CCNA Labs - Packet Tracer or GNS3?

About this video

Chuck compares the two main CCNA lab options, Cisco Packet Tracer and GNS3. Packet Tracer is Cisco’s simulator — not a real IOS emulator — and he stresses it is now completely free via NetAcademy (previously limited to NetAcademy students), available for Windows and Linux, with a mobile app. Its strengths are five-minute setup, a visual interface, IoT devices, and the ability to pause a ping and watch encapsulation/decapsulation header by header, which he calls magical for beginners; its downside is bugginess, since simulated IOS can glitch, for example an OSPF neighbor relationship that will not establish or advertise routes despite correct configuration. GNS3 is open-source and runs real Cisco IOS images, but those images require a Cisco login/license and setup involving VMware or VirtualBox can be daunting. In return GNS3 offers real router and now switch IOS, Wireshark captures, Ubuntu/Docker appliances, connection to real networks and the internet, multi-vendor appliances (Juniper, Palo Alto, F5), and a strong environment for Python for network engineers. His verdict: beginners studying CCENT/CCNA should start with Packet Tracer, which contains everything they need, and move to GNS3 when experienced or studying more advanced topics. He also gives away five of David Bombal’s Packet Tracer CCNA lab packages via Twitter.

Key takeaways

• Beginners should start with Packet Tracer: free via NetAcademy, set up in minutes, and containing everything needed for CCENT/CCNA labbing.
• Packet Tracer is a simulator, not real IOS, so it can glitch (e.g. OSPF neighbors not forming) despite correct configuration.
• Packet Tracer’s packet-pause view of encapsulation/decapsulation is highlighted as an especially effective learning feature for newcomers.
• GNS3 runs real IOS and supports Wireshark, Ubuntu appliances, real-network connections and multi-vendor devices, but needs licensed Cisco images and harder VMware/VirtualBox setup.
• GNS3 is recommended once you are experienced or studying advanced/multi-vendor and Python automation topics, following David Bombal’s labs.

Episode details: published December 16, 2017 · 11:34 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are NetworkChuck’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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