Cisco Networking/CCENT/Lab Setup

This lesson covers lab setup using GNS3.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for for Cisco CCENT certification are covered in detail in other lessons. This lesson helps you:

• Set up a lab environment to practice hands-on activities with Cisco routing and switching using GNS3.

Readings

1. Wikipedia: Graphical Network Simulator-3
2. SourceForge: GNS3 Tutorial

Multimedia

1. YouTube: GNS3 Tutorial - Installing, configuring, then tweaking GNS3 on Windows 7
2. YouTube: How to Set Up GNS3

Activities

1. Review SourceForge: GNS3 Tutorial. Download and install GNS3 on your system.
2. Review GNS3: Cisco IOS Images, GNS3: Adding IOS Images, and GNS3: Hardware Emulated by GNS3. Add one or more Cisco router IOS images to Dynamips/GNS3. Be sure to include an image from the 2600, 3600, or 3700 series that supports a Network Module slot to allow for both routing and switching configurations.
   1. Add a router image.
   2. Add the router image again as an EtherSwitch router.
3. Test GNS3 router support.

   

   1. Add a router to a new GNS3 project.
   2. Start the device.
   3. View the console to confirm that it started correctly.
   4. Show the running configuration using the following command.

      show running-config

4. Test GNS3 virtual PC support.

   

   1. Add a router to a new GNS3 project or use the project created above.
   2. Add a VPCS PC to the project.
   3. Add a link to connect the following.
      • PC1 Ethernet0 <-> R1 FastEthernet0/0.
   4. Start the devices.
   5. Open the console for PC1. Set the IP address for PC1 using the following command.

      ip 192.168.1.11 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1

   6. Open the console for R1. Set the IP address for R1 using the following commands.

      enable

      configure terminal

      interface fastethernet0/0

      ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0

      no shutdown

      exit

      exit

   7. Open the console for PC1. Ping R1 using the following command.

      ping 192.168.1.1

5. Test GNS3 EtherSwitch router support.

   

   1. Add an EtherSwitch router to a new GNS3 project.
   2. Add two VPCS PCs to the project.
   3. Add links to connect the following.
      • PC1 Ethernet0 <-> ESW1 FastEthernet1/1.
      • PC2 Ethernet0 <-> ESW1 FastEthernet1/2.
   4. Start the devices.
   5. Open the console for PC1. Set the IP address for PC1 using the following command.

      ip 192.168.1.11 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1

   6. Open the console for PC2. Set the IP address for PC2 using the following command.

      ip 192.168.1.12 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1

   7. Using the console for PC1, ping PC2 using the following command.

      ping 192.168.1.12

   8. Using the console for PC2, ping PC1 using the following command.

      ping 192.168.1.11

   9. If the pings are not successful, try replacing the EtherSwitch router with an Ethernet hub or switch and repeat the tests.

Lesson Summary

• GNS3 is a graphical network simulator supporting a variety of products from vendors including Alcatel-Lucent, Arista, Cisco, Extreme Networks, Fortigate, Juniper, Microtik, and Vyatta.
• GNS3 is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.
• The standard GNS3 Windows installation package includes WinPcap, Wireshark, Dynamips, QEMU, and VPCS Virtual PC Simulator.
• WinPcap provides a packet-capture and filtering engine for Windows systems.
• Libpcap provides a packet-capturing and filtering engine for Unix-like systems.
• Wireshark is a free and open-source packet analyzer.
• Dynamips is an emulator computer program that was created to emulate Cisco routers.
• QEMU (Quick Emulator) is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that performs hardware virtualization, and is used by GNS3 to run Cisco ASA, PIX and IDS, as well as conventional operating systems.
• VPCS provides a simulated command-line interface for hosts connected to routers in a GNS3 / Dynamips network.
• The GNS3 installation package does not include Cisco IOS images. IOS images must be loaded separately after GNS3 is installed.
• GNS3 cannot run Cisco switch IOS images, but does support EtherSwitch network modules to provide switching configurations on supported routers.
• GNS3 support for EtherSwitch network modules includes Cisco routers from the 2600, 3600, and 3700 series.
• The GNS3 user interface includes windows for node types, network topology, topology summary, and the Dynagen console for Dynamips.
• Each IOS image must be loaded into GNS3 and configured with an Idle PC value before it can be used in a network topology.
• After adding devices to a network topology, the devices must be started in order to access the device console.
• Consoles are accessed through terminal emulation, Telnet, or SSH connections.
• Network topologies may be saved and opened using the GNS3 File menu.

Key Terms

ping

A computer network administration software utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol (IP) network and to measure the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to a destination computer and back.

Review Questions

1. GNS3 is a graphical network simulator supporting a variety of products from vendors including _____.

   GNS3 is a graphical network simulator supporting a variety of products from vendors including Alcatel-Lucent, Arista, Cisco, Extreme Networks, Fortigate, Juniper, Microtik, and Vyatta.
2. GNS3 is available for _____ platforms.

   GNS3 is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.
3. The standard GNS3 Windows installation package includes _____.

   The standard GNS3 Windows installation package includes WinPcap, Wireshark, Dynamips, QEMU, and VPCS Virtual PC Simulator.
4. WinPcap provides _____.

   WinPcap provides a packet-capture and filtering engine for Windows systems.
5. Libpcap provides _____.

   Libpcap provides a packet-capturing and filtering engine for Unix-like systems.
6. Wireshark is _____.

   Wireshark is a free and open-source packet analyzer.
7. Dynamips is _____.

   Dynamips is an emulator computer program that was created to emulate Cisco routers.
8. QEMU (Quick Emulator) is _____.

   QEMU (Quick Emulator) is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor that performs hardware virtualization, and is used by GNS3 to run Cisco ASA, PIX and IDS, as well as conventional operating systems.
9. VPCS provides _____.

   VPCS provides a simulated command-line interface for hosts connected to routers in a GNS3 / Dynamips network.
10. The GNS3 installation package does not include _____.

    The GNS3 installation package does not include Cisco IOS images. IOS images must be loaded separately after GNS3 is installed.
11. GNS3 cannot run _____, but does support _____.

    GNS3 cannot run Cisco switch IOS images, but does support EtherSwitch network modules to provide switching configurations on supported routers.
12. GNS3 support for EtherSwitch network modules includes Cisco routers from the _____ series.

    GNS3 support for EtherSwitch network modules includes Cisco routers from the 2600, 3600, and 3700 series.
13. The GNS3 user interface includes windows for _____.

    The GNS3 user interface includes windows for node types, network topology, topology summary, and the Dynagen console for Dynamips.
14. Each IOS image must be loaded into GNS3 and configured with _____ before it can be used in a network topology.

    Each IOS image must be loaded into GNS3 and configured with an Idle PC value before it can be used in a network topology.
15. After adding devices to a network topology, the devices must be _____.

    After adding devices to a network topology, the devices must be started in order to access the device console.
16. Consoles are accessed through _____.

    Consoles are accessed through terminal emulation, Telnet, or SSH connections.
17. Network topologies may be saved and opened using _____.

    Network topologies may be saved and opened using the GNS3 File menu.

Assessments

• Flashcards: Quizlet: CCENT - Lab Setup
• Quiz: Quizlet: CCENT - Lab Setup

See Also

• Ping

References

Completion status: this resource is considered to be complete.

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