Cisco Packet Tracer 8.x new features

Packet Tracer 8.2 vs GNS3 2.2

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Last Updated: Thursday, 09 March 2023 07:36

Published: Wednesday, 27 May 2015 13:18

Written by PacketTracerNetwork

Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 and GNS3 v2.2.38 have been released ! GNS3 v2.2.38 features Trusted Platform Module (TPM) support for Qemu VMs and Fix link communication issues on Windows with uBridge. Check download page !

GNS3 3.0 is under active development and should include at least the following major changes :

• Faster GNS3 server/controller based on FastAPI (API v3).
• Swagger UI / Redoc API documentation.
• Streamlined web interface
• User management and experimental RBAC API
• Zstd compression for importing/exporting projects

Introduction

Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 and GNS3 v2.2 are two major network simulation software used for certification exam training (Cisco CCNA and CCNP for example) or network feature test without having to buy expensive real world equipment. The two software have been designed to address different needs.

Packet Tracer is a network simulator and embeds only limited real equipment features. GNS3 is a network emulator based on Dynamips and QEMU running real IOS images, virtual machines, ... The main limitation of GNS3 is the amount of ressources (CPU / memory) available on the PC for running the lab's emulated IOS images and virtual machines for clients & servers simulation.

GNS3 v2.2 official release is now available for download on GNS3 website. This new version released on September 30, 2019 with hyperV virtual machine and link status detection on QEUM. GNS3 also introduced support of new L4 / L7 devices :

• Cisco security devices  : this powerful network emulator now supports new Cisco security appliance to help network and security administrators to prepare security certification exams : Cisco Firepower Next-Generation IPS (NGIPS) threat appliances, Cisco Firepower Threat Defense Virtual NGFW appliances and Firepower Management Center Virtual.
• Citrix ADC VPX load-balancer now available on GNS3 marketplace

Current GNS3 build is 2.2.35 as of Novembre 08, 2022.

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What's new in Packet Tracer 6.2 ?

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 February 2023 07:09

Published: Monday, 08 December 2014 21:16

Written by PacketTracerNetwork

Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 build 0162 has been released for download !  Have a look at Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 new features.

Packet Tracer 6.2 has been released in february 2015 with version number 6.2.0.0052 (Packet Tracer 6.2 build 52). This new version is available in two versions which can be downloaded on Cisco networking Academy (netacad) platform : "Cisco Packet Tracer Student" and "Cisco Packet Tracer Instructor".

Packet Tracer 6.2 fixes several bugs reported in previous versions and includes a new Cisco 819 router, a wired sniffer with repeater functionnality and some new 3G/4G devices (3G/4G cell tower and central office (CO) server) as well as 3G/4G support for end devices (phone, tablet, server, ...)

Packet Tracer 6.2 is fully supported on Windows 7 and Windows 8 or 8.1. Support for Windows XP has been stopped by Cisco in this new version.

Packet Tracer 6.2 new features :

HTTP server (server device) :

• Javascript and CSS support
• HTTP and FTP linked file management support
• Externel file import inside Packet Tracer HTTP server

New devices :

• Cisco 819 Integrated Service Router with wlan access point capability and 3G/4G connectivity
• 3G/4G telephony cell tower
• 3G/4G central office (CO) server with coaxial connectivity with up to 8 cell towers
• Wired sniffer with repeater functionnality

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What's new in Cisco Packet Tracer 6.0.1

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 February 2023 07:08

Published: Saturday, 21 August 2010 08:27

Written by PacketTracerNetwork

Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 build 0162 has been released for download !  Have a look at Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 new features.

General improvements in Cisco Packet Tracer 6.0.1

• Supports current LTS version of Ubuntu and stopped support for Fedora
• CAB-HD8-ASYNC cable
• IPv6 in IP Configuration under Desktop
• Terminal server for routers
• PC Firewall for IPv4 and IPv6
• Servers with 2 NICs
• Circling tool
• Improvements to Activity Wizard and Variable Manager

New Hardware in Cisco Packet Tracer 6.0.1 :

Cisco Packet Tracer 6.0.1 includes 3 new Cisco ISR routers :

• Cisco 1941 Integrated Service Router
• Cisco 2901 Integrated Service Router
• Cisco 2911 Integrated Service Router

Cisco 1941 Integrated Services Router	Cisco 2901 Integrated Services Router	Cisco 2911 Integrated Services Router

This new Cisco Packet Tracer version also includes new high-speed WAN interface cards (HWIC) :

• HWIC-2T (Cisco One- and 2-Port Serial High-Speed WAN Interface Card)
• HWIC-8A (Cisco 8-Port Asynchronous High-Speed WAN Interface Card)

This serial modules used with the octal cable allows out of band management of Cisco networking devices through their console port. The HWIC-8A module allows the connection of 8 console cables, each serial connection being mapped to a TCP port for telnet access.

