Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 vs GNS3 2.2

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.

Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 and GNS3 v2.2 feature comparison

GNS3 supported emulators

GNS3 supports the following emulators :

• Dynamics for older Cisco IOS images
• QEMU and VIRL. VIRL images are created specifically by Cisco for simulation and work welfor newer versions of the Cisco IOS, IOS-XR, and up to date features.
• VMWARE
• VirtualBox
• VPCS to emulate a simple PC without GUI
• Docker

GNS3 setup

Install GNS3 on Debian/Ubuntu with the following commands :

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gns3/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gns3-gui

BGP features comparison

Cisco Packet Tracer 8.2 (simulated IOS features)

Packet Tracer 8.2 features only a subset of the BGP functionalities of a real Cisco ISR router. The emulated features focus on CCNA and CCNP certification exam preparation.

Router(config)#router bgp 65000
Router(config-router)#%BGP-4-NORTRID: BGP could not pick a router-id. Please configure manually.

Router(config-router)#?
  bgp              BGP specific commands
  distance         Define an administrative distance
  exit             Exit from routing protocol configuration mode
  neighbor         Specify a neighbor router
  network          Specify a network to announce via BGP
  no               Negate a command or set its defaults
  redistribute     Redistribute information from another routing protocol
  synchronization  Perform IGP synchronization
  timers           Adjust routing timers
              

GNS3 (emulated real IOS features)

GNS3 2.2 features all the features of a real Cisco ISR router as GNS3 is running a real IOS image on emulated hardaware.

R2(config)#router bgp 50000
R2(config-router)#?
Router configuration commands:
  address-family       Enter Address Family command mode
  aggregate-address    Configure BGP aggregate entries
  auto-summary         Enable automatic network number summarization
  bgp                  BGP specific commands
  default              Set a command to its defaults
  default-information  Control distribution of default information
  default-metric       Set metric of redistributed routes
  distance             Define an administrative distance
  distribute-list      Filter networks in routing updates
  exit                 Exit from routing protocol configuration mode
  help                 Description of the interactive help system
  maximum-paths        Forward packets over multiple paths
  neighbor             Specify a neighbor router
  network              Specify a network to announce via BGP
  no                   Negate a command or set its defaults
  redistribute         Redistribute information from another routing protocol
  synchronization      Perform IGP synchronization
  table-map            Map external entry attributes into routing table
  template             Enter template command mode
  timers               Adjust routing timers

GNS3 requirements

Minimum Requirements

Recommended Requirements