I have been working on this Cisco simulator for a good while now, aimed at helping people to familiarize themselves with the configuration of Cisco switches and Routers via the command line. This simulator is aimed primarily towards students who are preparing to sit their CCNA and ICND exams.
The motivation behind creating this simulator was due to my struggles with remembering all the different requirements in the CCNA syllabus. There is so much material to learn that I could study a topic and believe I had a good understanding, but after moving to another topic found I would quickly forget much of what I had learnt! I would also regularly use GNS3, an excellent free emulator for Cisco devices, but without a proper study plan I would inevitably miss certain essential topics.
This simulator has been programmed in java, so that it can be imbedded in a webpage with no need to download or install any software on your PC. I’m sure there will be no shortage of criticism for my choice of java, I feel it is very fit for the purpose. I am unable to imbed java on this site, but if you head across to www.net-refresh.com you will find a number of scenarios available for you to practice.
The CCNA simulator’s applet interface
If you choose from one of the practice scenarios here, you will be presented with an interface like the one above. Depending on your version of java and your security settings, the applet may not display. If this is the case, please follow the instructions here to enable java on this site.
On the left hand side is a diagram of the network topology, and the right is the console area. You can select a device to configure by clicking it’s image on the left, and this is the equivalent of connecting a pc to the Router/Switches console port and opening a console connection. Commands can now be typed in the right to configure the device.
Each scenario has a set of instructions, which can be seen by clicking the ‘Toggle Command Prompt/Instructions’ button. As certain objectives are completed they be listed as such.
The ‘Detach Frame’ button allows the simulator to be separated from he browser window, although if the page is closed the applet will close also. In some browsers the simulator will not display correctly, in which case detaching the frame will be the best option.
This simulator is undergoing constant development, so more functionality is being added regularly. I hope you will check it out and find it useful!
Steve Harvey 