Router#show line
Tty Line Typ Tx/Rx
0/0/0 3 TTY 9600/9600
0/0/1 4 TTY 9600/9600
0/0/2 5 TTY 9600/9600
0/0/3 6 TTY 9600/9600
0/0/4 7 TTY 9600/9600
0/0/5 8 TTY 9600/9600
0/0/6 9 TTY 9600/9600
0/0/7 10 TTY 9600/9600

New IOS version (IOS 15) :

The new Cisco ISR routers included in Cisco Packet Tracer 6.0.1 are delivered with IOS 15.1(4)M4 (C1900-UNIVERSALK9-M and C2900-UNIVERSALK9-M). This version is provided with the ipbase licence activated. The security and unified communications licences can be activated for a 60 grace period with the following CLI commands :

• Security (Cisco 1941, Cisco 2901, Cisco 2911) : license boot module c2900 technology-package securityk9
• Unified communications (Cisco 2901 and Cisco 2911 only) : license boot module c2900 technology-package uck9

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What's new in Cisco Packet Tracer 6.1.1

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 February 2023 07:08

Published: Wednesday, 31 December 2014 20:26

Written by PacketTracerNetwork

Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 build 0162 has been released for download !  Have a look at Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 new features.

General improvements in Cisco Packet Tracer 6.1.1

Cisco Packet Tracer 6.1 (version 6.1.0.0120) has been available on netacad since July 2014 for Cisco Networking Academy members. A newer verion, Packet Tracer 6.1.1 has been released at the end of august. This is a minor release correcting bugs found in the previous 6.1.0.0120 version. Packet Tracer 6.1.1 includes the following new or improved features :

Server (end-device) new services / applications :

• New service tab (config and service tabs mixed in previous versions)
• Netflow collector as a new server desktop application
• AAA accounting desktop application
• IPv4 and IPv6 firewalls moved from service to desktop application
• DHCP service for IPv6

 

IPv6 Routing protocols enhancements :

• OSPFv3 enhancements : distance command, "ipv6 ospf neighbor" interface subcommand, ....
• EIGRPv6 over Frame Relay
• EIGRPv6 debug and authentication commands
• RIPng distance command update
• RIPng "default-information originate" command

 

DHCP new features :

• DHCP snooping
• APIPA adressng in case of DHCP lookup failure
• DHCPv6 commands in IOS15

 

Switches :

• IOS 15 support for Catalyst 2960 switch. The IOS 15 image has to be downloaded by TFTP or FTP from a server device to be available on a switch.

 

Simulation / Activity Wizard:

• Expanded buffer for PDUs and filters based on IPv4 or IPv6 traffic in simulation mode
• Improved scripting and variable management Activity Wizard

 

Port channel support has also been improved in Packet Tracer 6.1.1 with layer 3 etherchannel support on ISR routers.

Packet Tracer 6.1.1 is fully supported on Windows 7 and Windows 8 or 8.1. Support for Windows Vista has been stopped by Cisco in this new version.

 

New Hardware in Cisco Packet Tracer 6.1.1

Cisco Packet Tracer 6.1.1 includes a major capacity improvement with the introduction of  a new Security device class including an ASA 5505 firewall. By default, the Eth0/0 interface is configured in the outside vlan (vlan 2) and the Eth0/1 to Eth0/7 interfaces in the inside vlan (vlan 1).

 

Features & limitations compared to the real ASA 5505:

New vlans can be created using the config tab or the cli command "interface vlan X". However, the licence included in the ASA doesn't allow configuring more than two vlan with nameif (This license does not allow configuring more than 2 interfaces with nameif and without a "no forward" command on this interface or on 1 interface(s) with nameif already configured).

Another limitation is on the physical interfaces which can only be configured in access mode. The command "switchport mode trunk" documented in the ASA configuration guide has not been implemented on the simulated ASA 5505 in Packet Tracer 6.1 .

 

IPSEC tunnels and clientless SSL VPN are supported on ASA 5505 but VTI interfaces or GRE tunnels are not available on this firewall. GRE tunnels have to be terminated on an inside ISR edge router.

 

 

New IOS version (IOS 15) for catalyst 2960 switch :

A new IOS 15 c2960-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE4.bin image is available for the catalyst 2960 switch. The image is not installed by default on the switch and has to be downloaded from a TFTP server (server end device) using the following procedure :

 

Switch#copy tftp: flash:
Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.1.2
Source filename []? c2960-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE4.bin
Destination filename [c2960-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE4.bin]?

Accessing tftp://192.168.1.2/c2960-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE4.bin...
Loading c2960-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE4.bin from 192.168.1.2: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 4670455 bytes]

4670455 bytes copied in 0.054 secs (6953476 bytes/sec)
Switch#dir
Directory of flash:/

1 -rw- 4414921 <no date> c2960-lanbase-mz.122-25.FX.bin
2 -rw- 4670455 <no date> c2960-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE4.bin

64016384 bytes total (54931008 bytes free)

Switch#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
Switch(config)#boot system c2960-lanbasek9-mz.150-2.SE4.bin
Switch(config)#exit
Switch#
%SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console

Switch#copy running-config startup-config
Destination filename [startup-config]?
Building configuration...
[OK]

Switch#reload

 

Netflow

Netflow is a network analysis protocol that was initially created by Cisco to give the ability to collect network traffic as it flows through a router interface. The data processed by Netflow collectors provides the network administrator with detailled traffic informations such as the source and destination of the traffic, class of service, .... Netflow version 9 was standardized in 2008 as IPFIX by the IETF organization.

The following Netflow components are available in Packet Tracer 6.1.1 :

• Netflow version 9 on Cisco ISR routers. This feature is not available on Layer 3 switches.
• A netflow collector software on PC, laptop and server devices.

 

 

 

 

Reviewed by PacketTracerNetwork on Sept. 10, 2014 - Rating : 5