments on the functionality of this yet. However, after working with Cisco Advanced Services for 13 years, I still do not understand that when a BU releases a tool why other BU devices are not supported. Cisco should become BU agnostic from both internal and external customers !

Follow-up with the above comment. I’m mentioning about the non-support of Nexus/DC devices on this tool.

Hi Lakshman,

Thanks for your feedback. You are right, Nexus/Data Center products are not covered yet. We are constantly adding support for more products, and we did not want to hold back in anticipation of covering all the products. I will make sure your feedback gets to the product team.

Thanks, Pradeep

Thanks for your comments. CAA is looking to support most devices for the enterprise over time. On our roadmap we have been trying to balance feature enhancements along with device support.

In terms of other devices, we have been looking into both the collaboration endpoints and Nexus over the last few months. The Nexus software architecture is a bit different than other Cisco devices. We will have to implement a totally different application interface. No dates at this point, but it is in the queue of stuff to do.

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About the Managed Switch Port Mapping Tool

The Managed Switch Port Mapping Tool is software for Windows that discovers devices attached to port connectors on an SNMP managed network switch.

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Works with managed switches.

Specifically, SNMP managed network switches. You need to supply the SNMP read access credentials for each switch. We show the results in spreadsheet-like format.

Supports SNMP v2c/v3 Bulk Transfer mode. Significantly reduces required SNMP bandwidth.

Works with many Switch Brands

Works with Cisco (IOS/Nexus/Small Business), HPE (Aruba, Legacy HP, 3-Com), Dell/Force10, TP-Link, Juniper, Extreme Networks, Netgear and others.

Installed Version

Installed on your Windows 11/10 computer hard drive. This is a desktop application (GUI). Download Now!

  • USB Version

Fully portable USB version runs from and saves data to a USB Flash Drive. Windows 11/10 (GUI). No installation necessary.

Try before Buy

Try out the fully functional installed version software for 30 days before buying. Download Now!

A single Installed Version license is $229. USB Version licenses slightly more. Discounts available, see Buy Now .

No Maintenance Plan

All v2.x updates are free.

Frequent Updates

We respond to user input and update the software as frequently as needed.

Automatically Saves Switch Data

All switch mappings are saved to an SQLite database for later review and searching.

Export Data

Export to XML (uses Excel compatible schema and can be imported into other spreadsheets) and printing.

Current Version

2.86.7 released May 10, 2024

Screenshots and Videos

These are a few screenshots of the app. Videos are available on this page.

Main Switch Port Mapper Window

NetScanTools is a registered trademark of Northwest Performance Software, Inc.

'NetScanTools Pro', 'NetScanTools Standard', 'NetScanTools LE', 'ipPulse', 'Northwest Performance Software' and 'NetScanTools.com', are trademarks of Northwest Performance Software, Inc.

Any trademarked names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

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  1. User Guide for Cisco Device Assignment Tool

    Overview of the Cisco Device Assignment Tool Cisco Device Assignment Tool Overview. Use the Cisco Device Assignment Tool (Device Assignment Tool) to assign users to devices in Cisco Unified Communications Manager Releases 6.x and later. This tool helps simplify your licensing when you upgrade your system and your existing users do not have assigned devices.

  2. User Guide for Cisco Device Assignment Tool

    After you run the Device Assignment Tool, device assignments that are provided to your users in Unified Communications Manager Releases 9.x and later might change your license requirements. Unified Communications Manager Releases 6.x to 8.x did not use a user-based licensing structure.

  3. User Guide for Cisco Device Assignment Tool

    Book Title. User Guide for Cisco Device Assignment Tool. Chapter Title. Frequently Asked Questions about the Cisco Device Assignment Tool. PDF - Complete Book (1.94 MB) PDF - This Chapter (1.02 MB) View with Adobe Reader on a variety of devices

  4. Support

    Check the current status of services and components for Cisco's cloud-based Webex, Security and IoT offerings. Cisco Support Assistant. The Cisco Support Assistant (formerly TAC Connect Bot) provides a self-service experience for common case inquiries and basic transactions without waiting in a queue.

  5. Software Download

    Software Download - Cisco Systems

  6. PDF System Preparation for the Cisco Device Assignment Tool

    System Preparation for the Cisco Device Assignment Tool • EnabletheAXLWebService,page1 • AddAXLServicePrivilegestoYourLoginCredentials,page2

  7. Software Download

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    Cisco Packet Tracer. Gain real skills with our powerful network simulation tool where you practice networking, IoT, and cybersecurity skills in a virtual lab - no hardware needed! Download Packet Tracer when you enroll in one of the three self-paced Packet Tracer Courses. View courses.

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    10 Jun 2024. Cisco FirePOWER 7000 Series Appliances EOL Details. The above products will no longer be supported by Cisco upon reaching the end-of-support date, as per the Cisco End-of-Life Policy. Cisco Support Category page for Security - My Devices, Support Documentation, Downloads, and End-of-Life Notifications.

  12. PDF User Guide for Cisco Device Assignment Tool

    Use the Cisco Device Assignment Tool (Device Assignment Tool) to assign users to devices in Cisco Unified Communications Manager Releases 6.x and later. This tool helps simplify your licensing when you upgrade your system and your existing users do not have assigned devices. In user-based licensing, devices are assigned to users to simplify ...

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    You can view the report in an elegant web-based interface, and setup alerts. Cisco Active Advisor is ideal for small and mid-size networks. Cisco Active Advisor already supports more than 500 part numbers across Cisco Catalyst switches, routers, wireless controllers, wireless access points, SMB products, with more coming soon.

  14. Managed Switch Port Mapping Tool from NetScanTools

    Introducing the Managed Switch Port Mapping Tool software app for Windows. What it does and information it can get from a switch. ... Discover Devices Attached to Switch Ports Switch Manufacturer Independent Map One Switch or a List of Switches Low cost ... Works with Cisco (IOS/Nexus/Small Business), HPE (Aruba, Legacy HP, 3-Com), Dell/Force10 ...

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  18. Cisco: Software, Network, and Cybersecurity Solutions

    New Cisco ThousandEyes capabilities and AI-native workflows in Cisco Networking Cloud will deliver Digital Experience Assurance, transforming IT operations. Read press release. Cisco is a worldwide technology leader. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all through software, networking, security, computing, and more solutions.