Cisco Packet Tracer 5.0 in Windows 7 |
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| Developer(s) | Cisco Systems |
| Stable release | 5.3.2 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows and Debian-Like Linux |
| Available in | English, Russian, German, Portuguese, Spanish and French |
| Website | www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/course catalog/PacketTracer.html |
Packet Tracer is a Cisco router simulator that can be utilized in training and education, but also in research for simple computer network simulations. The tool is created by Cisco Systems and provided for free distribution to faculty, students, and alumni who are or have participated in the Cisco Networking Academy. The purpose of Packet Tracer is to offer students and teachers a tool to learn the principles of networking as well as develop Cisco technology specific skills.
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The current version of Packet Tracer supports an array of simulated Application Layer protocols, as well as basic routing with RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP, to the extent required by the current CCNA curriculum. While Packet Tracer aims to provide a realistic simulation of functional networks, the application itself utilizes only a small number of features found within the actual hardware running a current Cisco IOS version. Thus, Packet Tracer is unsuitable for modeling production networks. With the introduction of version 5.3, several new features were added, including BGP. BGP is not part of the CCNA curriculum, but part of the CCNP curriculum.
Packet Tracer is commonly used by Cisco Networking Academy students working towards Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification. Due to functional limitations, it is intended by Cisco to be used only as a learning aid, not a replacement for Cisco routers and switches.