Home > Articles > Cisco Certification > CCNA Routing and Switching > Using Pearson's Cisco Network Simulator

Using Pearson's Cisco Network Simulator

Article Description

There are several ways for an individual to learn the material covered in Cisco's Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) program. For example, students with a good amount of previous networking experience may choose a completely self-study route and buy the appropriate books to study before taking the exams. A student with no previous experience may be better off going to a CCNA course with a proctor. Both of these options are also (for the most part) on opposite sides of the cost range.

Pearson's Cisco Network Simulator product is intended to be a nice fit between these two opposite options. Sean Wilkins shows you how it offers a reasonably affordable option for learning the material while also providing a course-like structure that lends itself to easy learning.

Like this article? We recommend

CCENT ICND1 100-101 Network Simulator

CCENT ICND1 100-101 Network Simulator

$99.99

There are certainly a number of different ways that an individual can choose to learn the material covered in Cisco's Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) program. The selection of which ones to choose is very subjective and depends greatly on a number of factors, including previous networking experience and learning preferences.

For example, students with a good amount of previous networking experience may choose a completely self-study route and buy the appropriate books to study before taking the exams. A student with no previous experience may be better off physically going to a CCNA course with a proctor. Both of these options are also (for the most part) on opposite sides of the cost range.

Pearson's Cisco Network Simulator product is intended to be a nice fit between these two opposite options. It offers a reasonably affordable option for learning the material while also providing a course-like structure that lends itself to easy learning.

This new version of the simulator is an update of the very successful CCNA 640-802 Network Simulator product that is a few years old. It is updated to meet Cisco's new CCNA guidelines.

This article primarily highlights the changes that have occurred between the previous and current simulators, including a completely new interface and user interface (UI) enhancements. There is also a brief walkthrough of some new capabilities that exist in the new simulator.


You may also be interested in this related article:


Simulator Interface Differences

The primary thing that will be noticed by those students who are familiar with the older simulator is that the interface has been completely redesigned to be more user friendly and intuitive.

For those not familiar with the older simulator, Figure 1 has been included to contrast the difference between the two interfaces.

Figure 1 640-802 Network Simulator interface (older on left; newer on right)

As is shown in Figure 1, the older interface had a number of user interface deficits including:

  • Selection of each specific device required a drop-down selection from the top bar (no hot image zones)
  • The interface was very condensed and not easily resized across the various resolutions that are used by students.
  • The text of the labs was not integrated directly in the initial interface window; this was done through an external Acrobat viewer. This could be a considerable annoyance because the time spent launching the labs could vary considerably and delay learning time.

With the new simulator, all these different issues were addressed—plus a number of different interface additions were made (based in large part on student comments) to enhance the learning experience.

Figures 2 and 3 take a look at the interface of the new simulator.

Figure 2 Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching 200-120 Network Simulator—main lab selection window

Instead of trying to force everything into a single screen, as the old simulator did, the new simulator breaks the screens into a lab selection window and a lab screen. The lab selection window allows the student to sort the labs based on Lab type or by Book Chapter (based on Wendell Odom's Cisco Press books) as well as the ability to search for a specific lab. The highlighting of each lab populates the right pane with an introduction of the lab, the type of lab, and the ability to start the lab. The screen also includes a column to track the student's progress on each specific lab.

A new feature that should be very helpful to students is Grade History, which enables students to track their progress in taking the labs including how they did (pass or fail), what commands they ran, the command-line interface (CLI) output from each device during the lab and a lab performance review.

Figure 3 Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching 200-120 Network Simulator—lab screen

The lab window includes a number of improvements over the previous simulator including the following:

  • The lab text is now integrated into the same window as the console and the topology. This integration enables easier lab step tracking for the student while completing the lab. Steps are also provided with appropriate text boxes and tables to allow the student to answer the questions asked throughout each specific lab.
  • Lab text can now be resized within the interface.
  • Device selection is now more intuitive because it simply requires the user to click on the device being configured to gain access to that specific device's console.
  • Students now can save their lab configurations, exit, and come back to finish the lab at a later time.

Simulator Additions

There are a number of different things that have been added to the new simulator over the interface differences, including these:

  • More than 100 new labs
  • More than 175 new commands
  • Support for IOS 15
  • Support for an additional topology (with more to come in the future)
  • Support for a number of new technologies that are covered in Cisco's new CCNA blueprint (more specifics will be covered in a later article)

Summary

These additions and changes, along with the strength of the existing lab base that still exists from the previous simulator, provide a good value to the student looking for a reasonable alternative to a physical (or virtual) class while providing hands-on CLI experience.

As stated in the introduction, there are a number of different alternatives that exist in the introductory Cisco certification marketplace. While there are alternatives out there that enable students to get hands on with Cisco IOS CLI, they typically do not provide the main driver to most students' learning experience, including an easy-to-walk-through stepped approach that enables the student to learn the material in a logical way by building the skills of the student over a series of labs.

This is where the Pearson Network Simulator excels, with easy-to-follow labs that gradually increase in difficulty to follow the learning of the student.

Cisco Press Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Cisco Press and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Cisco Press products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@ciscopress.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Cisco Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.ciscopress.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020