Free Cisco Lab Simulators

GNS3 – Graphical Network Simulator

GNS3 is a graphical network simulator that allows simulation of complex networks. It is an excellent complementary tool to real labs for Cisco and Juniper network engineers, administrators and people wanting to pass certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIP, CCIE, JNCIA, JNCIS, JNCIE. This project is an open source, free program that may be used on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and MacOS X.

Features overview

• You can design of high quality and complex network topologies.
• Emulation of many Cisco IOS router platforms, IPS, PIX and ASA firewalls, JunOS.
• Simulation of simple Ethernet, ATM and Frame Relay switches.
• Connection of the simulated network to the real world!
• Packet capture using Wireshark.

Note: users have to provide their own IOS/IPS/PIX/ASA/JunOS to use with GNS3.

Click here for DOWNLOAD

Gns3 Simulator Screenshot:

Fig. Gns3 simulator image

Cisco Packet Tracer – Powerful Network Simulator

Cisco Networking Academy’s Cisco Packet Tracer with version 5.3 is a powerful network simulation program that allows students to experiment with network behavior and features. Cisco Packet Tracer provides powerful simulation, visualization, authoring, assessment, and collaboration capabilities, will helps teaching and learning of complex technology concepts. Moreover, it’s totally free! You can download this software from Cisco but you need to register first in Cisco website or you can download from below links.

Cisco Packet Tracer version 5.3.1 is a maintenance release that fixes functional and technical issues in previous versions. It replaces Packet Tracer version 5.3 and it supports activities authored in Packet Tracer 4.0, 4.1, 4.11, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2.x and 5.3. Please note that the last two courses of the CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration curricula require Packet Tracer version 4.11 at a minimum, CCNA Security requires version 5.2 at a minimum, and the beta Packet Tracer Skills Based Assessments require version 5.2.1 at a minimum. The curricula are fully compatible with Packet Tracer 5.3.1

Cisco Packet Tracer Simulator Screenshots:

packet tracer

Fig 2.Packet Tracer Image

Fig 3. Packet Tracer Image

Cisco Packet Tracer Version 5.3.3 Software Downloads:

You can download both the Packet Tracer 5.3.3 application and tutorial filed in one download package.  After Downloading and installing one of the following Type of Packet Tracer 5.3.3 which matches your OS, you will be able to start CCNA lab simulations and configurations.

Windows:

Linux

SemSim Simulator

The free trial version (2.3MB) of Cisco router simulator offers some CCNA exam router simulation labs & 20 flash cards

SemSim Simulator Screenshots:

Fig 1. CCNA Lab SemSim

Fig 2. CCNA_Lab_SemSim

Boson NetSim Simulator

Boson offers three Cisco certification-focused products, NetSim for CCENT 7.0, NetSim for CCNA 7.0 and NetSim for CCNP 7.0. The NetSim for CCNA 7.0 product contains CCNA-specific lab exercises that cover the skill set you will need to prepare for your CCNA exam. The demo version (21.58MB) is a good choice to get started.

Boson NetSim Simulator Screenshots:

Fig 1. Boson Netsim

Fig 2. Boson Netsim

Fig 3. Boson Netsim

CertExams Simulator

CertExams offers advanced network simulators including router / switch / terminal simulator. The simulators help in preparing for networking exams such as ccna or jncia. It would also be very helpful for those who want to get started with configuring Cisco or Juniper routers in a simulated environment. The demo version (6.95MB) is limited to:

- Six lab exercises

- Router simulator is limited to User EXEC, Previleged EXEC, and Global Configuration mode commands.

CertExams Simulator Screenshots:

Fig 1. Certexam Router Simulator

Fig 2. Certexam_Router_Simulator

RouterSim’s CCNA Network Visualizer

You can design, build and configure your own network. The demo version is 44.49MB. It is ideal for:

- Anyone studying for the Cisco® CCNA™ 640-802 exam

- Deployment over a LAN network

- Distance education and deployment on a Citrix server or Microsoft Terminal Services

- Corporate trainers and employees

- Students at colleges, universities, and technical institutes

RouterSim CCNA Simulator Screenshots:

Fig 1. Routersim Screenshot

Fig 2. Routersim screenshot

MIMIC CCNA Virtual Lab Simulator

MIMIC Virtual Lab creates a real world lab environment with a network of Cisco Routers and Switches. It gives hands-on learning experience without buying expensive equipment.

MIMIC Virtual Lab CCNA is sold in two versions:

MIMIC Virtual Lab CCNA and

MIMIC Virtual Lab CCNA Plus

MIMIC gives Network Engineers the ability to practice for CCNA and other certifications instead of just reading instructions. It enables Training organizations to supply a Virtual lab to students with the classroom training or e-learning courses. Students can interact with Routers and Switches, just like with real devices.

MIMIC CCNA Simulator ScreenShot: